Michael Tomlinson
Autumn 2024
Howdy Autumn to you my friends,
A lot is happening around my house. Of course, a whole lot more is going on everywhere BUT my house. I try to pay some attention to both, but I’ve found that I do my best work in the ten feet surrounding me. So I’m writing new songs, writing new stories, playing around with design and photos and events coming up.
I just played one of my favorite online concerts ever. It was a concert celebrating Autumn and just an evening of stories and songs and friends. I honestly could not have asked for a concert to feel more appreciated or meaningful. Friends showed up, folks who have never been to my concerts and many who have come to listen since my first album. I played two new songs and they were so beautifully received! That’s what every songwriter hopes for — that the songs you’ve spent so much time exploring, birthing, writing and re-writing, find a new home in the lives of the people you play them for. Both will be on my next album. Possibly next year, in 2025.
I’ve finally launched my Substack project, my twice-a-month letter filled with stories, sometimes songs and videos, essays and interviews and fictional tales, humor, memoirs — all the things I love to write. I feel like I’ve been building my whole life toward writing this way. Meaning, whatever I am moved to write. For seventeen years I’ve been doing that on Facebook, probably creating more original content than you’ve ever seen on those pages. I just love writing. I love how it feels, I love the wonder of it, waiting to see what comes out when I’m typing furiously through the thoughts flowing through me. And then I read it and often am astonished at what is there. It’s such instant gratification!
For years I’ve hosted various kinds of Creativity Workshops. Live in person and, in the last few years, online events. I plan to host some in this coming year. I honestly get giddy sometimes, hearing the things people write that are absolutely brilliant — and they don’t even know they are writers! There are ways to get to that and I never get tired of hosting these and encouraging others to write and to express their creativity in whatever many forms it presents itself.
Back to Substack and my new online publication. In case you don’t know, Substack is a website allowing writers to create newsletters which may attract paid subscribers. Many have both free versions and paid. I will eventually have that. But for the first few months, mine is going to be free to everyone. If you’re on my email list, you’ll be receiving it. People may still subscribe for the paid version just because they wish to support me — and I certainly appreciate that. But it is not required. What I truly want to do is create something you so enjoy, and which feels like it really brings something enjoyable to your life, that you’ll WANT to be a paid subscriber.
Some of the ways writers encourage subscribing is that they offer perks, special events and more. I have many ideas for what I’m offering and I think you’ll enjoy the special events, new song debuts, new meditations and many other events. This is such an opportunity to do something that can potentially grow and bring new readers and listeners.
Also, this may well be the way that I fund my next album — which is really exciting. And finally, I believe the writings I offer here will bring me to a place where I can finally release a book.
Well, enough about me, how about YOU? For instance, what if you come to my Holiday Concert this year? Online of course, you won’t even have to look for parking. In 2017 and 2018 I created two Holiday albums. Really uplifting albums made up of half original songs and half reimagined classics. Mostly solo acoustic but with colorful audio snow scenes between songs. I love how it puts you outdoors, hearing horses pulling sleighs, kids throwing snowballs and so many outdoor wintertime activities that make you smile.
The albums are called Songs of the Season and Winter Tales. At my annual Holiday Concerts I play many of the songs on those albums and it’s fun to have so much that celebrates winter and the season as well and Christmas and the Holidays. I’ll be setting a date in the next week, so please check back if you’re interested in attending. I’d love to sing for you and share some fun stories.
Thank you for visiting my page. I’m excited to send out my newsletter — which I almost forgot to tell you — is called “The Morning, Brilliant Blue.” That came from the lyrics of my song, One Breath.
“Overnight a lot can change
You can go from cloudy gray
To the morning, brilliant blue
The purest part of the sky
And the ocean too
There you are, there it is
Everything that Life has to give . . . “
Written by moi and on my The Way Out West album.
Last, for over four years I have hosted a weekly gathering called Breathing Into Your Life. So, so many people have told me that these online classes have calmed them in beautiful ways, have helped them to flow more fluidly through life. I hope you’ll join us some Thursday evening. These are small groups, usually around a dozen people. So friendly and easy going. You will feel right at home - that is how everything I host is. I hope you’ll join us sometime.
In Friendship, Michael Tomlinson
