About D. Perdue Henderson:
After 20 years of working as an assistant director and stage manager of multiple stage productions and dance concerts, and partaking in music, voice, and art, it was only logical that D. Perdue Henderson would become a novelist too. Her interest in character development and Why People Do What They Do piqued her interest in psychology and sociology. Taking classes in these areas gave her the perspective she needed to write about the more difficult subjects.
Her first novel Branded (2010) is a suspense thriller about a kidnapped child and lost innocence. A disturbing subject for some, but written in a way young adults can identify – loss of freedom. She compares it to a Criminal Minds television episode. Her second novel Hayden Heyer and the Twin Guardians (Twin Guardian Publishing, 2012) is a fantasy romance with Christian themes. It introduces the reader to the basics of Christianity in a way non-Christians can appreciate. Comparable to the book Twilight by Stephanie Meyers, but with angels instead of vampires.
Every story captivates! You will not be bored!
What inspires you to write?
For me, inspiration comes from watching people and from the news. When I wrote Branded, I was watching the Nancy Grace show about a young girl who was kidnapped and spotted at a Walmart store with her kidnapper. I was concerned why the girl did not run when security detained him and tackled her kidnapper to the ground. Instead, she stood there as if waiting to be told what to do. This led me to write about it so I could get inside the mind of the victim.
When I wrote Hayden Heyer and the Twin Guardians, I had no plans on publishing it. I simply wanted to write a book to praise God and explain some of the basics of Christianity. I had fun with the characters. I made one of the twins moody and defensive while the other was sentimental and caring, leaving the main character confused. I would read sections to my niece to see if she liked it and realized there was an actual desire to learn about God. She began telling her friends and they wanted to hear about Hayden and the twin angels, so I published it. My niece wanted more and there were still additional questions to be answered about God and Religion, so I decided to make it a series. Only this time, I am adding other colorful characters to the story line and some danger to make it more interesting.
Tell us about your writing process.
I am a Seat Of The Pants Writer. I could be sitting in a restaurant waiting for the server, just watching people come and go when I come up with an idea. Then I try to put a personality behind that character. What would they say? What would they do? How would they behave? What kind of conflicts would that type of personality have? How would that type of character get that way? If I can piece all that together, I make a note in my phone so I don’t lose it. Later in the week, if the character is powerful enough, I will expand on that train of thought. If not, I delete the note altogether. Right now, I have 3 or 4 good ideas going.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Yes, I talk to my characters. Doesn’t everybody? I have to be able to put myself in their shoes to understand how they think and act. What are they obsessed with or preoccupied with at that moment? Are they hurt, scared, or just insecurities. How does that make them feel? How would they react? If I am pulled away from my writing for some reason, I usually find myself rushing back to find out how the character is going to handle a problem or comment on it. Sometimes, they may even be in the middle of a sarcastic response and decided to write a sneaky underhanded gesture instead, all because it fits the characters personality at the time.
What advice would you give other writers?
I would tell them to write for themselves. Write as if you had no plans to publishing your work. Be as silly and creative as you want, no one is going to read it anyway. Try to add three different characters to the story line before you give up too. You would be surprised how that can fuel your imagination. If you don’t like it, don’t delete it. Instead, walk away for an hour or so and try again. Inspiration may have struck while you were watching T.V. or talking to a friend. If you still have doubts, save a copy to your hard-drive and date it with a note. You might be able to use it later for another story.
(Examples: SailAwayBk1_012410_deletedOpeningPoem UncleTomsCabinBk3_041515_addedJungleScene)
If by chance, you like what was written and think it’s good, read it to someone out loud and make adjustment along the way. Make sure you read what is written and not what you think is written. Sometimes, train of thought is messed up and what you wanted to say is not what is written. If you corrected everything needed and think it’s ready for release, give it to someone you trust and ask them to edit it. Have them read it twice. Once for story line, to see if it works or if there is a gap in the characters development, and once for mistakes and typos. Allow them to mark it up too. If you have plans to publish, you want the best possible version to be out there. So take your time. There is no hurry to publish anything. Just remember – Quality over speed.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I started with a writing competition and won. Free publication was one of the awards and I have always wanted to be an author, so I took them up on their offer and had my first book Branded published. After the nervousness of the first one was out of the way, the second one was much easier to do. Now, I help others publish their first novel, because I know how nerve racking it can be.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I am not a fan of taking away royalties from authors when someone returns a book, especially an electronic version, but I am thrilled to see young people reading again. The popularity of the Harry Potter series did great things for the book industry and getting people to read. I know that electronic books are becoming popular, but I am hoping that the printed book has a place in the heart of readers for years to come.
What do you use?: Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: I like writing Fantasy Fiction, Romance, and Suspense novels.
What formats are your books in?: eBook, Print, Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
D. Perdue Henderson Home Page Link
Link To D. Perdue Henderson Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit, to allow you, the reader, to hear the author in their own voice.
