Manassas resident publishes ‘Sour’ poetry collection

We’re told that “SOUR” is exactly what it claims . . . “a book of bitter little love poems” – sometimes very bitter.

These poems give a brutally honest account of what we endure in the depths of a relationship, and frequently only have the power to rage against once the relationship is over.

Manassas resident, Amanda Valerie Judd, recently released her first collection of poems; “SOUR – A Book of Bitter Little Love Poems.” The collection of sour love poems was released on Valentine’s Day, and Ms. Judd says the irony of the release date was intentional.

Several of the poems touch on the verbal abuse suffered by many women at the hands of men who supposedly love them. Some of the poems are hard to read.

“They were even harder to live through,” says the author. “While it was cathartic to write them, it was almost painful to release them to the world.” While she says some of the poems are autobiographic, others are just observances she made of the relationships of her friends. “Abuse of women by the men they love is an epidemic in this country, and some women don’t even realize they are being abused.”

While she never intended for the book to be a voice for the cause, Ms. Judd is more than happy if she and her book can somehow help support the cause.

Ms. Judd grew up in northern Indiana, attending Indiana University at South Bend, where she received her Paralegal Studies Certificate.

She has worked for over 20 years in the legal community, a career which eventually brought her to the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area.

While she loves the law, she feels the time has come to devote herself completely to her writing. She has been writing poetry since she was a child, and although she also writes short stories, and is at work on her first novel, she considers herself a poet, first and foremost. Her poems have previously been published in a few different literary journals and anthologies, most recently in the international anthology, “The Poetic Bond V.”

Her poetry book is currently available on www.Amazon.com.

Ms. Judd lived in several Virginia cities before settling in Manassas, which she says she loves because of its small town feel. “I spend a lot of time in Old Town Manassas. I love all the little shops, and the fact that the owners actually get to know their customers.”

The coffee shops, Central Grounds and Jirani, have been especially supportive of local authors frequently hosting events for the group “Write by the Rails,” which is the local chapter of the Virginia Writer’s Club, and of which, Ms. Judd is a member.

“I credit the group with giving me the final push I needed to follow my dream.” Words of praise for “SOUR” – “Quite unique, and . . . refreshing to read.” John M. Mills, author of several books, including the award-winning, “The Year Without Christmas.”

Ms. Judd will be attending the upcoming “Beer & Books” Night at Bad Wolf Brewery on Saturday, June 25 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. along with several other local Prince William County writers. For more information about Ms. Judd, please visit her website www.amandavjudd.com.