A Dream to Big to Contain

Neither of us was sure how this collaboration was going to work, so we took it one step at a time. 

I started writing short pieces that resembled poems on a printed page — but I hesitate calling what I wrote poetry, because real poets would get mad.

I developed several different pieces, to try to figure out what Katherine wanted.  Afraid of her reactions, I held my breath and closed my eyes as she read each one.  I tried to reassure (i.e., beg) her that I could adapt to whatever she wanted, I was just trying to figure out exactly what she wanted.

She loved (yes, loved) them all.  She was drawn to one piece, in particular, which told a story through emotions and she thought it could be used as a catalyst for several other pieces.  We decided that we could develop a themed-CD that would hold a collection of similar emotional songs.

Our collaboration started from that point.

I can’t begin to describe the feeling that came over me during that period.  The floodgates broke open and I couldn’t stop the flow of words, thoughts, emotions, and story lines that came crashing through.  The pieces started writing themselves.  It was all I could do to keep up with them.  Between working a full-time job during the day and writing throughout the night, I was exhausted and exhilarated.

To get some peace of mind, I would flood Katherine’s email box with the pieces as quickly as they flooded my brain.  It was a period of extreme creativity and a feeling to which I’ve become very addicted. 

It didn’t help that Katherine loved every piece I sent her.  The plan for one CD of stand-alone songs became a plan for a 2-CD set.  Then that 2-CD set developed into a Rock Opera where all the songs would be interrelated and sung by a cast of singers/characters. 

With this twist, a story-line narrative had to be developed to organize the songs and allow the story to flow from song to song, sung by different characters/singers.  I’ve never done this before, but I just loved the idea.  I developed short narratives that described scenes for each of the songs I wrote along with adding more pieces to fill in the holes in the story.  I was, literally, trying to transform a full-length music video that was playing in my head onto the printed page for others to visualize.  It was challenging and exciting.

On the flip side of this dream of ours was that more musicians, singers, composers, production staff, etc. had to be sought out and convinced of our project.  It wasn’t just the two of us anymore.

So, yeah...our Rock Opera project developed into something WAY too big for us to manage, too time-consuming to accomplish with what we were already juggling, and financially prohibited — so, there the dream sits, waiting for its day in the sun. 

But when that day finally does arrive, all we have to do is pick up where we left off…

In the meantime, that creative floodgate that busted opened wouldn’t close.  The words, thoughts, emotions, and story lines were still pulsing their way through me.  They wouldn’t leave me alone.

I needed another project to focus this energy.

Our First Creative Joint Venture

Our friendship developed over the months.  We sang together at various Masses.  During the time between Masses, we’d sit and chat about what’s going on in our lives.  As our friendship developed, our conversations deepened.  That time at church wasn’t enough for us, so we started going out once a week.

Because I like to write and Katherine likes to talk, we fell into a comfortable routine.  I’d update her through emails during the week, and on our weekly nights out, she’d catch me up on what was going on in her life.

Then one day, Katherine conjured up this exciting and creative joint venture.

We were at church, standing in the storage closet — which was laughingly called the choir’s practice room — and Katherine started talking about her desire to write and sing original music with a professional group of musicians.  She didn’t want to sing just ANY song, but songs that were full of emotions and meaning.  She wanted to perform songs that held the intent, energy, and emotions she longed to share with others...and do it through music.

She gave me her contemplative look and said, “I was wondering…You’re emotionally intelligent [Thank you], and I like the way you write [Thank you, again].  Would you be interested in writing lyrics to original compositions?  I want lyrics that are full of emotions, and I think you have that ability in you.”

At that point, I was feeling really excited and REALLY anxious.  I didn’t want to disappoint her if I couldn’t pull off what she was asking of me.  The fact that I wasn’t really sure what she was asking of me heightened my anxiety.  

I met her reflective and thoughtful gaze and said, “I’m freaking out right now.  I’ve never done anything like that, but ever since I can remember, I’ve always wanted to write lyrics; and the fact that you’re asking me to do this with you.  I can’t believe this!  I’m freaking out.  I’m really freaking out, here!”

Katherine smiled, “Well, let’s freak out together!”

So, that’s how our creative collaboration began.  The fact that Katherine had her vision clearly in her mind was very comforting.  The fact that I had to figure out exactly what her vision was and produce it…well, that IS another story...

May We Introduce Ourselves...

I guess the proper thing to do is to introduce ourselves. 

My name is Anne Marie Girolami.  My cohort in this particular crime is Katherine Abbey.  She’s the speaker and communicator of this pair… but I’ll let her speak for herself.

I, on the other hand, am more comfortable typing behind a keyboard than speaking in front of crowds.  My bio reads as boringly as my profession, and it doesn’t define who I am.  I’d rather just tell you, instead, that I love to sing, (which is how I met Katherine), to write (which is how you and I met), and to be considered a good and supportive friend to those in my life (which is what this book project is all about). 

If you like to sing like I do, then my advice is to find a church choir.  They have to accept anybody who wants to join — at least that was what one person told me after she heard me sing.  She followed that compliment with the reassurance that I shouldn’t worry, because their music director is a miracle worker and can make anyone sound good.

With that vote of confidence still ringing in my ear, I managed to step up and introduce myself to their music director.  I know it’s hard to figure out why I would do such a thing, but I did.

But isn’t it amazing how we can go from one day to the next, thinking nothing of the decisions that we make, and how each decision brings us farther down a particular path?   That courageous step, on that particular day, led me to meet my soon-to-be-friend, Katherine.

*   *   *

I’m Katherine Abbey.  Charisma and extraversion seem to come naturally to me.  I love people.  I love listening to people, relating to people, influencing people, moving their hearts and minds.

For many years, I worked to consciously improve my interpersonal and leadership skills.  Teaching, communicating, performing, directing, organizing, strategizing, growing ideas… These were staple activities in my life.  (They still are.)

All of these skills have served me well, but they’re just skills.  They don’t define who I am.  I think a better gauge of who I am is to look at the principles that I live my life by.  Integrity, honesty, respect, growth, service, excellence, patience, nurturance, encouragement… I infuse my interactions and activities with these principles.

It was my sense of nurturance and encouragement that led me to be so open to working with musicians in any stage of development.  I was directing the music program at a local church when Anne Marie came in and said she was interested in singing in the choir.

Right away, I knew that Anne Marie would be a potent asset to the music program in many ways.  Her dedication to self-improvement and service to others would shine so brightly, she quickly became an integral part of the ministry.

Little did I know how this professional relationship would morph into something much more.

We've Just Begun

Go ahead and shake your collective heads at us.  I can already hear some of you chuckling — the type of chuckle that starts deep in the belly and grows in confidence as it reaches the lips. 

And that’s alright.  You’re not the first to sit back in disbelief, and you won’t be the last. 

Yes, we know we have no idea what we’re doing.  Yes, we have been informed that, in these hard economic times, publishers are not picking up new authors, because they want assurance that their efforts will produce profits for them.  As first-time authors, we have no wide media access, no history, no literary following, no marketable credentials, and no funds.  We are no-bodies to the world of publishing.

Yes.  We have HUGE hurdles before us…but, the way we see it, they are only hurdles and not unscalable walls.

Yes.  As first-time authors, we have been following the conventional route of reading and learning how to get published; how to write the perfect book proposal; how to identify our target market; how to dispense with our competitors with a slash of a keystroke; and how to select, submit to, and impress literary agents.  From what we can tell, we are doing everything right.

How can I say this with a straight face?  

Well, because we’ve been receiving the nicest rejection letters that we could possibly receive.   Let me rephrase that, because it’s really hard to call them rejections.  They are more like encouraging letters of hope from supporters whose hands are tied. 

Basically, literary agents don’t get paid unless the book sells; the book can’t sell unless it gets published; the book can’t get published if publishers aren’t willing to take a chance on new authors…and we’re back at square one. 

We’re not discouraged.  We’re challenged, but not discouraged.  The agents’ encouraging letters of hope have re-focused us in a different direction.  They made us realize that we needed to explore some unconventional avenues if we’re going to jump those hurdles and get discovered.

AND we have this wonderful book series planned — if only we could get publishers to read what we have so far.  If they did, they couldn’t help but believe in the project as much as we do.  

But we’ve started you in the middle of our story.  Let’s go back to the beginning and get you caught up…