Ask the Author: Judith Erwin
Answered Questions (7)
Judith Erwin
In my novel, Shadows from the Past, I used a mystery from my life. In the 1920s, my paternal grandmother's brother was admitted to the Milledgeville State Hospital in Milledgeville, Georgia, a mental health facility, which many referred to as insane asylum. To my knowledge, he was never released and died there in the 1960s.
As a child, traveling from Atlanta to my grandfather's home in South Georgia, my father would point to the buildings as we passed through Milledgeville and remark how Uncle Jim was there. We never visited. When I asked why he was there, Daddy always said, "Because he threatened to kill his boss."
In 2014, as I drove though wooded areas of North Carolina on the way to my granddaughter's wedding, for some reason, Uncle Jim and Milledgeville came to mind. As a family law attorney, I had my share of clients who made such threats but not really intending to commit murder. None were institutionalized. I began to wonder whether Uncle Jim's threat was serious? Did he make any move to act on it? My research began.
I wanted to read Uncle Jim's admission records. Although I applied several times, my requests were ignored. But I did find that many atrocities took place with commitment of healthy individuals on flimsy grounds to what became one of the largest institutions of it's kind. With the small scrap of information, I built the fictional story of Fury O'Quinn and her quest to uncover the truth of why her grandmother's brother spent his life in the state hospital and what caused her young grandmother to return to the family's homeland (Ireland) at the time of his commitment.
As a child, traveling from Atlanta to my grandfather's home in South Georgia, my father would point to the buildings as we passed through Milledgeville and remark how Uncle Jim was there. We never visited. When I asked why he was there, Daddy always said, "Because he threatened to kill his boss."
In 2014, as I drove though wooded areas of North Carolina on the way to my granddaughter's wedding, for some reason, Uncle Jim and Milledgeville came to mind. As a family law attorney, I had my share of clients who made such threats but not really intending to commit murder. None were institutionalized. I began to wonder whether Uncle Jim's threat was serious? Did he make any move to act on it? My research began.
I wanted to read Uncle Jim's admission records. Although I applied several times, my requests were ignored. But I did find that many atrocities took place with commitment of healthy individuals on flimsy grounds to what became one of the largest institutions of it's kind. With the small scrap of information, I built the fictional story of Fury O'Quinn and her quest to uncover the truth of why her grandmother's brother spent his life in the state hospital and what caused her young grandmother to return to the family's homeland (Ireland) at the time of his commitment.
Judith Erwin
Thank you, Rhonda. Comments like you made keep the keys of my computer clicking.
In response to your question, there is a new book in the making. You met Scarlett Kavanagh in Shadows from the Past. The first draft of her story is a little over half complete. In addition, Fury O'Quinn is writing book #1 of a romance series. For reasons that I can't reveal just yet, I'm not sure whether Scarlett's story will continue the Shadow theme in the title. But, you will see Fury and Gray again in book #4. Even Dan Cameron passes through.
In response to your question, there is a new book in the making. You met Scarlett Kavanagh in Shadows from the Past. The first draft of her story is a little over half complete. In addition, Fury O'Quinn is writing book #1 of a romance series. For reasons that I can't reveal just yet, I'm not sure whether Scarlett's story will continue the Shadow theme in the title. But, you will see Fury and Gray again in book #4. Even Dan Cameron passes through.
Judith Erwin
Autonomy. When I write, I control all the action. Further, through my characters, I can do things that I have never, and will never, do in real life. It's like returning to the childhood land of pretend.
Judith Erwin
Write without boundaries. You can always edit. Don't try to make your first draft publication ready, or you will never finish a manuscript. Most of all, follow your heart.
Judith Erwin
I am revising my second novel, Shadow of Betrayal, for fall publication and working on the first draft of my third. The former is about a young woman who sacrificed a career for marriage to a man who betrayed her. Forced to reinvent herself, the effect of her broken marriage stands in the way of her taking another chance on love--no matter how tempting.
Judith Erwin
My inspiration is found many places: something I read, a movie or TV program, a situation that I witness, a piece of music. In short, anything that sparks an emotion. From the seed, I use the Stephen King technique of "What if?" However, for the words to flow, I have to be in the scene.
Judith Erwin
I was intrigued by the idea that someone can find his or herself in a situation that requires an action, but all available choices are unacceptable..
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