The Joys of Republishing

I am currently in the process of republishing the six Aspen Grove Romance Anthologies, co-written with Sherry Derr-Wille, Luanna Rugh, Christie Shary, and Cheryl Gardarian. Along with re-editing each of them and adding new covers (which Larry created—and they are gorgeous), I have had to create new video trailers.

I do these myself using PowerPoint and Moviemaker. These aren’t the slick productions some authors create for their books. We don’t have the budget. I like to think they are homey and appealing. And they might draw interest to the books. (I hope)

The first one republished was An Aspen Grove Christmas, number four in the series.

This one is Len Rugh’s favorite of the six anthologies. Larry also likes my novella, “Mistletoe Magic.” (He has reread it several times.) Here’s a link to the new video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTPxAgXH2r8

Next, I tackled the first book in the series, Snowflake Secrets. I have always loved this story since it takes the reader from 1958 to 2007, the year it was published.

This is the new video for this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW449L67E2g. I had to redo it three times. For some reason, the first one looked fuzzy. Don’t know why. The music I chose for this one is a guitar piece by our good friend Dan Gilson. I hope you like it as much as I do.

Jean Ruda Habrukowich, the same producer who recorded …And a Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe, is currently recording this one. So far, we are thrilled with the results.

I just finished republishing …And A Silver Sixpence in her Shoe, the last of the six in the series.

This morning, I uploaded the new video for this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lFxeYSB0UE.

Jean Ruda Habrukowich did a great job recording this one when the first edition came out. https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Sixpence-Her-Shoe-Aspen/dp/B013V6RNF4/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=and+a+silver+sixpence+collins&qid=1574095934&s=books&sr=1-5. I sent ACX the new cover art, and they will replace the old cover on the audiobook soon. (If you would like to hear this one, let me know. I have a few free codes.)

My novella, “Something Old” features a story inspired by the wedding dress my mother wore. She was married during WWII, and she borrowed it from a friend. I have always loved it. (The photo at the beginning of the novella is actually my mother in the dress which inspired the story.)

If you love romance, please check these out. And if you love Christmas stories, the first two are perfect!

I am now starting on another in the series and hope to have all six completed very soon.

She Dreamed a Dream

Last Thursday night, we had the joy of attending Susan Bole’s one-night concert at the Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts in Costa Mesa. We got our tickets shortly after they went on sale. Our seats were in the front row at the center of the balcony. Nice unobstructed view.

The show began with Lance Ellington, a talented singer, who sang a couple of numbers ala Michael Buble. Then he introduced the lady we had come to see.

She appeared in silhouette while the audio of her introduction to the judges on Britain’s Got Talent was played. No one who has ever seen the original video with the judges’ reactions will ever forget it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnHL5QaFYJE

Finally, she appeared in the spotlight.

Her stylists have done a great job with her clothing, hair, and makeup. She looks at least ten years younger than she did when she first burst upon the scene.

Then she opened her mouth, and that amazing voice burst forth. I am stunned whenever I hear her youthful tone and the total mastery and control she displays. Her selection of material provided tremendous variety in tempo and styles.

She was accompanied by a seven-piece orchestra and two female backup singers plus Lance Ellington. However, she sang most of her songs solo.

She finished the first set with a moving rendition of “You Raise Me Up,” accompanied by the Costa Mesa High School Choir. The song always makes me cry, and this time was no exception. I wondered how she could possibly top it at the end of the show, and then I realized she could.

She began the second set with “Oh Happy Day,” once again with the kids. Upbeat, and filled with energy, the song brought her back with a bang.

Each song seemed to have deep personal meaning for her, and she shared her connection to the music with the audience, who responded with love. Many Brits and Scots displayed their colors throughout the crowd. A group with distinct Scottish brogues sat behind us and fully delighted in the evening.

Susan still has moments onstage when she returns to the awkward little Scottish lady who gathered her courage and overcame her fears in order to go for her life’s dream. Those displays of awkwardness make her seem even more appealing and accessible.

A number of the songs came from her new album, “Hope,” coming next week. (Mine is already on pre-order.) The song “I Can Only Imagine” always reminds me of my friend from Downey Savings. Lily passed away from cancer, and this was her favorite song. I always miss her when I hear it.

Several of the songs were new to me, but all suited her voice and style. I own her other albums, and I’m delighted whenever one plays on my iPod. (I have my playlists set up to play at random because I enjoy the surprise.)

From first song to last, the quality of her voice remained powerful. To me, it seemed even better hearing it in live performance.

The little Scottish lady who had the audacity to think she could compete with the younger and more attractive performers on Britain’s Got Talent dreamed a dream. Each step along the way, she has met and far exceeded each goal. Right now, she is fulfilling another dream: a tour off the US.

As expected, she closed the show with the song which launched her career. The audience responded enthusiastically from the first note. Somehow, the lyrics totally encompassed everything this unassuming lady had spent her whole life preparing for. Despite how overwhelming the initial reaction to her was, causing her to withdraw to adjust, she now seems to have found a place where she is comfortable with her fame.

Of course, “I Dreamed a Dream” brought a long, standing ovation. (Several other songs had received standing ovations throughout the show, but this one surpassed the rest.)

What a wonderful life lesson in pursuing our vision, even when no one else believes in it. And what a wonderful gift she has given to the world.

If she comes to your city, don’t miss the chance to see her in person.

Have you ever stayed the course when others encouraged you to give up? Was the struggle worth the discouragement and frustration?

The Power of Music

Saturday night we hosted four of the performers in the Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. This is about the fifth time we have provided beds for the talented performers from this group.

We became involved about ten years ago when we were asked to host two orchestra members. At their first concert, we were completely blown away! They are perhaps the finest performers I have ever heard—and that’s saying a great deal. For years, we had season tickets for several venues, including the Hollywood Bowl. We have heard some of the best groups in the world. And these folks can compete with any of them.

They are part of Music Mission Kiev (http://www.musicmissionkiev.org/) founded by Roger McMurrin in 1992. The group usually does a US tour every other year, often performing here in Southern California.

We’d previously hosted two male performers. This time we had four.

Until the last tour before this one, we’d had instrumentalists. However, the last time, we hosted two of the younger singers, Vilen Kilchenko (Tenor) and Lev Remeniev (Tenor). They were also part of another Ukrainian award-winning vocal group, ConCord. (Lev is fourth from the left, and Vilen is fifth in the photo below.)

These young men received a great deal of adulation as competitors in the Ukraine’s Got Talent competition (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwR2OK2WL3g). There are two other videos on YouTube with short clips of a few of their songs, including their actual competition on the TV show. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb1twhAlBjg&feature=related and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtPe07L5RUI&feature=related) The videos are in Ukrainian, but it is easy to understand what is happening, and the music is fabulous. (I have their CD on my iPod, and I love it.)

After they performed on Saturday night and again during worship on Sunday morning, the two young men accompanied Larry and me to see my mother. At the time, she was living in a nursing home. She was quite senile, but she still remembered who we were.

When we visited, I quite often played the piano for my mom as music was one of the few ways in which she could still be reached.

On this day, these dear young men performed a terrific a cappella mini-concert for her and the other residents of the nursing home. Instead of the indifference and lack of enthusiasm which was often her response to our visits, Mom came alive with the sounds from these sweet guys.

She smiled and obviously enjoyed every minute of their visit.

On Saturday night, we saw Lev again and were able to thank him once more for bringing joy to my mother. She died last year, but the visit from these special young men is one of my favorite memories of her final years.

At the end of her life, when she had lost nearly all her memory, music still remained a way to connect to her. I will always be grateful for the music she brought to my life and for the music I was able to bring into hers, even as she faded away.

I hope we will have another opportunity to host musicians from Kiev again on their next trip. Each time has been a very special experience for us, and we hope for them as well.