Ask the Author: M. Judeth Nelson
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M. Judeth Nelson
My father was a landscaper by trade. He started his own landscaping business in the late 60's or early 1970's. When I was a young woman of thirteen, I asked my dad if I could earn some money and go to work with my brother and him. My father couldn't afford to disappoint a customer. Dad had one customer who was an old time Italian with antiquated fashion ideas about gender roles and what sort of work was appropriate for woman.
Of course, this was the 1970's. I remember my father saying to me, "Mary you're going to need to work harder than your brother, because Mr. Suchnsuch, doesn't think a girl can do a good job." I remember thinking how unfair this was, that just because I was a girl, I was going to need to work harder to vindicate myself. Well, I showed him!
He told my father that I work harder than my brother. Not, that my brother didn't work hard, I'm sure he worked just as hard as I did. It was just, Mr. Suchnsuch didn't think a woman could work as hard as a man.
So fast forward 30 years, I've always wanted to write a story about a woman landscaper. I decided because I love murder mysteries, this poor woman was going to become involved in all sorts of mayhem.
I also wanted to write a story, which featured a young woman, who was a church going, Roman Catholic. I am tired of reading books where characters purport to practice Catholicism, but in truth the book has an anti-Catholic undertone.
I wanted to write a story about a faith filled, young woman who deals with life as it’s handed to her. I also wanted it to be entertaining and humorous.
Of course, this was the 1970's. I remember my father saying to me, "Mary you're going to need to work harder than your brother, because Mr. Suchnsuch, doesn't think a girl can do a good job." I remember thinking how unfair this was, that just because I was a girl, I was going to need to work harder to vindicate myself. Well, I showed him!
He told my father that I work harder than my brother. Not, that my brother didn't work hard, I'm sure he worked just as hard as I did. It was just, Mr. Suchnsuch didn't think a woman could work as hard as a man.
So fast forward 30 years, I've always wanted to write a story about a woman landscaper. I decided because I love murder mysteries, this poor woman was going to become involved in all sorts of mayhem.
I also wanted to write a story, which featured a young woman, who was a church going, Roman Catholic. I am tired of reading books where characters purport to practice Catholicism, but in truth the book has an anti-Catholic undertone.
I wanted to write a story about a faith filled, young woman who deals with life as it’s handed to her. I also wanted it to be entertaining and humorous.
M. Judeth Nelson
I am currently working on the second installment in the Jackie Foster Mystery series. I have a working title, but it could change, so I won't share it right now.
M. Judeth Nelson
My advice to aspiring writers would be to stop aspiring and write. To quote Yoda from "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back"
Yoda : "Do. Or do not. There is no try."
Yoda : "Do. Or do not. There is no try."
M. Judeth Nelson
The best thing about being a writer is I get to share my stories with a wider audience. I come from a family with a very rich oral tradition of telling each other stories. It started with me telling my sister stories at bedtime and when my nieces and nephews came along I told them stories too. I enjoyed including them in the storyline and watching the delight and joy on their faces as I involve them in my story. Unfortunately, as a writer, I don't get to see my readers face as they read the story, so I welcome feedback.
M. Judeth Nelson
I write the best really early in the morning around 7 AM. I get my coffee and I just start to write. I haven't really experienced writers block in that I'm not able to write. I pray before I write. I ask God to direct my thoughts and the story. I've had dilemmas and puzzled and worked out scenario in my mind over the course of a few days, but I don't think of that as writers block I think of it as working the problem.
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