He is an award-winning screenwriter, author, entrepreneur, and humanitarian. A graduate of the prestigious University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts and a native of Virginia, Brad has been connected with India for several decades.
A keen observer of life, Baldwin has travelled to 34 countries and visited all 50 American states. “Bredbhai,” as he is commonly referred to in India, continues to work toward creating a more peaceful world with understanding, compassion, and kindness.
Q.1 Tell us something about yourself that not many people know.
A. A couple of years back, I was in Jordan and later Bethlehem for prelaunch activities related to the book. One evening, I was at a private celebratory dinner for Alignment. It was at a beautiful 1,000-year-old convent, and a group of Sisters from India had prepared delicious Indian food. It could not have been more perfect. The following morning, the world went sideways.
I heard my very first sounds of war: the sound of missiles exploding and the constant wailing of air raid sirens. It was October 7, 2023. A war had started, a war that tragically continues today.
The themes in the book dealing with humanity, peace, and truth were only deepened. A week later, aided by the office of a U.S. Member of Congress, I boarded a nondescript charter flight with 180 others and was evacuated to Athens.
Q.2 When should we expect your next book? What will it be about?
A. Screenwriting is my comfort zone and zen space as a writer. I tend to think cinematically. I’ve recently completed the latest draft of Open Carry, a satirical drama that follows a rural American father whose zealous support of gun rights lands him in India as the face of a controversial global campaign, a journey which ultimately forces him to confront the consequences of his beliefs. If the universe aligns, perhaps you’ll be able to watch the film one day.
Q.3 Alignment is deeply personal—what inspired you to write it in the third person rather than the first?
A. The creative process and authenticity for the storytelling were the inspiration. I wrote page one in first person, and it felt completely off. It wasn’t me. It was limiting my voice as a writer.
Q.2 When should we expect your next book? What will it be about?
A. Screenwriting is my comfort zone and zen space as a writer. I tend to think cinematically. I’ve recently completed the latest draft of Open Carry, a satirical drama that follows a rural American father whose zealous support of gun rights lands him in India as the face of a controversial global campaign, a journey which ultimately forces him to confront the consequences of his beliefs. If the universe aligns, perhaps you’ll be able to watch the film one day.
Q.3 Alignment is deeply personal—what inspired you to write it in the third person rather than the first?
A. The creative process and authenticity for the storytelling were the inspiration. I wrote page one in first person, and it felt completely off. It wasn’t me. It was limiting my voice as a writer.
However, the first rule of writing an autobiography is to write it in the first person. Why was I having an issue with rule #1? How could I spend years working on a project if the vibe was off from the beginning? It was a mental hurdle to overcome before getting started. This was my opportunity to tell my story, in my way, and without any rules.
I didn’t want to simply ‘tell’ my story, but rather bring a reader along on the journey and hopefully create an emotional connection. Breaking rule number one initially created doubt. However, I ultimately decided that I had to stay true to myself and my creative instincts.
Q.4 What was the most emotionally challenging part of writing this book?
A. A quote that may or may not have been from Ernest Hemingway is, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at the typewriter and bleed.” It’s a quote that reflects the writing of Alignment. The size and scope of the project. Wanting to ‘get it right.’ Navigating the intricacies of very complex psychology as well as the worlds of religion and culture.
Q.4 What was the most emotionally challenging part of writing this book?
A. A quote that may or may not have been from Ernest Hemingway is, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at the typewriter and bleed.” It’s a quote that reflects the writing of Alignment. The size and scope of the project. Wanting to ‘get it right.’ Navigating the intricacies of very complex psychology as well as the worlds of religion and culture.
I knew it was a good day of writing if I was completely drained and exhausted, having given everything I could into the work. That’s when I looked forward to afternoon coffee in the backyard and allowed myself to be entertained by my avian friends while I recharged.
Q.5 How long did it take from the first draft to the final manuscript?
A. Writing the book was a 3-year process, which took place over four years. The first draft was written in 2020 during the global pandemic, was linear in structure, and was 150K words. I sat on the manuscript for almost a year, unsure about going forward due to the personal nature.
Q.5 How long did it take from the first draft to the final manuscript?
A. Writing the book was a 3-year process, which took place over four years. The first draft was written in 2020 during the global pandemic, was linear in structure, and was 150K words. I sat on the manuscript for almost a year, unsure about going forward due to the personal nature.
From late 2021 until late 2023, three more drafts were written, structural changes were made to enhance the storytelling, a lot was cut, and there was a lot of polishing.
In between, I had a group of Beta readers from across the United States provide valuable feedback and first impressions. Copyediting alone, with an L.A.-based professional, was 7 months. Cover and Page designs. Three years of very immersive and intensive work.
Q.6 Were there moments when you wanted to stop writing this story? If so, what kept you going?
A. No. Only when I put the project on hold after the first draft. Writing wasn’t the problem; confidence and second-guessing were the barriers. Personal Story. Third Person. Fear of being ‘Judged’ by Others.
Q.6 Were there moments when you wanted to stop writing this story? If so, what kept you going?
A. No. Only when I put the project on hold after the first draft. Writing wasn’t the problem; confidence and second-guessing were the barriers. Personal Story. Third Person. Fear of being ‘Judged’ by Others.
Writing a screenplay or an imaginary story is one thing. Being open and vulnerable about my own life led to some second-guessing. But the actual writing of the manuscript was immensely rewarding and empowering!
Q.7 How did re-visiting past traumas during the writing process affect you emotionally and spiritually?
A. I was fully engaged as a writer at all times with a personal mission to craft my story in the best way possible. All cylinders were on the creative process. Because I had invested a lot of time previously in my own healing for years, I was able to enjoy crafting Alignment.
Q.7 How did re-visiting past traumas during the writing process affect you emotionally and spiritually?
A. I was fully engaged as a writer at all times with a personal mission to craft my story in the best way possible. All cylinders were on the creative process. Because I had invested a lot of time previously in my own healing for years, I was able to enjoy crafting Alignment.
I’ve been writing for decades, and this book has been the most rewarding. Because I had ownership over my story and the freedom to tell it in a way that most resonated with me. Gandhi had a famous phrase, “My life is my message.”
From a spiritual perspective, I had always written characters, imagined, and created stories. I had never thought that I would look in the mirror in such a way and shine the light inward to share my life path with others. Those were spiritual aspects that made it rewarding. Just one soul, one voice in 8 billion.
Q.8 The book explores trauma, faith, and redemption—was there a theme that surprised you by becoming more central than expected?
A. While not a theme, my use of satire took me by surprise. I had no plan when I began that I would ultimately use satire at times to explore those themes of trauma, faith, and redemption. It made the writing of Alignment an extremely rewarding and very enjoyable process.
Q.9 You speak openly about your relationship with God—how has that evolved since finishing the book?
A. It’s funny because while I do ‘write’ openly about my relationship with God, I don’t ‘speak’ openly about it. For me, it’s a deeply intimate personal relationship. It is a relationship that very much took me by surprise. But having lived forty years in a psychological prison, my attaining freedom is directly connected to a Divine Power.
Q.8 The book explores trauma, faith, and redemption—was there a theme that surprised you by becoming more central than expected?
A. While not a theme, my use of satire took me by surprise. I had no plan when I began that I would ultimately use satire at times to explore those themes of trauma, faith, and redemption. It made the writing of Alignment an extremely rewarding and very enjoyable process.
Q.9 You speak openly about your relationship with God—how has that evolved since finishing the book?
A. It’s funny because while I do ‘write’ openly about my relationship with God, I don’t ‘speak’ openly about it. For me, it’s a deeply intimate personal relationship. It is a relationship that very much took me by surprise. But having lived forty years in a psychological prison, my attaining freedom is directly connected to a Divine Power.
I have always had a sense of compassion for humanity in general and a deep appreciation for all faiths. I often shunned my own Christianity because I don’t believe in conversions or judging others. Travel provides one with a deep appreciation of other ways of life. However, what I discovered in this process over the past ten years (now) is that I have full ownership of my relationship with God.
Part of embracing my authenticity is being able to develop that internal relationship in a way that brings me inner peace and knowing that I don’t have to follow the masses or the dogmas associated with any belief. That was an empowering lesson.
Q.10 What does "alignment" mean to you today, beyond the book’s pages?
A. The years spent crafting Alignment were very much part of a shoulder season and the early stages of my new life, being free. Today, the word ‘alignment’ to me represents operating from a core place of truth, of value, of self-belief, and of inner contentment. Being and staying aligned with my true self, which I continue to learn more about.
Q.11 What message do you hope readers take away from your story?
A. My hope is that readers are able to think about others and the world in a more nuanced way. Everything is not black and white. For readers who have experienced trauma in life, my hope is for them to be able to look into the mirror and know that everything is possible and an entirely new world is waiting on the other side.
Q.12 What makes your book stand out from the crowd?
A. Alignment doesn’t fit in a box with a bow. While it draws upon the genres of autobiography, memoir, self-help, spiritual, and travel books, it’s a book that can be hard to categorise. One lane that seems to most resonate with readers is the Inspirational Spirituality category.
Q.13 Have you received any reader responses that deeply moved or surprised you?
A. Absolutely. Many of them. On the positive side, a female reader shared with me that the book had changed her life. And it wasn’t because she had dealt with trauma, but that it gave her a window into understanding how and why her sister remained tethered in a toxic relationship for so long. The reader was able to reflect on her own life, but also view her sibling with more understanding and compassion.
And on the (rare) negative side, I had a male reader who had won a giveaway contest and received a free paperback. The reader said that I was in search of ‘victim identity groups’, the book was shallow, wandered, that I made poor choices in life, it had no ending and that somehow, I was shaming Western civilisation. I really wasn’t sure if the reader had read Alignment or another book. I was surprised because it’s not in my nature to judge or shame anyone, and I understand the impact of words.
Q.14 What advice would you give someone struggling with past trauma and seeking healing?
A. Looking in the mirror and deciding to make a change, to find a path out of prison, will be the most difficult and arduous journey you’ve ever taken. Use every tool available in the toolbox. Use only what resonates with you. There are no timelines to heal. Never stop fighting. Always stretch toward the light. Nothing is more rewarding than meeting yourself for the first time and learning to live in the world as your true self.
Q.10 What does "alignment" mean to you today, beyond the book’s pages?
A. The years spent crafting Alignment were very much part of a shoulder season and the early stages of my new life, being free. Today, the word ‘alignment’ to me represents operating from a core place of truth, of value, of self-belief, and of inner contentment. Being and staying aligned with my true self, which I continue to learn more about.
Q.11 What message do you hope readers take away from your story?
A. My hope is that readers are able to think about others and the world in a more nuanced way. Everything is not black and white. For readers who have experienced trauma in life, my hope is for them to be able to look into the mirror and know that everything is possible and an entirely new world is waiting on the other side.
Q.12 What makes your book stand out from the crowd?
A. Alignment doesn’t fit in a box with a bow. While it draws upon the genres of autobiography, memoir, self-help, spiritual, and travel books, it’s a book that can be hard to categorise. One lane that seems to most resonate with readers is the Inspirational Spirituality category.
Q.13 Have you received any reader responses that deeply moved or surprised you?
A. Absolutely. Many of them. On the positive side, a female reader shared with me that the book had changed her life. And it wasn’t because she had dealt with trauma, but that it gave her a window into understanding how and why her sister remained tethered in a toxic relationship for so long. The reader was able to reflect on her own life, but also view her sibling with more understanding and compassion.
And on the (rare) negative side, I had a male reader who had won a giveaway contest and received a free paperback. The reader said that I was in search of ‘victim identity groups’, the book was shallow, wandered, that I made poor choices in life, it had no ending and that somehow, I was shaming Western civilisation. I really wasn’t sure if the reader had read Alignment or another book. I was surprised because it’s not in my nature to judge or shame anyone, and I understand the impact of words.
Q.14 What advice would you give someone struggling with past trauma and seeking healing?
A. Looking in the mirror and deciding to make a change, to find a path out of prison, will be the most difficult and arduous journey you’ve ever taken. Use every tool available in the toolbox. Use only what resonates with you. There are no timelines to heal. Never stop fighting. Always stretch toward the light. Nothing is more rewarding than meeting yourself for the first time and learning to live in the world as your true self.
Q.15 Was there a particular scene or chapter that was especially hard to let the world read?
A. Without a doubt, the rape scene. I made a creative and stylistic choice purposely not to go into detail. I felt the impact was stronger the less I said. I did think of cutting it early on, but it was pivotal in dealing with a continued theme of the ‘loss of innocence,’ how seemingly joyous life moments can suddenly turn dark, leaving you with scars that can impact a lifetime.
Q.16 Do you believe in writer’s block? If yes, how do you deal with it?
A. Certainly, writer’s block happens. Sometimes the block is not in content but in the flow or the articulation of thought. Discipline is important. Having manageable daily writing targets. But being flexible as it’s a creative process.
On days when my mind was distracted or ideas were not as free-flowing, I just shut off the computer. A walk. Music. Nature. Birds. Go out to eat. I just forgot about it for a while. Blocks are often an opportunity to infuse new ideas and approach the story from a new angle. While I may not be physically typing on the keyboard, I am immersed in the storytelling vision 24/7.
I may be having coffee and sitting with the birds when a moment of clarity comes for the scene or a future chapter. I may wake up in the middle of the night and jot down notes. As a writer, I am always tweaking and always thinking about the project. The non-writing parts of life are just as important as the hours of actual writing. My mind is the engine.
Q.17 Did you have any rituals, habits, or routines that helped you write this emotionally intense book?
A. Yes, plenty of them. To write most effectively, my mind has to be completely free of life distractions, and I have to tap into my own inner energetic flow.
Q.17 Did you have any rituals, habits, or routines that helped you write this emotionally intense book?
A. Yes, plenty of them. To write most effectively, my mind has to be completely free of life distractions, and I have to tap into my own inner energetic flow.
I actually disconnected from social media and closed my Facebook account in 2020. Music is important. For various settings and intentions. I have a huge list of YouTube spiritual, chakra, energy, and meditative instrumental music. Sometimes I write with music.
Later in the day, unwinding and recharging are important. EDM. Rap. Bollywood. Rock. And so forth. Keeping the birds fed. Mocha Latte runs to Dunkin Doughnuts. Watching an episode of mindless reality TV. The unwinding is important because my mind is locked into the project at all times.
Q.18 How do your friends or family feel about your book or writing venture in general?
A. No one had a clue. I didn’t share it until I felt it was ready. The first people to read an earlier draft were the team of Beta readers I connected with across the United States. My test audience. I wondered if my beta readers hated the material, would I still move forward?
Later in the day, unwinding and recharging are important. EDM. Rap. Bollywood. Rock. And so forth. Keeping the birds fed. Mocha Latte runs to Dunkin Doughnuts. Watching an episode of mindless reality TV. The unwinding is important because my mind is locked into the project at all times.
Q.18 How do your friends or family feel about your book or writing venture in general?
A. No one had a clue. I didn’t share it until I felt it was ready. The first people to read an earlier draft were the team of Beta readers I connected with across the United States. My test audience. I wondered if my beta readers hated the material, would I still move forward?
Fortunately, the beta readers' feedback far exceeded my expectations. Several shared their emotional impact, and when they cried. Many were able to see parts of themselves in what I had written. The beta process was humbling to me.
Friends and family who have since read the book are supportive. In many cases, bonds have only deepened. Of course, my late mother was my biggest supporter. In fact, I have a handwritten note of encouragement regarding a screenplay, written by my mom. In it, she had expressed her belief in me and to never give up. It’s on the wall in my office.
Q.19 Is there a chapter or line that you’re most proud of?
A. I’m proud of the entire work. I wanted to create a standalone book that had to cover a lot of ground and weave together many threads. Giving birth to a manuscript after years and seeing it connect with others around the world is an honour. People lead busy lives. There is no shortage of books to read in the world. For a reader to spend hours out of their life with my book means a lot.
Q.20 Share the experience of your writing journey so far.
A. I wrote my first script at the age of 16. There were no computers at that time. I took the typewriter on a family vacation. While my parents went to the beach, I was often in the cottage, hitting away at the keys to write dialogue and action. I’ve been writing ever since and never looked back. It’s in my DNA.
Friends and family who have since read the book are supportive. In many cases, bonds have only deepened. Of course, my late mother was my biggest supporter. In fact, I have a handwritten note of encouragement regarding a screenplay, written by my mom. In it, she had expressed her belief in me and to never give up. It’s on the wall in my office.
Q.19 Is there a chapter or line that you’re most proud of?
A. I’m proud of the entire work. I wanted to create a standalone book that had to cover a lot of ground and weave together many threads. Giving birth to a manuscript after years and seeing it connect with others around the world is an honour. People lead busy lives. There is no shortage of books to read in the world. For a reader to spend hours out of their life with my book means a lot.
Q.20 Share the experience of your writing journey so far.
A. I wrote my first script at the age of 16. There were no computers at that time. I took the typewriter on a family vacation. While my parents went to the beach, I was often in the cottage, hitting away at the keys to write dialogue and action. I’ve been writing ever since and never looked back. It’s in my DNA.
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