Well, we’re nearing the end of a fun launch week, and the party is starting to spool down a bit. In fact, I think we might be reaching that point where some of the guests start breaking out the guitars and jamming a bit.

So if you feel like doing that, go for it. If you’d like to enter the raffle to win either a Kindle or Paperback copy of Living by Ear, you can post a YouTube video–or just the name–of a song you like in the comments below. Or, if you prefer, post a video of yourself, or you and some friends, playing or singing something. It’d be fun to hear some real indie music. Then, on Saturday morning, I’ll put all the names in a hat and pick one Kindle winner and one paperback winner. And no worries if you don’t have a Kindle–I can send a pdf if that’s better for you.

If you don’t win, Living by Ear is available on Amazon, and I’d be thrilled if you’d go over there to check it out. In a nutshell, it’s the story of a female musician named Chris Daley who “temporarily” gave up her career to marry and start a family, only to realize, sixteen years later, that she doesn’t love her husband any more and desperately wants to start performing again.

So let’s get back to the party. As you might know by now, Chris Daley in Living by Ear plays both cover tunes and originals. I’ve been sharing videos of some of Chris’s favorite cover songs this week, but haven’t been able to share videos of the original songs in the book, because, you know, they weren’t on YouTube.

So here’s my attempt to play a couple of her original songs, or at least parts of them.

Yeah, that was definitely out of my comfort zone. So to help clear that from your memory, let’s listen to Dusty Springfield sing “Son of a Preacher Man.” Some people in the book who hear Chris sing say she sounds a bit like Dusty, and I’d give my left arm–or at least a couple of fingers–to be able to sing like this.

Wow. I could listen to that a hundred times and still want to hear it again.

Anyway, please keep on posting those videos and songs. I’ve enjoyed everything you’ve shared–the ones I know well and the ones I hadn’t heard before this party. Just remember to get them up by 6:00 PM EST on Friday September 19.

I’d like to thank everyone who’s listened to some music, posted a video, or just peeked in the window to see what’s going on.

xo,

Mary

PS: at around noon today, September 19, 2014, I’ll be doing an AMA on Reddit.