Happy spring to you all!

I’m loving the sound of the birds singing and the sun staying around longer these days.

My family and I just returned from a trip to Europe. We traveled to the beautiful town of Citta S’Angelo in the Abruzzo region in Italy to see where my grandfather on my dad’s side was born. It was magical. The town was beautiful as were the people. The wine from the region is now my new favourite. From there we journeyed up to England to the towns of Wilton and Salisbury (real close to Stonehenge) to find where my grandmother on my mom’s side was born. More magic. Here we were able to find some long lost relatives. It was wonderful to meet them and I really hope they say the same about us and that we didn’t scare them – just kidding. We also journeyed through France and into Spain where we spent a fantastic evening with my high school friend, Lisa. Her husband, Cisco, cooked a gourmet meal for us that we will never forget. It was a trip of a lifetime.

I’m happy to be back in Canada and to get back to work. The recording of my second album is moving along great. The first single, “Better Than Chocolate”, was released to radio on Monday. It is a fun up-tempo, great for summer tune written by my good friend and co-writer, Anthony Kelly. Please call your local radio station to request it. (Click on the graphic to the right for a listen

I hope life is good for you and that you find time to get out and enjoy the spring air.

I’d love to hear from you.

Take care,
Marny

Happy 2008 from Girl Singer Land!

I hope 2007 ended on a good note for you all. Here’s a quick review of my year:

• I spent the months of January and February between hibernating, snowmobiling and driving my girls to basketball.
  
  
• My daughter Mae stepped into the spotlight a bit with her music. She started singing the national anthem at the Regina Pats Hockey Games, sang and played piano on live TV for Telemiracle, and made it to the finals of the 620 CKRM Big Country Talent Show (the one I won in 1998). I love watching her on stage as much as I love being up there myself.

• Josi auditioned and nailed down a short speaking part on a Corner Gas episode that aired in October. She loved the entire experience and plans to do more...do we sound a bit like Naomi, Wynonna and Ashley?

• I traveled around the province with Megan Mansbridge, the illustrator of my storybook Linger, sharing the story of the making of the book.
  
  
• Pense School invited us stay for a while and work with the kids. I wrote eight songs with the kids, and Megan helped them illustrate five of them into storybook form. It was a huge and worthwhile project, and I think Megan and I learned as much as or more than the kids. Thanks to Pense School and the Arts Smart Program for making that happen.
  
  
• In April, I was honoured to be one of the featured Saskatchewan authors at the Saskatchewan Reading Council Conference. I must have done okay because they invited me to come back in 2008.
  
  
• In May, I found my way to the Casinos of Winnipeg to open for the Oak Ridge Boys, and got invited back in August to open for Neal McCoy. I love it when I get invited back.
  
  
• In June, I played the Pump here in Regina with my A-Team (always a great gig).
  
  
• Trev, my husband, threw me an amazing “surprise” 40th birthday party. My good friends, Shifty Morgan, entertained us with their music. As well, Trev even sang “Jackson” with me, and my beautiful girls wrote and performed a song called “Rock Star Mom”. It was a fantastic way to turn 40 with lots of friends, family, wine and jello shooters.
  
  
• I was proud to be part of the CCMA Host Committee here in Regina in September. I think the weekend went great! Sadly, I still can’t keep up with the partying that goes on at the CCMAs. Maybe with enough practice throughout the year, I’ll be able to keep up in 2008.
  
  
• I also started recording my second album in September. I’m working here in Regina at Brad Prosko’s studio with Dave Chobot producing. Things are sounding great so far.
  
  
• In October, I finally took my butt to Nashville to do some writing. I wrote with Tim Taylor, RyLee Madison and Larry Wayne Clark. It was scary and fun and left me wanting more.
  
  
• November found me in Little Rock, Arkansas, where I presented my book at a reading conference with about 3000 teachers in attendance from that state as well as Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma. The southern hospitality was over the top and the entire experience left me wanting more, again.
  
  
• I was back at the Pump in November with the A-Team just after the Saskatchewan Roughriders won the Grey Cup. Some of the players brought the Grey Cup into the Pump during my gig there. We had lots of fun with that.
  
  
• In December, I slowed things down a bit to enjoy family and friends, wine and more jello shooters.

And now for 2008…. Here’s what I have planned:

• more hibernating in January
  
  
• anther trip to Nashville in February
  
  
• complete the recording of my second album
  
  
• release a single to radio
  
  
• commence the transformation of “Who’s That Man” (a song on my debut album) into storybook form
  
  
• open a clothing store called “THREE”, with two of my good friends, Tara and Jody, in our hometown of Lumsden SK
  
  
• love up my girls, make them practice their instruments and do their homework
  
  
• hang out with my husband
  
  
• get better at my guitar and songwriting
  
  
• more wine and jello shooters
  
  
• and…I’ll keep you posted!

I wish you all the best in 2008. Take care and I’d love to hear from you.

Marny