Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to share my work with Judaica in the Spotlight! Writing for children is my third career. Earlier in my life, I worked as a stage manager. Then I went back to school and got my degrees in social work and clinical psychology. And now, many years later, I am a writer. It’s been a fun and interesting journey.
What inspired you to become an author?
I grew up loving theater. Watching characters‘ lives get played out on stage captured my imagination and let me experience emotions I had never felt. In addition, as a therapist, I worked with people who came from all walks of life and dealt with a broad range of human circumstances. The more you open yourself up to life, the more questions arise: What are our choices? How do those choices affect our life-journey? How do we form our life passions, and what gets in the way of us realizing our dreams?
Where and when do you write? Do you have a writing routine?
I like to move around when I write – the kitchen, the public library, my office, a coffee shop. I try not to be too rigid about a writing routine.
How long does it take you to finish a book?
I primarily write picture books. Although they are short on words, because they require a lot of research, they often take a year or more to complete. And don’t be fooled by thinking that writing fewer words is easier than writing a long piece! Writing a story with character, theme, and heart in very few words is extremely challenging.
Which authors can we find in your library?
I love this question! Among the authors on my bookshelves you’d find: Donna Gephart, Donna Bowman, Gary Golio, Candace Fleming, Leslea Newman, Rachelle Burk, Shutta Crum, and Amalia Hoffman. But I’m a big library user, so there are many authors I love whose books I don’t own.
What advice would you give an aspiring author?
Write. Revise. Repeat.
Write about what matters to you, because you’re going to be spending a lot of time with your characters.
Don’t give up if it’s what you really want.
Get support from a critique group.
If you don’t love it, don’t waste your time. The work is solitary, the hours are long, and there are much easier ways to earn a paycheck.
Where can our readers purchase your books?
Check your local indy bookstores, and if they don’t carry them, ask them if they would! My books can also be ordered on Amazon or other online book sellers.
Photos: Courtesy of Audrey Ades
On which Social Media channels can our readers connect with you?
Old fashioned email is the best way to reach me. [email protected].
You can also visit my website, AudreyAdesBooks.com. The website has lots of interesting information and activities related to my books. I enjoy meeting my readers and am available for school and synagogue visits!
