"Suddenly Stardust: A Memoir (Of Sorts) About Fear, Freedom & Improv"
"If there was a land called I Could Never Because I'm Afraid, I would be the queen. I would sit on an enormous throne wearing a mighty crown and regal robes, and I'd be known far and wide for my ability to come up with excuses to avoid doing even the things I actually wanted to do. But when I turned 50, I went to an improv workshop. That's when I hopped a train from the land of I Could Never and got off at the next station, Maybe I Can."
- excerpt from Suddenly Stardust: A Memoir (Of Sorts) About Fear, Freedom & Improv
Buy "Suddenly Stardust" on Amazon.com
- excerpt from Suddenly Stardust: A Memoir (Of Sorts) About Fear, Freedom & Improv
Buy "Suddenly Stardust" on Amazon.com
Praise for "Suddenly Stardust":
"Don't let her humble and even occasionally timid way fool you. Joanne Brokaw is a powerhouse theatrical improvisor. As a student she was willing to break out of her perceived comfort zone and on stage she used her considerable emotional range and life experience to expand the parameters of what her scene partners thought possible. Her reflections in this book are all at once insightful and revealing. If you have any desire to expand your horizons as a performer, Joanne's stories can certainly prepare you for what and who you might encounter."
- Law Tarello, MFA; Faculty, The Second City
"A fascinating memoir that recounts the transformation from beginner to capable improviser and the emotional growing pains that come with that metamorphosis. Suddenly Stardust is essential reading and earns its place on my bookshelf right between Truth in Comedy and the UCB Manual."
-Austin Scott, House Improv Theater, Gainesville FL
"I love this book, Suddenly Stardust by Joanne Brokaw! It is a guide to life, showing how improv can act as a template for living fully with others. Improv can help us appreciate every single moment, be more creative, and remind us how stellar we are. Say Yes, I’ll get this book, And read it in one sitting, like I did. And then cherish it like I do."
- Wendy Liebman, comedian
"Finally, someone who gets it! Improv isn't about being funny. It's about letting go of fear in all aspects of communication and your life. Joanne Brokaw really gets it and conveys it!"
- Scott Baker, from the comedy team Isaacs and Baker
"In Suddenly Stardust, Joanne Brokaw takes the reader backstage (and onstage) with her as she braves the challenging and terrifying world of improv. Her lessons learned will reverberate long with readers—and perhaps inspire them to say, “Yes, and” to purposeful, compassionate living a little more often."
- Carrie Anne Noble, author of "The Mermaid's Sister" and "The Gold-Son"
"Without ever once being preachy, she shows – not tells – us how she’s learned essential life lessons and makes us laugh along the way. She makes me want to take an Improv class. Preferably with her at the helm." - Lori B Duff, author of "If You Did What I Asked You In The First Place"
"I was at first dismayed to see there were 142 pages, about improv for God's sake! But this book is not about improvising on stage. It's about improvising your way through life, complete with all doubts, fears, truths, failures, and successes. To anyone who is considering this - you will love this book."
- Richard Hughson, comedian, storyteller
"Brokaw reminds us in Suddenly Stardust that time spent studying whatever it is we happen to love--be it yoga or ceramics or surfing--will likely reap a harvest of fruits we never knew we planted. Yes, improv teaches us to be looser, more creative performers. But much more importantly, it teaches us to listen, and give, and take, and color outside the lines."
- Roberta Gore, author of “Saving Grace”
- Law Tarello, MFA; Faculty, The Second City
"A fascinating memoir that recounts the transformation from beginner to capable improviser and the emotional growing pains that come with that metamorphosis. Suddenly Stardust is essential reading and earns its place on my bookshelf right between Truth in Comedy and the UCB Manual."
-Austin Scott, House Improv Theater, Gainesville FL
"I love this book, Suddenly Stardust by Joanne Brokaw! It is a guide to life, showing how improv can act as a template for living fully with others. Improv can help us appreciate every single moment, be more creative, and remind us how stellar we are. Say Yes, I’ll get this book, And read it in one sitting, like I did. And then cherish it like I do."
- Wendy Liebman, comedian
"Finally, someone who gets it! Improv isn't about being funny. It's about letting go of fear in all aspects of communication and your life. Joanne Brokaw really gets it and conveys it!"
- Scott Baker, from the comedy team Isaacs and Baker
"In Suddenly Stardust, Joanne Brokaw takes the reader backstage (and onstage) with her as she braves the challenging and terrifying world of improv. Her lessons learned will reverberate long with readers—and perhaps inspire them to say, “Yes, and” to purposeful, compassionate living a little more often."
- Carrie Anne Noble, author of "The Mermaid's Sister" and "The Gold-Son"
"Without ever once being preachy, she shows – not tells – us how she’s learned essential life lessons and makes us laugh along the way. She makes me want to take an Improv class. Preferably with her at the helm." - Lori B Duff, author of "If You Did What I Asked You In The First Place"
"I was at first dismayed to see there were 142 pages, about improv for God's sake! But this book is not about improvising on stage. It's about improvising your way through life, complete with all doubts, fears, truths, failures, and successes. To anyone who is considering this - you will love this book."
- Richard Hughson, comedian, storyteller
"Brokaw reminds us in Suddenly Stardust that time spent studying whatever it is we happen to love--be it yoga or ceramics or surfing--will likely reap a harvest of fruits we never knew we planted. Yes, improv teaches us to be looser, more creative performers. But much more importantly, it teaches us to listen, and give, and take, and color outside the lines."
- Roberta Gore, author of “Saving Grace”
Other books by Joanne Brokaw
Life is messy business, and that’s just fine with humor columnist Joanne Brokaw. For almost a decade, she’s been musing on life’s ups, downs and in-betweens, taking readers on a journey filled with laughter, dog hair and even a few tears. From her heart wrenching chance encounter with a soldier in an airport to her confession as an office supply addict, Brokaw invites readers to join her again in the mundane (but often hilarious) mishaps and adventures of everyday life.
Buy "What The Dog Said" on Amazon.com
Buy "What The Dog Said" on Amazon.com
"Suddenly Stardust: A Memoir (of sorts) About Fear, Freedom & Improv" and "What The Dog Said" are both available from WordCrafts press and wherever books are sold. If your local bookstore doesn't carry them, just ask and they can order it.