I had the honor of interviewing many artists in this news blog. There were many that have been in this blog and left while others came and remained like family. One of the artists that came and remained like family is Brooklyn James.

Brooklyn James is one of the few singer songwriters and authors who has a lot to talk about. Ms. James is a Nurse who wrote the book and recorded the CD «The Boots My Mother Gave Me» and is working on a new book titled «Let It Go». She has actively participated in the fight against domestic violence.

Her music is a mixture of her native Pennsylvania and her adopted state of Texas. She was invited and she accepted to talk with us about life and her career. The rest is history.

1. What inspired you to write «The Boots My Mother Gave Me»?

You could say I had some excess baggage from my adolescence to work through. It was a matter of getting into a healthy frame of mind. It helps to purge unpleasant experiences in life to come to an understanding or a reckoning, if you will. I find reflection to be pivotal in moving forward without blaming or holding onto the past. Even though the book is inspired by a true story, it is fiction in that I allowed myself the privilege of dramatization, especially in the romance department…lol. I found that quite freeing and inspiring. So much of the book was based on my life experiences and now I find my future inspired by the book. Sometimes I even get confused if this project was life imitating art or art imitating life. I often ask folks, if you could rewrite the script to your life, what would it say?

2. After writing «The Boots My Mother Gave Me», you made history by recording a CD of country music to accompany the book. What inspired you to record the CD?

I’m a singer/songwriter in Austin. As part of an acoustic duo, I frequent the live music scene here. I had been writing music and songs long before I found the confidence in myself to write a book. I happened to be in studio recording my first original full-length album at the same time I was writing the novel. And I started to notice that song titles from the album matched up with certain chapter titles from the book. However, a bit befuddling at that point, it all makes great sense in hindsight. Both the book and the album came from the same vein of consciousness, reflecting where I was in my life at that moment in time. It was then that I decided movies have soundtracks, why not a book.

3. What is the significance of «The Boots My Mother Gave Me»?

The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter Finalist, The Boots My Mother Gave Me is a triumphant tale about a young heroine who comes of age while overcoming an abusive childhood. The significance of the book is that regardless of circumstance, anyone can overcome anything. It speaks to the survivor in all of us. Mending old wounds, choosing not to repeat unhealthy familial patterns, choosing life instead of misery, choosing love instead of loathing…all of these things require courage and trust. This novel takes the reader on a journey in the boots her mother gave her. A hard fought journey full of self-doubt and uncertainty, ultimately where our young heroine learns to trust in love and in herself. The boots are symbolic of how two women cut from the same cloth, so to speak (mother and daughter), can walk in the same shoes down life’s path, yet have very different outcomes, simply by the choices that they make.

4. You are working on a new book with the title «Let It Go». What is «Let It Go» about and how can people learn from it?

Let It Go is a contemporary romance about two divorcees starting over and learning to trust in love. Love is a huge theme in my life in general, and I think in many people’s lives. I find it fascinating to explore and write about the psychology of love. It’s that one thing in life most of us cannot live without. It makes us human. Yet it is often one of the hardest things to accept and give, because there’s always the possibility of getting our hearts broken. I think it’s the most courageous thing, to love. There were times in my life I struggled with letting people get close to me.

Growing up with an abusive father left me a bit detached. Detachment became my way of handling the disappointment I saw in his eyes and my shield against the hurtful things he would say sometimes. I didn’t necessarily believe in love. Abusers are not abusive all the time. Sometimes they’re genuine, loving, kind and quite charming. And most any kid wants to feel love and acceptance from a parent. However, I grew accustomed to my father’s roller coaster moods…one minute he loved me, the next minute he acted as though he loathed me. When you get used to that cycle, it’s easy to disbelieve because you’re always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Let It Go is not so dissimilar. For anyone who’s ever been through a divorce, they understand the trust issues associated with that experience. Not only do you have a hard time trusting in love again, most of us lose faith in our own ability to trust ourselves in choosing a mate. I don’t believe anyone gets married to ultimately get divorced. Most people get married with the best of intentions. When that doesn’t work out, it’s a long process to rebuild and recoup, putting yourself out there, trusting yourself, trusting another. That’s what Let It Go is all about. Letting go of the baggage from past relationships (i.e. divorce) and moving forward with your life. Essentially letting yourself off the hook…not punishing yourself anymore for past mistakes and greeting the future possibility of love with courage and trust. It amazes me how much we will torment ourselves in hanging onto a relationship that has far surpassed its expiration date because we do not want to give up, to fail, to hurt someone else, to let anybody down. Yet when that relationship has met its demise and our romantic interests are spawning for another, we will hold off with a vengeance because we want to be sure it’s not a repeat of the past. Why are we so skeptical about giving new love a chance when we are willing to sacrifice so much to attempt to save an old love, even if it only seems to cause us resentment, hurt and anger?

Let It Go will be more of a lighter, romantic fare than The Boots My Mother Gave Me. It’s from the perspective of two thirty-somethings. Therefore, it will be quick, sharp…a modern look at divorce and starting over.

5. When will «Let It Go» be released?

We’re hoping for a March 2013 release in ebook. If the ebook sells well, then we’ll most onto paperback at that time.

6. The novel «Vigilare» is excellent. What is «Vigilare» about and what inspired you to write about it?

Vigilare is the dark, menacing story of a kick-butt female vigilante who’s primary targets are rapists and child molesters. As one reviewer said, «It is not for the squeamish. Vigilare is for the brave, rising to the challenge when others cannot.» Vigilare was inspired by a short narrative film I produced in film school. It’s a bit of a mix between vigilante comics and films such as The Punisher, Boondock Saints, Sin City, etc. One reviewer said, «Vigilare is a fast-paced, high-octane, supernatural thriller that has successfully managed to blend graphic novel grit with crime drama suspense.» It features a detective team in Gina DeLuca and Tony Gronkowski, who’s primary purpose is to track down the Vigilare. Obviously this leads them to question their own status among the ‘good guys’ as right and wrong, good and evil play out in this story line. I love antagonistic themes, where the reader finds themself torn between each side, questioning their own beliefs. The interplay between DeLuca and Gronkowski is sexy, chemical, sharp…the one-liners zing throughout!

This book is the first in a trilogy, so if you enjoy this type of read, you can continue on in the series. The second one being, Vigilare: Hell Hound, which sticks with the supernatural element and is a play on Greek Mythology. Although this series is supernatural, reviewers of detective, suspense and straight thriller type reads say the supernatural elements are enjoyable and not too far fetched…they can be enjoyed even by those who are not necessarily prone to reading fantasty, sci-fi, supernatural novels.

7. Will you be working on a tour to promote «Let It Go»?

Yes. I’ve done both brick and mortar book tours as well as online book blog tours in the past. I’m thinking since Let It Go is going to be exclusive as an ebook upon its initial release, that an online book blog tour may be the way to go at first. I’ll have two other books releasing this year. Once I get those out, then I think we’ll load up all the paperbacks and do a nice month long brick and mortar store tour with several offerings for readers. That makes good sense to me! We usually have very successful tours in Austin, Nashville, Charleston, Lexington, Elmira/Corning, Pittsburgh, Buffalo. Those venues and their media outlets have been very good to us. But I’m certainly open to trying new markets, of course.

8. You are a Nurse by profession. What inspired you to become a writer and a singer?

I’ve always had a visceral attachment to music and words from the time I can remember. My first memory, at four years old was music…Johnny Cash, I Walk The Line. I’m so thankful I have music and writing as a creative outlet. I know it’s what helped me through my adolescence. Having a place to escape, if only in my mind or on a piece of paper, made all of the difference. Anything creative, where children or people in general, can create from their own mind or hands or what-have-you, it builds an innate confidence that is unbreakable. Creativity is therapy. Creativity can make one feel worthwhile. I can’t imagine my life without productive creativity. I think if I didn’t have it, I would be in big trouble. I think being creative and productive keeps me from being destructive, if that makes any sense. It gives me a place to go for any and all emotions.

And in the Nursing world, it is highly recommended that registered nurses have some form of creative outlet or social and emotional wellness. Nursing is hard work…physically, mentally and and especially emotionally. Taking care of people, in the beginning stages of life through to the end of life is not a simply task. In nursing, there is a constant shift and exchange of energy, compassion, knowledge. The nurse, usually being the ‘healthy’ one in that exchange needs something, a place to vent or let out the things they experience on the job. Creativity or activity (physical fitness) seem to be great devices for anyone who needs to leave work at work for a specified period of time.

And quite frankly, writing music and books does not seem like work to me in least. I wake up every morning with the want to do it. It’s simply within me. If I can successfully make my vacation my vocation, then I will have arrived.

9. Will you be recording another CD in the future?

Sure will. We’re working on album number two right now. We’re about nine songs in at this point on a ten song album. We’ve got a lot of work still to go…some background vocals, some additional intrumentation tracks, mastering, mixing, etc. This album will also accompany a novel, the prequel to Vigilare and stand-alone gothic romance, Jolie Blonde. Set in New Orleans, we’ll be covering the Cajun National Anthem by the same moniker, Jolie Blonde. We’re hoping to release a video for the title track as well. We’ve had so much fun on this album, specifically with the remake, which mixes the two styles of Joel Sonnier and Bruce Springsteen…my personal faves from an interpretation perspective on the song.

The first album to the novel The Boots My Mother Gave Me was more Alternative Country and Pop infused. This second album is a bit more roots and blues inspired. I love mixing it up with music and having book soundtracks is a perfect way to do that because each book merits a different musical inspiration and style, dependent on the characters and the story reveal. We’re hoping to have both the novel and the album, Jolie Blonde released by June 2013…perfect for the summer reading season!

10. In one of your blog articles, «Fishing In The Dark- Inspiration In The Most Peculiar Places» you talk about relationships. What is necessary in a relationship? How does loneliness affect a person in the long term and short term?

Wow. Good question and a loaded one…lol. I think the necessary elements for a relationship vary from person to person, dependent on how they define a relationship as it pertains to them. It’s like asking twenty people what ‘love’ means. You’d probably get twenty different answers. However, I do believe the one seed that is a constant for everyone in a successful relationship is that both people are on the same page. If they’re not, that’s a tough road. Sure, looks and attraction, having fun and all that good stuff is important, but it doesn’t necessarily equate to compatibility. I think communication about where each individual would like the relationship to go and how they propose to get there is a necessary point in a relationship. I think compassion is necessary in a commited union, without it you cannot reach compromise, which is certainly pivotal in many a life long love affair. Having said that, I would say the three C’s (compatibility, communication and compassion) are necessary for a successful relationship.

Loneliness is a bugger. I think loneliness can often affect us in our urgency to jump into a relationship, which may not necessarily result in the best choice (as in a partner) for us. It’s hard. As humans, most of us live for love and affection. We’re carried in our mother’s womb, safely, surrounded by nurture even in the very beginning of our lives. So then to imagine existing and feeling ‘lonely’…it just doesn’t feel right…it can really hurt. What I feel like is that we should all learn to be self-sufficient, if we can. You know, not necessarily ‘need’ anyone, but simply ‘want’ someone. If you feel full, happy, content and secure within yourself first, I think that’s a good way to avoid falling into loneliness and allowing that to consume thoughts and provocation to search for something existential to fill that void. And if we can become that type of person, it behooves us in the relationship long run because people are attracted to otherwise secure, happy, self-sufficient individuals, at least in my experience. Then, hopefully you find yourself in a relationship with another self-sufficient individual…the two of you coming together in a healthy manner, devoid of copendence and such things…and you’re both actually there because you ‘want’ to be not because you’re feeding a ‘need.’

For me personally, I find comedy to be a nice remedy for loneliness. It’s a healthy distraction and the action of laughter causes the good endorphins to rise in the system, combatting that feeling of loneliness and depression, among other things that can accompany that solitary feeling.

My thanks to Brooklyn James for this interview and she is welcome to return any time for future interviews. My best wishes to our readers and please buy Brooklyn James books and CDs. They are worth gold in regards to a great read and music.