Countdown to Riches - Watch the Live Q&A on July 1. Get Notified
The Official Website of The Secret The Official Website of The Secret
  • Explore
    • Bundles
    • Secret Stories
    • Tell Us Your Story
    • Manifestation Cards
    • The Secret: Remastered
    • The Greatest Secret
    • Masterclass
    • Blog
    • Inspiring Videos
  • Rhonda
    • Rhonda Live
    • Rhonda Talks
    • Ask Rhonda
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Rhonda Byrne’s Biography
    • Creative Team
    • History of The Secret
  • Products
    • All Products
    • Apps
    • Audiobooks
    • Books
    • Card Deck
    • E-Books
    • Films
    • Masterclass
    • World Languages
  • Films
    • The Secret: Remastered
    • The Secret Documentary
    • The Secret: Dare to Dream
  • Gifts for You
    • The Secret Super App
    • The Secret Scrolls
    • Memory Game
    • The Magic Check
    • The Secret Check
    • The Science of Getting Rich E-Book
  • Translate
    • English
    • Español
    • Français
    • Dutch
    • Italiano
    • Russian
    • German
    • Portuguese
    • Swedish
    • More Languages
Close
  • Explore
    • Bundles
    • Secret Stories
    • Tell Us Your Story
    • Manifestation Cards
    • The Secret: Remastered
    • The Greatest Secret
    • Masterclass
    • Blog
    • Inspiring Videos
  • Rhonda
    • Rhonda Live
    • Rhonda Talks
    • Ask Rhonda
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Rhonda Byrne’s Biography
    • Creative Team
    • History of The Secret
  • Products
    • All Products
    • Apps
    • Audiobooks
    • Books
    • Card Deck
    • E-Books
    • Films
    • Masterclass
    • World Languages
  • Films
    • The Secret: Remastered
    • The Secret Documentary
    • The Secret: Dare to Dream
  • Gifts for You
    • The Secret Super App
    • The Secret Scrolls
    • Memory Game
    • The Magic Check
    • The Secret Check
    • The Science of Getting Rich E-Book
  • Translate
    • English
    • Español
    • Français
    • Dutch
    • Italiano
    • Russian
    • German
    • Portuguese
    • Swedish
    • More Languages

Search Topics

Hurricane Katrina And Faith Beyond Words.

Submitted by: Phyllis Montana-Leblanc

New Orleans, Louisiana

I'm 52 years old. I am the middle child of 4 sisters. I have one brother, the youngest. I've loved writing since the third grade. I am a Hurricane Katrina survivor. Before that I am a survivor of teenage domestic abuse. I am a published author, since Hurricane Katrina. My memoir, "Not Just The Levees Broke" was published in 2008 by Atria Books/Simon and Schuster. This all happened after being featured in Spike Lee's Award winning HBO documentary; "When The Levees Broke."

After surviving Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and living with a couple of relatives on the outskirts of New Orleans, I was introduced to the Jabez Prayer. I was short and to the point, so I read it each day and never thought much about it. I didn’t know then what I was putting into the Universe. I just wanted to return home and start my life over with my husband and family who also survived the storm with us. It was me and my husband, Ron, my mother Clovina, my sister Catherine and her son Nicholas who is Autistic. My husband and I were separated from them the family during rescue efforts. They went to Texas. We got left behind, which was a good thing because their needs were much bigger. Mom is elderly, Catherine has Crohn’s and Nicholas with his Autism. So, we were glad they were evacuated out before us.

So, living from house to house, we finally were able to get back to the city and live in a hotel, while my husband worked to help rebuild the city. Ron is a Pile driving crane operator, so his job was very vital in rebuilding the city. I was left alone a lot and it was during this time that Spike Lee was interviewing people in New York who had gone there for refuge and family members. My eldest sister interviewed with him and informed him that her sisters, mother and nephew had stayed for the storm and had a story to tell. I was able to tell our story because Mr. Lee and his team came to New Orleans to film his award winning, HBO documentary, “When The Levees Broke.

It was during this time, now 2006 that I heard about a book called The Secret. I thought nothing of it, as much as I loved to read, because I was still dealing with what we had experienced staying in the city a week after the storm. We hadn’t bathed for a week! But, that was all over, at least, that chapter. I wrote a poem while we were still filming and asked Spike to read it. The next day when he came out to wrap up filming, he said he needed to call someone that he wanted me to speak with. I give him my cell phone and he talks for a few minutes to someone and then hands me the phone. I asked him who was it. He said she was an editor for Atria books and he’d told her that I was a writer and they thought I should write my experiences during and after that storm. I was shaking, literally shaking. I took the phone and it was just a natural conversation. She gave me all of her information and told me that once we were done filming, to write our story and mail it to her in New York.

I don’t remember who gave me the book, The Secret. I do know that I ran across it last week, and in it, there in my handwriting is the date, June 27, 2007. Now, here’s one of the best chapters of my life. I wrote my memoir, “Not Just The Levees Broke” “My Story During and After Hurricane Katrina” in 2007. I remember reading about writing a check for however much I wanted, and putting it in a prominent place. I wrote a “check” for one hundred thousand dollars and that I would get a book deal with Atria Books. Thumbing through the book is where I ran across my handwriting.

Well I got that book deal for my memoir for one hundred thousand dollars in 2008!

There’s more to tell. I’ve also, since been in an HBO Series called, “Treme”. My character’s name was “Desiree.” I worked on it for 4 years. I also participated in a follow up documentary by Spike Lee called “If God Is Willing And Da Creek Don’t Rise.” I was asked by Spike to write the title poem and I did. You can view it on Youtube. I’ve just recently booked two roles, both series. One is “Claws” and the most recent is Spike Lee’s first feature film, “She’s Gotta Have It.” I begin filming in December.

I am also re-reading The Secret. I firmly believe that reading and following The Secret was very instrumental in my putting into the Universe what I wanted and it coming back to me. Thanks again. My faith got me to this point and The Secret was a huge part of it. Thanks so much for the inspiration, Mrs. Phyllis Montana-Leblanc. This is just a portion of the many more chapters of where I am today. The new memoir is more detailed and I’m confident that it will be completed by next year and the advance will be more that one hundred thousand dollars. I’m declaring one million dollars.

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Faith
← More Stories

Search Topics

Have a Story to Share?

Submit your story →

What Do You Want?

  • To Be Happy1
  • Better Relationships2
  • Success in Life3
  • More Money4
  • Better Health5
  • The Secret for Teens6
  • The Secret for Kids7
To Be Happy1
Better Relationships2
Success in Life3
More Money4
Better Health5
The Secret for Teens6
The Secret for Kids7

The Magic

The easiest way to lasting happiness is to practice gratitude.

Find the 28 most powerful gratitude practices in The Magic!

Find The Magic in these formats:

BooksE-BooksWorld Languages

Love everything around you, and the love MUST come back to you!

The Power reveals the greatest force in the universe, and exactly how to use it - for better relationships and for everything you could ever want.

Find The Power in these formats:

BooksE-BooksAudioBooksCDWorld Languages

Whatever dream you dream, KNOW that the Universe wants you to succeed.

Hero lights the way for your dream - step-by-step through every challenge, hurdle, or set back - until it is realized.
Find Hero in these formats:

BooksE-BooksAudioBooksCDWorld Languages

The Secret Money App

The simple secret to having more money is believing you are already wealthy!

Every single time you use The Secret to Money App you are thinking and acting like you are wealthy NOW.

Explore The Secret to Money App, available on:

Google PlayThe App StoreWorld Languages

Great health comes from having great thoughts.

The Secret Daily Teachings provides a simple, inspiring way to keep your thoughts and feelings positive every single day of the year.
The Secret Daily Teachings is available as an app and book in these formats:

BooksAPPE-BooksTear Sheet
World Languages

Live an extraordinary life and awaken your dreams!

The Secret to Teen Power explores the Law of Attraction from a teenager’s point of view.

Find The Secret to Teen Power in these formats:

BooksE-BooksAudioBooksCDWorld Languages

Imagination is the creative force of the Universe!

The Power of Henry’s Imagination is a picture story book exploring one of The Secret principles: visualization.

Find The Power of Henry’s Imagination in these formats:

BooksE-BooksWorld Languages

Look Up Stories by theme

  • Art
  • Awareness
  • Business
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Faith
  • Family
  • Feel Good
  • Finances
  • Friends
  • Future
  • Giving
  • Goals
  • Gratitude
  • Health
  • Inner
  • Inspiration
  • Job
  • Letting Go
  • Life
  • Love
  • Music
  • Other
  • Pets
  • Relationships
Be Here Now and you will be happy The Secret
  • Prev
  • Next

Our Products

  • Apps
  • Audiobooks
  • Books
  • Card Deck
  • E-Books
  • Films

Help Resources

  • The Secret Store
  • The Secret Stories
  • The Secret Blog
  • FAQ
  • World Languages
  • Customer Privacy Policy

Our Company

  • Contact Us
  • Our Mission
  • Rhonda Byrne’s Biography
  • History of The Secret
  • The Creative Team
  • Media

Search

Connect with Us

The Secret at Weibo


Copyright © 2025 The Secret. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | No Spam Policy