Blindsided by the Walking Dead: From Surviving the Streets to Slaying the Geeks

by IronE Singleton, Juliette Terzieff (With)

On the streets of Atlanta, the fight to survive is a daily battle. From the drug-infested corners of one of the city's worst housing projects, to alleyways filled with ravenous zombies-- Blindsided by the Walking Dead examines one man's battle to overcome the violence, drugs, and crime of the 'hood; starting with a young IronE Singleton determined to succeed despite an abusive mother, an absent father, and the temptations of instant gratification inherent with the thug life. Football and Faith in God become IronE's allies in his quest to escape and help him reach for the lights of the University of Georgia's football field and theater stages. After years of struggle--failed businesses, small roles, and an ill-fated trip to Los Angeles--IronE snags his major breakthrough role, playing the kind of drug-dealing, gun-toting thug he would have become on the streets, in The Blind Side. When he is cast as T-Dog on AMC's international mega-hit "The Walking Dead," IronE examines through art what humanity is about and what it means to truly survive against all odds. Alongside cast mates Michael Rooker, Norman Reedus, Jeffrey DeMunn, and Andrew Lincoln, IronE fought, gagged, and sweat his way into the hearts and minds of millions around the world.

Genres: Nonfiction

197 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2013

Reviews

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We hosted a signing for IronE at our store. What a down to earth, genuinely nice guy. He has a very interesting background and I am enjoying the book so far...

[Lisa Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a few years to get around to reading the autographed copy of this book which I picked up at a Walking Dead Convention in Atlanta. The author was a thoroughly delightful man, welcoming, smiling and bundled his book with an autograph and several photo ops. I enjoyed the Seasons 1-3 character from the AMC hit show, and I found him to be completely approachable and thankful for his fans who visited his booth that day. His memoir is a jolt to anyone who has not grown up with the difficulties this young man faced. His many trials would have left a lesser person with a bleak and hopeless future. However, the relationship which he held to as a foundation was the one he had with God. In a family that dealt drugs, used drugs, was sexually promiscuous and no strangers to child abuse, he somehow became convinced that there was a loving God that cared for him and his future. He is brutally honest about his indiscretions and his failures, yet he emphasizes what it means to have hope and to work so hard toward the goals he had set for himself. His drive and determination was matched by the dedication and love of the woman he married and with whom he shares his three children. Behind this good man stands an even better, stronger woman. She forgave him again and again where I probably would not have. The book takes us through his beginning acting career, and I believe he will need to update his memoirs as he ages because this was written while he was still quite young. I will continue to watch what he does.