Candi Milo

I may be the Queen of Cartoon Voices - but I have been a writer forever.

Plays. Musicals. Short stories. Sketches. Skits. Screenplays. One-person shows. Thank you cards... You name it.

But I have never written anything as deeply personal as SURVIVING THE ODD. It is the true story of an 8-year-old me, my relationship to my larger than life Dad and our 16-year journey towards compassion and empathy.

My father was a childhood star in vaudeville, and a very successful nightclub performer. He quit show business in 1968 to give back to society and opened one of California's first board and care homes for the developmentally disabled and emotionally disturbed - and moved our family right in with them.

This house, called MILO ARMS was an abandoned fraternity adjacent to the San Jose State campus and had a PA system to boot. Perfect for an ex-performer. He did a comedy show before every meal. Most of it lost on everyone in the house.

Ever the comic, my Dad taught us to laugh in the face our fears. He also taught me to have compassion for others and what the true definition of family was. All through laughter. I learned not to judge a book by it's cover, to treat others with respect and to fight for those who could not fight for themselves. He said: Every single person is someone's child.

What my dad gave to our residents was a home and a family, a sense of belonging, and a purpose in life. A way forward. Also he taught them some great jokes, to help them not always be the butt of one.

For all my bravado, there were many tears along the way. I have never had a slumber party or close friends. Our home was downtown and in a semi-urban setting. I was often on my own for dinner and bedtime, as my parents cared for our residents 24/7. It took me a long time to get past the shame of our family business being non-traditional, and back in the 1960s/1970s, involving people who most of society ignored and looked down on. To top it off, the government was constantly evolving it's rules towards care, and there were some souls that simply could not be helped.

I saw it all. Spoiler alert: I got through it.

My career has spanned theme park performing, cruise ship performing, first national tours of Broadway shows, radio commercials, records, stand up comedy, television and films. But for the last 30+ years I have been lucky to do silly voices for cartoons. I have met and worked with the greatest people. And I believe this is where my character voices come from. Because, when you have "seen" people for who they are since you were 7 years old, you can't ever stop seeing them.

I truly hope you enjoy the book. It's true. And I have the photos to prove it.

Follow me on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. Visit imdb.com/candimilo to see what I've voiced or visit candimilo.com.