Broadway Brendan

A Journey of the Heart

A Journey of the Heart: "UPDATE on the screenplay 'Emily Grace and the Secret of Lavender Field'

After making a few of the suggested changes to my screenplay (I have to stick to my guns on a couple of points), I have re-submitted the script and received looks from Foremost Films; Spirit Films; Fox Animation; Parisot Productions; Central Station Media, LLC; Prevalent Entertainment and Rendition Films.

I've always said that I can't get too excited about things - that I have to remain at one level and if I go above that level, that's when everything can come crashing down and that's where devastation and depression takes over. Well, I think I can go up a level on this one because something really great is very possible. It's an exciting time in my life, and the lives of my family, that I never thought I would ever do.

Dad, I must be doing something right! I miss you everyday and wish you were here!!

I'll keep you all posted on the progress!"

UPDATE on the screenplay 'Emily Grace and the Secret of Lavender Field'

After making a few of the suggested changes to my screenplay (I have to stick to my guns on a couple of points), I have re-submitted the script and received looks from Foremost Films; Spirit Films; Fox Animation; Parisot Productions; Central Station Media, LLC; Prevalent Entertainment and Rendition Films.

I've always said that I can't get too excited about things - that I have to remain at one level and if I go above that level, that's when everything can come crashing down and that's where devastation and depression takes over. Well, I think I can go up a level on this one because something really great is very possible. It's an exciting time in my life, and the lives of my family, that I never thought I would ever do.

Dad, I must be doing something right! I miss you everyday and wish you were here!!

I'll keep you all posted on the progress!

Emily Grace and the Secret of Lavender Field - The Screenplay

I took a chance and turned my children's book into a screenplay and submitted it to The Page Awards (an annual contest where screenplays are judged by top Hollywood directors, producers, etc...)

Well, even though my screenplay didn't get past the first round, I did receive some very interesting comments that were a joy to behold! Though there are a few minor changes that I need to make, the overall comment that my judge gave was as follows:

**EMILY GRACE AND THE SECRET OF LAVENDER FIELD is a sort of fairy tale about nine year old EMILY GRACE who enters a special forest and is sent on a hero’s journey to a magical lavender field to find an antidote which will free her father and others from being animals.

EMILY GRACE is a charming, courageous young protagonist.

You have a flair for visually beautiful descriptions. The magical world of the Sunny Hollow and the lavender field are nicely described.

The animal characters are well delineated and each has its own individual character and voice. The animals would be a joy for children to observe.

The animals have human characteristics which are recognizable and work on a symbolic and allegorical level.

LADY LIA, is a particularly beautiful creature – part butterfly and part lovely fairy.

The happy ending with Emily being reunited with her beloved father is very upbeat and ends the story on a positive, uplifting note – the “happily ever after” of your modern fairy tale.

The premise of Emily’s going on a hero’s journey to save her beloved father is a strong premise.

Your concept of the magical Sunny Hollow and lavender field where people who have been turned into animals wait for Emily to free them by means of an antidote is compelling.

“EMILY GRACE AND THE SECRET OF LAVENDER FIELD” has the potential to be a commercial family film.
It could be either live action or an animated feature depending upon your intentions. If you choose to market your screenplay as an animated feature, you will be able to create amazing special effects which could be financially prohibitive with live action. You might also consider mixing live action with animation as in Disney’s recent re-visiting of “Alice in Wonderland” directed by Tim Burton.**

This is EXACTLY what I had in mind when I wrote it! I saw this as a live action/animated feature. It's ironic that this judge would say "Alice in Wonderland" because I have explained this book as "Alice in Wonderland" meets "The Wizard of Oz".

So to sum it up...I did good with this book! I hope everyone gets the opportunity to read it. You won't be disappointed!

Have I become a Twi-hard?

A few years ago, when everyone was all a-buzz about this new movie that was opening called 'Twilight', I was thinking 'oh no please, not another vampire movie...Hollywood has gone bonkers - give me the rusty butter knife NOW'. I had no intention on seeing it and I went about my business. Then 2009 rolled around and the 2nd installment called 'Twilight: New Moon' came out and, again, the scuttlebutt on the street was all about New Moon and who's team are you on? WTF is this? Are you kidding? There's a sequel! Doctor, can you up the dosage, please?

Then this year it happened. My mother was bitten by a damned Cullen named Edward and she, in turn, bit me (not literally)! She watched Twilight on cable, passed the venom on to me and, with the bait on the hook, we needed to see what happened next, of course, New Moon was next (bought it on pay-per-view). In my ignorance, I should have given this beautifully written story by Stephanie Meyer and wonderfully acted by Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, a chance.

So let's count it down. I've seen Twilight AND New Moon about a thousand times (we have added Twilight AND New Moon to our DVD collection). I'm undecided which team I want to join (do I want to live forever as a vampire with Edward or just grow old with Jacob, even though he's a werewolf and could, if he gets pissed, tear me to shreds...friggin' decisions! I'm kind of likin' Jasper and his emotion control even though he, too, could rip my throat out)...I'm listening to a playlist of songs from the Twilight and New Moon soundtrack (I really like Supermassive Black Hole by Muse from Twilight, when they play baseball...see, I knew exactly where this song came in)...Robert Pattinson has grown on me (I even saw Remember Me...it's pretty good with a surprise ending that I was NOT expecting)...I haven't read the books since I've been busy writing my own books but these are now on my MUST READ list and I can't wait...and I'm chomping at the bit to see Eclipse...and then Breaking Dawn, Parts 1 and 2!

So does this make me a Twi-hard? Taking a small line from the song 'Possibility' from New Moon (when Edward leaves Bella and she's sitting in her room looking out the window...camera circles Bella - October...November...December...)...there's a possibility - there's a possibility!

Emily Grace and the Secret of Lavender Field

Well, it's complete! My new children's book entitled 'Emily Grace and the Secret of Lavender Field' is now available on Amazon.com. You can also walk into your favorite Borders, Barnes and Noble, etc...and order it from them, as well as at your local library.

So check it out on Amazon and enjoy the adventure along with Emily Grace and her new furry and feathery friends!

For children of all ages...for the young and the young at heart.

Your Next Card Could Be Mine

So I've always said that I wanted to work from home. It's no secret and I sometimes shouted it from the rooftops, maybe you've heard me? I WANNA WORK FROM HOME! Well, I was checking out legitimate work at home jobs via NBC10.com and there are a lot of them out there! Scrolling down the list I saw the category for 'Writing and Editing'...seems only fitting since I'm an aspiring writer trying to make it big, right? After checking out the many companies, I had seen a few companies that are looking for greeting card writers AND they'll pay if they like your material. I've written poetry and people have told me that I should write greeting cards. Hmm...ok, so now I've decided to take a sentimental journey down the greeting card highway.

I'll keep ya posted on how my new travels end up.

Today I Met A Woman

Today I met a woman
a smile she gave to me
she calls me by my name
I wonder how that can be?
Chicken pox and measles
with that smile she takes good care
the days go by so quickly
and still she's always there.
I've made it through those days
the future in my hands
it was her smile and sheer determination
that by my side she stands.
She nurtures, cares and loves
a seamstress, cook and doc
she's mastered all the titles
while keeping close her flock.
Today I met a woman
the smile she still gives me
Marie is what they call her
but mom she'll always be!

Emily Grace and the Secret of Lavender Field

Hey there!

Well, I've been busy tweaking my children's book and it's now in the hands of my publisher! The illustrations have been completed by the design team and I've approved them. We've also got the interior design, cover (front and back) and background color completed...I'm just waiting for the mock-up to approve and then it's off to the printing press!! I'm really excited about this one! It will take children (and the young at heart) on a magical, whimsical, mystical journey through a beautiful fantasy world. Here's a short description:

Heartwarming, sincere and generously penned, Emily Grace and the Secret of Lavender Field is a playful tale for young, intermediate readers. It offers magic, mystery and a big lesson on honing one's inner strength and believing in the impossible. Sunny Hollow is a very special place filled with all sorts of animals. When a friendly turtle leads nine year old Emily Grace there, it becomes clear that she has been chosen to return something to the furry and feathery creatures she soon meets. Forced on a voyage of mythic proportions, Emily Grace will be helped by a tough but tender honeybee named Turbo, a raccoon named Ricochet and a very special fairy named Lady Lia. She'll also be up against an evil hawk named Kendra, who chants eerily, 'Is this river wish so true, and can this blue-eyed girl save you? The only way to end your wallow is find the secret and then swallow'. It's up to Emily Grace to solve the riddle and undo what's been done. It's an adventure of a lifetime leading to Lavender Field.


This book will be available on Amazon.com and other online retailers. It will also be available to libraries, as it has been assigned a Library of Congress identification #2010903910 so that your local library can order it.

I'll keep everyone updated on the status and let you all know when it's finally available!!

And remember...A dream is a wish your heart makes!