A Little About Judy…

I'm only guessing here, but you likely came to this page because you want to find out more about me and what I write.

Well… I'm a woman who wears many hats. Writer. Editor. Writing coach. Amateur photographer. Mother. Wife. Science Geek. And time traveler.

My nonfiction (commonly found on my blog) is filled with the chaotic workings of my mind as I navigate the internet, publishing… and life. Being a parent at the birth of the digital era (with the birth of the internet and cellphones) was not easy—and I do what I can to share my knowledge and experiences with others, so they don’t have to navigate the muddy waters alone.

My book Hidden Traps of the Internet focuses on how one can protect themselves on the internet, looking at internet security and the loopholes of using different social media sites. I'm also a contributor to Putting the Science in Fiction, published by Writer's Digest in October 2018.

My fiction leans heavily into science fiction and fantasy. The one time I tried to write a pure contemporary thriller, my brain threw in cloning technologies. I have since come to accept that there is zero point in me trying to fight my inner nature: the science geek in me.

However, I need to warn you now: the bulk of my fiction writing has its roots in the thriller space, diving into the darker sides of society. Shrapnel and body parts fly in every direction. And when my writing buddies read the one piece I wrote where no one died (The Wishing Well: A Short Story), they all asked me if I was feeling okay. Then they all swore at me for turning them into blubbering messes.

It's what I do. And I love it. I pull on the heartstrings by writing stories that push my characters to their limits, forcing them to make difficult choices as they strive to do what is right, living to a moral code—even if what is right goes against societal norms. And sometimes, doing what is right means blowing shit up.

In my day job, I'm a developmental editor and writing coach with Black Wolf Editorial Services, working with writers from around the world. And yes, time zone differences often provide hilarity. I am a day ahead of most of my clients, after all.

On my blog and on the Black Wolf Editor's Blog, I share my experiences and knowledge with others. And many of those posts eventually get turned into nonfiction books. I have made some mistakes along my publication journey—big mistakes. If sharing my knowledge and experience can help just one person avoid making the same mistakes that I've made, then I have achieved something magical.

Pay it forward.

This is the driving ethos behind everything that I do.

Oh… Before I forget… That time traveler thing… I live in New Zealand, the land of the Hobbits. And because I live in New Zealand, I not only experience winter when everyone else is in summer (and vice versa), but I’m also a day ahead of those on the other side of the planet.

So, take a seat and enjoy the roller coaster ride that is my brain.