by J.D. Netto
It’s a story every writer or reader will be fortunate to experience. Love, loss, hope, and the challenges of living with half a functioning heart. As an author, these things alone were enough to inspire me to pen this journey down.
I was no stranger to Paul Cardall’s music and journey. “Redeemer” graced my ears for the first time when I was on a trip to Seattle, Washington. I searched the internet for more information about the genius behind the song. Not only did I find an extensive library of music, but I found an even more enthralling tale.
After being approached by his team, a meeting was arranged for Paul and myself in New York City. Under a torrential storm, we met at a bar in Manhattan. I had heard it said that you should never meet your heroes because of how disappointing such encounters can be. Well, the tale suited this one. He was cheerful despite the struggles and achievements, humble even though billions had listened to his melodies.
We talked about the ordinary and the miraculous. I was the Brazilian kid brought to America at a young age and he was the man born with half a functioning heart. That alone provided us hours of conversation—two forked roads that merged into a single path.
I joined him on a book research trip a few weeks later. As a first timer in Salt Lake City, the towering mountain peaks and breathtaking scenery sparked so many ideas for the story. Spending time with Paul brought clarity to what was to be truth and how fiction would enhance that truth. My phone was heavy with videos, photos, and notes of what eventually became the story that now belongs to the world.
But that was just the beginning of my own adventure. While locked up in my apartment in Massachusetts, I dissected not only the content I had gathered, but Paul’s diaries, articles, and videos. To my author-self, I was running through a luscious forest; every word a new fruit or creature I had never seen before. The best part, you ask? I got to turn them into characters and prose. The downfall? This was someone’s life entrusted to me.
Paul and I grew from acquaintances to friends. How could we not? The adventure led us down a path where we got to know one another fast. He’d read the drafts of my chapters and would find truth in them. Even the fictional moments sparked clarity in situations where doubt had dwarfed reason.
And so, the journey continued. Writing, rewriting, editing, repeating. Draft turned to story and story turned to book. Copies were slowly distributed to industry friends and beta readers. All embraced the journey. The tears I shed as a writer were now shed by the reader. My heart, once heavy as words found paper, was now beating with anticipation as more joined the journey of the man with half a heart.
Inspiration continued to spread, quietly, swiftly. An album with songs inspired by the novels was suddenly in the works. Then music videos. And the scenes I had worked on had become the fuel behind melody and lyric. Seeing names like Paul Cardall, David Archuleta, and Tyler Glenn on a project connected with my own work was (and still is) surreal.
And now here you are, the reader, invested in my words and tale. This is but a brief summary of the journey. Perhaps I’ll share the full tale someday. But as of right now, The Broken Miracle awaits your eyes and your heart.
Laugh like Paul. Think like Jonahs. Believe like Olivia.
J.D. Netto is a fiction author known mostly for his fantasy titles that have captivated readers across the globe. His works include The Whispers of the Fallen series and Henderbell: The Shadow of Saint Nicholas. His new book The Broken Miracle: Part One of the Broken Miracle Duology, will be released February 2. Learn more about Netto and The Broken Miracle by visiting thebrokenmiracle.com