This show is going to be a bit different. It is my book birthday. It is launch day of my book Eat Cake. Be Brave. Imagine that you have been keeping a diary since 7th grade, and it was made public. That is kind of how I’m feeling. I’m sharing today, and all of my launch day feelings and emotions with my wonderful husband David and you my wonderful listeners.

You can find Melissa here:

Podcast Web Page Facebook Page @MsMelissaRadke on Instagram @msmelissaradke on Twitter

Show Notes

• [02:33] The first time Melissa and David met was on a bus in school. She'll never forget his first words, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”
• [03:48] What does Eat Cake. Be Brave. Actually mean?
• [04:11] When Melissa turned 41 she was about to blow out the candles on her birthday cake, and she wished for bravery.
• [06:09] She wished to be brave for 12 months. After blowing out her candles, she went back to her room and began to journal what bravery meant to her. The rest is history.
• [07:01] All we need is a flicker of bravery and going upstream when everyone else is going downstream. Even if it's only for a little bit.
• [08:02] Why Melissa is so relatable. When Melissa began discovering her voice she realized that she wrote the same way that she talked. This alone made her voice relatable.
• [09:04] It's easy to relate to Melissa's words because she says what we are actually thinking.
• [09:38] Melissa is real enough to say you hurt me, and God helped us.
• [10:06] Melissa is real enough to say the truth and to admit her shortcomings and failures.
• [10:41] The style and genre of the book.
• [11:08] The book is a memoir. It's about all the years in Melissa's life that led up to that one year that changed her forever.
• [11:32] We have had wonderful reviews. One recurring theme is that the book is an easy read.
• [12:03] The most surprising thing for most people is that the book is funny. It's really funny.
• [13:18] This book is for women who are tired of standing in the back of the stage and are ready to take center stage in their lives.
• [13:53] If you're not a religious person, you will still love and identify with this book.
• [15:23] We had an editorial review that said this woman loved the book and didn't feel preached to. We can be like Christ without preaching it.
• [15:45] Melissa's writing is kind of like Mindy Kaling, Amy Poehler, or Tina Fey. Those are the three that she hears.
• [16:32] The overarching theme that Melissa hopes to communicate with the book.
• [18:00] We have got to become more aware of the words that our Creator has said about us.
• [19:30] Once we learn the truth about what God has said about us, we can walk in the truth of bravery.
• [19:57] What Melissa go back and change the pain that she has experienced?
• [20:13] No. If it meant doing it all again, she would do it.
• [20:58] Melissa knows what love and healing can do. She would do everything again if it would help one woman to step out of the shadows and live the life she was meant to live.
• [21:58] The book is about the entire family including David, Remi, Rocco, and even Melissa's mother, her Granny, Aunt Melba, and some of her girlfriends.
• [22:14] When Melissa's mother is talking in the book the font actually changes. And it is written in the style that her mother speaks in.
• [24:52] David is curious if there's a scene in The Bodyguard that Melissa would like to act out.
• [26:22] If someone is unsure about buying the book, Melissa would encourage them to come see her on the book tour.
• [28:20] Melissa wants these people to see someone just like them who decided to fight for one year.
• [28:41] You can find out more about the tour here.
• [29:51] Follow Melissa on social media. We have a lot of exciting press coming up in the next couple of weeks.
• [30:22] Lightning round questions…
• [32:15] When the ball is in our hands, what will we do?
• [33:07] The book is an easy read that will make people laugh and will make people cry. There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears that went into this book.
• [33:22] David is so proud of Melissa.

Thanks for joining us on Ordinary People Ordinary Things. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave a nice review. Just like your mother taught you.

Links and Resources:

• Podcast Web Page
• Facebook Page
• @MsMelissaRadke on Instagram
• @msmelissaradke on Twitter
• Autographed Copy of Eat Cake. Be Brave.
• Eat Cake. Be Brave. Extended Book Trailer
• This Sucks But God Is Good (online course)