Jeannie Caryn

Hey Hey Everyone! Happy Cinco De Mayo!!

It’s been way too long since I have sent out a newsletter for Jeannie Caryn Music, but sometimes life gets full in the most unexpected way—there’s so much to share! I’ll get back to sending out this newsletter every month on the 5th!

This edition is full of fun stuff, so grab some coffee and dig in!


 

🌟 BIG NEWS: ISSA FINALIST!!

I am beyond grateful (and still a little stunned) to share that I’ve been named a Finalist in THREE categories for the International Singer-Songwriters Association Awards:

✨ Rising Star
✨ Female Songwriter
✨ Entertainer of the Year

The Awards Ceremony happens August 22, 2026 at the Byers Theater in the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center in Georgia.  Tickets are available here!

This happened because of YOU—your votes, your support, your belief in what I’m building. Thank you for showing up for me in such a big way. To request your vote each day, as most of you know, I did a livestream on Facebook featuring one of my songs and the story behind it.  I’ll be turning that content into something fun this summer! Thank you so much for tuning in to those!

🎶 New SONG- New Release:  Farm Girl

My newest single, “Farm Girl,” released on May 1st on Bandcamp!

This song is special to me. It was born out of a season of change, loss, healing… and ultimately, love again. If you have or have had a dog, and lost a dog, you know how this story goes.  I didn’t expect to get another pup after losing my wonderful, sweet Aussie Wolfus ("Summer"), but Ellie Mae needed a home and I needed her, and she gave me this song. And she has her own Instagram if you wish to follow her adventures! Instagram - Ellie Mae

👉 Listen NOW on Bandcamp - (streaming on all platforms on May 28th)

 

📚 NEW: Frog Melodies– Podcast Livestream!

Every Friday @ 11am!

We begin THIS Friday 5-8-26

I had so much fun doing the daily live stream (THE VOTER'S ROOM LIVE) throughout the month of April, that I wanted to continue.  Additionally, I want to bring back the fun of my podcast PARTY IN THE FROG (old episodes on YouTube). 

So, I am combining the two!!  FROG MELODIES will have some of the segments of PARTY IN THE FROG, including special guests, but it will also include much more. I hope you’ll tune in on FACEBOOK on my Jeannie Caryn page or check out the episodes on YOUTUBE after they post!

 

🎶 Summer 2026 Tour!

I’ve been busy booking some truly fun shows–Be sure to Check my Schedule! I am super excited about all of the shows - Several are lake front! 

I have also been invited to do a FULL BAND SHOW in Las Vegas, my home town, in July at the Famous, Historic Pioneer Saloon!  I have never performed in Las Vegas despite growing up there, so this one will be special! I can’t wait to see all of my Vegas family!

We also have some new SONIC JOYRIDE Shows coming up! Did you know that I am the lead singer for this INCREDIBLE project that includes Rick Reese, Tommy Wails, and Thierry Bergeron? If you have not checked us out, please do!

We have had two great shows at Madlife Stage and Studios in Woodstock, Georgia to get us started, but we have some very special events coming up!

Follow our band on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube (links below) so you don't miss it. Here's a Sample Video for you to enjoy our edgy, alternative, indie rock sound! We not only have a full catalogue of songs written by the beautiful soul Christopher Hobler who lost his battle with ALS in 2005, but we are also generating new songs with SONIC JOYRIDE flair!

And I’m honored to have been selected to perform our National Anthem for the Braves High A team the Rome Emperors! I have a feeling I’ll be adding some other fun shows along the way! It’s going to be a great summer! Want to see my Audition Video-- here it is! Don't forget to Subscribe to my YouTube Channel!

 

🌟 🎤 MUSIC SPEAKS! -- Growing (In a BIG Way)!

What started as open mics and songwriter nights has grown into something so much bigger. What is it?

MUSIC SPEAKS! is now:

🎙 Open mic nights & songwriter showcases
🎉 Karaoke parties & private events
🌟 House Party Concerts (cover songs)
🌟 Listening Concert Experiences (Original Music)
💫 A growing creative community
🎙 A Newsletter Showcasing Performers! 

Regular Events include:

Sidlines East Cobb - Marietta - Songwriter Showcase - Every Sunday 6pm-9pm
Pontoon Brewery - Sandy Springs - Songs on Tap - Every Wednesday 6pm-9pm
Cucina Baci - Buckhead - A Tavola Tunes - Songwriter Showcase - First Tuesdays- 6pm-9pm

Make sure you join our Substack - The Music Speaks Weekly where I showcase performers and share other Music Speaks News!

Please also follow us on Instagram for Fun Reels after each event and on Facebook to catch the news. Remember that we Livestream each event on my Facebook page, Jeannie Caryn

SPECIAL NOTE: For a full year we had a showcase at The Wing Cafe in Marietta, followed by a full year of open mic “After Dark” at Kastways. I'm working on a special project for each of those events - a documentary style video for each which will be released this summer. Stay tuned on that!

🚌 The Music Speaks Bus (Yes… it’s happening!)

This summer, we roll. The Music Speaks Bus & Stage is officially in motion and will be launching as a mobile music experience!

👉 SAVE THE DATE - June 27, 2026 for a Special Bus Event. (RSVP Required)

I’m so excited to host a Songwriter Showcase with the bus and share the bus with all of you!  To do it right, I have reserved a campsite at Camp McKinney and we will have a fun afternoon/evening of songs, stories, and yes, toasted marshmallows, and we will be lake front on Lake Allatoona! Bring your swim stuff! Please message me if you are interested in performing!

If you want to catch up on the Journey of the Bus, visit our GoFundme to see the updates! (We are no longer set up to take donations but the UPDATES are there).

 

📚 Coming Soon: The Adventures of Hugo the Round Pug (Book Two- Regrets)

Many of you know how much I love this project and my sweet pups… It’s hard to believe I published the first book four years ago!! Where does the time go.  Due to a lot of change in my life and the heartbreaking loss of Lollipop in July 2024, and my Summer Wolfus in July 2025, I have not been able to work on this project, but I have jumped back in, and I’m so excited to share that Book Two is on track for a June release. I am shooting for June 22, 2026 (That would have been Wolfus’ tenth birthday and Book Two is dedicated to my sweet boy).

This next book goes deeper—into connection, resilience, and the kind of love that changes you.  It also includes the infamous “gum-eating” incident that inspired the project!! I truly want to get the word out to pet lovers everywhere about the dangers of Xylitol and Birch Sugar and other unsuspecting, harmful foods for pets.

I’m having fun hanging out with the gang as I revise the story and complete the illustrations, and I can’t wait to put it in your hands.

If you don't have a copy, the book is on AMAZON for just $10 now! Here is the book link! And if you do get a copy, please leave us a review!

For updates, please make sure you follow THE ADVENTURES OF HUGO THE ROUND PUG on Facebook! 

 

💛 All kinds of Merch!

As you may have guessed, I have Merch for EACH of my projects! Please visit my online store (products ship directly to you), BELLY OF THE FROG, to find fun apparal and things with all of my fun logos and designs. I am adding more things all of the time. Use code HTRP for a 20% discount off of your order! Happy Shopping!


Wow!! Thank you for getting this far down the page!!

That was A LOT!! And I am almost certain I have forgotten many things! LOL. Luckily, I will be sending this newsletter out regularly now-- Remember, every month on the 5th!

💛 Let’s Stay Connected

If you’ve been with me for a while—thank you.
If you’re new here—welcome. It’s a good time to join the fun!

There is so much happening right now, and I’m just getting started.

👉 Follow along on Socials and YouTube - see below for links!
👉 Come to a show or tune into a livestream
👉 Be part of this growing community of MUSIC SPEAKS

and….

👉SUBSCRIBE to THE MUSIC SPEAKS WEEKLY Substack!

With love,
Jeannie Caryn 💫

🔗 Quick Links

🎶 Music, Projects & Shows: linktr.ee/jeanniecaryn
🎤 Music Speaks Events: musicspeaks.art


🛍 Socials Chart:

Instagram - Jeannie Caryn
Instagram - Music Speaks

 

July 2024

Hey Hey!  

I’m late with this message, and July has decided to deter my focus from my artistic goals, so I’m late meeting those as well, (gulp) but I’m still moving forward! :)

Sadly, I lost my Old Lady Lolli early this month, so I just had to put the HTRP project aside for a little while. She had an amazing 14 year run, helping me overcome many trials and tribulations, traveling with me to gigs in Helen and beyond, and raising the rest of our grumble, and I feel blessed to have been her mom and have her as my best friend for so long.  She is missed more than I can express in words, but in her honor, my new goal is to have the HTRP Book Two project done by Labor Day weekend for Back to School Reading! 

Nothing stopped Lolli when she wanted something, so I'm going to channel her strong will to get this done.   For those of you who have already pre-ordered HTRP Book Two, I promise to make up for the delayed launch of the book with a bit of extra content.  I’m adding a special chapter for Lolli.  And for those of you still wanting to pre-order the book, CLICK HERE!  

I am also still working on my album THE NEST , and I have two more songs to release for that project this summer.  You can find a portion of that new album on my Bandcamp site! There are already three songs out for that album, “Dead Bird,” “Windows,” and “New Lease on Life.”

Another issue I have had to conquer is that my laptop died just as I was finishing up Episode 8 of Season ONE of PARTY IN THE FROG!, featuring Georgia's own PUZZLETRUCK BAND.  Anyway,  I found a way to get that episode done and out (using just my iPad, LOL), and got that out just before they hit the road to join THE EDDIE MUNOZ of the PLIMSOULS  BAND for the TOTALLY TUBULAR TOUR!  bringing back the 80's music and original bands across the nation. Episode 8 is a great “Never-give-up” story, so check it out.  They even performed a bit in the FROG! so you don't want to miss that.  Soon I'll launch my Frog Tunes project so you can hear even more of their jam session. 

If you missed any of the previous episodes, they are all up on YouTube, (soon Spotify too), and I am looking forward to kicking off Season TWO of PARTY IN THE FROG on August 1st.    For that interview, I'm heading up to Cartersville to catch up with the DAVID MICHAEL BAND in the studio as they prepare for their album release party on August 3, 2024, in Woodbury, GA-- And, even more exciting news is that I am opening for them at that show, so check out the event link below and come on out to the show! 

A fun distraction I’ve had this summer is that I’ve also been traveling a bit! I’ve been to LA twice so far, I’m heading to NYC this week to catch up with the PUZZLETRUCK guys and catch their show with their new band, and then I’m headed to Las Vegas and back to LA at the end of the month. Most of this travel is family related, but after 8 years of not traveling, it’s been fun to escape my bubble and gain new insights and muses.   I'm excited to say that I have new songs, another book project, and more fun projects in the works from and about these travels!  More news on that stuff next month!  

One really exciting piece of news I want to share is that I have been nominated for THREE Awards:

1. The Josie Music Awards Female Vocalist of the Year - Americana/Folk 
2. The Georgia Country Music Awards, Female Artist of the Year
3. The Georgia Country Music Awards, Best New Song, “New Memories”

For the Georgia Country Music Awards, voting is required by YOU, and I would so appreciate your vote! Just click this link! You'll can vote for me in those two categories!  (Artist and song) and I've attached my song “New Memories” for you here as a free download.  It's truly an honor being nominated in this contest among some of Georgia's finest artists! 

The Josie Music Awards received over 75,000 submissions from performers world wide, so that nomination is also very special and a very high honor since industry professionals determine the results.  The awards are given out at a ceremony at the Grand Ole' Oprey in Nashville, TN, this coming October! 

Finally, I'm excited to share some really cool upcoming shows:

1.  July 20, Blairsville, GA, Butternut Creek Music & Arts Festival, Noon! 
2.  August 3, Woodbury, GA, Opening for the David Michael Band Album Release Party!

See my regular SHOW SCHEDULE for details and other fun shows in between these dates, and if you are a singer/songwriter/musician, please message me to get on my schedule for MUSIC SPEAKS (my songwriter/musicians night) at The Wing Cafe in Marietta, GA - We play every Tuesday.

I'll close with a great shot of Lolli on the beach, heading onto her next adventure. I know without question that she's stirring up trouble and demanding that she get her way about everything in her new world.   

I hope you have a safe, fun, peaceful rest of July. Please enjoy each day with the ones you love!   

Cheers,

Jeannie

Hey Everyone!  Happy June!!  

I hope the summer season is treating you all well. I'm 'running on empty' to quote a great song!

I kicked the month off by flying to LA, CA, with my daughter to settle her in for her summer internship in media and film technolgy via UGA. (She has such an amazing opportunity out there!)    It was a 36 hour escape after eight years of going nowhere but to the North Georgia mountains, so it was exciting to fly and see the West Coast and the world outside of Georgia!   Despite the short visit, I even managed to visit Manhattan Beach and get my toes in the ocean!   I so love the California coast! 

Since returning on June 2nd, I’ve been crazy busy with songwriter nights, an original show, and PARTY IN THE FROG interviewing/editing.  I’m also finishing up details on HTRP - THE ADVENTURES OF HUGO THE ROUND PUG - BOOK TWO - Regrets, and I'm finishing up my latest demo album, THE NEST!  (Apologies for my delay on that release!) Yes.  It's a lot, but it all keeps me out of trouble most of the time. 

You can Pre-Order HTRP- BOOK TWO Here! 

You can stream ALL of my Original Music Here! 

So needless to say, I’m busy!!  And really tired. LOL.  But this is a good problem. I just need to let you know that my self-imposed deadlines have been difficult to meet, and yes, perhaps they were overly ambitious, so I’m looking for ways to make things work more efficiently. 

One decision I have made is that  I’m going to move to a once a month PARTY IN THE FROG episode release.  This month, for Episode Eight, I’m featuring my buddies of PUZZLETRUCK to help them share their BIG, HUGE, FABULOUS news  -  They are heading off to tour as new members of the band, THE PLIMSOULS, which due to trademark issues is now, EDDIE MUNOZ OF THE PLIMSOULS.  

If you’re of an age, you’ll recall the movie VALLEY GIRL (an 80’s cult film , free movie link here)!   One of the main songs from that movie, “A Million Miles Away,” was a Plimsouls’ tune, and now, Eddie Munoz is taking the Plimsouls music on the road for the TOTALLY TUBULAR FESTIVAL, showcasing top 80's artists, including Tommy Tutone, Thomas Dolby, and more,  visiting over twenty cities!   And now, PUZZLETRUCK’s Rick Reese is now the new Bass Player and Stephen Blackburn is now the Lead Singer and Acoustic Guitar player for Eddie Munoz! OMG, Like, totally, like wow, like right!!! LOL!    It’s just so exciting to see them off on this adventure.  

As such,  Episode 8 of PARTY IN THE FROG showcases PUZZLETRUCK and shares this fun news, so look for that to post on my YouTube Channel by mid-June –(I have to buy a new computer to do the editing- I'm just unable to use my old one anylonger so that's the main reason for the delay.).  But.. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel so you don’t miss the notifications! 

And… if you have missed any of the Episdoes, You can watch ALL Episodes of PARTY IN THE FROG Here! Episode Seven is my favorite so far as it featured my pug and the star of the HTRP Series,  HUGO, the very round pug himself! It was an extraordinary interview! 

Also, this past week I had the opportunity to perform with three amazing songwriters at THE ALLEY STAGE right in Marietta, Georgia on the Square, hosted by SOUTHERN TROUBADOUR.  On stage were myself, Aidan Anderson, Lianne Hutcheson, and Anna Calivn, and we each performed six original tunes in this intimate listening room, sharing the stories of the songs.  Here’s a FULL RECORDING of that night for you to enjoy.   I only captured the audio, so I used the cloud footage I captured from my flight back into Atlanta from L.A. for this video! 

So what’s next??  For this month, I have three creative goals:

1. Finish recording/producing my demo album THE NEST and get that up on Bandcamp!  
2. Publish Episode Eight of PARTY IN THE FROG, Featuring PUZZLETRUCK
3. Launch HTRP - BOOK TWO - Regrets by July 1st!

I'm heading back to L.A. at the end of the month so I have a pretty hard deadline on these projects, and I have many other fun projects in the hopper, so I’m so glad you’re here to learn about them all!

Have a great June!  YAAY SUMMER!

Cheers,

Jeannie

Hey Hey!!! 

It’s May!!  Summer is near!!!! Are you ready?!!😎🤩 I’m gearing up for a crazy summer! 🌞😅

Need to escape?? If you have somehow missed me posting about it, I started a Podcast called PARTY IN THE FROG!! 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 The podcast celebrates and shares the stories of individuals, be they creatives, entrepreneurs, business professionals, or simply just good souls! ❤️🐸

There are FIVE episodes available to BINGE as we move into the Cinco de Mayo weekend!! Have some tacos and enjoy the show!!! Here’s that LINK! 

NOTE: The podcast is both video and audio on YouTube but it is also available on Spotify for those of you who listen while you drive and work! 

I’m also now hosting a weekly Songwriter/Musicians night at The Wing Cafe & Tap House here in Marietta, GA, called MUSIC SPEAKS!! Players, email me to get on schedule! Local folks, come on out and enjoy great food and live music!!! 🎶😎

Today I’m most excited to begin releasing my new album, THE NEST!!!   This first song is one I used to enter the Tiny Desk Contest- “Dead Bird”!  Here’s that performance video for Tiny Desk!!  

And you can download /stream “Dead Bird” on Bandcamp.com!  Today is Bandcamp Friday so check out the site and support the artists you love! ❤️

Finally… Drumroll….In June, I will be releasing Book TWO of HTRP!! My book about my dog Hugo!  Whoohoo!!! It’s happening!!! 😅🤩 Here’s the LINK to BOOK ONE if you want to get one! 😄

I hope you all have a great month and don’t forget to check out my new Merch Store -  BELLY OF THE FROG! Pictured here is my PARTY IN THE FROG Cinco de Mayo Design, but there are HTRP, Jeannie Caryn , and Music Speaks designs available too!!!! 🤩

I so appreciate you being out there for me to share my creations!!! Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Cheers, 

April 11, 2024

Hey Everyone!!   

It's another rainy day here in Georgia and we've just about made it half way through April. I don't know about you, but I have filed an extension on my taxes. LOL.  I just don't want to think about it! 

Instead, I'm working on creative stuff, my favorite way to avoid my to-do list, LOL.   Here's what I am working on today instead of that:

1. Sharing this link so my song “Remedy” can stay in the Georgia Songbirds Top Ten Countdown- Please check out all of these songwriters and VOTE! for your favorite! :) 
2. Editing my upcoming PARTY IN THE FROG Podcast/Show Episode which will premiere on Monday, 4/15 at 6pm on YouTube! You don't want to miss this show with Featured Guest, the one and only Katie Martin Music, one of my Lovely Georiga Succulents!!  I can't even begin to tell you how much fun that interview was. LOL!! 
3. Producing music!  As promised (to myself), I am releasing at least four albums this year!! I released LOVE IN AN RV in February, and now I'm working on the next album, THE NEST, which I plan to release by May 1st! One of the songs on this album is my new song “Dead Bird”!! (I've been called “Dead Bird Girl” at gigs for playing this song.LOL). I entered this song and my performance of it to the NPR Tiny Desk Contest so here's that for you to watch! 
4. Working on HTRP- THE ADVENTURES OF HUGO THE ROUND PUG Book TWO!  I have neglected this project, but lately I've had a bug to work on it and really want to get BOOK TWO: REGRETS out by June 1st for summer reading! Look for more on that soon. Here's the link to Book ONE on Amazon for anyone new to this project. (It's a book I wrote and illustrated about my dog-- most of you have heard me out playing my song “Trouble Waits for Me” from this project!)
5. Updating my new store: www.bellyofthefrog.com with fun new designs.  Don't forget to use Coupon Code FROG for $7 off your order total if you feel like shopping! 

I hope you have a great rest of this month and don't forget to check out my new Singer Songwriter/Musicians Night, MUSIC SPEAKS on Tuesdays at The Wing Cafe & Tap House here in Marietta.  If you would like to play, just respond to this message. If you don't play, come on out and hang out.  And if you're too far away or just can't make it, I do livestream the show every Tuesday on Facebook, so check it out! 

Good luck with your taxes or clicking that extension button!! :/

Cheers,

Jeannie

Hi Everyone!

There's a lot to share so hold onto your coffee!!

My new Podcast/Show PARTY IN THE FROG, Episode #1:Schmitty! Launched last night on YouTube and is now available on SPOTIFY for viewing or listening!  I'll likely follow that schedule- New podcast to YouTube on Monday's to give early access to my YouTube subscribers and then I'll share the episode on Spotify on Tuesdays.  Below this message is the blurb about what I'm doing in the podcast!   

Also, I have reactivated my PATREON site so that I can share all of this content! I'm so happy that Patreon finally made it so that fans can enjoy content for FREE without having to join a tierd subscription.   That said, for anyone who would like more exclusive content, I have updated the Patreon with two new levels - one that's a Fan Community called “BODY” and one more exclusive level called “SOUL” which shares some very special jam session content!  Head on over there to check it all out! Of course, when you do join a teir, your support there is always appreciated! 

One more NEW thing is that I have uploaded the themes song for PARTY IN THE FROG to my Bandcamp site!  It's a song I wrote a couple years ago called, “Like the Water” and it just seemed to fit this Podcast project.  This is just an acoustic recording but I had a request for it, so walla -  up it went! :)

Finally, as I mentioned, since PARTY IN THE FROG has launched, I'm offering that $7 coupon off any order at my store, www.bellyofthefrog.com – Do check that out!  And while you're there, also check out my new blog there called,  THE BUZZ! I'll be adding more posts there soon! 

Have a great first week of April and as always, thank you for sticking around here for this newsletter!  I'm really excited to share all of this fun content with you!

Cheers,

Jeannnie

Blurb About PARTY IN THE FROG:

This podcast will seek to CELEBRATE the INDIVIDUAL - Be they a Creative, an Entrepreneur, a Business or Industry Professional, or simply a person with a story to tell! 

The show format includes the following segments:

--Interesting Facts for the Day - Fun facts from nature, trivia, business, etc. 

--Daily Motivation - A themed approached to making the day better

--Go Lick the World - Featured Guest Interview segment which includes provacative questions focused to learn about the individual and then a set of specific questions each guest will be asked so we can compare all of their answers!

--Tips and Advice Segment-- We ask our guests to provide advice about life and/or their specific expertise

--Word of the Day - We'll ask our guests what word means most to them and why

--Go Lick the World Question. Tune in to find out what this is!! 

NOTE: All filming is done from inside THE FROG (an rPod Travel Trailer) and this Podcast PARTY IN THE FROG has two spinoff shows! 

1. FROG TUNES -- Live Music Streaming by me! During this show, feel free to send playlist requests in advance or in the moment! Also, we'll discuss all things related to music-- booking gigs, marketing, equipment, etc. 

2. For Patreon Subscription Members Only - FLY ON THE WALL - a musical jam session between myself and my featured guest which will present as a private house concert from THE BELLY OF THE FROG. 

Join my Patreon HERE to see those two shows! 

FOR MERCH: Please visit: www.bellyofthefrog.com my new store! 

 FOR ALL other links, please visit: www.linktr.ee/jeanniecaryn Thanks for watching!! 

 

March, 2024

Hey Hey Hey!!

Happy March! Spring is near!! 

And Happy Early St. Patrick’s Day! Hopefully, this entire month will be lucky for us all!

February was fun-filled! I had a great time releasing my new album LOVE IN AN RV,(click that title), available for streaming and downloading now! I also created LYRIC VIDEOS for all six songs, so go check those out on my YouTube Channel!  And finally, I had some great shows!! I’ve started adding some live performance clips on Youtube too, so you can check those out whiile you're there as well!

This month, I am already getting to work on my next EP project entitled, THE NEST, a collection of songs that in some way connect to the idea of home. I'll get that out to you by April 1,2024!
 

I’m still building my way towards starting my podcast - PARTY IN THE FROG! I'll have that first episode ready by May 1st.  I am truly excited about that project and it’s been a lot of fun collecting content, props, and tech knowledge to get started on that! I can't wait to share it with you! 

As it does for us all, Life keeps trying to get in my way, but I am determined to keep moving forward! Here’s the lyric video for my song “We Live & We Die” off the new album that shares this mantra! Hope you enjoy it and the rest of the album!

Don’t forget to check out my SHOW SCHEDULE and if you see me out, I do have thumb drive copies of my new album for sale that include lyrics and a bonus song!  Whoop!   

Have a wonderful, warm, lucky month! Here's one of my favorite Irish Blessings for you: 

May there always be work for your hands to do

May your purse always hold a coin or two;

May the sun always shine on your windowpane;

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;

May the hand of a friend always be near you;

May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Cheers,
Jeannie!
 

Whew, it's been awhile! 

In all fairness, I've been posting in my other blog on this page, “Help, I Need to Fix My LIfe!” but I am behind on sharing news. 

It's been three years since I pushed out my first album, MOTHER'S  SELF-RISING, and I'm happy to announce that I'm releasing an acoustic album this month called LOVE IN AN RV! This album is just me and the guitar and includes both old and new love songs.  I'll release a few singles and finish the month with the full album! 

I'm also busy updating my YouTube channel and working through a handful of other projects, so stay tuned! 

And if you are not yet on my mailing list, please jump in so you don't miss anything!

Finally, we lost Toby Keith this week.  Life moves fast and we don't know how much time we have, so I'm working to do more each day.  I've attached my song,"God Handed Out Heartaches Today!" here for you- it's a tribut to Toby.  I hope you enjoy it! 

Have a great month!

Cheers,

Jeannie

Hey everyone! I hope you've had a wonderful holiday season so far!  

Somehow, the last time I wrote an “Update” message, it was July.  That's CRAZY!! This year has flown by!  For 2025, I'll get back to monthly updates, but here's a quick RECAP of some fun in 2024, and a few exciting announcements for UPCOMING events in 2025!

ORIGINAL MUSIC: Bandcamp!

Last year, I began creating demos for all of my songs to house them in one place on BANDCAMP! (It's a great streaming or downloading site for you to enjoy music and support your favorite artists.)   I'm still finishing up that project, and I'm glad to say, I have some more new songs to add to that list of songs I need to record and upload. The idea is to avoid losing the songs by housing them in one place and also allow all of you to hear new material and offer feedback!  So.. Head on over to Bandcamp if you want to hear some of those unproduced songs.   One day soon, each one will find a way to an EP or full album!  

And just for fun, here's my cover of Auld Lang Syne from my Bandcamp site for you! 

PARTY IN THE FROG Podcast

What a blast we had in the FROG in 2024!!  Despite a HUGE learning curve and tons of technology struggles, I can proudly celebrate NINE completed episodes of Season One of PARTY IN THE FROG as we close out the year.  In case you are not familiar with it, this is a podcast I film in my little rPod travel trailer with the goal of celebrating artists and unique characters!!   You can watch all the fun of those past nine shows on my YouTube Channel!  In 2025, I have a great list of guests for you, and I hope to share the first episode of Season Two in early spring!   

HTRP - THE ADVENTURES OF HUGO THE ROUND PUG

If you are a new subscriber, this is a pet lover's book I wrote about my dog, HUGO, to help teach about the dangers of toxic foods to pets.  It's written in rhyming verse, Dr. Seuss style, and I illustrated each chapter, and on top of that, I have written music for the project as well, so it's a really fun project with big goals!

Sadly, I lost my sweet old lady Lollipop in July of 2024, so I have not been mentally able to work on this again just yet. The loss of Lolli's larger than life personality and presence has left a terrible hole in my heart and in our little grumble, but I hope to be able to celebrate her and enjoy sharing her character soon. I know she expects me to do this right, and Book TWO is filled with funny and poignant Lollipop scenes, so I'm hoping to find my way back to Hugo and the gang this year sometime sooner than later.  I am targeting a summer release of Book Two, but I sure apologize for the delay on that second book! 

Meanwhile, HTRP Book One is still available on Amazon,  and there are other HTRP materials available on my website, including coloring pages.  

THE JOSIE AWARDS

What an honor it was to be nominated as Americana Vocalist of the Year by the Josie Awards.  Over 75,000 Submissions were received by Josie, and to be on that short list of ten nominees was just incredible.  I traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, with the boys of Puzzletruck Music by my side in November and thoroughly enjoyed the awards ceremony show.  While I did not win, I feel very accomplished by that nomination! 

MUSIC SPEAKS 

If you've not made it out to my Singer Songwriter/Musician Showcase on Tuesday nights, called MUSIC SPEAKS at the Wing Cafe in Marietta, GA, do add that to your 2025 goals short list!  As a player, you'll be among some of the top talent in the area and as a listener, you'll experience a great show!   (Please email me to schedule a slot if you are a performer).

And do follow my Instagram page  for the fun reels I create each week from the events.  Now truth be told, I fell behind on creating my reels in about October last year, so I have a handful to share and will be dropping all of those in January. I'll also be adding a folder to my YouTube page to house all of those fun MUSIC SPEAKS reels, so make sure you SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube Channel ASAP! 

And….Make sure you LIKE and FOLLOW my MUSIC SPEAKS FACEBOOK page for all the fun – The first show of 2025 is on January 7th, 7:30pm! We are live on Facebook every Tuesday, so if you cannot make it out, tune in! 

BASS and BLADES!

This past August, Bassist Rick Reese and I began performing as a duo we call BASS AND BLADES! Rick is a wizard on the bass and adds incredible vibes, texture, and fun to our show.  And sometimes we wear wigs as we take on the persona off a crime fighting duo!!  It's so fun and we have been well-received everywhere we go to perform!  

Our first show of 2025, is at Ground and Pound Coffee House (and bar) in Alpharetta, GA!  It's a bougie room with wonderful food, liquor, and coffee!!!   Come hang out in the cozy space on January 4th at 7pm and we will serenade you with our spicy original songs and a handful of your favorite covers! Seating is limited, so get there early!  We have a bunch of shows lined up for 2025, so check out our website for more details! www.bassandblades.com

MERCH SHOP SALE!

Have you visited, the BELLY of the FROG?  I created this new store in 2024 and there's so much cool stuff in this new online shop!  It's been a labor of love to create designs for all of these fun projects, so go check it out and have fun shopping! Please start your New Year shopping off right and use discount code NINJA for a 20% discount off your order!  That coupon will be good until January 31st, 2025.

REAL ESTATE

Don't forget! I'm a REAL ESTATE AGENT too and have been helping clients find their dream homes since 2013. Despite the news on TV, the market is fantastic, and we are about to hit the spring which makes it sizzle even more. Please contact me if you want to chat about the market or ask about your property.  I can help you buy or sell your home!  The time is NOW! 

MUSICAL CHARITIES

Many of you may not know that I am the Secretary for MUSICAL CHARITIES, a wonderful non-profit which employs musicians to help fundraise for various causes.    If you are looking for a spot to make a year-end donation for tax purposes or otherwise just pure good will, this is a really good one, and you can donate right from the website.  

And.. If you're looking to host a party or an event and want to have a special flair added, contact us for ideas about how to create a fun, charitable event in your own home or backyard -- we have done parties and birthdays, etc. where the guests made donations to a cause in lieu of bringing presents while we tailor the music to your guest of honor's liking. 

My goal as Secretary this year is to begin a quarterly newsletter, so look for an announcement about that in early 2025, so you can sign up for even more fun events and ways to give back!

DID I MISS ANYTHING?  

Maybe! Probably!! It's been a crazy busy year of travel and moving, music and merry making, “pugging” and persisting, and I hope to repeat much of it in 2025!  I'll make sure I keep you abreast of it all! 

Finally, if you're new here, please expect a newsletter once a month with special messages when needed for special events, and don't hesitate to drop me a line if I can answer any questions about any of the above!  Also, I'd love to send you a free song download just for signing up!

I wish all of you a FUN, HAPPY, HEALTHY, HEARTY New Year's Celebration along with a year full of wonderful adventures! Here's one of my favorite Walt Disney quotes to set you on your path:  "All our dreams can come true - if we have the courage to pursue them." 

Cheers,

Jeannie

Heyyyyyyy!!!!

Wow-- What a crazy summer it was! I've been so busy with HTRP- The Adventures of Hugo the Round Pug, live music performances, family, and my day job!  Whew!! It's so nice to finally have a moment to catch up with all of you! There's just so many fun things going on! 

Here's the Top Five Fun Things:

1.  Upcoming Performance at the "Down on Main Street Festival" in Clermont, GA @12pm-12:30 on 11/5/22. Get your Tickets HERE! 

2.  Feature Article in CanvasRebel Magazine-- Read that HERE!

3.  Upcoming Holiday sale of HTRP - The HTRP- The Adventures of Hugo the Round Pug, Book ONE begins 12/1/22 with the launch of the New Website for HTRP - The HTRP- The Adventures of Hugo the Round Pug  (For now, you can check out/ purchase your copy on Amazon HERE)

4.  New Books coming soon:  HTRP - The HTRP- The Adventures of Hugo the Round Pug, Book TWO and a Nursery Picture Book version of HTRP- The Adventures of Hugo the Round Pug, Book ONE (target release date 12/1/22)

5. Full FALL Show Schedule- Check that out Here!   Hope to see you out at a show!

Thank you all for your continued support!! 

Cheers,

Jeannie