I'm back from a most amazing weekend, one that in spite of the late hour and a press of job projects facing me first thing in the morning (sometimes it doesn't pay to check your messages at the office) I have to talk about.
I did five interviews in two days for the book, names available somewhere down the line after interviews are transcribed by me and by hand (time consuming in the extreme, but it's the only way I can do it) and the stories take written form. Hopefully no one out there thinks I'm being cutesy or coy by not yet mentioning the artists who will be in the book, as that is not my intent. Simply put, I don't want to list names until I'm further along. When the work reaches an appropriate moment I promise I will provide some details.
The interviews were amazing, each and every one. Even those people I talked to who thought they did a terrible job or babbled too much. They didn't, and I am not saying that out of a sense I should be polite. The depth of insight each person provided as they reached into themselves, their past good and bad, and their present… to them all praise belongs. It was my humbling honor to play my small part in sparking conversation by beautiful, gifted, spiritual people who blessed so many then and now, even if they ofttimes are unaware of how many they touched, and how profound an impact they had on not just personal events here in the lives of people, but on eternal lives and destinations. It was more than humbling to have these people place their trust in me to tell their stories faithfully, and I pledge to do my best in this.
Speaking of unaware moments, I had one myself when a member of a band noted something later confirmed by another: sales of one of their records skyrocketed due to my giving it the rave review it deserved during my tenure as a writer for the now defunct Pulse! magazine published by Tower Records. My only possible reply was I'll take your word for it, as I have absolutely no memory of writing said review! One of these days I'll dig out the old columns and refresh my graying gray matter.
I freely confess there were at least a couple of moments this morning when I came perilously close to suffering from (ahem) sinus troubles as the car was being packed and aimed toward the highway heading home. The blessed honor I have been given… it leaves me nearly speechless. The book will be more than the stories of these artists's lives, faith, and work, although these beautiful things cannot be discounted. It will be a prayer giving thanks, dedicated to people loved very, very much.
God bless you all.
