BRENDAN CONBOY - AUTHOR
Hear Brendan read from his books
|
|
|
The story behind Brendan's writing
I left school without an English qualification. Unable to string two sentences together. It’s fair to say that I hated writing. I couldn’t see the point. I couldn’t see the beauty. The beauty that lies in words. And the power. Words are so powerful. They can bring about change. They influence. But how did I change?
Ten years after leaving school I read about Jesus. Not for the first time, but the words that I read came alive. This man Jesus felt real. So, I stepped into a relationship with Him. He came into my life and transformed my mind.
Within a year I was writing rap songs, songs with a message. The words would just fall into my head. Sometimes in bed or just walking the dog. Like a blockage had been removed.
The cover of each of my books, tell you that I am the author of the work. However, that is not strictly true. All of the words written are inspired and given to me by God. I see myself simply as a conduit, a messenger and His instrument to be used.
Though I nearly didn’t start writing books at all…
My mother died in 2011 and when we were sorting through her possessions, we found the start of a story that she had been writing. It was her life story. She hadn’t written very much at all, but it was enough to inspire me to do the same, but I didn’t.
Two years later I was still procrastinating about it. So, in 2013 I happened to mention in passing to a friend that I was thinking of writing a book. I suppose deep down I was seeking some encouragement, but that is not what I received. Instead my friend said, “You could never be an Author. An Author writes 3,600 words an hour. You could never do that, so you could never be an Author.”
I thought to myself, “He’s right, I could never be an Author.”
It was like a curse, a mental blockage. I don’t know if that was my friends intention, but that is what happened. Though, something kept gnawing away at me. My mother was inspiring me, fighting back against the curse.
It took another two years, but in 2015, I eventually published my first book, my biography. I called it The Golden Thread, but you will have to read the book to find out why. I had published a book, but still I struggled to call myself an Author and so my writing stopped, with the exception of the odd poem or two.
Then in July 2018 I was sat in a large Christian festival, with thousands of people around me. I had been waiting for a kidney transplant for two and a half years and I was angry with God. In the midst of the crowded room and drowned out by the sound, I cried out to God. “What am I supposed to be doing with my life, I feel rejected, discarded and worthless.”
Then I felt God speak back to me, it was so clear, “Brendan, I haven’t finished with you yet. You still have tools and skills that I want you to use, so use them.” Later on at the same festival someone prayed for me and I had confirmation. God was telling me to write. This was the skill and tools that He wanted me to use.
I returned home determined to write. I had planned to write a teen fiction novel of some sort. First though, I had gathered a small pile of teen fiction books to read. I had the idea that these would inspire me, but as I chose the first book, God spoke to me again. “Brendan, you don’t need to read these books. You have the tools and skills and I want you to use them.”
Then the words of my friend returned to me, “You could never be an Author… have to write 3,600 words an hour… you can’t do that.”
Was that right? Did I believe that? I decided to find out for myself and asked Google. I was rather shocked and surprised to read that most authors will write about 1,000 words a day and Stephen King, an amazing author, will write 2,000. I decided that 1,000 words was easily achievable. I also then realised, all those years later, that the 3,600 words per hour, was actually a competent typists speed. My friend had spoken to me with such authority and belief, that I too believed the lie.
Why my friend had mislead me all those years ago, I do not know? What I do know is that those words had held me back and I am telling you this story, to let you know that you should never allow people to prevent you from reaching your dreams.
I returned the teen fiction book that I had planned to read back onto the shelf and started to write ISSUES, my first novel. It was eventually published in January 2019. Whilst writing ISSUES, I also published a book of poems and songs on Amazon. This book really has been and still is a work in progress for many years, but it now is also published as RHYME TIME. Rhyme Time 2 is currently a work in progress.
Then in February 2019, I quickly wrote and published MY FOUNDATION FOR LIFE. This book looks at the various verses from The Bible that had influenced and underpinned my life.
I had now published four books but still struggled to call myself an Author. Was the curse really broken?
My next book, another novel, would change everything. I started planning and writing it in November 2018. Nearly two years later and many battles to complete it, MIMICS was eventually published in October 2020.
It has now taken five books and seven years since my friend had told me that I could never be an Author, but I have proved him wrong. I am an AUTHOR and you can be the things that you want to be… So, allow your dreams to become visions and turn your visions into reality.
I am an AUTHOR, however, I give GOD all the glory for everything that I write.
Ten years after leaving school I read about Jesus. Not for the first time, but the words that I read came alive. This man Jesus felt real. So, I stepped into a relationship with Him. He came into my life and transformed my mind.
Within a year I was writing rap songs, songs with a message. The words would just fall into my head. Sometimes in bed or just walking the dog. Like a blockage had been removed.
The cover of each of my books, tell you that I am the author of the work. However, that is not strictly true. All of the words written are inspired and given to me by God. I see myself simply as a conduit, a messenger and His instrument to be used.
Though I nearly didn’t start writing books at all…
My mother died in 2011 and when we were sorting through her possessions, we found the start of a story that she had been writing. It was her life story. She hadn’t written very much at all, but it was enough to inspire me to do the same, but I didn’t.
Two years later I was still procrastinating about it. So, in 2013 I happened to mention in passing to a friend that I was thinking of writing a book. I suppose deep down I was seeking some encouragement, but that is not what I received. Instead my friend said, “You could never be an Author. An Author writes 3,600 words an hour. You could never do that, so you could never be an Author.”
I thought to myself, “He’s right, I could never be an Author.”
It was like a curse, a mental blockage. I don’t know if that was my friends intention, but that is what happened. Though, something kept gnawing away at me. My mother was inspiring me, fighting back against the curse.
It took another two years, but in 2015, I eventually published my first book, my biography. I called it The Golden Thread, but you will have to read the book to find out why. I had published a book, but still I struggled to call myself an Author and so my writing stopped, with the exception of the odd poem or two.
Then in July 2018 I was sat in a large Christian festival, with thousands of people around me. I had been waiting for a kidney transplant for two and a half years and I was angry with God. In the midst of the crowded room and drowned out by the sound, I cried out to God. “What am I supposed to be doing with my life, I feel rejected, discarded and worthless.”
Then I felt God speak back to me, it was so clear, “Brendan, I haven’t finished with you yet. You still have tools and skills that I want you to use, so use them.” Later on at the same festival someone prayed for me and I had confirmation. God was telling me to write. This was the skill and tools that He wanted me to use.
I returned home determined to write. I had planned to write a teen fiction novel of some sort. First though, I had gathered a small pile of teen fiction books to read. I had the idea that these would inspire me, but as I chose the first book, God spoke to me again. “Brendan, you don’t need to read these books. You have the tools and skills and I want you to use them.”
Then the words of my friend returned to me, “You could never be an Author… have to write 3,600 words an hour… you can’t do that.”
Was that right? Did I believe that? I decided to find out for myself and asked Google. I was rather shocked and surprised to read that most authors will write about 1,000 words a day and Stephen King, an amazing author, will write 2,000. I decided that 1,000 words was easily achievable. I also then realised, all those years later, that the 3,600 words per hour, was actually a competent typists speed. My friend had spoken to me with such authority and belief, that I too believed the lie.
Why my friend had mislead me all those years ago, I do not know? What I do know is that those words had held me back and I am telling you this story, to let you know that you should never allow people to prevent you from reaching your dreams.
I returned the teen fiction book that I had planned to read back onto the shelf and started to write ISSUES, my first novel. It was eventually published in January 2019. Whilst writing ISSUES, I also published a book of poems and songs on Amazon. This book really has been and still is a work in progress for many years, but it now is also published as RHYME TIME. Rhyme Time 2 is currently a work in progress.
Then in February 2019, I quickly wrote and published MY FOUNDATION FOR LIFE. This book looks at the various verses from The Bible that had influenced and underpinned my life.
I had now published four books but still struggled to call myself an Author. Was the curse really broken?
My next book, another novel, would change everything. I started planning and writing it in November 2018. Nearly two years later and many battles to complete it, MIMICS was eventually published in October 2020.
It has now taken five books and seven years since my friend had told me that I could never be an Author, but I have proved him wrong. I am an AUTHOR and you can be the things that you want to be… So, allow your dreams to become visions and turn your visions into reality.
I am an AUTHOR, however, I give GOD all the glory for everything that I write.
LATEST NEWS
OUT NOW
Registered office: 3, Western Terrace, Orchard Lane, Brimscombe, STROUD, GL5 2QT
P = 01453 731008 M = 07980 404873 E = [email protected]
P = 01453 731008 M = 07980 404873 E = [email protected]