Rochelle Brandon

Tell us a little bit about yourself, your hobbies and interests.

Living my next 50 years by letting go of anything that does not support my goals of a deeper spiritual life and extracting all the joy out of each and every day. Starting new endeavors: writing, publishing, creating art, and consulting.

When and why did you start writing books?

I always had an interest in writing, but now have the time after retirement. I like non fiction because I like learning about a variety of topics.

What made you decide to tackle writing as a career?

Love reading and needed a source of passive income in retirement as I take care of elderly parents. I needed the flexibility of work hours and work place.

Which one of your books or characters is your favourite?

My favorite so far is Pecked to Death by Ducks: How Minutiae Can Distract You from Living Your Best Life, published in August 2024. It is fun and quirky and is about all women who are overwhelmed with minutiae. The low value distractions can rob us of our life energy.

Which one of your books was the hardest to write and stretched you the most as a writer?

Warriors of the Word was difficult. I love the book, but it was hard to write about my faith. There is so much I wanted to say and so many bible verses to cite. I had to edit it because it was going to be to big a project. I found it difficult to edit my faith. I'm proud that it turned out to be a strong book .

Who is your favourite author and book?

Erasure: A Novel by Percival Everett. At least this is my favorite right now. Usually I am in love with the book I just read. It is an erudite homage to Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. Felt the character/author's pain. Illuminated my pain too. Read it.

What book are you reading right now?

James by Percival Everett. He is my favorite author right now. This is very interesting. The main character one that takes its inspiration from Mark Twain’s classic novels Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. But don’t be mistaken—this isn’t just a retelling of the old stories. Everett does something extraordinary by giving voice to Jim, the enslaved Black man who, in Twain’s originals, was often relegated to the background or used as a prop for Tom and Huck. In James, Everett reimagines Jim as the protagonist, bringing his perspective to the forefront and in doing so, turns Twain’s stories on their head. This shift in narrative focus offers readers a profound and often uncomfortable reflection on the themes of race, identity, and freedom in American. While Twain’s work is celebrated for its critique of society, Everett digs deeper, exposing the invisibility of Jim in the original novels and reintroducing him as a real, complex, and fully realized character.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

I'm inspired by the thousands of women I have cared for as a gynecologist from Childbirth to Adolescence to Menopause and beyond. I was passionate about providing relevant care to women. Now I hope to reach more women through writing.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I love spending time with family, we are all getting older and time is more precious than anything else. I walk in the greenway and play with my cats, Aria and Nahado and my elderly beagle, Nala. Life is good and I enjoy the simple things.

Do you have any new books in the works?

Yes, One will come out next month about Intelligence: Artificial or Human and another book about creative protest.