About JF Ridgley

From historical epics to contemporary romance, meet the mind behind gripping tales.

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Living, Loving, and Laughing Through My Stories

I am the author of eight novels and short stories set in ancient Rome and three contemporary romance novels. I love researching history and writing fiction based on real stories of real people. I also love to write contemporary romance because of the ancient Roman saying of ‘Live. Love. Laugh’ is just as true today. Learn more about my books at JFRidgley.com.

Time Changes, People Don’t

I love what my mother said. It’s true. I see it in my stories set in ancient Rome and in modern-day stories. People still feel. They love. They care. Not only that, but they get mad…. Isn’t it amazing how smart mothers are? I overlooked this growing up, rebelling against them even. But time changes that. Well, it did with me. I remember my mother saying, “Times change. People don’t.” And Mom was right…

A First Draft, a Headless Knight, and Me

I got into writing because of King Arthur. I have a draft of his story in the archives of my computer…somewhere. ‘Shadows in the Mist,’ I named it. It has a great story with all but Gawain and the Green Knight. I have all the other popular stories I could find of Arthur melded into ‘Shadows.’ All but that headless knight. 

How can you work that one in? I still don’t know. The draft is long. Very long. And, as Ann LaMont calls it, a ‘shitty first draft.’ Oh, I thought my creation was wonderful. Beautiful. Now with learning this craft of writing, OMG, it’s terrible. It needs rewriting, character development, setting details, and sensory details. I plan to get back to it one day. I promise.

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Growing Up and Showing Up

But every day times do change, and every day people change. I can vouch for that. I think it’s called growing up and living life. Even though I was an avid reader, I never dreamed I would write a book one day.

  • Stories That Shaped Me

    My favorite books growing up were the ‘Black Stallion’ series by Walter Farley and ‘Black Beauty’ by Anna Sewell. The first book I read in one day was ‘A Lantern in Her Hand’ by Bess Streeter Aldrich. ‘God is an Englishman’ by R.F. Delderfield stole my heart with his draft teams. I still get tears when he describes that team climbing a rainy hill to save those men trapped in a cave on that rainy night. Yeah, I could go on.

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Riding Into My Early Days

My earlier days were about horses, and eventually, Valjean—my bay American Saddlebred gelding—and I won the Reserve World Champion Five-Gaited Pleasure class in… well, a long time ago.

A Book Born in the Classroom

After that, I got busy raisin’ kids and teaching. It was my eighth graders who sparked off my first book, ‘Shadows in the Mist’, a King Arthur legend, which is still not published. I have hopes to do that one day.

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Being an Author Today

So, I became an author and haven’t stopped. It keeps me broke and outta trouble. So yes, I changed over time. I bet you have too.

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Lost in the Quicksand of History

I also realized that I love researching history—finding real people like Arthur, who was a Celtic chief as well as a fictional king. That curiosity led me to explore ancient Rome. You don’t encounter a Celt without bumping into a Roman, and before I knew it, I was captured in the quicksand of Ancient Rome—ancient history, ancient Celts. Thanks, Mom. You were right. Okay… I’ll say it again: you were right.

Speaking and Inspiring Audiences Worldwide

I don’t just speak—I electrify audiences, inspiring them to dream. I awaken infinite possibilities in my listeners for the pursuit of the impossible.

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From My World to Yours

I’ve walked through history, explored romance, and let my imagination roam free. Writing allows me to share the worlds and characters I love. Every tale is a bridge between me and you, my reader. There’s always more to explore behind the pages. If you want to chat about stories, ideas, or anything at all, get in touch with me today.