About Redbird

From the Bird's Nest
On Our 16th Anniversary

Watching the kid grow...

When I was little I knew exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up - a mom. I flirted with the idea of being a nurse, cowboy, ballerina, nun, gun moll and stunt flyer, but always went back to "mom." When that didn't work out, I slid through dozens of jobs in business and came to rest as a writer.

Then I got an idea for a writer's place called Redbird and became sort of a mom after all. I fed it, stayed up all night, guarded it from bullies, paid the phone bill and kept the faith. Now it's all grown up and wonderful. I may not deserve the credit, but I'm taking it.

And now it's time for a change, time for me to devote more attention to other birds in the nest. I'm working on the 2nd- or 3rd-to-last draft of Shut Up & Write! and getting very excited about it. Soon, there will be book sales - lots of them, I hope - plus more private consults and workshops on the road as well as some at Redbird.

Kim Suhr is taking over the writing workshops so Redbird as you know it will continue to thrive. She will run adult and young writer programs; I will meddle now and then. She will use the name RedBird-RedOak; I will continue to use the name Redbird Studio. It may be a little confusing for awhile but we'll all get used to it.

One thing I know for sure is that this is the right thing to do and the right time to do it. The time to move on is when everything is strong, there are capable people in charge, and I have lots to do. I'll always be the one who founded the place. And I'll always be in the wings, smiling.

Judy (Redbird) Bridges