A.G. Henley

You probably know that I am the author of the Brilliant Darkness series. I’m also a clinical psychologist. Throw in a husband, two kids, and a cocky dog named Guapo, and it makes for an interesting mix.

Like many people, I always wanted to try writing a novel, but I wasn’t sure where to start. I thought I had to wait for a BIG IDEA. So I waited. And waited. But it never showed up. Finally, I decided I would settle for a LITTLE IDEA. And that seemed to work.

I got the initial idea for THE SCOURGE while traveling through the bayous of Louisiana. I had just read a post-apocalyptic novel, and I wondered what would happen if people had to live in those swamps without access to basic necessities. I figured they would move up in the trees. But what if only some of them were allowed to move up while others were left on the ground below?

Over the course of the next month I worked out the details of the world. Then I sat down to write. And I have to agree with E.L. Doctorow when he said, “Planning to write is not writing. Outlining, researching, talking to people about what you are doing, none of that is writing. Writing is writing.”

Writing was hard, but good. I liked it. So I kept doing it. And I still like it, so I’m still doing it. I’m also still waiting for that BIG IDEA. If you happen to see it skittering by, let me know. Until then I’ll keep working on my LITTLE IDEAS. I hope you enjoy what I make of them.