Authentic Author.
Stroke Survivor.
Fierce Female!
A Little About Me.
If you really want to know about me, you can read my books, which should explain why I am the way I am. In the meantime…
-After my mother passed away, I realized my need to write. I had always written short stories or poems when I was younger, but didn’t know the joy it brought me until I was in my mid 40’s. And my mother was the biggest fan of my writing so hopefully it brings her great happiness on the other side
-My ‘soul mutt,’ Joaquin keeps me motivated every day to persevere. After all, someone has to feed and walk him so he can do his business outside
-Not having had any children of my own, Alana has been my ‘little sister’ (from the Big Brother’s/Big Sister’s organization) for over 7 years now and will be in my life until the end. “We are two pieces cut from the same cloth that have been separated by time and circumstances, only to be brought back together as one.” - Excerpt from Sperm Donor (and The Gift of a Stroke)
-And, yes, I am a bit tenacious about riding a motorcycle. My closest friends are in denial that I’ll do it again. But I will, so they should prepare themselves accordingly
Listen Up!!!
Care to purchase my first published book, Owed to My Mother? It is available for purchase at any online retailer, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. Or you can get it through the publisher by clicking the link below. Reviews are best found on Amazon!
Can You Feel It? I Can!!!
A friend once told me I need to be able to pivot. In my career. In my life. In what I want. So, that’s what I’m working on right now; my pivoting capabilities.
Sperm Donor (and The Gift of a Stroke) is the second novel I’ve written and was sent to over 50 different literary agents and 10 traditional publishers in hopes of getting signed with a traditional publisher. I got the same deal as with Owed to My Mother; Five hybrid publishers wanted to publish it, but I wanted more. Then, I sent it to an agent in L.A. and she suggested I write a movie screenplay based on the book but with a few more things added.
Can you say PIVOT?
So, I began a screenwriting quest, and I actually wrote three screenplays:
How The Light Got In - (Inspired by my story) When a stroke shatters her world, a resilient young woman discovers her true strength and finds love and forgiveness as she rebuilds her life again from the ground up.
My Beloved - After a young South Africa woman suffers great trauma and grief that could have silenced her forever, she travels abroad to New Jersey, where she lives with a loving family and learns to find her voice again.
Better Late Then Never - Sometimes a person from your past is the only one that can make the present feel like home. You just have to be ready and let them in.
I am currently trying to find a movie production company that wants to make the screenplays into movies!
Check out the Proof of Concept (POC) video for How The Light Got In
(UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
The goal is to spark someone’s interest by the video above, because as Lady Gaga always says “you can be in front of 99 people and it just takes that one person to give you a chance.” Well, I’m holding out for that one!
Goals, Goals, Goals
It all started as the result of a trip home to Jersey, where my life-long friend, Marie asked me if I wanted to do anything special while I was there. The one thing that popped into my head was to ride a two-wheeled bike again. Since having the stroke, I can’t maintain my balance so I’ve resorted to a trike. But one night (and after a few alcoholic beverages), Marie, her husband, and her two teenaged kids made sure I got on a bike again. Click below to view a video of this adventure!
Conquering a Two-Wheel Bike Post-Stroke
And that is how my goal quest started. For items marked “Done!” below, see “Post-Stroke Goals” page for pictures/videos of each goal conquered! My list includes:
Ride a motorcycle again (with Keanu Reeves as instructor)
Singing in front of a large audience (Done!)
Archery (Done!)
Gun Shooting (Done!)
Shoot pool (Done!)
Bowling (Done!)
Top Golf (Done!)
Ride a horse (Done)
Skiing
Kiss the Blarney Stone (IE)
Repel down a mountain (Done!)
Scuba Diving
Bungee jump (Tandem)
Sky Dive (Done! Sort of - did iFlying instead)
Axe Throwing (Done!)
Next up is # 9: Skiing!
How an Unexpected Stroke at 44 Gave Nadine a New Lease on Life
Nadine proves that even when life hands you the kind of lemons nobody asks for, you can still make some kick-ass lemonade..
