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Central to Elliott’s body of work is her identity not only as an artist but as a mother to three sons, two of whom served in Afghanistan. Their military service served as the catalyst for The Everyday Patriot, a project that stands out as a unique contribution to historical memory. Through this initiative, Elliott has chronicled the stories of individual military members, ensuring that their service and humanity are neither forgotten nor generalized. It is this same approach — detail-driven, respectful, and story-first — that defines all her work, from blog posts to biographies to visual compositions.
Elliott’s creative presence spans multiple digital platforms. Her main site, Take the Back Roads, acts as a central hub for narratives drawn from her journey, while her online gallery, shop.takethebackroads.com, features a curated collection of nature and travel photography. Complementing her main storytelling outlet is Rite of Fancy, a site dedicated to book recommendations that reflect her literary tastes and narrative interests, and Everyday Patriot, which archives her contributions to honoring U.S. service members.
In addition to her creative output, Elliott is deeply engaged in civic and volunteer work. She is a master gardener and an active member of the Friends of Old Lick, a local organization in Virginia working to restore and preserve a historic cemetery. The cemetery, notable for its complex and somber history, aligns with Elliott’s broader commitment to remembering and honoring the past in meaningful, community-focused ways. She is also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, further reinforcing her long-standing dedication to civic service and historical preservation.
Her personal resilience also plays a notable role in shaping her work. Having survived a near-fatal auto-pedestrian accident, Elliott brings a unique perspective to her photography and writing — one that values the fleeting nature of life and the small, easily missed details that define our shared experiences. This outlook is evident in her visual style and storytelling, both of which prioritize authenticity over spectacle and substance over speed.
What distinguishes Elliott from others in her field is not only her breadth of output — spanning photography, blogging, historical biography, and book curation — but also her underlying mission. Her work is fueled by volunteerism, a passion for historical accuracy, and a steadfast belief in the power of individual stories. These principles guide everything she creates, setting her apart in a crowded creative landscape where many pursue virality over value.
When asked about her artistic mission, Elliott notes, “It is difficult to entice people to engage if you don't have a great story.” This perspective captures both the challenge and the opportunity inherent in her work. In a digital era saturated with content, she invites her audience to slow down, observe more closely, and engage more deeply — whether through the lens of a forgotten soldier’s biography, a photograph of a mist-covered road, or a thoughtful book review.
For readers and viewers seeking authentic storytelling anchored in place, purpose, and personal experience, A.D. Elliott’s work offers a rich and resonant experience. It is not simply about the places she visits or the people she writes about, but the act of seeing — of really seeing — the world and the stories within it.
Her journey continues online through her writings at Take the Back Roads, her visual gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com, her military biography archive at Everyday Patriot, and her curated literary collection at Rite of Fancy. Her work can also be followed on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), where she continues to share her ongoing discoveries and reflections.
A.D. Elliott’s story is not only about the roads taken but also about those often ignored — the lesser-known trails and the personal journeys that reveal the heart of a nation and the resilience of its people.