Authorpreneur Dashboard – Rebecca ODonnell
Freak: The True Story of an Insecurity Addict
Biographies & Memoirs
From its first caustic, blackly hilarious quote to its unbelievable ending, Freak examines a roller coaster ride of a life and never lets up. It tells the true story of Rebecca O'Donnell, an atypical hero who found joy and laughter in the darkest of circumstances. Unlike so many spunky survivors of damaged pasts, Rebecca belonged to those far more common gray areas of depression and insecurity, hidden behind a mask she showed the world.
For decades, all her decisions were colored by that grayness, that insecurity; she had put herself into a pit and had to discover a way to crawl out of it. With laughter, self-recognition, and a drop of shaky courage, Rebecca shares exactly how she did that, discovering in the process a gift that she never expected-the ability to help others build their own ladder out of hell. Freak offers hope to anyone who has ever heard that voice of self-hatred-the gremlin of insecurity whispering that we can't, we shouldn't, and we don't deserve.
It is the denial of that gremlin and the shattering of its lie that make this memoir resonate with other victims of incest, substance abuse, and depression.
Book Bubbles from Freak: The True Story of an Insecurity Addict
Heaven Heaven Heaven
Catatonic freezes are apparently not as common as I supposed they were, back when they were a frequent thing in my third grade life. Same with traumatic amnesia. Memory is still patchy from that year but I do remember seeing my kind brother all the time. I simply accepted it, as a kid would. Didn't matter that he was dead. I saw him, talked with him, so he was there.
Batshit Crazy State of Mind
There's an obnoxious monster skulking around inside a person when they've been abused as a kid. I'd gotten through my own crazy childhood, into adulthood and into college, far away from my heavy-gravity vortex of a family. I thought that would be enough. But until you deal with those gaping wounds inside, or even realize they're there, you're going to be a really dumb adult who makes really dumb decisions. Like me. I wrote this memoir so others can learn from my own dumbass mistakes. Best thing to do with a manure pile of memories: turn it into compost and grow a garden in it. You, my brothers and sisters of circumstance, are my garden. This book is for you.
Manifest Destiny
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Prostitution is legal. Money is openly worshipped as a god. Children of the elite are grown in artificial hosts instead of their mother's womb. Ultimate luxury hotels supply their clientele with AI sex droids created solely to fulfill every fantasy. Stupendous wealth is a moral imperative - not only to sustain, but grow, by any means necessary. Human life is disposable. Dolly, Keisha and Tanja are three human sex workers trying to make it in a world where living flesh is becoming obsolete. Sarcastic, bawdy, and completely loyal to each other, the women work the streets and cheap hotels every night while Kyle, their driver, keeps a protective eye over them. One day, woken by one of her chronic nightmares, Dolly goes for a jog in an attempt to clear her head. Finding herself in an unknown area, she accidentally stumbles onto a terrible secret which soon puts all their lives in danger. Now they must run from a ruthless, unstoppable enemy who has eyes and ears everywhere.
Book Bubbles from Manifest Destiny
An Examination Reveals Secrets
Dolly is such a beloved character to me. It was a joy getting to know her as her story unfolded in my head. This scene is where a scientist begins to examine her, revealing secrets she didn't even know existed.
Dolly at the Museum
I'm a huge fan of museums and movies, and that love found its way into Dolly's character. Art is a solace to her. Here's where even that comfort begins to be taken away.
The Nightmares
This part was hard to write. I sketched it out, adding color, texture and smell in my imagination, then stepped inside Dolly's emotions while she was seeing this. When it gave me nightmares myself, I knew it was ready.
Hurt Magic
Children's Books
What do you do when you've been hurt by bullies? When you're so filled up with that hurt, you don't know what to do with all the MAD inside? This is the story of a little girl who is so angry from being hurt, she feels dirty, ugly and stupid. And that makes her madder! But she finds a magic that can help heal all that hurt, and help her believe in magic again!
Book Bubbles from Hurt Magic
