“Our testimonies and our insight gained through experience can help others get through hard times. Sister, your books are making a massive difference in the lives of these brothers in here (Rimutaka Prison).”
Biography
Janet Balcombe writes from experience—for the rebels, the addicts and the broken-hearted. She spent her first three decades being part of the problem, not part of the solution, but she faced her demons and now enjoys full healing in her life from grief, meth-addiction and alcoholism. Janet’s been clean from drugs and alcohol for 20+ years, although her criminal record still reminds her that she is a convicted kidnapper.
In 2014, Janet published her memoir, Take a Walk on the Wild Side, which was 5th-equal in the 2015 Ashton Wylie, Mind Body Spirit Literary Awards. In 2016 it was re-published, The Wild Side. She went on to write 35 other inspirational New Zealander’s true stories compiled in Radical Lives Vol 1 and Vol 2.
Janet and husband, Ray Curle, founded Wild Side Publishing (WSP) in response to authors’ requests for publishing assistance. Wild Side Charitable Trust (WST) was formed in response to Janet’s readers reaching out for support in their recovery. See wildsidetrust.org for info on this new residential retreat in Northland.
Media: The Café Show. Radio Live. Radio NZ. The Edge. The Lip podcast: Back from the Abyss.
NZ Herald, 9 March 2018: Northland woman to speak on her descent into meth 'train wreck'
Stuff.co.nz, 31 July, 2015: Former meth addict finalist in literary awards
NEXT Magazine, 5 May, 2017: Meth addiction: One woman’s story of breaking the cycle
Radical Lives 1
Sale Price:NZ$17.99 Original Price:NZ$19.99
15 TRUE-LIFE STORIES YOU JUST WON’T BE ABLE TO PUT DOWN.
Discover great life hacks straight from the hearts of these remarkable survivors:
Adrian Pritchard - armed robber gets a second chance
Anita Mary - hardcore alternative street survivor
Bernadette Soares - serial over-achiever & entrepreneur
Beryl Henwood - from widow to warrior woman
Bill Subritzky - international healing evangelist
Brian France - IRA bomb-blast survivor
Cheyne Hakaraia - drug lord to entrepreneur
David Silver - the reluctant Jew finds his voice
Janet Balcombe - meth survivor to author of The Wild Side
Koebi Hart - from abuse & addiction to heaven & restoration
Matthew Needham - suicide survivor to man on a mission
Norm McLeod - from sex, drugs & rock’n’roll to Maori leader
Phil Paikea - from gang leader to anti-violence campaigner
Ray Curle - from pirate to preacher
Tawhiri Littlejohn - from session drummer to spiritual leader
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it’s the courage to continue that counts.” -Winston Churchill
Janet’s website and blog: janetbalcombe.com
Format: Paperback | 110 b&w pages
Dimensions: 148 x 210 x 7.5mm | 171g
ISBN13: 978-0-473-38658-0
Publisher: Wild Side Publishing
Publication Date: February 2017
Publication country: New Zealand
The Wild Side
Sale Price:NZ$19.99 Original Price:NZ$24.99
BETRAYAL. GRIEF. METH ADDICTION. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY. REDEMPTION. KIWI MEMOIR: ASHTON WYLIE FINALIST.
Sitting in prison on charges including kidnapping, guns, drugs and counterfeiting wasn’t what Janet Balcombe had in mind for her life.
Her life had become a psychotic hybrid of Breaking Bad and Paranormal Activity. There had to be a divine intervention or things were just not going to end well. How did a country girl from a decent family become a hardcore Meth-addict? What would you do if you were visited by a demon with a deadly agenda? Janet’s quest to find her true identity and the meaning of life took her to the very brink of death and hell. It nearly killed her but Janet got her answers... insight into true spiritual power, treasures found in the darkness, and real answers about life.
Finalist in the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Literary Awards 2015 (previous edition, Take a Walk on the Wild Side)
READER REVIEWS:
“This book has the power to change a generation. What an encouraging book! Please understand how far reaching this book is and how encouraging it is for parents like us who love their troubled child so much and to actually know there is someone who knows how we feel.” -Sally Strathdee
“Janet Balcombe is one of those rare New Zealand indie-authors who has recently come out of left field, waving a metaphorical flag, commanding attention with a gutsy memoir, and an uncrushable Christian faith. The Wild Side is her true story, a coming-of-age memoir of life in the dark side, of the events that almost killed her: drug addiction, prison, toxic relationships, redemption. There are paranormal events, fear, and spiritual awakening, love and family. Janet is a brave writer. She obviously has been to hell and back. The Wild Side wouldn’t have been an easy book to write, and yet Janet’s eyes sparkle and she smiles readily and warmly. She is a survivor. Her story is a well written page turner.” -Freelance Magazine, Dec 2016
Janet’s website, media and blog: janetbalcombe.com
Format: Paperback | 256 b&w pages
Dimensions: 148 x 210 x 14mm | 337g
ISBN13: 978-0-473-36621-6
Publisher: Wild Side Publishing
Publication Date: March 2016
Publication country: New Zealand
Radical Lives 2
NZ$19.99
NO MATTER HOW BAD THINGS GET, THERE’S HOPE!
20 inspirational true-life stories of courage you will never forget.
Amos (Perese) Ale - Head Hunter founder to servant leader
Andrew Stroud - World Superbike champion finds true riches
Brock Davis - Rebel police detective becomes muso for the Master
David Laumatia - Senior Sergeant, role model and prophetic artist
Daz Chettle - From the gutter to inspiring the next generation
Gini Shepheard - From rejection, abuse and gang life to social worker
Hillary Kieft - Through abuse and abortion to pro-life activist
Jaewyn Major - On a mission to give prostitution the red light
Joshua Calles - Family man, Police Constable and BROKEN rising star
Louise Kapene-Green - The korowai maker whose heart speaks through her hands
Marina Young - Pro-lifer and author, The Unforgotten Babies
Mark Mitchell - Warrior of Zion leader who danced with the devil
Omri Jaakobovich - Israeli Paratrooper and founder of HIT International
Owen Pomana - Ex-hardman with a heart for the homeless
Rosita Hendry - World-class acrobat and circus superstar
Stephanie Harawira - Leader of the Pacific Pearls movement
Talakimoana Hehepoto - Ex-Mongrel Mobster and hope-bringer
Tania Butler - Widow of Chris Crean from the movie RESOLVE
Trent Membrey - Journey from meth hell to minister
Tuhoe ‘Bruno’ Isaac - Ex-Mongrel Mob leader and author of True Red
Watch a short reading by Janet from the Foreword by Pastor Norm McLeod here
Janet’s website and blog: janetbalcombe.com
Format: Paperback | 162 b&w pages
Dimensions: 148 x 210 x 9mm | 227g
ISBN13: 978-0-473-41403-0
Publisher: Wild Side Publishing
Publication Date: August 2018
Publication country: New Zealand
The Wild Side e-book
NZ$8.99
BETRAYAL. GRIEF. METH ADDICTION. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY. REDEMPTION. KIWI MEMOIR: ASHTON WYLIE FINALIST.
Sitting in prison on charges including kidnapping, guns, drugs and counterfeiting wasn’t what Janet Balcombe had in mind for her life, which had become a psychotic hybrid of Breaking Bad and Paranormal Activity. There had to be a divine intervention or things were just not going to end well. How did a country girl from a decent family become a hardcore Meth-addict? What would you do if you were visited by a demon with a deadly agenda? Janet’s quest to find her true identity and the meaning of life took her to the very brink of death and hell. It nearly killed her but Janet got her answers... insight into true spiritual power, treasures found in the darkness, and real answers about life.
Radical Lives 2 e-book
NZ$6.99
NO MATTER HOW BAD THINGS GET, THERE’S HOPE!
Twenty inspirational true-life stories of courage you will never forget.
Amos (Perese) Ale, Andrew Stroud, Brock Davis, David Laumatia, Daz Chettle, Gini Shepheard, Hillary Kieft, Jaewyn Major, Joshua Calles, Louise Kapene-Green, Marina Young, Mark Mitchell, Omri Jaakobovich, Owen Pomana, Rosita Hendry, Stephanie Harawira, Talakimoana Hehepoto, Tania Butler, Trent Membry and Tuhoe ‘Bruno’ Isaac
Radical Lives 1 e-book
NZ$6.99
Fifteen true-life stories you just won’t be able to put down!
Adrian Pritchard, Anita Mary, Bernadette Soares, Beryl Henwood, Bill Subritzky, Brian France, Cheyne Hakaraia, David Silver, Janet Balcombe, Koebi Hart, Matthew Needham, Norm McLeod, Phil Paikea, Ray Curle, Tawhiri Littlejohn
Blog Posts
God's Ways to Resolve Conflict
I had no idea how big the topic of dealing with conflict was. All I knew was that I didn’t like it – and I avoided it at all costs. I didn’t know that there was a good reason for this. Now it makes sense that I couldn’t handle the big rejection when I was a teenager – because I was already on shaky ground…
Dynamic word-based prayer
Praying God’s word hotwires prayer into the most powerful force in the universe. It is part of the armour of God. Combining word-based prayer with praying about everything is a formidable combination. However, to pray God’s word, we have to have it either in front of us, or in our hearts, ready to come out of our mouths. A time may come when the only word we have, is what we have stored up in our hearts.
The Sovereignty of God
“Don’t call me, I’ll call you!” I said to my fiancée, Ray, with no intention of calling him ever again. “I do not want to hear your voice, or see your face. I need space, and I don’t think it’s going to end well.” To say I was extremely annoyed was the understatement of the year. After 13 years of being single, it was just two weeks out from our wedding and I’d just hit a major red flag.
Above the storm on wings like eagles
True peace is not the absence of turmoil or trouble, it’s the ability to fly above the storm like the eagle. In the last few, tumultuous weeks, the world as we knew it has changed. What has been building for years in secret, has finally begun to surface. Whether we like it or not, whether we agree with it or not, whether we can handle it or not.
Book Reviews
“Janet is a brave writer. She obviously has been to hell and back. The Wild Side wouldn't have been an easy book to write, and yet Janet's eyes sparkle and she smiles readily and warmly. She is a survivor. Her story is a well written page turner.”
Freelance Magazine, December 2016
“This book has the power to change a generation. Please understand how far-reaching this book is and how encouraging it is for parents like us who love their troubled child so much and to actually know there is someone who knows how we feel.”