Brijit Reed | Brijit Reed

Humble

HUMBLE my soul is flowing water, rippling, sweeping gently, sometimes self snagging, on little things. drawn from above, my cells magnetically tugged into their place in the firmament by the greatest star, dancing on fire. maiden of leaves, birds in the trees, covered in dust, sky like rust. heart of silk, flowing purple, bursting open, filling the sky. leave the calf to die in the field. it’s all right. now softly, softly, turn away. it becomes dust. it blows away. my head is filled…read more

Book – Lighthearted: How I Healed From Depression And You Can Too!

One of the things I’ve struggled with most in my life is depression. I’m sure there were several events that triggered this issue, but perhaps the first and most incendiary incident was my mother’s nervous breakdown when I was ten years old. During her hallucination, she stated that the world was ending and this was terrifying to me. I was only a child and didn’t understand that my mother wasn’t in her normal state of mind. I only knew that she was my mother and that everything she said was…read more

Healing From Depression

Lighthearted: How I Healed From Depression And You Can Too! I lost my cousin, Alec, to suicide at the end of August. I’d already been working on a book about how I healed myself from the severe clinical depression I’ve had for most of my adult life, but losing a loved one really made the need to share what I’ve learned more urgent. I never had a chance to sit down and talk to Alec and let him know that there really is a possibility of finding peace because I…read more

Conquering Fears: Public Speaking

I have a great story to tell about the legend of a family fortune I discovered when conducting research on the Edwards line of my family. I know that one of the best ways to get it out there is to share it with a live audience. As a writer, public speaking doesn’t come naturally to me. The last time I spoke in front of a group was over twenty years ago when I was asked to present my thesis at an anthropology conference in Chicago. Even back then all…read more

Book – A Modern Fairy Tale

This is from a book I’m currently working on about an anxious American who inherits a cottage in England only to discover that life can be magical. Jill loaded her groceries into the Range Rover, nerves making her clumsy. One of her bags spilled onto the tarmac and she scrambled to collect her tomatoes, spinach, and bread before someone ran them over in the parking lot. She managed to gather her items and shove them into her tote bag before first trying to start the car from the passenger side,…read more

Screenplay – Hologram

(Working Title) This is the project I discussed with UC-Irvine neuroscientist, James Fallon. The related article can be found here. EXT. SIDEWALK – DAY The sky is overcast as Seth walks with his hands thrust in his pockets, lost in thought. As he passes a cafe, he notices a BEAUTIFUL YOUNG GIRL with very short hair. He admires her as she sits at a table reading a book. Her head is bent, the line of her neck graceful. As he stares, he realizes there’s something unusual about her neck. The…read more

Screenplay – True Thomas

This screenplay was inspired by an old Scottish folk tale about a man who is abducted by the queen of elves only to return to his home with the gift of prophecy. INT. ELFAME – ISOBEL’S CASTLE – GREAT HALL – NIGHT Isobel sits at the head of the table, watching in amusement while Thomas warily inspects his food as the little man in the blue hat presents it to him, one item at a time. Thomas turns a suspicious eye on the man. Isobel LAUGHS. ISOBEL Ye don’t like…read more

Screenplay – The Edwards Fortune

This screenplay was inspired by an incredible story I learned of when conducting research into my family’s history which involved the ownership and rights to the most valuable land in America– Wall Street. While this particular scene doesn’t refer to the inheritance in the story, it is one of the more entertaining. If you’d like to learn more about the family legend, you can read the related article I wrote here. EXT. MURPHY FARM – MORNING Charles stops his truck in front of the Murphy’s ramshackle house, gets out, and…read more

Book – Unbound

The next day she was restless, unable to concentrate on her work or anything else. Since it was Sunday, she decided to go out for a drive. She found herself on scenic Capital of Texas Highway, driving at a reckless speed. The sun blazed brilliantly in the deep blue sky. Loud rock music played on the stereo and she took the curves almost blindly as she stared straight ahead. Something caught her eye off to the right. An eagle was flying overhead and landed gracefully on a cedar. Sarah caught her…read more

Book – Heretic: The Life And Death Of Akhenaten

Posted by Brijit Reed in Writing Samples

Chapter One: Beloved Daughter Lanterns and torches were shining brightly on the festivities taking place in the dining hall. Beautiful dancers moved to the music of flutes and drums. Their hair weighted with metal beads, swayed and undulated with the rhythm of their bodies. The Pharaoh’s guests clapped and smiled as they enjoyed the show, reclining on colorful rugs and pillows while being fed succulent meats and exotic fruits offered from gold platters. Attendants and slaves circulated the room, pouring wine into jewel-encrusted goblets. In the hallway, a pair…read more