We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Pat Brooks a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Pat , thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
Writing my children’s chapter book series. I found my voice through my protagonist, Miss Marble. Together, we weave stories based on Mother Nature’s incredible creations, and promote awareness of the interconnectivity of every living being.
My legacy is in these books-my core beliefs, values and passion. The third book (coming hopefully by year’s end) is about grief and hope; crafting it has been key to helping me heal after a tremendous loss.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
FIrst broadcast job was in public television, producing and hosting programs for about 7 years. Radio career began with an AM talk station, and quirk of fate landed me at WRBQ (Q105 FM) and the legendary original Q Morning Zoo, founded by Scott Shannon & Cleveland Wheeler. I was a respected news reporter/anchor (AWRT radio broadcast award), Zoo personality (Pat “Leather Weather’ Brooks), and community figure (Tampa Bay Woman of the Year). The Q Zoo is in the Broadcast Hall of Fame and was #1 large market radio show for 3 years!
During my broadcast career, I also did tv & radio commercials, on-camera and voice-overs, that would ultimately lead to my own business, Targa 7, Inc. which continues a very successful run from my own studio. My strengths include customized styling for a wide range of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to mom ‘n pop shops–commercials, narrations, e-learning courses, online tutorials, and thousands of on-hold messages, even part of a feature on Good Morning America about ‘those voices who keep you in on-hold hell”!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Sometimes it was challenging to believe I was as talented as others told me I was. High ratings, awards, and accolades eventually convinced me I was quite good at what I did. In the highly competitive world of broadcasting, longevity counts too. If you’re not resilient, if you take getting fired personally, you’re not going to last. It’s the ‘if you never fell off your horse, you’re not much of a cowgirl” idea.
Committing to hard work is part of my resilience. I loved my ‘job’ enough to get up at 3 a.m. for decades, and be ‘on-call’ around the clock because news never stops. (We did not use computers or have cell phones then!)
My most vivid example of resilience was knowing when to embrace an exit. Fired from my last radio job for budget cuts, I cried in shock for about 5 minutes. Then I realized it was time for me to morph the market equity of my name into my own business. It took relentless networking, and lots of help from others, and over twenty years later, Targa 7, Inc. continues to be my successful creation.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The possibilities are unlimited to use my voice, as an audio artist or through the written word.
The personal outlet is priceless, but over time, I’m learning that what I create may be helpful to others, too.
When someone discovers the miracles of nature in small things they might have missesd before, it warms my heart.
When I see a child with a book in hand that Miss Marble and I have written, all the work is worth it.
Being creative is like having a key to a treasure chest; I never know what magic lies within!
I believe everyone has a spark of creativity, if they can relax, and give it a chance to show up.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.misspatbigbookadventure.com
- Instagram: patbrooksbooks
- Facebook: patricia brooks stewart also MissMarble@patbrooksbooks
Image Credits
Last photo is Original Q Morning Zoo: Cleveland Wheeler, Scott Shannon and me, Pat Brooks