Jesse James: 'I have started my life over'

Matt Sayles/AP

Jesse James is returning to the spotlight after a move to Texas in order to promote his memoir.

Out with the old and in with the new.

It's the spring-cleaning mantra for many people, but it just as easily applies to Jesse James' life since his extremely public split with wife Sandra Bullock last year.

Since James' repeated infidelities were exposed more than a year ago, the 42-year-old has "started life over."

"I'm moving forward, thinking clearly and becoming a better person," he told People of his life without Bullock.

While James, 42, takes "full accountability" for his mistakes, he also continues to make excuses for his behavior.

"I always felt out of place my whole life," he said. "I never felt successful, never felt I deserved anything."

And then sure enough, "Everything got ripped to shreds."

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"I was at my breaking point," he said.

Now without an Oscar winner on his arm and after closing his company West Coast Choppers, James seems pleased with his new life near Austin, Tex.

"I've made my world pretty small," he said. "Now I can focus on what's important: making sure [my] kids get good grades and are happy and healthy."

But there's one child it sounds like James, who is engaged to tattoo artist Kat Von D, has little to do with these days: 15-month-old Louis, whom he was raising with Bullock for a short time prior to their divorce.

"Talking about Louis almost felt too intimate," he said of choosing not to address the topic in his memoir, "American Outlaw," which hits bookshelves Tuesday.

"He is so sweet," James told the mag, "and I miss him."

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