Oct19

Listen Up: The M Machine

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Listen Up: The M Machine

One of my contacts sent over this artist to me and asked my opinion of their music.  Normally I’m not a house/techno-y type of gal.  I love lyrics and substance and not just a repetitive beat.  However, The M Machine’s “Promise Me A Rose” is infectious; combining pretty and pure vocals with excellent machinery.  I also checked out The M Machine’s track “Glow” and I think I like this one even better than the first.  “Glow” is reminiscent of ’80s synth pop, which is one of my favorite eras of music.  So I’m won over… :)

Put on these tracks ’cause The M Machine’s coming through…
http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F1177789 Promise Me A Rose Garden / Glow by The M Machine

Check out both “Promise Me A Rose Garden” & “Glow”: http://soundcloud.com/themmachine/sets/promise-me-a-rose-garden-glow/

For more on The M Machine: http://soundcloud.com/themmachine

www.twitter.com/the_m_machine

Oct17

"Burning Up" with Nick Carter!

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"Burning Up" with Nick Carter!

I really wrestled with the idea of trying to get an interview with Nick Carter when I found out he was shooting his video right here in Nashville.  I literally just ended StarShine and if I made allowances for the Backstreet Boys, where would it end?  I’m not saying I’ll never do an interview again…but I want to do it more in a bloggie manner than be editor of a magazine.  Anyway, back to Nick Carter, who by the way I’ve loved for half my life…Needless to say when I realized 107.5 The River were picking people to be extras in his video, I found myself tweeting Intern Adam, not thinking much into it.  Apparently, my tweet was creative enough to grab his attention because before I knew it, I got a message from him saying I would get a wristband for the shoot.

I was told to pick up the wristband by 9:45, well, that tipped me off to more of a first come, first serve basis.  So I arrived right before nine and sure enough, there were a group of girls who were already there!  I expected to wait a while, but hours passed and the line was building while we all stood outside like groupies more than the “chosen” ones. I figured there would be more order to the shoot. Talk flew throughout the crowd that Nick was writing the treatment as he went, but I never know what’s true and what’s not in a group of fans. Like Intern Adam said to us, “Y’all like to talk and give out wrong information”. Ain’t that the truth?

It was a sure thing by the end of the day that I’d see at least one fan crying out of disappointment. Every event I’ve been to, whether as a fan or a journalist, I’ve witnessed a fan crying or angry. I’m usually pretty understanding, knowing there’s a lot of chaos and a lot of people involved in an event, and it’s not easy on anyone, I’m sure.

However, things could have been done a little better. The radio station gave out mixed information, for one. Two, the crowd scene should have been filmed first, not last. Everyone’s feet were killing them by that point! Most people hadn’t eaten either, afraid to lose their spot in line.

After spending the morning outside and part of the afternoon, things paid off for me—Nick Carter came out to quickly shake hands and talk to the crowd to show his appreciation. He posted a video on Twitter of us outside and asked what he should tweet it as. I randomly called out, “Hardcore” and he laughed and said, “Hardcore…”. Little did I know he wound up tweeting the video as “Hardcore. Not Porn.” Gotta love him. (Watch the video here: http://www.twitvid.com/IW2YI.  You can see me peeking out, I have “Lost In You” in my hands and I’m waving.)

When Nick walked over to me, I shook his hand and slid my first novel, “Lost In You” into his hands. I told him I published a book and that the Backstreet Boys inspired it. “Oh, wow, thank you,” was his response. Then I added, “I autographed it for you.” Haha! I love autographing things for my idols! I doubt Nick will read it, but I hope he does appreciate it. So now, two Backstreet Boys own an autographed copy of “Lost In You”. AJ McLean’s mom, my good friend, Denise Solis, sent him a copy for me when it was first released in 2009.

After Nick went down the line, he walked back into Play Dance Bar to finish filming the video. More hours went by and fans were complaining more and more of hunger and sore feet. Finally, someone comes out and tells us they’re going to select about twenty girls to go in first. There goes my “first come, first serve” theory. They picked the most dressed up girls and also, the skinniest and skimpiest.

That’s all fine and good…It’s a sexy video, but in the e-mail from the station, we were told to wear sexy, but casual with creative vibes and not your typical club scene. I took that too literal, I think. I wore my favorite outfit (which I also wore to my “Dream Catchers” book release party). It was a little sexy punk look with a petticoat, halter top, black vest, boots and fingerless pleather gloves. I thought I looked pretty fierce, so I wasn’t going to sit there and put myself down on why those girls got picked and I didn’t. Their outfits were the better fit. The rest of the crowd ranged from plain old t-shirt and jeans to formal wear! Obviously, everyone’s opinion of sexy and casual are different.

Another hour or so passes and we’re finally allowed in, but kept in the foyer of Play for another freaking hour! It was so crammed before the crowd started thinning, feeling the day was bogus. I could have left after giving Nick “Lost In You” and been happy, but I would like to say I was in the music video. What can I say, I’m a fame seeker!

We were finally allowed into the video shoot and Nick is supposed to be a DJ while the crowd is going crazy with glow sticks. (Check out a video posted by 107.5 of this scene here.)  It felt like I was at a Nick Carter concert a little bit, except “Burning Up” was the only song he sung, haha! It was quite an arm workout waving my hands in the air repeatedly with full force. This machine kept blowing gusts of air into my face, which actually felt good considering we were all packed into the room like sardines. Nick was keeping the crowd pumped by making us laugh and asking us to repeat lyrics with him. They started sending people out of the shoot after a little while for the paint scene. I was one of them, but I was fine with it. I love my outfit too much to risk ruining it! Of course, on my way out, I witnessed two very upset girls whining to Intern Adam about the day. He told them to calm down in a nice way. Gotta love Adam!

I headed home, physically exhausted. I felt like I did a full body workout between all the standing, jumping and arm pumping. By the way, people in Nashville looked at me like I’m a prostitute dressed the way I was in daylight, glitter and all! In New York, not many people would flinch.

So I doubt I’ll be seen in the actual “Burning Up” video, but at least my hands will stand out if they’re shown. I think I was the only one wearing fingerless pleather gloves. :)

Something off my checklist today…Now if I can just get Jared Leto a copy of “Dream Catchers”, I’d be thrilled. I hope “The Watch Dog” doesn’t wind up having any celebrity inspiration. I will make it a life mission to get that person a copy. Why do I like to drive myself crazy? ;-)

Enjoy the Nick Carter pictures.  Comments are welcome and appreciated!

Oct12

My "Almost Famous" Kinda Night

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My "Almost Famous" Kinda Night

Flashback Blog Time!!  This is an uber excited e-mail I sent to a bunch of my friends after my first in person interview experience at a Lucky Boys Confusion concert. Oddly enough, I still keep in touch with the lead singer.  I was eighteen when I wrote this and away from home for the first time, so I learned to be more careful very quickly after this night.

Hope you enjoy reading my little journalism entries:) I’m excited to share them all with you!

October 20, 2002
Albany, New York
First In Person Interview

Well, so here’s the whole story…I cannot believe it…well I can, but I felt like I was in “Almost Famous” or something lol! So anyway, there were these flyers posted all around campus that Lucky Boys Confusion were performing at this club called Valentine’s along with these two other bands…so Jeane convinced me that I wouldn’t like it and it was all hardcore scary stuff…so I’m like oh…yeah, I guess it’s not for me…but I still kinda wanted to go.

Well, I go to work last night and this kid Jared sitting next to me puts on a CD. So I’m like wow this band is cool and I ask him who it is and he says, “Lucky Boys Confusion” so I’m like “No way!” He tells me he’s going to Valentine’s and it should be cool…so I’m like I am so there!

I emailed their manager asking to set up an interview…I got a call while I was out shopping from him saying that it was really last minute and just show up and see what happens. I get dressed and head out by myself since my friends here suck…but I was like ‘hey this is my job’!

I get there and it’s this dinky little bar. They didn’t even proof me but I was broke anyway so I didn’t drink.  I sit at the bar and ask the bartender when the show starts while this cute short punk kid with tattoos and piercings sits down next to me…so I ask “Are you a fan?” and he’s like “No, I’m a road manager tonight.” I’m like “Oh” and I tell him what I’m all about and he says he has his own band so I tell him a little about StarShine…His name is Dave by the way, and he gave me his band’s press kit, so I’m like COOL!

Afterwards I walk over to this blonde chick and ask her for a quote. She gives me one and we start chatting music and hang out a little. Then we walk outside and the tour bus is out there. I start interviewing a bunch of fans waiting to get in the downstairs section where the guys were playing. Then I see one of the guys from my other job. He’s a cute little guy named Lari, who’s an important person at the SA (Student Association).

I’m like “Hi, Lari what are you doing here?” and he’s like “I put this thing together.  What are you doing here?”  He saw my notepad and freaked! “You’re here from the ASP (Albany Student Press)??? Great!! I was going to kick myself for not getting someone to write about it.” I told him I just took it upon myself to come down and try to get the scoop, lol! I didn’t say it like that, though. Lari asks, “Do you want an interview?” and I’m like “Uh yeah!” so he pulls me inside, talks to some people and sends me in this little lounging area in the back.

The people I’m with back there are River City High. Now mind you I am TOTALLY unprepared for this interview! I know NOTHING about this band and I have not 1 question written down…on top of that I was nervous as hell!!! This was my first in person interview! So they introduce themselves. I start asking lame questions and I completely forget their names throughout the whole interview.  Most of the guys were pretty cool about it, but I felt like a dummy!

After that interview, Lari says he’s going to try to get the other 2 bands out…oh by the way, James from River City High is adorable:) Anyway, I start talking to that guy Dave again. His band is called “Count The Stars”. Then I see that kid Jared from work and he’s flattered that I came cause he feels like it was his doing lol!

Lari taps me and says the other band is ready, so I walk over to the little bar area and two of the guys from the Riddlin’ Kids are standing there. I jotted down some questions while I was waiting…I still knew nothing about them though. The two guys standing there were Mark (soooo HOTTTT) and Dave. We’re making small talk and they’re nice then the other two guys come over and introduce themselves…one is Clint and I called him Clinton and he was like “Ahh, would you call Clint Eastwood Clinton?” lol. They’re from Texas and the other one is Dustin. We go to the back room area again and River City High is in there chillin’. We start the interview and Lari takes a pic of me interviewing them. This interview went a lot smoother! They are so cool! And they noticed I was left-handed and so were Mark and Dave so we were like “Yeah left handed people rock!” lol. Then they started making fun of River City High and Mark (from River City High\) said “hey she’s bad with names!” and I was like “Only with you guys!” lol…After the interview, Mark (from Riddlin’ Kids) said I did great ;)

Lari told me that I wouldn’t get to interview LBC until after the show.  I was cool with that. So first the Riddlin’ Kids come out and play and they so kick ass!! Mark smiled at me a couple of times and so did Clint…it was cool. I’m gonna download their songs later. Next up came River City High and they rocked too! Mark kept smiling at me and he tried to throw his guitar pick to me but it fell straight down lol!

Before LBC came on that blonde chick comes back over to me and says she talked to them and told them to look for her. I’m like awesome. Finally Lucky Boys Confusion comes out and everyone is like whoo hoo! The whole time the blonde chick is freaking out! During my fave song “Bossman”, she jumps on stage in her bra! Security pulled her down and I felt like it was all so cliché.  I literally was JUST talking to her and there she was on stage toples…Crazy lol.

LBC were really awesome though!! Afterwards they kept passing me as the crowd was clearing out…oh and I talked to Dave, ya know cute little guy? And he asked me to come see his band play tomorrow night…so I said I’ll be there and he said to come early if I want an interview…and while I was talking to him Bob from River City High comes over and puts his arm around me and was a lot sweeter to me than when I interviewed him…lol.

I didn’t think I’d get to interview LBC cause they were all scattering but their manager got the bass player, Jason to come over. He’s kinda cute and so nice! He was really easy to talk to. After the interview, I was ready to leave, but I had to get a cab. I was standing outside in front of the tour bus and I saw LBC’s manager so I thanked him and asked where should I send a copy of the article? So he calls Joey, the guitar player, over and asks him to give me their email so now I have their manager’s and Stubhy’s screenname (the lead singer).

I wind up talking to Joey for like 10 mins.  Stubhy comes over to me and we basically just get into a conversation. He tried to make up a rap with my name and his but he realized they don’t rhyme lol!

I finally go call a cab. (Author’s Note: This was right before I decided to get a cell phone!  You’ll know why I felt I needed one by the end of this story) I come back over to the front of Valentine’s. The door to the bus was opened and I see the blonde bra chick on it and she gets off followed by Adam, another guitar player. How doubly cliché!

Adam starts talking to me, and asks the blonde chick if she knows me and she’s like “yeah, this is Sandy.  She has my number!” She was so drunk. They all were pretty much except for Stubhy. Adam and blonde chick go into the bar and I’m still waiting for this cab. I’m talking to these girls and Ryan, the drummer. This guy comes up to me and makes this whole story up how he needs to go to the gas station because his car is out and his family is stranded down the road. He asks if I can lend him some money. All I had was a ten and I’m like my cab should be coming but he promised he’d bring me back the change. So like a naive and gullible freshman I say okay. The guy never comes back!

This bum on the street then says to me “You just gave your money to a crackhead!” Now, I wind up talking to the bum, the drummer and a bunch of groupies. One of the groupies took a picture of us all together, bum and all! Lol. It was just plain weird lol!

After all this, my cab still hasn’t come! Not that I can even afford to pay the driver! At this point, I’m kinda freaking out since I’m broke, stranded and my feet are ready to break off! I go into the pizzeria next door to Valentine’s to see if I can use their phone since I have no money to use the payphone.

Stubhy’s in the pizzeria and I whine to him for a little and he told me to hail a cab up the block but I didn’t wanna walk cause me feet hurt so bad. I ask the guy behind the counter to use the phone to call the cab. Just then, Stubhy walks out of the pizzeria and now I’m alone in there with just the one worker. He lets me behind the counter to use the phone and gets touchy feely with me! Alfredo was his name, I think…no, Alberto? Ah who cares what his name was! He’s trying to hug me and putting his arm around me. I was scared so after I called the cab, I pushed away from him and got the hell out of there!

I said goodbye to everyone and finally got into the cab. I explained my night to the driver and thankfully, he was nice enough to take me back to campus. I am so tired now! But I had an amazingly crazy night!

Oct11

The Struggle

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The Struggle

I think it’s important to reevaluate your options and choices in life.  What works for you when you’re twenty might not work for you when you’re twenty-five.  What worked for you last year might not work for you this year.

A few years ago, I would have never thought I’d be living in Nashville.  I would have never thought I would have published three novels.  Ten years ago, I would have never thought I would have founded my own magazine and interviewed some of my favorite celebrities.  My point is you never know where life will lead you and not every decision has to lead to forever.

As everyone knows, StarShine Magazine has been my identity for so long that I feel like I can’t let it go completely.  However, I realize in order to fully take the next step in my writing career, I have to say goodbye to it.  Maybe for a year.  Maybe for five years.  Who knows?

“The Watch Dog” is my focus right now and I want to make it my best book yet.  I want to see it in bookstores.  I want to see my name on the New Times Bestsellers’ list one day.  By hiding behind StarShine’s dying brand, my writing is wavering along with it.

I tend to take on too much and therefore can’t fully bring any of my projects to their full capacity.  2012 will be the year my writing career breaks from the shadows and into the spotlight.  I spent years trying to help spread the word of so many celebrities—both new and old—and yet, I barely spent any time promoting my own name in comparison.

I’m taking down the StarShine Magazine section of the site as of November 1st.  I’m also deleting the sandy@starshinemag.com e-mail account as of then as well.  My interviews/articles can still be found in the archives.

I hope fans of StarShine Magazine understand.  I know I’ve been bipolar with this decision, but you can understand why.  It’s not something I can easily let go.  I actually have a journalism journal I kept and I would love to share with you some entries from it on occasion.  These entries are what I don’t get to tell you about in StarShine.  You’ll read the excitement I had, the accomplishments I achieved and the bad experiences I had as well.

Running a magazine practically alone for 10 years has been a constant struggle.  Allowing myself to be free of it will give me new focus and room for creativity in my writing projects.  I hope you guys will stick with me and check back at the site often.

Hugs, Kisses & Stars,

Sandy Lo

*I want to give a special thank you to my best friend Natalie Hoskins for being my sounding board, my positivity and assistant when I needed her the past 10 years! Love you.

Oct3

Hanson Performs at Wildhorse Saloon with Meiko!

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Hanson Performs at Wildhorse Saloon with Meiko!

Photos of singer/songwriter Meiko and Hanson performing at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, TN on September 29, 2011.

For more info on Hanson and for upcoming dates to “The Musical Ride” tour, go to: www.hanson.net.

As for Meiko, look for her upcoming album The Bright Side soon!  She has a raw quality to her music and stage presence.  It’s just her, a guitar and her songs.  She even joined Hanson on stage for a comical and skillful performance of “Superfreak”.  For free live downloads of Meiko and more info, check out www.meiko.bandcamp.com.

Special thanks to Kindell Moore from SoundBerry Design for assisting with photos.

Sep4

The Forgotten Umbrella

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The Forgotten Umbrella

The Forgotten Umbrella

By Sandy Lo

©September 2011

It was the last period of the day. Dee Dee sat in her English class watching the rain pour down outside the window. It was soothing to hear the heavy pounding against the panes. The noise drowned the teacher out; it drowned out her best friend, Tess, sitting next to her.
“Dee?” Tess snapped her fingers in front of Dee Dee’s face.
“Huh?”
Tess laughed, but turned serious, “I asked how your mom was doing.”

Dee Dee thought about her mother and how ever since her father left her for another woman, she’d been depressed. The depressed part was to be expected, but Dee Dee couldn’t understand her parents’ need to still talk on the phone, still argue, use her, and then ignore her.
Dee Dee shrugged, “She just talks about him constantly.”
“Wow, it’s really coming down,” Tess said, nodding toward the window. “Did you bring an umbrella?”
“I forgot.”

Usually her mother reminded her to bring an umbrella if the weather called for rain. Dee Dee always hated when Mom forced her to bring one. She would always leave it at home if she could help it. Most of the time, there was nothing but a drizzle anyhow.

Today, there was no reminder. Well, there was one reminder, but not about umbrellas and rain.

“Call your father after school. Invite him over for dinner on Sunday.”

Dee Dee had groaned. She didn’t have much to talk about with her father. Mostly because he just talked about himself and would say how Dee Dee is just like him. Her mother and father always made his visits to the house seem like they were about Dee Dee, but in actuality, those visits were about them. Dee Dee felt invisible with no voice, and feelings that didn’t exist to her parents.
Dee Dee would usually be happy she got out of bringing an umbrella, but it just showed her how much her mother wasn’t paying attention these days. What was worse is today was not a drizzly day.

The bell rang, and thankfully Tess brought a huge umbrella that they could both fit under. They huddled together the entire walk down to the bus stop. The only problem: Dee Dee was still getting wet. Tess was much taller than her, and the height different left room for rain to still get Dee Dee. By the time they got to the shelter of the bus stop, Dee Dee’s entire right side had patches of wet spots.

Tess’ bus came right away. She hugged Dee Dee before disappearing onto the bus. Dee Dee’s bus came a minute later. Once she was seated, she found herself zoning out again, watching the rain hit the windows of the bus. She could hear the cars driving against the wet streets and see puddles splashing against sidewalks as the bus went by. Dee Dee went numb on that bus ride. The rain relaxed her. It washed away the millions of thoughts that went through her mind.

Aside from her parents, the typical high school things were overwhelming at times. Friends. Boys. Homework. Everyone says high school is easy and the best time of their life. Dee Dee wondered if those people had forgotten high school all together.

Before she knew it, the bus lurched to her stop. The rain hadn’t let up. Dee Dee stepped off the bus and was immediately drenched. The rain soaked her hair, ran down her face, and made her clothes stick to her. She began to walk home and felt a smile tug at her lips, glad she didn’t have an umbrella.

There were no spokes to poke her in the eye or get tangled in her hair. There was nothing the wind could turn inside out. There was just the rain hitting Dee Dee’s skin and she loved it. She enjoyed walking in it. She felt alive with the feeling. She didn’t feel invisible anymore or ignored. This was real unlike the façade she faced at home. Walking in the rain, unprotected, she didn’t have to pretend to like her father. She didn’t have to pretend she wasn’t resentful toward her mother for putting everything into a man who didn’t deserve it.

Dee Dee wondered if an umbrella really was just a shield from reality. She didn’t get how people protect themselves from things as painless and as natural as rain, yet our hearts are given away so easily to people that are out to break them.

Dee Dee made it to her front door. She shut her eyes, enjoying the rain for one more minute before stepping back into her cloak of invisibility.

Sep1

Documentary THE WHALE is Both Heartwarming and Heartwrenching

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Documentary THE WHALE is Both Heartwarming and Heartwrenching

THE WHALE, a documentary produced by Ryan Reynolds, Scarlett Johansson, and Eric Desatnik tells the story of Luna, a baby orca separated from his pod. Luna searches for a new, human family along Nootka Sound, a fjord on the western coast of Vancouver Island.  He begins to make contact with the fishermen, workers and residents by coming up to boats, allowing people to pet him and play games with him.

THE WHALE is narrated by Ryan Reynolds and is directed by journalists Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chisholm, who originally merely telling the amazing story of Luna and his desperate attempt at maintaining some kind of family.  As the documentary shows, both Parfit and Chisholm become involved in Luna’s life as well.  They filmed people interacting with Luna and telling stories how the orca changed their lives.

THE WHALE also brings up the moral dilemma of protecting a wild animal or the people that might be in danger because of that wild animal.  As an animal lover myself, THE WHALE made me realize just how often we humans make important decisions for animals and that more often than not, they don’t have a say in their own life.  Luna, like most people, couldn’t bear loneliness.  He just wanted to be loved and so many people thought it not safe for him or the people of Nootka Sound.  You be the judge.

THE WHALE will be released September 16th.  For more information, go to: www.thewhalemovie.com and watch the trailer: http://youtu.be/zrrVDQEz5L0.

Aug24

EXPRESSIONS Will Be the Third Installment of the DREAM CATCHERS SERIES Released Sept. 20th!

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EXPRESSIONS Will Be the Third Installment of the DREAM CATCHERS SERIES Released Sept. 20th!

EXPRESSIONS is the third and final installment to Sandy Lo’s DREAM CATCHERS SERIES set to be released Tuesday, September 20, 2011 for Kindle and Paperback.  The book is a series of vignettes written from the point-of-view of various characters throughout the book series.  “This was my chance to give a voice to some of the minor characters like Jordan’s brother Drew and the infamous Bippy Reynolds,” explains Lo.  “If you enjoyed DREAM CATCHERS and BREAKING THE MOON, this is the perfect 50-page quick read to compliment them.”

DREAM CATCHERS was first released in January 2010 and garnered independent book sales for Sandy Lo, especially in New York and on Kindle.  “LOST IN YOU was my first novel and it put my name out there, but with DREAM CATCHERS, I’m still receiving royalty checks from Amazon and keep selling out of copies at book signings,” she says.

Sandy Lo followed the book up with BREAKING THE MOON, which delved deeper into the love story between Haley and Jordan and all of the complications that came along with it.  “Releasing a sequel is a slower moving process, especially since so many people still need to read DREAM CATCHERS, but the exciting part is the more people who read that first book come back and want BREAKING THE MOON, and I’m hoping they’ll want EXPRESSIONS as well,” Lo says.

Fans of TORTURED, the fictional rock band from the series, will be happy to know EXPRESSIONS will feature five never before seen song lyrics.  Originally, Sandy Lo wanted to record an entire album of Tortured songs with the help of friend, musician and songwriter, James Manzello.  “Unfortunately, James doesn’t have much free time these days and with no funding backing us, we had to lay that idea to bed for the time being.”

In November, just in time for the holiday season, Sandy Lo plans to release a collector’s edition of the entire DREAM CATCHERS SERIES.  It will be the first hard cover release from the author.

Earlier this month, Lo left her home state of New York to relocate to Nashville in order to write her next novel, THE WATCH DOG, which is set in Nashville.

For more information on Sandy Lo and her upcoming projects: www.sandy-lo.com.

Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/authorsandylo.

Become a Fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorsandylo.

Aug24

Expressions (Companion to Dream Catchers Series)

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Expressions (Companion to Dream Catchers Series)

//

Release Date: September 20, 2011
Genre: Romance/Coming of Age/Fiction
Purchase: Lulu and Kindle

EXPRESSIONS is the third and final installment to Sandy Lo’s DREAM CATCHERS SERIES.  The book is a series of vignettes written from the point-of-view of various characters throughout the book series. From letters to blog entries to song lyrics, EXPRESSIONS delves deeper into the minds of the characters.  Sandy hopes fans of the series will enjoy this 52-page companion book.

 

Here’s an exclusive SNEAK PEEK from EXPRESSIONS:

 

June 19th

Charlie,

You know, if you wanted to write me a letter back, I would read it.  It would be nice if you returned the favor once in a while.  Or maybe if you called more often.  I am still your father.

I guess that’s asking too much from someone who hates me.  I finally broke down and bought Tortured’s album.  I don’t know what to say.

Part of me wants to compliment you for your talent and for your success.  Part of me thinks you owe me an apology or a thank you for giving you enough material to make an album that basically tells me to fuck myself.

Really Charlie?  Was life that bad being my son?  You grew up in a penthouse and didn’t have to lift a finger.  Even after you moved to Boston, I sent you money every month.  You never thanked me, but you sure as hell threw it back in my face.

Maybe you’ll understand now that you’re a father.  It’s not easy.  I know I made mistakes.  I know I hurt you.  I know I hurt your mother.  I did the best I could.

No matter what, I will always love you.  Even if you don’t love me.  We don’t have to like each other.  We’re family.

Love,

Dad

————-

June 21st

Dad,

I’m only writing you this one letter.  So you better treasure it.  The only person I exchange formal letters with is Haley.  And our letters are never argumentative or to tell each other off.  I’ve expressed all that I have toward you, and I have nothing to say to you in written form.  Writing is art and I’m sorry, but writing to you kills my art.

Yes, some of Tortured’s songs are about you.  But sometimes they’re about other people too.  Unfortunately, there are a lot of assholes in this world.

For the record, I could do without you in my life.  Your first few letters were remorseful, that last one shows me you haven’t changed.

I am grateful for never having to worry about money, but I would have given that all up for a compassionate, encouraging father.  I only used the money you sent me to visit Andrew.  If it weren’t for him, I would have never seen you again.  You do know that, right?

I can’t change how I feel toward you.  I’m sorry for that, but some scars don’t heal.  I can forgive you for my childhood, but that doesn’t change who you are inside.  It doesn’t make us instantly two people who get along.  We just don’t.

We can still carry on this charade of family for your sake, because I know you’re alone now, and for Haley’s sake, because she wants everyone happy, and for my daughter’s sake.  I swear to you, though, if you ever hurt my family—we are officially done.  I will not see Aylin suffer the hurt I’ve been through or what I’ve seen Drew go through.

So here’s your letter and here’s your gratitude that you think you’re owed: Thanks.

Jordan Walsh

Aug11

Lanndon is Country Music's Next Sweatheart!

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Lanndon is Country Music's Next Sweatheart!

Lanndon Lingerfelt

While I was visiting Nashville this summer, I made sure to spend a lot of time at the local honky tonks to scope out some fresh talent for StarShine Magazine.  Talent isn’t something Nashville is short on!  A great band or singer is about a dime a dozen in those Broadway bars!  However, not all of those talented folks are meant to be stars.  It wasn’t until I was sitting in Tootsie’s on a Sunday afternoon that I saw someone with that extra special quality.  This pretty blonde girl was singing Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” with ease and perfection.  I was instantly impressed and even more so as she pulled off Miranda Lambert’s “Gun Powder & Lead”.  She introduced herself as Lanndon with the cutest southern twang to her voice.  I was convinced that this girl was going places!  So I gave her my card and a few days later, we met up again at the very famous Tootsie’s for an interview.

To my surprise, Lanndon is only 15-years-old!  With her strong voice, personality and maturity she carries herself with, I would have never guessed.  She was born and raised in North Carolina and first performed in front of people at 8-years-old singing in a karaoke competition.  She was terrified and wanted to back out, but her parents encouraged her to go for it.  “They pretty much stuck me up there,” she laughed as she told me about the experience.  She sang a Carrie Underwood song and the crowd loved her.  She even won the competition.

Growing up, Lanndon watched her brother’s friend, Josh Black make music and perform it all around the south.  “I was jealous,” she admits.  “I was like, ‘you know what?  I can sing, too!”  She admits the need to perform was an “attention thing” at first.  As she got a little older, singing and music were her passion, but at the time, she was only 12-years-old and people didn’t want to work with her because she was so young.  Josh recommended her to his own band, 30 Aut Sixx, who didn’t believe a kid could perform with them.  When they heard she was going to audition with “Last Night” by Carrie Underwood, they didn’t think she could pull it off, but she proved them wrong.

Soon Lanndon and Josh Black were performing together around North Carolina and Nashville.  Now, the band is no longer performing together, but both Josh and Lanndon are pursuing solo careers.  Lanndon performs a couple of times a month in Nashville at Tootsie’s and Rippy’s.  She’s also recording a demo in Nashville in hopes to get a record deal soon and to pitch her songs to radio.

When I asked why Lanndon wants to be a country music singer, her answer was this: “I hope to do what the stars do for me.  I want me to come out through my songs.  I hope people

Lanndon performing at Tootsie's Nashville.

listen to one of my songs and say ‘hey, we can relate to her’.”  To end my interview with Lanndon, I asked her what she would like to say to her fans and future fans and she had an inspirational message for y’all.  “Always stick to your dreams.  Never back down.  There’s always a rainbow at the end of every storm.”

Keep a lookout for this girl because she’s one to watch!  For more info and to join her mailing list, go to www.lanndon.com.