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| My Mother and Me |
I woke up this morning to the strangest dream ever. It is so bizarre, I can't wrap my head around it. When I say, that it was surreal, people changed into Bengal cats, goats and others as shapeshifters, that is putting it mildly. Umm. Is there a fantasy novel for me brewing in the dark recesses of my mind? Oh, of all people, guess who else was in it? The actor James Woods, he turned into a lion, Rob Patterson, not as a vampire, but as a goat, yep, and Lilly Tomlin, the comedian, who changed into a hummingbird. As for me, I changed into an eagle and soared anywhere I wanted to go with the hummingbird on my back telling me constant jokes. I must admit, it was pretty exhilarating to soar above oceans and mountains, even if it were only a dream. When I landed, I landed into my precious mother's backyard, along with the hummingbird. I quickly changed into my human form. My mother and I enjoyed a cup of coffee as the hummingbird entertained us. I told you this dream was weird.
Nothing is nothing weird about this next author from New Zealand, best known as the frontman of the alternative rock act IVY BLUE I am going to introduce you to. I hope you enjoy reading about him and his book. Meet James Brodie and learn about his autobiography book in his author interview below. Enjoy!
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| JAMES BRODIE |
Tell your readers a little about yourself, where you grew up, where you live now, where you went to school etc. Let them get to know the personal you.
I am an entertainer from Te Aroha, New Zealand- best known as the face of alternative-rock act Ivy Blue. I am also an author, mental health advocate, speaker, and actor- having worked with the Future Te Aroha Trust on various projects, including participating in countless productions as a member of ACTA for close to 2 decades- having also produced a film with them called "One Day Soon" in 2012. Throughout my life, I have also battled mental health issues and neurological disabilities Autism and ADHD. Despite this, I have continued to be creatively active and defying my critics, having performed in countless seasons at Future Te Aroha (including some of the biggest musicals in the world) since 2001, releasing new music with Ivy Blue regularly since 2014, and performing live both in New Zealand and overseas with my music and continuing to share his stories both on and off stage.
What inspired you to author this book?
I've been asked a few times to work on a book like this and I've been working on this on and off since mid-2013 (before Ivy Blue was even formed). What made me really want to kick things into gear was a combination of people starting to wake up from the dream that "Everyone's doing OK all the time and the world is always filled with Roses." But I also had a close-call with death as a result of heart problems and that woke me up and got me to consider seriously writing things down and telling the stories that I wanted to tell in the hope that it can help people and I can introduce people to my shadows in a way that is positive and useful to the world.
Where did you get the inspiration for your book’s cover?
I did a painting a couple of years ago where I imagined that my head was finding its place in a galaxy of color-filled stars and clouds. This painting proved very influential in my intentions for the front cover, so a digital version was created, and this is how the front cover came into existence. The guy who created it took my painting and made it better than any of my wildest dreams could have imagined.
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Who has been the most significant influence on you personally and as a writer?
As a writer- I would have to say that I look to musicians more than authors (just because I'm more used to writing songs than books), but I did read several autobiographies from a range of fields including "Big Blue Sky" by Peter Garrett, "What Does This Button Do?" by Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson, Chloe Lukasiak's "Girl En Pointe", "The Madde Diaries" by Maddie Ziegler, Kenzie Ziegler's "Rules For Life", and a few other bits and pieces as well. My writing tutor at Wintec is someone I really look up to and she's been really helpful too. But as for my personal life, my biggest influences are my friends and family (several of whom I've written about in this book and several of whom have gone on to be successful in their own rights). I view those people as brothers and sisters and there's no way I could have got here without them. I could never thank them enough and I'm always here for them if they need me.
What were your struggles or obstacles you had to overcome to get this book written?
The biggest challenge I had faced during the writing of this book was having to revisit some of my dark moments and the lowest points of my struggle with mental health, anxiety, anger, and a few other issues. Looking back on some of those moments- I was a version of myself that I never wanted to be, and I am very thankful that I am not that person anymore. But to write about my journey- and to do so honestly; I had to revisit those shadows and write about them very honestly. I could not do this any other way.
Tell your readers about your book.
Within my book, I talk about my journey in detail for the first time with no holds barred and offering an insight into my life not previously available as I have continued to fight his demons and work in the creative fields. I have been notoriously private over the course of my life but to educate people about Autism and ADHD and mental health from my own perspective, I'm talking about his private life for the first time and opening up about the insanity, the regrets, the demons, and every subject that I can possibly cover in an effort to help others with their journeys by sharing my shadows along the mutual road of life.
Who is your target audience, and why?
My target audience for this book is anyone who's been through mental health issues and neurological disability (or maybe going through it right now), but it's suitable for ages 12 and up (and if you're under this age- you're going to learn a few new words that your parents won't like and I take no responsibility for any consequences that you may get into). This book is very raw a very open, so some parts may be disturbing to some readers, but I make no apology for the raw nature of the story as the only way to tell my story is to tell it honestly- warts and all.
What do you consider your greatest success in life?
It depends on what area of my life you're referring to. I've worked in so many areas of work that I can't just pick one. So if I may take your question in another direction, I'll give you a highlight from each of the areas I have worked in to give you an overview of the work I have done in my life:
Music: Releasing 8 Ivy Blue albums and performing a sold-out outdoor three nightstand in Munich, Germany at Stoke Travel's Stoketoberfest.
Acting: Working with the same 4 people for the better part of a decade doing some of the world's biggest shows together and somehow still maintaining some kind of friendship with them for 20 years while everyone has continued to work in their own ways.
Work In Mental Health: Consulting with several New Zealand politicans (including Prime Ministers and ministers of cabinet) to help put together a plan for addressing mental health in New Zealand and improving our services to meet world standards. There is still a lot of work to do and we're nowhere close to perfect, but the foundation has been laid and it's time to build the house on top of it.
Personal Life: Pulling myself out of hell and taking myself away from the 14-year-old nightmare that I had become because of not only my own neurological issues and mental health issues- but other outside factors that sent me to my lowest depths of what I could handle; and turning myself around to become a better friend, son, brother, workmate, castmate, and in general a human being that can not only exist in the world, but truly live.
Music: Releasing 8 Ivy Blue albums and performing a sold-out outdoor three nightstand in Munich, Germany at Stoke Travel's Stoketoberfest.
Acting: Working with the same 4 people for the better part of a decade doing some of the world's biggest shows together and somehow still maintaining some kind of friendship with them for 20 years while everyone has continued to work in their own ways.
Work In Mental Health: Consulting with several New Zealand politicans (including Prime Ministers and ministers of cabinet) to help put together a plan for addressing mental health in New Zealand and improving our services to meet world standards. There is still a lot of work to do and we're nowhere close to perfect, but the foundation has been laid and it's time to build the house on top of it.
Personal Life: Pulling myself out of hell and taking myself away from the 14-year-old nightmare that I had become because of not only my own neurological issues and mental health issues- but other outside factors that sent me to my lowest depths of what I could handle; and turning myself around to become a better friend, son, brother, workmate, castmate, and in general a human being that can not only exist in the world, but truly live.
What one unique thing sets you apart from other writers in your genre?
I'm another person with a story to tell and there are a lot more popular things to talk about than mental health issues and such- but what sets this apart is that I'm talking about my journey with mental health issues as well as my neurological disabilities and the creative journey I have taken since I was a toddler (nearly 20 years) and I'm talking about it from my perspective. There are plenty of books out there for those who want to learn about Autism, ADHD, and mental health issues; but they don't really come from the perspective of someone with those issues- but more from people who have researched them over many years. My experiences are things you can't discover in a neurological study and I hop those experiences from my perspective will help your readers who may be in similar pairs of shoes. If you like a good read, then this book is also for you.
A.D.A.M. THE BEGINNING OF LIFE
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Meet Dr. Sandra Eve Bradford, an astrobiological researcher in charge of the A.D.A.M. Extraction Team who discovered a microbe which thrives off of arsenic on the bottom of Mono Lake in California. General Anbar, Chief in Charge of the U.S. National Defense, orders his team to confiscate the samples and her research. Dr. Bradford enlists her fellow researchers, Dr. Gregory Peterson, and her undergraduate assistant, Jessica Parker, to retrieve a new sample setting off a series of events and consequences. In a government research facility, the microbe transformed into something alien. Once it becomes apparent to General Anbar the life form presents a national security risk, he orders his men to kidnap Dr. Bradford and holds her captive in an underground facility to continue her research. The life form over a seven-day stretch morphs into a humanlike life form aging every moment toward death. His journey makes him question - What is life? What is love? What is hate? And, is there a God? This a story of possibilities and raises the questions - Are we alone in the universe?
What else could be out there?
THE KEYSTROKE KILLER: TRANSCENDENCE
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New Orleans - 2058 - MATTHEW RAYMOND, a private detective, locked into a maze of deceit and deception uncovers the truth of Project Transcendence. A gripping page-turning thriller serial killer novel in the tradition of "The Silence of the Lambs," "Darkly Dreaming Dexter," and "Misery" that demands to be read. One part suspenseful thriller of 'who done it,' one part science fiction and one part sizzling erotica that makes "Fifty Shades of Grey" look PG, "The Keystroke Killer: Transcendence" is an impressive debut for Caudle as she weaves her characters into a dark and twisted journey to uncover a deranged and utterly immoral serial killer who controls a weapon of mass destruction. Set in the backdrops of political corruption and scandal in 2053 New Orleans, the novel follows Matthew a tortured private investigator as he tracks down a violent and dangerous serial killer who is destined to become one of the most genuinely chilling serial killers in fiction.For Matthew Raymond, his job as a private detective is personal. Very Personal. After the disturbing 2053 murder of his sister, Livia, rage filled him igniting a search for her killer and answers to the mysterious questions that lurked around her death. Now, three years later, Matthew realizes his problems just went from bad to worse as he discovers himself immersed in a city where the wealthy and corrupt politicians rule. With his sister's murder still his main focus, he plunges himself into a cunning game of cat-and-mouse when he stumbles across the Keystroke Killer exposing a secret device that makes him capable of sending people to the fourth dimension without a trace. Project Transcendence becomes Matthew's new fixation as he searches the Deep South for answers which uncovers dark family secrets, lies and corruption which makes him a target of the Keystroke Killer. Will Matthew be able to survive the threat of extinction? Will he untangle the mystery of Livia's death? Find out in this powerful twisted and dark tale. "The Keystroke Killer" is unforgettable and grisly disturbing you will not likely forget. This novel is not for the feint of heart, but it is a must read. Only if you dare!
AUDIBLE COMING OCTOBER 2019 NARRATED BY SCOTT ELLIS
HOW TO LAUNCH AND MARKET A BOOK: SIX MONTH COUNTDOWN
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I know what you may think. There are tons of books available on this topic; however, my strategy is tried and true. My books have consistently opened as the #1 New Release on Amazon and the reason is because of the method I present in this book. Oh, so have several other authors who have used my method. If you are serious about increasing your sales, then you need this book. It is available in paperback, eBook, and audible narrated by Timothy Burke. Listen to an excerpt now.
