For a long time I’ve been trying to figure out what my next BIG project will be.
These things usually take at least a year to complete so I like to make sure I’m on the right road before I find myself 100 miles down the wrong one.
There was Up North, my concept album about northern Minnesota; a gift to my hometown and folks who relate to themes of rural living.
Then I self-published a little book called On Songwriting to help fellow songwriters and encourage them to keep putting their art into the world.
Now, after deliberating (never used that word before) for a few months, I think I’ve got it.
So I wanted to share a mockup of what the final result might look like:
Yes, it’s a pink (my wife said there’s not enough pink books in the world).
Essentially it answers:
“What happens when your childhood dream kind of comes true?”
I’ve spent the last 20 years writing songs, recording albums, playing shows, licensing music for film and TV, and somehow paying the bills doing what I love.
This isn’t a fame story. (If you’ve ever tried to drop my name, you’ve likely gotten crickets.) Instead, it’s a quiet grit sort of story.
- A figure-it-out-as-you-go story.
- A how-is-this-still working? story.
- An IS-this-still-working? story.
You get the picture.
I hope it’s also entertaining and educational.
It’s a memoir for:
- Anyone trying to make art while raising a family
- Anyone chasing dreams without losing themselves
- Anyone wondering how to build a music career that doesn’t require going viral
- Anyone who’s been to one of my shows and thought, “Wait, does this guy need therapy?” ( Yes)
Inside will be stuff like:
- What it was like growing up in northern Minnesota
- How depression and anxiety shaped and challenged my songwriting
- The almost quits and weird wins
- Stories behind songs you’ve heard and ones you haven’t
- The truth about being a not-famous-but-still-full-time musician
Why now?
Because one question I get asked a LOT is basically
“How have you done what you’ve done to get to do what you do?”
This book is my honest attempt to answer that in detail.
Want to help make the book possible?
This is NOT a finished book. Yet.
It’s a project I’m working on with you–my fans, Patrons, friends, and family.
📬 I’ll be sharing snippets along the way, maybe even asking for your stories. Perhaps your experiences attending shows of mine that made you feel you might have been on candid camera.
🎨 You might help choose the cover (the one above is a mockup). Or the chapter titles. Or whether I leave in that story about playing to an audience of one (not talking about God, here–one actual person).
☕️ And you’ll get to read it before anyone else.
Get Involved:
Backers (Patrons) will make this book possible. If you aren’t already a Patron, please consider!
🪑 $3/month — First dibs on book readings, secret merch drops, and behind-the-scenes updates.
📚 $5/month — Your name in the acknowledgments + mailed paperback copy, all the above.
✒️ $10/month — Signed hardcover, all the above.
💌 $20/month — Handwritten thank-you, all above.
🎬 $50/month — Executive Producer credit + random freebies, all the above.
Love,
Aaron