March 1st update. I’m delighted to share that the second edition of my award-winning novel Blue by You is available for pre-order ahead of Simon & Schuster’s distribution set to begin on May 6th. Simply click on either the Amazon or Barnes & Noble links below and you will be taken directly to my page on their respective web sites. My three-book Parchment Collection is still available, and a new addition Short Fiction has been added to the selection options above. There you will find a collection of short stories I’ve written recently; some have already been entered in prestigious writing competitions. I anticipate adding a new story every month or so. For the past fourteen months I’ve written a very brief weekly blog and they’re archived in The Author Guy. Thank you for joining me on my author journey.
A Night Where Music and Literature Converged: “Blue Bayou Meets Blue Bayou”
May 18, 2025 — What an extraordinary evening we shared last night at our “Blue Bayou Meets Blue Bayou” concert featuring the remarkable Linda Ronstadt tribute artist Teresa! The magic that filled the room was a testament to the enduring power of great music and the connections it creates between us all.
To everyone who joined us for this unique celebration, thank you for making the evening so special. Your presence, enthusiasm, and shared appreciation for Linda Ronstadt’s timeless music created an atmosphere that was both intimate and electric. We are deeply grateful to the WKU Society for Lifelong Learning, and especially to Karen Shaneyfelt, for helping to make this remarkable event possible.
The concept for tonight’s gathering emerged from an unlikely intersection of music and literature. As Willie Nelson once observed, there are two types of men in the world: those who have a crush on Linda Ronstadt, and those who don’t know who she is. For many of us, that crush began decades ago when we first heard that distinctive voice that would become the soundtrack to our lives.
The evening celebrated not only Ronstadt’s incredible musical legacy but also the release of the second edition of Blue by You, a novel whose title pays homage to Roy Orbison’s “Blue Bayou” – a song perhaps more closely identified with Ronstadt herself. The book, now distributed by publishing powerhouse Simon & Schuster, weaves together the worlds of music and storytelling in ways that honor both the song and the legendary artist who made it her own.
Teresa, our featured performer, brought extraordinary credentials to the stage. As someone who actually knew and recorded with Linda Ronstadt, she offered audiences an authentic connection to the music we all cherish. Her impressive resume includes performances that have taken her around the world – from intimate White House lawn concerts for President and Mrs. Obama to leading a quarter of a million people in song on the National Mall. NASA has even beamed her original compositions into space, and her thousand-plus college campus performances have earned her recognition as College Entertainer of the Year seven times and Female Vocalist of the Year twice.
What made tonight particularly special was how it demonstrated the novel approach of using live music to launch a novel – a creative solution for book promotion in our post-pandemic world where even bestselling authors sometimes struggle to draw audiences. The uniqueness of this concept has even caught the attention of feature writers, suggesting that the intersection of literature and live performance may be pointing toward new ways for authors to connect with readers.
The evening reminded us why Linda Ronstadt’s music continues to resonate across generations. Whether she was interpreting country classics, rock anthems, or traditional Mexican folk songs, Ronstadt’s voice carried an emotional authenticity that transcended genre boundaries. Tonight’s tribute captured that same spirit, honoring both the music and the woman who will celebrate her seventy-ninth birthday this July.
As we reflect on this memorable evening, we’re reminded that great art – whether musical or literary – has the power to bring people together in celebration of the stories and songs that shape our lives. Thank you again to everyone who made “Blue Bayou Meets Blue Bayou” such a resounding success.
Blue by You is now available in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and other international markets through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other major retailers.
Watch our new Book Launch video: PLAY VIDEO CLICK HERE
