“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” – C.S. Lewis
Well, hello! Glad you could stop by.
As you probably know if you've come this far, my name is Tracy Bradford. I write mostly speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, dystopian, etc.), although I also enjoy dabbling in historical fiction. In addition to being a writer, I'm also a singer/songwriter, wife, mother and cancer survivor. Those are the facts. What you may want to know is, WHY do I do those things? What makes me who I am? That, after all, is the inside scoop.
If I had to give a reason why I write, it's because I've always loved to read. I started reading very young (yes Mom, this is where your credit comes!), and have a picture of me at about three-years-old reading to my older cousins. My mother loves that photo because she claims I was doing a lot of things young. Like picking out harmony on my little toy piano. You know, those colorful ones that only had eight keys? Yep, well it wasn't enough for me to plink out a tune. I had to play whole chords. So as you can see, both my love-affair with words and with music started pretty early.
But why speculative fiction, you may ask? Why historical fiction? I love books and movies about characters who overcome the hardest obstacles. Who face struggle, affliction, even destruction, but manage to keep hope alive. To survive no matter the odds. Who do what seems impossible. That may have to do with my young life as well. I had plenty of hard things happen to me, but I've always been an optimist. Once, someone dubbed me "Susie Sunshine." It wasn't meant as a compliment. My being happy all the time offended them. They weren't the only one at odds with optimism, either. Along my journey, others would complain about my positive attitude. But I've learned, rather more recently than I care to admit, that it's okay if I offend some people. I have to be who I am. I'm proud I was built this way. I grew up with an epileptic father, a mother who still needed a mom herself, being date-raped at twelve-years-old, and being severely bullied all through school. I could have drowned in the turbulence of my childhood. Instead, I realized nothing bad lasts forever. That inner strength comes from having hope. And that survival is a choice.
So yes, I enjoy writing stories that explore all the strange, fabulous, wonderful things in the universe. I like creating worlds where anything I imagine is possible. And I like putting fictional characters into real, historic events. Life can be hard. It can be hard for a long time. I want stories that transport us to another time and place, and allow us to not only escape, but to find the good, the hope, the wonder. I live in awe of this vast universe, and I like to share that with others.
We all have struggles, but they don't have to bring you down. You can choose not to let the water carry you away. You can choose to swim for shore. I've been there. In 2016 I was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. And you know what? All those struggles as a child helped prepare me, because I chose to survive, whether cancer killed me or not. I'll keep choosing to survive - every single day. Because HOPE is a superpower. And Survival is a choice we ALL can make.
Read my books. You'll find the power of hope, faith and optimism on full display. You'll understand how our choices define us. Even how our differences and the hard things we face can give us power and help make us who we are. Whether on the landscapes of other worlds, or in the pieces of magic we find all around us, my stories will show you how to claim this power for yourself.
Take my hand. Escape for a while with me. Welcome to my worlds!
Well, hello! Glad you could stop by.
As you probably know if you've come this far, my name is Tracy Bradford. I write mostly speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, dystopian, etc.), although I also enjoy dabbling in historical fiction. In addition to being a writer, I'm also a singer/songwriter, wife, mother and cancer survivor. Those are the facts. What you may want to know is, WHY do I do those things? What makes me who I am? That, after all, is the inside scoop.
If I had to give a reason why I write, it's because I've always loved to read. I started reading very young (yes Mom, this is where your credit comes!), and have a picture of me at about three-years-old reading to my older cousins. My mother loves that photo because she claims I was doing a lot of things young. Like picking out harmony on my little toy piano. You know, those colorful ones that only had eight keys? Yep, well it wasn't enough for me to plink out a tune. I had to play whole chords. So as you can see, both my love-affair with words and with music started pretty early.
But why speculative fiction, you may ask? Why historical fiction? I love books and movies about characters who overcome the hardest obstacles. Who face struggle, affliction, even destruction, but manage to keep hope alive. To survive no matter the odds. Who do what seems impossible. That may have to do with my young life as well. I had plenty of hard things happen to me, but I've always been an optimist. Once, someone dubbed me "Susie Sunshine." It wasn't meant as a compliment. My being happy all the time offended them. They weren't the only one at odds with optimism, either. Along my journey, others would complain about my positive attitude. But I've learned, rather more recently than I care to admit, that it's okay if I offend some people. I have to be who I am. I'm proud I was built this way. I grew up with an epileptic father, a mother who still needed a mom herself, being date-raped at twelve-years-old, and being severely bullied all through school. I could have drowned in the turbulence of my childhood. Instead, I realized nothing bad lasts forever. That inner strength comes from having hope. And that survival is a choice.
So yes, I enjoy writing stories that explore all the strange, fabulous, wonderful things in the universe. I like creating worlds where anything I imagine is possible. And I like putting fictional characters into real, historic events. Life can be hard. It can be hard for a long time. I want stories that transport us to another time and place, and allow us to not only escape, but to find the good, the hope, the wonder. I live in awe of this vast universe, and I like to share that with others.
We all have struggles, but they don't have to bring you down. You can choose not to let the water carry you away. You can choose to swim for shore. I've been there. In 2016 I was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. And you know what? All those struggles as a child helped prepare me, because I chose to survive, whether cancer killed me or not. I'll keep choosing to survive - every single day. Because HOPE is a superpower. And Survival is a choice we ALL can make.
Read my books. You'll find the power of hope, faith and optimism on full display. You'll understand how our choices define us. Even how our differences and the hard things we face can give us power and help make us who we are. Whether on the landscapes of other worlds, or in the pieces of magic we find all around us, my stories will show you how to claim this power for yourself.
Take my hand. Escape for a while with me. Welcome to my worlds!
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