CHARACTERS INSPIRED FROM LIFE
IN
"RUNNING FROM DUST”
I love books and films which have strong female lead characters.
Characters like Lisbeth Salender in Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series who
can seriously "kick some ass” and take no nonsense. My main
character, Jude, isn’t violent but
she is a strong, hard-working and independent woman.
Jude’s character is a mixture of myself and a good friend of mine
who works in a local secondary school. Being an ex-youth worker and now a
therapist, the more empathic part of Jude comes from me. The part that wants to
get alongside pupils and help them if she can. My friend, whilst caring about
pupils, does not take any nonsense! She won’t shirk away from
upsetting people if it means standing up for what she believes in. Like Jude,
both my friend and I are people who keep getting up when we get knocked
down by life’s circumstances. Having said all that, I think Jude is braver than
both of us combined would be in her situation.
I drew together most of the other characters from people who I’ve
met over the years. There is one member of staff in the school Jude teaches at
who stands out. Through all the drafts of Running From Dust, I thought I had
invented her. That was until recently, I was driving down the road and I had an
epiphany. I realised that I’d unconsciously based the character on an old
boss of mine! I didn’t get on at all with that boss and I think that shows
through the book!
The final real-life inspiration that I have to mention is Jude’s
loyal and faithful friend, Oscar the dog. I named Oscar in memory of two
friend’s dogs who passed away (both called Oscar) during the writing of Running
From Dust. I am a dog lover and have a Bichon Frise who acts like my shadow.
Oscar is similar to my dog. He’s loving and loyal but often a
little dim! However, he is a true friend and will defend me at all costs
when necessary.
"I
could not put this book down." 5 Stars - Goodreads Reviewer
"An
attention grabbing psychological thriller." 5 Stars - Goodreads
Reviewer
Jude
Craig is a level-headed teacher in a Yorkshire secondary school.
Within a matter of days her professional and personal life is
shattered by a series of strange events in her house. What starts
with the sound of papers fluttering to the floor quickly escalates to
her discovering that someone has been in the house whilst she is
sleeping.
When Jude is driven out of her job and home she is
forced to discover whether she is being haunted, stalked by a pupil,
or the terrifying possibility that she is losing her mind.
Jess
Whitby lives in Yorkshire, England. She studied Communication Studies
at University and then went on to train and work as a Youth Worker.
She now works as a Therapist in Yorkshire. When she isn't working she
is busy either writing her next novel or eating her favourite food :
chips and gravy!
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