So, Joanne, I always love talking to authors. Being a recent author myself, I know how hard and challenging the process can be, and it can take a very long time. People don't realize how hard it is. And I know you have a recent book that has come out, A Messenger of the Light, and it is about your son, Warren, and its artwork thoughts from him. I'd like to understand, what was the journey like for you writing this book, knowing how challenging it could be, yet in the end, how powerful it could be to others?
Well, Let me just take a minute and say this all began when I received a notice that my son had died, and this was unexpected. He lived in California. He worked with KTLA-TB doing weather and traffic many years, and he underwent surgery recently, and we thought he was recuperating and preparing to come home for Christmas. When I received this notice, I can't explain the immense pain, the thoughts, the memories, the feelings that come to you. And it brought back so many memories of Lauren. When he was a child, he started it with a lot of creativity. We were in Germany at that time, and he would be two and a half. I'm looking for him. He's laying under a Christmas tree, gazing up to the whole length of the tree, the tall, watching the twinkling lights instead of from the outside. As he grew, he just kept producing movies and stage shows in his grandma's garage. And then he went on to He wanted to write stories and develop films. And he did this. He graduated from La Ola. He worked with KTLA, like I said, for a number of years. He loved this. I'll take a minute to say Worm was a beautiful person and a wonderful son.
He showed his love and compassion, especially for his friends and others. It just radiated from him. And I realized I had to go to California to look through his remaining personal items in his apartment and close it out. At that time, I found a whole notebook and collection of his artwork, and I found some of the words he talked with me daily, and I knew he wanted to do stories that would help others. And he always believed that some people have a light light within him. And he felt like a lot of his friends and himself were chosen by the light. And I even found a handout that he did describing the characteristics of the light that shines within us. And I found many other meaningful words and thoughts. He believed that we were the eyes of Christ and that he followed us if you had the light. And saw what was happening on the Earth. He had many words. So in the midst of feeling like this, so much pain, you had to do something. I said, I cannot just throw this away. So I felt I had to do this. I had to get his artwork and his personal words and anything I found that was of importance, the handouts that he would have there.
I took them and I decided at that time that I would try to compile this in a book. I'd never had written a book before. So needless to say, I was very nervous and scared because I thought, Wow, I was a social worker by my trade. I did a lot of interventions, but nothing like that. So I would use prayers, and I talked to my husband a lot, and to my family, which included sisters who were still living, and to friends, and to warren. And I would just pray for guidance. And what I did was I compiled, I put sections together using his artwork. I chose some of his art, and then I put together some of his words like, he believed it, that God made us all to contribute something back to this world. And he believed in the light. And his words led me to the title of it, A Messenger of the Light. And that came from his words, but also his coloring. This is part of his artwork. He used certain colors, really beautiful colors. And this is for... You do a lot of artwork for your imagination, but it is the wings of an angel.
And he used this in his artwork, and they put it together on his book, but it's a beautiful coloring. And with that, I looked, Okay, what do you do with this once you compile this? I took it to a copier, a printer, they did some typing for me. Then I knew nothing about publishing. I looked for advertisements. I looked for anything I could find of someone who might help me to get this out to the public. And with that, I found that in addition to having this desire to share this with others, you had to have a lot of money also to get you to this point. So with prayers and with using some of Lauren's deserved money that he got for working so many years at KTLA, I was He's lucky to use the publishers and find them to help me. And with that, it came down to advertising it and eventually to your podcast. But he believed in his friends and others, and he believed that we're all chosen to the light and wanted to help primarily with this book. And that's what I tried to cover in this. The obstacles that I came across, a lot of fear in myself, a lot of self-doubt, not having done this before.
I didn't want to appear to... I didn't want to waste his money. I felt bad about using it. I didn't want to waste it. So there were a lot of fear. I relied so much on prayers and talking to worry. And I think I got guidance. I feel I really did. And I had people who were very interested. The publishers, they guided and helped. And his friends were very supportive. And I know that he loved them very much. And for them, I wrote this also because I wanted them to have some memorances of one. And he had so many good friends. He never knew a stranger, I think. And he loved the people we worked at Cape Town Lake. So they were included in that. I wanted to give them all something to remember him by. But with that, I think his own artwork, his thoughts, they were just He dated his art, and he signed it. And of course, I've done artwork, but nothing like that, a little bit here and there. But his was so pronounced and so thought through, he'd even give it a title like Creation. And he used a lot of his thoughts to combine with the spiritual thoughts of how we were created.
And the scientific manner. Space was always there in the back of his mind. At third grade, he did a space colony. With this book, his artwork shows a lot of his spirituality at the development of us in the relation to the world we look at and to our spiritual beings that we have in our heavens. With that, I'll stop here and see if I'm just going on and on too much or if you have other subjects.
What a sad story. I remember hearing about Lauren. By the way, I remember hearing this a couple of years ago. Sorry that you had to go through this. I'm sure it's one of the most difficult things any parent could go through. Knowing all of this, did you feel like for other people that maybe are going through something similar or going through their own challenges, writing this book, did it feel therapeutic in the sense of going back through the memories, making sure you think about all the positive things versus the obvious negative thing that he is now gone?
Oh, definitely. I felt for any parent that lost a child or a loved one, it's very difficult. It's like this book, The Light. There are times when we all need a light within us, and this represents that, a light that we can have to help us through dark Sometimes, and anytime you have obstacles, what I learned from Lauren was, they're meant to be removed. Don't let your fear or that you can't do it, your depression, The writing can help. Definitely, it helps because I felt like I just couldn't keep it inside of me. I would just shut down things. And that helps. It helps tremendously. If you're ever in a position like that, write because it does help to get this. And your words, they can accumulate, and you can remember things from your loved one. So I would certainly encourage others who are going through this to maybe think about it. You have loved ones who have things that you know are good. They're all good. And we just have to appreciate them And I do believe that's what he wanted, and what I want, is that we appreciate that everyone has goodness in them, and that you just need the strength to bring it out.
And one of the things Wharram would say is, you're not at fault if you don't do something right the first time or the second time. But don't give up, because if you don't try, that is the worst thing that can happen in your life. To know that you never tried this drive for something that you thought maybe was possible. Keeps driving. Keep telling yourself you'll get through this. And he told me it's in this book. He would call me and after his surgery, I was concerned because he's in California, I'm in Texas. So I couldn't do much except verbal and just showing him how much I love over phone and text. But he would tell me, Mom, don't worry. He said, Mom, grandma taught me a long time ago to say the rosary and to ask the blessed mother to help me get through this. And he would say that he asked them to pray for the doctors, even that were treating him. And he said, Mom, I'm going to be all right. So I have to remember that wherever he is, he's all right. And I must say, going through the memories and the words that I read, because all of these are his quotes or his words, and definitely it's art.
But it did help me. And I think they're meant to help others because there is a lot of times in life when you have to face darkness. And at that time, you have to remember to call on the light within you. And if this look helps you, then by all means, enjoy it. He had more artwork. I picked out some that I thought went with sections that I I could start with, but it came from the need to share this because that's what he intended to do when he stopped work at KTLA. He had even bought this expensive camera, and he started writing stories, and that's what he chose to do. All his life, he enjoyed bringing laughter or friendship, even on the news show. He would do that with the anchors, and the humor helped, I know. So he was that type of person. In fact, I told my husband, We never knew he was really sick because he wouldn't complain. He just kept telling me he didn't want me to worry, I know. But I know that he was trying to... He just would accept it. I think I never realized how deep war in spiritual faith was until all of this when I read his notes.
Maybe because as a child growing up, you tell them, Okay, we're going to go to church. Okay, sometimes it's accepted, sometimes it's not. But When he was out on his own, I had no idea how important his spiritual belief was and how important his grandma was to him. I appreciate that.
You learned a lot. You learned a lot about him and things you didn't even know. I'm curious. That's great that you were able to go through this and have these feelings in such a difficult and challenging time. What's been the word of other people? Is it resonating with them? Maybe people that are around you, did they also learn something? How about people that maybe didn't even know him at all or maybe barely knew him? What are they saying about this book?
So far, they're saying that they really loved it, and they didn't know Warren had so much artistic ability, which, likewise, I knew he knew, but not to that extent, where he combined it with his spiritual thoughts about creation, and why we were here and how the world was and how it was developed. That was what shocked people the most. They knew about his work at the, But we weren't aware, I think, of his artistic. All this time, he started in '87. He had collections of this, and then in '90, he wouldn't brag or show. He was collecting it, I think, for a time when he wanted to do it. I'm just happy that people are getting to know this about him, and they think that they're just happy they got to see more of him and know more about his beliefs, his words, and his friends. It meant a lot to them. A lot of them said, It's so special. I love it. It makes me happy because his friendship, when you were his friend, it radiated with you. He'd help a lot of people. He had a way of listening to his friends.
I know if you asked them today, they missed that, calling up Lauren and talking with Because like I said, he was always upbeat. Like I said, I never knew he was even that sick. It took me total by surprise when he died. I know he was surprised, too. It was unexpected. I think overall, people felt good about the way they got to know him and the way they felt after they saw the group.
Well, if there's any positivity It sounds like he touched a lot of lives, and now you're continuing that here and really creating the lightness where there's dark. I hope a lot of other people who are maybe they're in a certain situation or similar, maybe not similar, just they feel down and out, and they're going to read this, and it's going to uplift them. People want to get in touch with you. They want to get the book. How can they do so?
They can go to Amazon, and they can order the book, or they have the other one that you can put on your phone. But I recommend the book because of the art in it. I think it's a collection you can keep because if I do give more art, perhaps his art will be something that people want, and you will have it. It's like something you can keep even available on your pop-tail table, where people come over and they're browsing or they're waiting for you or you are just talking. You can share and look at it, and it's something that will keep you thinking and perhaps even bring out some motivation for what you may want to do or someone that you know to get the courage and the strength to follow their own goals. I think it has helped that way with me, especially, because Like I said, I'd never written a book, and I thought, Wow, I don't even know where to begin. It's amazing. I used his concept of prayers, and then, of course, talking to Lauren. Okay, help me. I do believe that I believe in heaven, and I believe that he was helping me as much as he could to inspire me.
I think your loved ones and those around you that know you, they can do it also. Encourage. But the book encourages you to take your time to try to expand or work on whatever you are intending to achieve in your life.
Well, Joanne, Thank you for sharing this. Thank you for being vulnerable. You are the author of a messenger of the Light, and it has all of your son's incredible artwork. Sounds like it has quotes and things about his life, and I can't wait to read the book, and I hope everyone picks it up and gets inspired and impacts because it sounds like this is really a legacy. This is something, a passion, a legacy, and it's something that you are doing to help continue the reach and further of your son. So thank you for all you do, and thank you for writing this book, and I can't wait to hear how many people are positively impacted by it. It looks incredible, by the way.
Thank you. I wanted to say just one sentence. Lauren, always that if your friends or someone that reads this or someone around you says you make them happy when they're with you, remember that because that's important. You're doing that in your life, and that alone helps others, especially your friends. So thank you for doing this.
I appreciate it. No, thank you, Joanne. You were great. Thank you. Yeah, it was amazing. Thank you so much for joining us today.
Thank you for what you do. It. You help a lot of people. Bye.
Jo Ann Brechtel joins Founder’s Story to share the story behind A Messenger of the Light, a book born from profound loss and an unexpected discovery. She explains how, after her son Warren’s sudden death, she found a notebook filled with his artwork, dated and signed pieces, and personal spiritual writings that expressed his belief in “the light within us.” Jo Ann describes turning grief into purpose by compiling his words and art into a book meant to bring hope, faith, and strength to others.
Key Discussion Points:Jo Ann recounts receiving the shocking notice of Warren’s death and traveling to California to close his apartment, where she discovered his notebooks of art and handwritten reflections. She shares how Warren’s creativity showed up early, from gazing at Christmas lights as a toddler to making stage shows and films, then later working at KTLA and dreaming of creating stories that help others. The episode explores how writing the book became therapeutic, helping her process grief and preserve Warren’s legacy for his friends, colleagues, and future readers. Jo Ann also reflects on learning new sides of her son, especially the depth of his faith, his devotion to prayer, and his belief that obstacles are meant to be removed, not feared.
Takeaways:Jo Ann’s message is that grief can become a bridge to meaning when you give it somewhere to go, and for her, that place was the page. She encourages anyone experiencing loss, darkness, or self doubt to write, because putting words to pain can turn memories into strength. Warren’s philosophy throughout the episode centers on perseverance: you are not at fault for failing, but you lose when you stop trying. Above all, the “light” is portrayed as something we carry within us, and when we live in a way that makes others feel seen, safe, or happy, we are already doing something that matters.
Closing Thoughts:This conversation is a portrait of love, legacy, and resilience through faith. Jo Ann’s book keeps Warren’s spirit present through his art and words, and her hope is that readers will feel uplifted, motivated, and reminded that even in darkness, the light within you can be called on and shared with others. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.