Ask the Author: A.J. Dudley
Answered Questions (6)
A.J. Dudley
The Feather, which is the first book of the Raven Crest series, is my first and most recent book. The idea for the entire series came to me in a vision. I was driving from my home in Virginia to my family's home in Pittsburgh, and it was as though I was lifted out of my car and set into a movie theater. For seven hours I watched what was the greatest story I had ever seen. I was elated. I couldn't wait to share it with everyone. The only problem was that the movie didn't exist, the story was not even written and no one would want me to describe a seven hour movie in detail to them. I knew that if I ever wanted the world to see this I would have to write it. When the trilogy is done, I will begin working on the film script!
A.J. Dudley
The outlines for what I want to write are already out there for me to focus on, but the deep richness of the details and perspectives come from things I bump into through daily life: something my kids say, a song on the radio, a struggle of a friend with whom I am walking through life at the moment. Ultimately I believe it's orchestrated by God, like a lovely tapestry of varying colors and patterns. If I am the needle and the trail of my life is the thread, He is the hand that does the work to put in place each moment. The inspiration for the next word comes from the last place I have been. Sometimes I turn around and look at where my life has been and all that I have learned and been inspired by along the way and say, "WOW God, That's AMAZING!"
A.J. Dudley
A leader's manual for an equine assisted discipleship program entitled A Thousand Names. I only have about 60 pages to write, but it's more technical so it's not as easy flowing. This is so very dear to my heart. It is the accumulation of all the things I love: Jesus, horses, movies, music, and girl talks!
Also, I am currently gathering the last bit of research for the next book in the Raven Crest Series; The Sword.
Also, I am currently gathering the last bit of research for the next book in the Raven Crest Series; The Sword.
A.J. Dudley
Find your story. Look deep inside and find the story that your life has been mounting towards. When you put your words onto the paper let them not be vague thoughts and ideas, but make them glimpses into your soul. People will want to read about themselves and when the real you is out there, they will find themselves in that. Make each work, your greatest work. Making it out there will require that you are willing to lay down your time, energy, money, even your ego, so make it worth the price, and when the time comes be willing to pay it.
A.J. Dudley
I love the traveling and research that writing necessarily adds to my schedule, but the best part is making the connection with a reader who has entered the land where my head has lived for so long. As a fiction writer, I have lived in another world that no other person has entered. When someone comes along and begins to read, they step into it and with me and as the pages turn they come to know and love the characters I have loved. Chatting with someone who found themselves caught up into the story and has now emerged back into reality a different person because of it... ahh that's the best!
A.J. Dudley
I have yet to experience writer's block. I think it may be that I haven't yet exhausted my supply of thoughts and ideas that have built up over the years. As a wife and mother of 5 as well as a business owner, I have much less time to write than I would like. I think living life, working through problems, and nurturing the sweet moments builds things up inside of me that are ready to burst out onto the page when I finally have a moment to write!
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