This unique collection presents, for the first time, the literary work of some of the best storytellers in the world: the songwriters who cut and polish tales down to sparkling three minute gems. A blend of fiction and nonfiction, humor and poignancy, these tales cover a wide range of styles and country artists. Nashville, Music City USA, is a place where entertainment and artistic fortune are built on the bedrock of songwriters. It has been said in Nashville over and over that "It all begins with a song." Country music's wordsmiths have shaped and molded some of the greatest stories ever told into three and a half minutes that fit neatly on the radio. The editors of A Guitar and a Pen set out to answer the question, "If they can put all that into a song, what could and would they do with a blank piece of paper and a pen?" The answer lies in this remarkable collection of creativity and insight.
Co-edited by Robert Hicks, New York Times bestselling author of The Widow of the South, and by John Bohlinger and Justin Stelter, A Guitar and a Pen features a stunning array of talent. This collections features contributions by Charlie Daniels ("The Devil Went Down to Georgia"), Tom T. Hall ("Harper Valley P.T.A."), Bob McDill ("Song of the South"), Tia Sillers ("There's Your Trouble," "I Hope You Dance"), Gary Nicholson ("One More Last Chance," "She Couldn't Change Me"), Mark D. Sanders ("Daddy's Money," "It Matters To Me"), Bob DiPiero ("Cleopatra, Queen of Denial," "You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl"), Kris Kristofferson ("For The Good Times," "Sunday Morning Coming Down"), Hal Ketchum ("Hang In There Superman," "Sure Love"), Bobby Braddock ("He Stopped Loving Her Today"), and Janis Ian ("Society's Child") to name a few.
In "A Rock," Kris Kristofferson tells the insightful and humorous story of how an explicit natural rock formation brings chaos to a small farming town out west. Collection editor Robert Hicks presents "Gathering Together," a quirky contemporary story of a Southern family. This is just a handful of the wonderful contributions to this entertaining collection.
What They're Saying
"The 'melody' and 'story' keep songwriting alive. Thanks for A Guitar and a Pen."
-- Bruce Johnston, The Beach Boys (I've also written a song or two myself!!)
"A Guitar and a Pen is a wonderful vehicle to show that songwriters possess a creative dimension that extends way beyond their musical creations...fascinating and refreshing!"
-- Barton Herbison, Executive Director, Nashville Songwriters Association International
"Country songs have always told the best stories and no one -- really, no one -- has ever done it better than Nashville. All my life I've admired guitarists like Chet Atkins and Roy Clark who touched me through their sound, but it was those Nashville songwriters who got to me through their words."
-- B. B. King
"I have made the pilgrimage to Nashville many times over the years because of my being so intrigued by the words and music invented by the songwriters there. When I learned that there was a book of short stories written by these same characters I knew that it was something I would not be able to resist. I can't imagine anything more entertaining."
-- Michael McDonald
"A Guitar and a Pen is a wonderful vehicle to show that songwriters possess a creative dimension that extends way beyond just their musical creations. This collection of short stories by some of Nashville's best songwriters is fascinating and refreshing! It reveals a depth, breadth, and remarkable insight into some of the best creative minds of our times. I wholeheartedly endorse this project. It goes beyond three chords because it is the truth."
"The songs that first attracted me to country music when I was a youngster were the songs that painted pictures with words...heartfelt lyrics set atop plaintive melodies like T. Texas Tyler's 'Deck Of Cards' and Luke The Drifter's 'Pictures From Life's Other Side.' In this book, some of our genre's greatest songwriters have become wordsmiths of a different type, creating short stories sans music, yet they continue to entertain us with that same depth, compassion, pathos, and humor. A Guitar and a Pen is long overdue. But I feel like I do when I hear a great song: I sure wish it had been my idea!"
-- Bill Anderson, member, Grand Ole Opry
-- Bruce Johnston, The Beach Boys (I've also written a song or two myself!!)
"A Guitar and a Pen is a wonderful vehicle to show that songwriters possess a creative dimension that extends way beyond their musical creations...fascinating and refreshing!"
-- Barton Herbison, Executive Director, Nashville Songwriters Association International
"Country songs have always told the best stories and no one -- really, no one -- has ever done it better than Nashville. All my life I've admired guitarists like Chet Atkins and Roy Clark who touched me through their sound, but it was those Nashville songwriters who got to me through their words."
-- B. B. King
"I have made the pilgrimage to Nashville many times over the years because of my being so intrigued by the words and music invented by the songwriters there. When I learned that there was a book of short stories written by these same characters I knew that it was something I would not be able to resist. I can't imagine anything more entertaining."
-- Michael McDonald
"A Guitar and a Pen is a wonderful vehicle to show that songwriters possess a creative dimension that extends way beyond just their musical creations. This collection of short stories by some of Nashville's best songwriters is fascinating and refreshing! It reveals a depth, breadth, and remarkable insight into some of the best creative minds of our times. I wholeheartedly endorse this project. It goes beyond three chords because it is the truth."
"The songs that first attracted me to country music when I was a youngster were the songs that painted pictures with words...heartfelt lyrics set atop plaintive melodies like T. Texas Tyler's 'Deck Of Cards' and Luke The Drifter's 'Pictures From Life's Other Side.' In this book, some of our genre's greatest songwriters have become wordsmiths of a different type, creating short stories sans music, yet they continue to entertain us with that same depth, compassion, pathos, and humor. A Guitar and a Pen is long overdue. But I feel like I do when I hear a great song: I sure wish it had been my idea!"
-- Bill Anderson, member, Grand Ole Opry
