My first Novel entitled ‘HisStory’
Donation protected
I am writing my first novel entitled ‘HisStory’ and want to finish, at least the bulk of it, this summer before I return to the Broadway stage in Kinky Boots. I am asking for your financial help to help me sit down and finish it.
I have a story to tell. I think everyone has an interesting story to tell, now is the time, I feel, to share mine. My journey has been a very interesting, tragic, funny, unbelievable one that will sure to be engaging, and most of all inspirational in a time when our nation and world needs it most.
My hope is that it will inspire all, especially foster care children living through abuse, as I am a child abuse survivor who’s first memories are of surviving in foster care.
ABOUT THE BOOK
James’ journey as a successful award winning singer living his dreams from traveling the world, winning a reality TV show, headlining in Las Vegas, starring on the Broadway stage, and zany stories of engaging with many well known names in pop culture throughout his hilarious Forrest Gump type career.
However, his first memories are of being abandoned and brutally abused in the foster care system to the point of near death from the ages of 1 to 5 years old.
He never spoke a word until he was five and never cried until he was eight as he was forced not to speak or cry in one particular foster home filled with unimaginable torture for four years.
The odds were against Lil James (his childhood nickname) from the beginning growing up in poverty, and being an odd silent kid who found an outlet through singing and through finding his voice he rose above and refused to become a statistic of a black man growing up in America.
When he was personally invited by Michael Jackson at 11 years old to see him perform live, it changed his life forever. What a lot of people don’t know is that every concert Michael would do he would block off hundreds of seats for underprivileged children and give them a surprise show for free; and James was one of those kids.
When Michael sang 'Human Nature' Lil James cried for the first time from being inspired and he knew then what his destiny would be. When Michael reached out his hand a laser shot out into the night sky when he sang ...‘why?’ ...
James had never seen anything like that before and a feeling weld up inside that he had never felt before. Tears began to roll down his face; that had never happened before. He cried for the first time from inspiration and joy. He said to himself in excitement and wonder, ‘I’m going to do this.’ He didn’t know how, or why, or where, or when, but he knew there was a connection there.
That next school year, ironically, a new performing arts High opened up for kids who were talented in the creative arts. Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, one of the nation top Arts high schools to date; where he honed his singing and dancing skills was an incredible happy time in his life that got him away from the destitute life back on the North side of town.
He was a natural and a local celebrity in the southern city of Jacksonville Florida. He was instantly famous when he sang almost every other Sunday in church, which was televised on local area TV, he was brought praise by the white people, but some in his own race and blood were not too impressed.
When James was 13 he lived with his Grandmother, who took him in at 5 years old; although she could not afford to as she had 10 kids of her own who were having kids. One day he saw Billy Porter compete on Star Search TV show, (American Idol of the 80’s) he was inspired and said, “Grandma I want to sing like that”, not ever hearing the shy kid sing she responded, ‘you can’t sing like that”, James thought to himself, “yes I can, watch me”.
Fast forward eight years later; ten days into living in NYC James was in the West Village with less than $5 in his pocket exploring his newly found bustling city complete with smells of piss from the homeless, trash, and delicious food from the fancy restaurants, hot dog stands, and pizza shops simultaneously. As he walked by the Duplex piano bar and heard a familiar voice singing, he went in to listen and turns out it was Billy Porter.
As Billy finished singing his song “God bless the child” the crowd erupted in adoration he walked through the Billy sat down next to him after he was done and after James complimented him and told him he just moved to New York to sing and to possibly be in Smokey Joe’s Cafe.
Billy, who was in Smokey Joe’s Cafe, encouraged James to get up and sing. James sang his favorite song, “If I loved You’ from Broadway's Carousel. He rehearsed in his room alone dreaming with Barbara Streisand on repeat dreaming of the day he would get a chance to show off his talents and when he finished the crowd went wild in adoration.
Billy was impressed so he said, ‘drop off your picture and resume at the stage door and I will pass it off to stage management and see what happens, can’t promise anything." Billy came through and apparently passed off James’ picture and resume to stage management of Smokey Joe's Café because two months later James got a call and next thing he knew he landed James his first Broadway show within six months of living in the city in Smokey Joe’s Cafe.
After a hiatus from the Broadway stage James is now poised in 2018 to follow Billy’s steps on Broadway as an understudy for the lead role in which Billy Porter won the Tony for in 2013; and many more coincidental twist’s and turns throughout his odd yet interestingly amazing life.
The intention of this book is to bring forth joy through struggle to touch many hearts and minds to connect us all again to what makes us unique, but one.
Forgiveness. Love. Self reflection, self correction, overcoming. It is our individual history’s and herstory’s that are the key to finding collective peace.
This story is 20 years in the making and is a very powerful, intriguing, magical, and inspirational American tale of the human spirit that always finds a way to triumph despite the insurmountable odds.
Is it the right place at the right time; or is it just Kismet?
Let’s see as we make HisStory.
Proceeds from this book will go to a child abuse awareness charity to be named upon release or sooner.
We we are looking at a release date sometime in 2020
Go fund me perks for book donations
Small DONATION: $1-29.99 Thank you very much
COPPER: $30-49.99
Pre order Copy delivered to you.
BRONZE: $50-$100 signed copy with delivery and a honorable mention on my social media.
SILVER: $100-$200 signed copy of book delivered and mention in the book on the donors page.
GOLD: $201-$500 personalized signed copy of book and mention in the book on the donors page.
PLATINUM VIP: $500+ 4,999 all of GOLD benefits plus access to backstage tour in ANY MJ or original show in NYC or on tour.
Superstar $5000+ all benefits of PLATINUM + more exciting nights plus an evening out on the town in NYC with JDB.
LOOKING AHEAD:
HerStory next novel idea (2022)
I have a story to tell. I think everyone has an interesting story to tell, now is the time, I feel, to share mine. My journey has been a very interesting, tragic, funny, unbelievable one that will sure to be engaging, and most of all inspirational in a time when our nation and world needs it most.
My hope is that it will inspire all, especially foster care children living through abuse, as I am a child abuse survivor who’s first memories are of surviving in foster care.
ABOUT THE BOOK
James’ journey as a successful award winning singer living his dreams from traveling the world, winning a reality TV show, headlining in Las Vegas, starring on the Broadway stage, and zany stories of engaging with many well known names in pop culture throughout his hilarious Forrest Gump type career.
However, his first memories are of being abandoned and brutally abused in the foster care system to the point of near death from the ages of 1 to 5 years old.
He never spoke a word until he was five and never cried until he was eight as he was forced not to speak or cry in one particular foster home filled with unimaginable torture for four years.
The odds were against Lil James (his childhood nickname) from the beginning growing up in poverty, and being an odd silent kid who found an outlet through singing and through finding his voice he rose above and refused to become a statistic of a black man growing up in America.
When he was personally invited by Michael Jackson at 11 years old to see him perform live, it changed his life forever. What a lot of people don’t know is that every concert Michael would do he would block off hundreds of seats for underprivileged children and give them a surprise show for free; and James was one of those kids.
When Michael sang 'Human Nature' Lil James cried for the first time from being inspired and he knew then what his destiny would be. When Michael reached out his hand a laser shot out into the night sky when he sang ...‘why?’ ...
James had never seen anything like that before and a feeling weld up inside that he had never felt before. Tears began to roll down his face; that had never happened before. He cried for the first time from inspiration and joy. He said to himself in excitement and wonder, ‘I’m going to do this.’ He didn’t know how, or why, or where, or when, but he knew there was a connection there.
That next school year, ironically, a new performing arts High opened up for kids who were talented in the creative arts. Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, one of the nation top Arts high schools to date; where he honed his singing and dancing skills was an incredible happy time in his life that got him away from the destitute life back on the North side of town.
He was a natural and a local celebrity in the southern city of Jacksonville Florida. He was instantly famous when he sang almost every other Sunday in church, which was televised on local area TV, he was brought praise by the white people, but some in his own race and blood were not too impressed.
When James was 13 he lived with his Grandmother, who took him in at 5 years old; although she could not afford to as she had 10 kids of her own who were having kids. One day he saw Billy Porter compete on Star Search TV show, (American Idol of the 80’s) he was inspired and said, “Grandma I want to sing like that”, not ever hearing the shy kid sing she responded, ‘you can’t sing like that”, James thought to himself, “yes I can, watch me”.
Fast forward eight years later; ten days into living in NYC James was in the West Village with less than $5 in his pocket exploring his newly found bustling city complete with smells of piss from the homeless, trash, and delicious food from the fancy restaurants, hot dog stands, and pizza shops simultaneously. As he walked by the Duplex piano bar and heard a familiar voice singing, he went in to listen and turns out it was Billy Porter.
As Billy finished singing his song “God bless the child” the crowd erupted in adoration he walked through the Billy sat down next to him after he was done and after James complimented him and told him he just moved to New York to sing and to possibly be in Smokey Joe’s Cafe.
Billy, who was in Smokey Joe’s Cafe, encouraged James to get up and sing. James sang his favorite song, “If I loved You’ from Broadway's Carousel. He rehearsed in his room alone dreaming with Barbara Streisand on repeat dreaming of the day he would get a chance to show off his talents and when he finished the crowd went wild in adoration.
Billy was impressed so he said, ‘drop off your picture and resume at the stage door and I will pass it off to stage management and see what happens, can’t promise anything." Billy came through and apparently passed off James’ picture and resume to stage management of Smokey Joe's Café because two months later James got a call and next thing he knew he landed James his first Broadway show within six months of living in the city in Smokey Joe’s Cafe.
After a hiatus from the Broadway stage James is now poised in 2018 to follow Billy’s steps on Broadway as an understudy for the lead role in which Billy Porter won the Tony for in 2013; and many more coincidental twist’s and turns throughout his odd yet interestingly amazing life.
The intention of this book is to bring forth joy through struggle to touch many hearts and minds to connect us all again to what makes us unique, but one.
Forgiveness. Love. Self reflection, self correction, overcoming. It is our individual history’s and herstory’s that are the key to finding collective peace.
This story is 20 years in the making and is a very powerful, intriguing, magical, and inspirational American tale of the human spirit that always finds a way to triumph despite the insurmountable odds.
Is it the right place at the right time; or is it just Kismet?
Let’s see as we make HisStory.
Proceeds from this book will go to a child abuse awareness charity to be named upon release or sooner.
We we are looking at a release date sometime in 2020
Go fund me perks for book donations
Small DONATION: $1-29.99 Thank you very much
COPPER: $30-49.99
Pre order Copy delivered to you.
BRONZE: $50-$100 signed copy with delivery and a honorable mention on my social media.
SILVER: $100-$200 signed copy of book delivered and mention in the book on the donors page.
GOLD: $201-$500 personalized signed copy of book and mention in the book on the donors page.
PLATINUM VIP: $500+ 4,999 all of GOLD benefits plus access to backstage tour in ANY MJ or original show in NYC or on tour.
Superstar $5000+ all benefits of PLATINUM + more exciting nights plus an evening out on the town in NYC with JDB.
LOOKING AHEAD:
HerStory next novel idea (2022)
Organizer
James B Deeks
Organizer
New York, NY
