Firefighter Terry Brody has combined a love of writing and inspiration from on-the-job experience to create the recently-penned novel Rescuing Madison.
A firefighter since July of 2001, Brody, a Lieutenant, spent many years working in Brooklyn and has been in Queens for the last year-and-a-half. He currently is a member of Ladder 128 in Long Island City.
“It’s the greatest decision I ever made, without a doubt,” Brody said of joining the FNDY, adding that he especially felt that way on 9/11, which was his first day in the field. “So many people in New York felt helpless. I wasn’t doing much, but I felt like I was doing something.”
From a young age, Brody enjoyed writing but, although others said he was talented at it, he said it never “sank in until after college.” While doing a film and video internship, Brody produced two short films and realized that writing was the part that he liked the best.
Rescuing Madison began as a screen play in 2003. Brody was in the firehouse when a Shakira music video came on. That gave him inspiration for the storyline, which is about a firefighter and pop star falling in love.
“I wanted to write something light and fun,” said Brody, who noted that 2002 was a heavy year for him. “It was therapy for me at the time.”
Brody said that the screenplay did well in Hollywood and that there was a lot of interest, although it was never made into a film. A friend suggested that Brody write it as a book. It was completed a few months ago and recently published.
“The guys bust my chops, there’s no doubt about it. But that’s their way of showing support,” Brody said of how his fellow firefighters have reacted to the book. “The more they bust my chops it’s really the more support they’re showing me.”
In writing Rescuing Madison, Brody said that he definitely drew on many real life experiences.
“Anybody with any experience in the fire department anywhere will laugh at certain places and will recognize certain lingo,” he said.
However, even those outside of the fire department have had good things to say about Brody’s book.
“I’ve gotten nothing but positive feedback,” Brody said.
Brody still hopes to see the story make it to the big screen, and he said that there has already been recent interest in doing so. His ideal cast would be Taylor Swift or Vanessa Hudgens to play the pop star and Zac Efron or Justin Timberlake to play the firefighter.
Brody has already completed his next book, Adrian of Death, which was also a screenplay that won several awards. Another short film that Brody wrote and produced, “Beer, Chocolate or You,” also won an award and is now available on www.minimovie.com.
Along with having an additional screenplay that he wants to turn into a book, Brody said that he already has about three or four ideas for other screenplays to write.
For more information on Rescuing Madison and Brody, visit www.rescuingmadison.com.
