I ordered a ride. It didn’t come.
So I walked.
Judy Adams — Virginia author, three-time self-published, stroke survivor. She brings one hour and one true story to churches, companies, libraries, and conferences across the DMV and beyond.
One book before the stroke. Two after it.
My name is Judy Adams. I’m a three-time self-published author. I wrote one book before my stroke — and two after it.
My first book is Back to Me. It’s about faith. About the support of family and friends. About finding the inner strength to keep going. Then came the stroke. And I had to learn to walk again.
My second book is One Mile of Faith: How a Stroke Survivor Walked Into History. That title is not a metaphor. On Election Day, I heard the call to vote from Abigail Spanberger — who became the first woman elected Governor of Virginia. I ordered a ride. It didn’t come. I ordered a second one. It didn’t come either.
So I walked. One mile. To the nearest polling place. And I cast my vote.
That walk changed me. When I got home, I created my brand — Faith Collection — to inspire and give hope to anyone facing a life challenge of their own.
And it brought me here. After thirty years away, I’ve returned to college. I’m not here because it’s easy. I’m here because I already know what I can do when the ride doesn’t come.
Four ways to have her in the room.
A table, a stack of books, and a real conversation with everyone who comes up to it. She signs personally, and people tend to stay and talk — most of them have a stroke somewhere in their family.
Her own story, told plainly: the book before the stroke, the stroke, learning to walk again, and the mile she walked to vote. It ends where the audience is, not where she is.
The same story, built out for a conference, a company gathering, or an awareness event — resilience as something you practise rather than something you are given.
Stroke recovery, caregiving, faith, self-publishing, or going back to college at her age. She answers questions directly and does not rehearse the hard parts away.
Wherever people are rebuilding something.
Based in Virginia. In person across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Further afield with travel arranged, and anywhere at all by video.
She can bring copies to sell and sign, or you can order them in advance for your attendees. Say which in the form and she will sort it out with you.
An honorarium is welcome and travel is asked for on longer trips. Support groups, rehab units, and library programs are a different conversation — ask anyway.
She is a stroke survivor and speaks at her own pace. A seat, water, and a short walk from the door are all she needs — tell her about the room and she will tell you what works.
Ask her to come.
Tell her what you have in mind and roughly when. She answers every request herself, and you will get a copy of what you sent straight away.
Taking it to a committee? Open the one-page summary — print it or save it as a PDF.
Back to Me and One Mile of Faith
Both are available today, in print and as eBooks.