Surviving the Odd is the heartfelt and witty memoir by Candi Milo, a three-time Annie Award-nominated voice actor and daughter of the late entertainer Tony Milo, dubbed "Mr. Dynamite" by the legendary columnist Herb Caen. In 1968, Governor Ronald Reagan emptied California's mental hospitals, leaving hundreds of thousands of mentally ill and emotionally disturbed people homeless on the streets. With no medical training or higher education, Tony Milo started a halfway house called Milo Arms for the mentally ill and treated them like his own family. He ran the home while raising five children, including Candi, who was bright, curious, and mouthy. Candi watched and learned from her father the real definition of family and the value of empathy, inspiring her work as a performer and an advocate.
About the Author :
Born in Palm Springs and raised in San Jose, California, Candi Milo is an actor, singer, and stand-up comedian based in Los Angeles. A three-time Annie Award nominee and one of the busiest actors in voiceovers today, Candi is honored to have taken the mantle from the legendary late June Foray as the voice of Granny for all of Warner Brothers Animation projects, including SPACE JAM 2: A NEW LEGACY starring LeBron James. She is best known for voicing Dexter in DEXTER'S LABORATORY and The Flea in MUCHA LUCHA, among other well-known characters in hundreds of film and television projects, including many different roles in Looney Tunes Cartoons. On stage, Candi starred with Jennifer Holliday in the first touring production of "Dreamgirls," directed by Michael Bennett. She also gives inspirational talks about her unusual childhood and how it informed her life as an actor, mother, and passionate advocate for people dealing with mental illness and homelessness.
Review :
"A nuanced, affecting memoir that sheds light on the effects of deinstitutionalization...crisply told, with punchy lines and plenty of humor and vivid descriptions."- Kirkus Reviews
"Candi Milo's relentless knack for making you laugh through your tears comes from the same place her hysterically funny and powerfully heartfelt book checks you into, whether you're ready or not: The Milo Arms Board and Care Home. By the time you leave, you will never forget the colorfully complicated, bittersweet, but beautiful life this one-of-a-kind woman has lived." - Trey Callaway, writer/producer, "CSI: NY," "Revolution," "I Know What You Did Last Summer"
"I have been a fan of Candi Milo for as long as I can remember. She is a singer, actress, and now an author. I loved reading the story of how she became the woman she is. What a ride! Take it. You won't regret it!" - Yvette Nicole Brown, actor, "Community," "Big Shot"
"Surviving the Odd is the childhood story of beloved animation voice actress and author Candi Milo. It's a dry-eyed, truthful look at childhood expectations and the dizzying and disappointing reactions of people in the 1970s to the 'new neighbors, ' when American life was in upheaval, and a spot at The Brady Bunch dinner table was the ultimate fantasy. Candi's writing is incredibly funny, but you can also see how deeply she was affected by what she saw and experienced. A true survivor, Candi writes so that you have to laugh or else you'll cry." - Diana Burbano, playwright, actor, and teaching artist at South Coast Repertory and Breath of Fire Latina Theatre Ensemble
