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Friday, October 19, 2007

Spotlight on Amy Grant and Mosaic

This is spotlight #2 for today, a DOUBLE BONUS for you regular blog readers who might catch both of these posts on my "off" day. :) This one is a true pleasure to spotlight because it's a book written by my all-time favorite Christian music recording artist, a woman whose songs have shaped a good portion of my Christian faith and walk throughout the almost 30 years of her career. I hope you enjoy learning about her as much as I did!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Grant is the best-selling Christian music artist of all time and the first to garner the number one spot on Billboard's chart. Since beginning her career at age 17, she has earned six Grammy Awards and twenty-five Dove Awards, and last year she received her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Grant's numerous television appearances include Oprah; Good Morning, America; and Late Night with David Letterman. In 2007 she'll tour nationwide, performing with local symphonies in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Kansas City, and elsewhere.

MOSAIC: PIECES OF MY LIFE SO FAR
By Amy Grant
Waterbrook Press
BUY YOUR COPY TODAY

SPOTLIGHT REVIEW

Grammy Award–winning artist Amy Grant has lived in the spotlight since bursting onto the Christian music scene as a teenager thirty years ago. In that time her work, marriage, and spiritual life have been subject to varying degrees of adulation and criticism.

Now, in her first autobiographical book, Grant bares her heart and soul, giving readers an intimate glimpse into her everyday life and the lessons she's learning along the way. From lighthearted reminiscences of her Tennessee childhood to painfully honest reflections on the journey of faith, her vivid writing draws readers into her world while simultaneously creating space for them to rethink their own perspectives on life.

With honesty and depth, Grant offers poignant and often startling insights on motherhood, marriage, friendship, faith, loss, forgiveness, and redemption. Never-before-shared stories about her husband, country music star Vince Gill, provide a look into her life as a celebrity, while intimate portraits of her mother and musings on the past reveal the various pieces of a life blessed with jagged edges as well as vivid colors. Readers will find their preconceived notions of this music icon stripped away as they settle in for a warmly satisfying conversation with a gracious and wise friend.


From —MICHAEL W. SMITH, singer/songwriter
"Amy Grant is simply one of the most gifted communicators I have ever known. I've been on stage with her in front of thousands of people—and I've been with her in quiet private moments when she's offered hope and healing to someone in need. In either situation, and in everything in between, I've been moved by her subtle strength and her ability to say the right thing at the right time. In the lyric of a song and now in this book, Amy can turn a phrase like no other. I'm so blessed to know her and so glad that she's sharing part of her life in these pages."

I was truly delighted when I first learned that Amy was writing this book. It is a rather unique twist on the often-mocked autobiographies that lack the true personality of the book's subject or that seem to be a self-promoting lackluster diary of sorts that holds little interest for the reader.

Mosaic departs from that in spades. It is fresh, insightful, humorous, and a true reflection of the beautiful and multi-faceted woman that Amy is. She often writes songs about struggling to balance the many roles of her life: as a singer, she feels compelled to create amid the chaos ("Hats!"), as a mom she wants to spend time with her family, as a Christian she longs for a deep connection with God ("Moonlight Conversation").

Having met her on several occasions and given the opportunity to speak with her at those events, I have found nothing but a warm, caring and truly gifted woman underneath the public image that everyone else sees. This book, in my opinion, reflects everything I've come to love about Amy and more!

Amy has been an inspiration to me for almost my entire life. I began listening to her when she began her career at age 17, and I was 5. She perservered despite many obstacles, twists, turns, mountains, valleys and everything else life could throw her way. One of my favorite quotes in her book is:

"This is trust: doing what you believe you are called to do and trusting that God will provide." p. 120

She maintained her trust and her faith, even when the task in front of her seemed insurmountable. And most of all, despite the ever-present scorn she sometimes faces in the Christian community (a fact that still surprises me when we're supposed to be the first to forgive), she has excelled and achieved the greatest success of any Christian artist.

I am honored to have this opportunity and look forward to awarding THREE of you with FREE books of your own so you can come to love Amy as I do.

* * * * *

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to be entered in the drawing for ONE OF THREE FREE books. If you don't wish to be entered, say so when you post. The contest is open to US/Canada residents only. Winners will be announced here on the 26th. Come back to this post to see if you've won.

8 comments:

tetewa said...

I went with a friend many years ago and saw Amy in concert. She is a wonderful singer, please enter me for the draw! tWarner419@aol.com

Anonymous said...

I also reviewed this book. Also I want to two book events and have photos on my website. www.inrebasworld.com

Cherie J said...

I have been a fan of Amy's since I was in High School so I would love a copy of this book.

ChristyJan said...

I would love to win a copy of Amy's book! She is a wonderful inspiration.

Tiffany Amber Stockton said...

Well, this drawing is an easy one. We have 3 books to give away, and since Reba already reviewed it and received her book, that means the FREE books go to:

tetewa
Cherie
ChristyJane

Congratulations, ladies. I have your information, so I'll be mailing out your books on Friday.

tetewa said...

(SWEET) Looking forward to the read! tWarner419@aol.com

Cherie J said...

Cool! Thank you!

ChristyJan said...

Thanks so much!