Author Christine Murphy, who grew up in Hopkinton, will return to the Concord area on Wednesday, Feb. 26 to present her debut novel at Gibson’s Bookstore.

“Notes on Surviving the Fire” follows Sarah, a PhD student studying violence within Buddhist traditions, as she struggles to maintain the life she had before a fellow student raped her at a party. She spends her days trying to manage her anger and thirst for revenge growing stronger by the day. Her only relief comes from Nathan, her best friend and the only person who believed her when she reported her assault. When Sarah finds Nathan dead of an alleged overdose, she knows he was murdered, but no one believes her—again.

This time, Sarah will prove she’s right, tracking her best friend’s killer while California wildfires move closer and closer to campus. As a girl, Sarah grew up in the forests of New England, following her father on hunts, learning how to stalk prey and kill, but only when necessary. Now, faced with the retribution she’s been lusting after all this time, Sarah must decide if revenge can ever be justified.

Fans of the film “​​​​​​​Promising Young Woman” will appreciate this edgy and unique story about trauma, female resilience, and anger that ultimately questions whether violence can ever solve violence.

Ahead of her Concord visit, Murphy shared more about her writing journey and inspiration for “Notes on Surviving the Fire.”

Q: What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

I hope readers enjoy the plot twists and turns, the atmosphere of dysfunctional higher education set amidst California wildfires, and my character’s hilarious, crass sense of humor. I also hope readers come away from the book rethinking our understanding of violence, especially gendered violence and violence against women, and the hypocrisy with which the topic is treated in mainstream media, entertainment, and politics.

Q: What shows or movies offered you inspiration while writing the book?

I rarely watch TV! “The Golden Girls” and “Aliens” both have a cameo in the book because those are my comfort watches—I love smart, sassy broads and old-school action movies!

Q: What was a challenge you encountered during the writing process?

My character’s voice came to me very quickly—she was loud and smart and very angry. I found her hilarious, but other people didn’t seem to pick up on the humor. “Likeability” is a burden for women, as artists or professionals or just humans in the world. I loved my character, but I knew she wasn’t conventionally likable. I decided not to worry about it, wrote her as she came to me, and lo and behold, people are responding to her!

Q: How does New England play into your writing? 

New England imbues my writing. I have a great love of New England, and no matter where I live or have lived, I carry it with me. It pops up in my writing in a million different ways—references to foliage, our four seasons, cultural traditions of hunting, hiking, swimming in lakes…it’s all in there!

Q: What’s one piece of advice you have for aspiring writers?

Writing a novel is much like training for a marathon. You think about it, strategize it, daydream, tell people you’re going to do it, and, eventually, you either do it or you don’t. Writing novels is impossible. Publishing them, even more so. And yet thousands of novels are published every year, thousands more (millions?) are written, or being written right now. There is no right or wrong. Believe in your story, believe in yourself, then get off your tuchus and do it.

Christine Murphy’s event at Gibson’s Bookstore will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, For more information, visit gibsonsbookstore.com/event/surviving-the-fire.