2025 has been an amazing year for me and my book, MAYA BLUE A MEMOIR OF SURVIVAL. I’m excited to say MAYA BLUE was nominated for the prestigious 2025 Kirkus Prize. It was chosen as one of Maria Shriver’s 2025 Best Summer Reads, received the 2025 Readers’ Favorite Bronze Award, and was named one of Kirkus’s 100 Best Books of 2025. “One of the year’s most thrilling reads.” “A page-turner.” “Brenda Coffee’s harrowing story of survival took my breath away.” “This is one you won’t forget.”
If that’s not exciting enough, we’re talking with Hollywood about making MAYA BLUE into a film or a bingeworthy TV series.
If you’ve read, or listened to the audiobook of MAYA BLUE, and perhaps posted a review on Amazon and/or GoodReads, I send you a heartfelt Thank You! If you haven’t read MAYA BLUE, it’s WORKING GIRL meets TAKEN, a memoir that reads like a thriller, and in the end, I’m the last one standing. A true story of love, cocaine, Big Tobacco, abduction, and survival. It’s a book that resonates with men as much as women, and I’m honored to say, I’ve heard from hundreds of you.
My year has been a whirlwind with a book tour, TV and media interviews, podcasts, speaking engagements at galas, retreats, bookstores, private homes in Beverly Hills, and a hotel suite so big I got lost in it. Glamorous, you ask? LOL! No, but I wouldn’t trade the journey for anything.
The best thing to come out of MAYA BLUE is the wide range of people I’ve met and spent time with—some I’ve wanted to meet for a long time, and many of whom I’ll never forget, especially the people who traveled long distances to come to my book signings. But the truth is, the actual journey to a finished book, a literary agent, and a publisher, is filled with doubt and long, solitary hours in front of a computer, the input of trusted, first-rate book editors, followed by multiple rewrites, and the support of friends and fellow writers who encourage you to keep writing. And that’s not half the journey! Not by a long shot.
If you’re a library, looking for a great book to buy, a bookclub who’d like me to visit your group via Zoom, or you’d like to order a copy of MAYA BLUE A MEMOIR OF SURVIVAL, here’s a link to my author website.
And to everyone who’s thought about writing a book. . . It’s one of the most difficult things you’ll ever do, but it’s worth it. Without a doubt, go for it!
32 thoughts on “AN AMAZING YEAR”
Yay, I knew it…………………….
Your book will be made a FILM !!!!!
Congratulations !!!
Happy New Year !!!
Tara, We have a long way to go before we even have a deal, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves! LOL! Thank you! xoxox, Brenda
So thrilled for you, Brenda. Loved seeing you in NYC for your book talk along with meeting your amazing friends. Yours is a journey that inspires, gives hope and welcomes hugs!
Hi Joyce, I’m so glad you were there, and we got to spend time together. You’ve been here since day one, cheering me on in every way possible, and for that I love you! Brenda
I read your book and like you it’s amazing! Congratulations Brenda!
Thank you, Arlo! I appreciate the compliment and always love seeing you here. xoxox, Brenda
Congratulations Brenda! I am not surprised in the least. I think it would make a great series. so proud of you for getting it on paper.
Next? The screen…..
Thank you, Gray! Next comes lots of conversations with people in the film/television world. As I’ve been told several times, they move with the speed of sloth. Hilarious sounding, but true. Happy New Year to you! xoxox, Brenda
I haven’t read it yet but I will. My question to you is “who would you pick to play your part in a movie?”
Hi Joanna, That’s a question I will decline to answer, but thanks for asking! xoxox, Brenda
One of the Best Books of 2025! Oh girl! You did it! You wrote an incredible book and I’ve read it twice! Sending you big hugs and Bravo!!
Twice? Thank you, Regina! I’m flattered. xoxox, Brenda
Congrats Brenda! Amazing story: both the story itself and your publishing it at this point in your life. I can’t believe it took this long for you to get it on paper, but I’m so glad you did!
Thank you, Barbara. Except for my close friends who were there at the time, the events in Maya Blue was something I never thought I would talk about. Then like many, the self isolation of Covid started me writing, and I couldn’t stop. In the last year, I’ve met numerous authors who didn’t think they would publically discuss or write about their past either, but I’ve learned to never say never. Love you, my friend! Brenda
Such a phenomenal book and yes, it absolutely must be made into a movie! We only harvest the gifts from our trials way after the struggles. Well done for rising above them all.
Thank you, Marla. Love this: We only harvest the gifts from our trials after the struggles. So true and profound. Life is fraught with struggles and trials for all of us. I hope everyone gets to the point where they uncover their gifts. Happy New Year! xoxox, Brenda
Brenda,
How thrilled you must be! Maya Blue would be a heart stopping movie. Now what young actress should have the role of Brenda?
The whole process of writing a book has been thrilling, exasperating, and challenging. A few months ago, I didn’t think I wanted to go through it again, but I’ve changed my mind and have a couple of ideas for another memoir, running through my head. An actress to play me… While I have some preferences, I won’t make them public, but thanks for asking. Wishing you a wonderful New Year, Colleen! xoxox, Brenda
Brenda, Your book is the first memoir I’ve ever read and it was chilling and inspiring. I’d like to think I could muster a similar strength but nothing in my life has challenged me so I don’t know what I would do if faced with your life. You’re gritty and tough. The kind of woman I hope my granddaughters will be. Thank you for being a role model for women. Caroline
A role model for women! Thank you, Caroline, but in our own way, I think all of us are role models in one way or another. My mother was a role model for the woman I didn’t want to become, although in her later years, I came to admire her a great deal. I don’t have children or grandchildren, but I imagine you’ve provided them with good examples all along the way. Raising children takes grit and strength, so don’t sell yourself short. xoxox, Brenda
Hi Brenda,
You had an incredible 2025 of the most amazing life experiences. I know you worked your tail off to make it all happen. You are a survivor of so many things and always seem to come out the other side as the hero. That does not just happen. Now moving forward a series, a movie YES.
I loved your book, is one of most exciting, page thrilling memoirs I have ever read.
Happy healthy everything in 2026. You deserve nothing but the best that life had to offer.
Thank you, sweet lady! I’m grateful for your kind words, and delighted you like my book. Yes, I worked hard to write the best book I could. Late at night, I would sometimes hear my late husband, James, say, “Step away from the computer.” Something he would say when it was past time for me to take a break. I always love seeing you here, and appreciate your comments and your friendship. Wishing you all great things in this new year, Katherine! xoxox, Brenda
Oh Brenda…
A whirlwind of a year for you, an for us! Your book touched a nerve with so any people.
After we hung up from the zoom meeting with my book club here in Carmel, CA, we all talked about how wonderful the movie version of this book would be!! Fingers crossed for the movie version of Maya Blue!
Hoping your magica year continues into 2026, for you personally and for all of us who follow you!
Best, Best, Best to You,
Linda
My Darling Linda! I loved my zoom call with your book club, and getting to know a little bit about all of you and how long you’ve been together!! What a great friendship you’ve forged with one another, all because of your love of books! Wish I could have been a fly on the wall and heard what you said after we hung up. LOL! I want you to know how much I appreciate you. How much I adore seeing you here! Thank you! Please tell the girls I send my best, and to all of you, a wonderful new year! Love, Brenda
Congratulations! Loved the book and can’t wait to see it on the big screen or as a series. What a life, what a year.
Thank you, Deanna! It’s been an amazing ride, all of it, and I hope there’s more to come. Blessings, and Happy New Year! xoxox, Brenda
Just the BLAST FROM THE PAST you needed!!Look at all the success and people that you have found through writing this book!!!I am VERY HAPPY for YOU!
Xox
Contessa
Thank you Elizabeth although I wouldn’t refer to a memoir as a blast from the past. LOL!
Congratulations Brenda! I loved Maya Blue. Are you writing another book? I hope so because you’re a master of page turners. Please tell us there are other things you haven’t written about.
I appreciate the compliment, Sissy, and I appreciate you for reading Maya Blue. Thank you! There are a lot of things I haven’t written about–I could write two distinct and separate books, and both would be shocking page turners. I’m just beginning to think about where to go from here. Hope you had a wonderful holiday and are ready for a terrific new year. xoxox, Brenda
Big Congrats Brenda! Your book deserves it!
Hi Sacha! I appreciate that so much. Thank you, Brenda