In just a few weeks I will be welcoming my newest baby into the world: A full-length, 11-track CD collection of love songs! It’s called “I play the piano and sing love songs”, and that’s just what it is — me, my piano, a microphone and a bunch of favorites from my previous EPs as well as a few BRAND-NEW SONGS.

I’ve been hearing from fans for some time now that they’d love a CD that captures the feeling of my solo live show, and this is it. These recordings were made with you in mind, and I hope you will love listening to it as much as I loved making it!

Want to be first in line?

This is where it gets exciting. The first 100 people to pre-order my new CD will also get an exclusive, limited-edition EP called “I play the piano and sing cover songs”. This EP features intimate piano-and-vocal recordings of the oldies cover songs I’ve performed on tour over the last year:

All The Way  (Frank Sinatra)
At Last  (Etta James)
The End Of The World  (Skeeter Davis)
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes  (The Platters)
What A Wonderful World  (Louis Armstrong)

This EP will not be sold in stores or online or at shows — the only way for you to get it is to be one of the first 100 people to pre-order my new CD! And you definitely want this — it came out GREAT.

I also have a “superfan” pre-order package, which includes a gorgeous glossy deluxe 18×24-inch poster with the “I play the piano …” photo collage — it’s suitable for framing, if that’s your thing!

All pre-orders come with a link for instant MP3 downloads of “I play the piano and sing love songs” emailed within 24 hours to your email address — this means that you will get to hear the new CD about a month before everyone else! Then, when the physical CD comes out, yours will come directly to your mailbox along with the covers EP (and poster, if you’ve ordered the poster package).

Exciting stuff, right? Let’s do this! Order yours right here, right away!

THANK YOU for your continued support and encouragement of what I do. I received a very moving email recently from a fan who expressed how my music has inspired and encouraged her — man! it was so incredibly touching to read. THAT is why I do what I do, and your support is what keeps me going. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Lots of love to you — shannon

Hello, love birds!

Are you thinking about what you’re going to do for that special someone this Valentine’s Day? Well, I have a couple ideas for ya:

• I Can Be Your Singing Valentine! Instead of jewelry or chocolates this year, how about commissioning a personalized love song for a loved one! Here’s how it works: you send me a little information — personal memories, names, or things you just want to say — and I will write a Valentine’s song for you that is unique to you and your loved one. Maybe you have some lyrics or poetry that you’d like for me to put to music — I can do that, too! I will record the song — me and my piano — and send it to you on a CD and/or an mp3 that you can give on Valentine’s Day. Or a birthday or anniversary — whatever you like! The price for a personalized love song is $300, payable through credit/debit card on PayPal. If you’re interested, email me and we can get started on your song right away.

• Send a Little — Or a Lot — Of Love! I have a super-cool, completely revamped “Shop” page on my website, with a bunch of brand-new music and merchandise packages available for Valentine’s Day. If you order any CD collection, T-shirt, or CD/poster combo package before February 5, I’ll send you a handmade Valentine’s Day card to give along with the CDs!

Let’s spread the love! xo-shannon

I knew there was a reason I moved to southern California — it’s called January. Look at how my roses are doing:

I hope you all had good holidays. I spent a goooood long time with my family in northern California, unwinding from 8 weeks on the road this fall and celebrating Christmas and the new year. And now I’m HOME! (Can you tell how thrilled I am?)

And I’m back to work. Booking a spring tour — more info to come on that very soon. And cooking up some Valentine’s inspiration for you — more info coming on that even sooner. So stay in touch. And keep warm out there.

xo-shannon

Had a great time in Texas the last few days. Even started saying things like “howdy” and “y’all.” What can I say: I’m highly suggestable. I’d probably make a fantastic hypnosis candidate. The shows in Denton and Austin were both fun. Thanks to everyone who came and brought friends and also to those from far away who sent their peeps my way — y’all are the BEST! (See what I mean?)

One of the most awesome parts of Austin was the puppies at the home of Jeff & Jen with whom we stayed. I filmed them for your enjoyment. So, um, enjoy!

Have to get to Tucson by tomorrow night’s show, so we’re hurtling through west Texas to get a jump on that 970-mile drive. But not too fast — you know my history with Texas State Troopers. Sigh. Saw this cool holiday light display in Johnson City a little while ago. Making me really look forward to getting to California for Christmas. :)

Lots of love — shannon

Safety Harbor, Florida – Sunday, December 6th, 2009 – Artists Todd Ramquist and Kiaralinda have spent the last 25 years making their home feel like home. For them, that has meant collecting colorful pieces of art, found objects, and cast-off items from all over the world and gradually collaging them together into the ever-evolving Whimzey — and it’s a place unlike any I’ve ever seen.

Whimzey is the place into which they invited me to come and perform for 60 or so of their friends and friends-of-friends this past weekend.

I had SUCH an amazing time, and I can’t wait to get back there as soon as possible. Not just for the eye-candy atmosphere, but for the spirit of community and possibility that exists there. Check out more about what Todd and Kiaralinda are about here. And check out the collage of photos I collected from the day as well.

Lots of love — shannon

ps — How could I forget to tell you about my new kitty friend Butter who followed me around wherever I went and who came up on stage with me during the show twice. Aw!

My first-ever night in Charlottesville was SO fun. I played with local duo Carl & Carleigh at the adorable Milano Cafe, which is housed in the building where Dave Matthews used to live and on which rooftop he played his first show. Crazy, right?

C-ville is the cutest town EVER, and given the great response we had at last night’s show, I’ll definitely be coming back soon. Or at least for the Blues Brothers pancakes at Blue Moon Diner from this morning. Oh, yeah.

Right now, I’m in the passenger seat, riding through gorgeous southwestern Virginia countryside, listening to my buddy Bryn Loosley on the stereo. So nice.

Happy weekend, everybody!

xo-shannon

Thank you, friends in New York City, for turning out to make tonight’s show SO much fun! There was standing room only at Rockwood Music Hall and I made so many new friends tonight. Can’t ask for much more than that. Oh, and did I mention the baby grand?

After the show, I had some yuuuummy Italian food with friends. As we were walking back to the subway, I saw this awesome Disco building and caught it dancing on camera. Check it out!

Talk to ya soon! xo-shannon

Hi from the Holiday Inn Express in Fulton, MO! I just wrapped up the final college show of the fall tour, and, William Woods University, you TOTALLY helped me end the college portion of my tour with a bang. Had SUCH a fun time with you guys!

For the rest of you, I’m off to St. Louis, Chicago, and Cleveland this weekend — get your rear ends to the shows and send your people my way!

And in the meantime, this is a sampling of the exciting stuff I do after the show is over. Enjoy.

Love ya. -shannon

Tonight, it was a Yamaha. Oh, man.