Tonight the little angel in flip flops, Jackie Evancho, once again brought the America’s Got Talent audience to its feet. Both my husband and I watched with tears in our eyes as she delivered a flawless vocal of Pie Jesu. There are just no words to describe how I felt and feel, watching and listening to her tonight. Just listen…
function openTarget (form, features, windowName) {
if (!windowName) windowName = 'formTarget' + (new Date().getTime());
form.target = windowName;
open ('', windowName, features);
}
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Poll
Loading ...Now Available On Amazon
Now Available From Xlibris
Find Me On Goodreads!
7 Page Excerpt
Paisley Swan Stewart
Chanson Aria Video
This video features an original aria composed and performed by Paisley Swan Stewart and orchestrated by Nathan Allen Pinard
Affiliates
A Voice From Heaven: Jackie Evancho
Last Updated on Wednesday, 8 September 2010 06:13
My Friend Amy Marie McCutcheon Passed Away
My Friend Amy Passed Away
Most here know me as a Phantom of the Opera and Gerard Butler fan. That I certainly am, but those interests do not define WHO I am. I am also a woman of faith, who like most believers, struggles with all the hows and whys of this present world. Years ago when my son became critically ill with ulcerative colitis, I experienced a true crisis of faith. A crisis that shook me to my core, and to be honest, I’m not sure I’ve ever bounced back to what I used to be in terms of my faith…and I’m not sure I ever will. Just because we are people of faith, we are NOT impervious to the trials of this world, and to my shame, I let my heart grow hard because the hurt of seeing my son so ill was simply too much to bear.
It was sometime after Nathan’s first hospitalization when the movie The Passion of the Christ was released, that through a mutual love for the movie, and the love we both shared for Jesus Christ (Yeshua) I made a friend in an extraordinary woman. I met Amy Marie McCutcheon on-line after we came across each other on a Christian website dedicated to the film. We became kindred sisters in sharing our poetry, our story telling, and our faith in Yeshua.
Amy’s personal journey in this life was a difficult one, but for those who knew her, she revealed a beautiful mystery about the heart of God through her art. She taught me much about the true nature of Yeshua’s love, and I have no doubt that at this very moment… she is in the presence of the Lord she loved more than life itself.
I am very sad to say that my friend Amy, the young woman who painted this portrait of Yeshua, has now gone home to be with the Lord. I am brokenhearted, but at the same time I am celebrating because now Amy is at last the beautiful bride she always longed to be.
I have never known a more passionate believer in Jesus Christ, who lived every day of her life IN that passion and FOR him. Her very breath was worship unto him.
Today when I learned of her passing, I was immediately overcome by guilt. You see, although Amy and I became friends, over the years as my interest in the Phantom grew into writing my own POTO based novel, I was so myopic about working on the book; and I spent so much time communicating with my Phantom of the Opera/Gerard Butler on-line friends, that Amy and I drifted apart. We still touched bases once in a while, but we were no longer communicating on the same level as we once did.
Now that she is gone, I am angry at myself for not making the effort to keep in touch. I can’t believe I did not place more value on her than I did on the writing of my book. It’s amazing what we allow ourselves to become obsessed by, often at the expense of others. But I know that dear Amy would speak words of kindness to me, so I won’t let myself dwell on my own feelings of guilt. Instead, I will picture Amy wearing a flowing white bridal gown, with wildflowers in her hair, sitting at the feet of her savior, her eyes adoring and her heart full of love.
Drink deeply of HIS cup, Amy…you are HIS now.
Dedicated to Amy Marie: a song I wrote and recorded.
I am so blessed to have one of Amy’s prints hanging in my home. I will cherish it forever.
To see more of Amy’s artwork, visit her myspace: http://www.myspace.com/yeshi7
Last Updated on Monday, 6 September 2010 10:29
Book Two~The Angel’s Song
Greetings fans and friends! Earlier today, it came to my attention that some readers of Chanson de l’Ange Book One~The Bleeding Rose, have some concerns about the ending of the book, and whether or not the Phantom’s story will continue into Book Two~The Angel’s Song. Left you with a bit of a cliff hanger, didn’t I! *rubs hands together gleefully*
For those of you who HAVE already, or who ARE currently reading Book One, please be assured that the Chanson de l’Ange retelling of Phantom of the Opera seamlessly continues with Book Two. For your pleasure, I present the introductory statement for Book Two:
Chanson de l’Ange Book Two: The Angel’s Song
Book Two continues the Phantom’s haunting odyssey into the very essence of love, madness and redemption. As Christine takes center stage in the Joan of Arc opera, events swirl out of control with dire consequences. The Angel of Music steps out from the shadows, and mirrors become the portal into both heaven and hell. Now a young woman, Christine is forced to make choices that will dramatically alter the lives of those she loves. She must brave a future where all are thrust into an emotional and operatic crescendo that will leave readers breathless.
Chanson de l’Ange spans a fifty year journey fraught with music, high romance and madness.
__________________________
Do you trust me to give you a satisfying, yet emotionally gripping continuation of Book One? Of course you do!!!!
Now, to update you about progress on the release of Book Two, I will be printing out the 512 page manuscript for red pen edits which will take a few weeks. I am still on track to begin the submission process in October, but should I complete the red pen edits before then, I will start submission at that time.
Have a great Labor Day weekend!
Swannie
Last Updated on Saturday, 4 September 2010 09:20
Jackie Evancho: The Semi Finals-America’s Got Talent
This child has truly blessed my heart. I cannot even describe how it makes me feel to hear Jackie Evancho’s voice and to experience her sweet personality shining through. She reminds me that God and all things good are still present in this world, and that some angels wear flip flops and shorts. I just adore her. I truly hope that one day when she is a young woman, she will be chosen to play the role of Christine in a production of Phantom of the Opera.
I studied classical voice for 10 years, beginning when I was 14 years old, and my voice cannot hold a candle to hers. This is a rare gift!
Last Updated on Wednesday, 1 September 2010 06:17
America’s Got Talent! Jackie Evancho
Greetings fans and friends! Be sure and tune into America’s Got Talent tomorrow night: Tuesday August 31st, where Jackie Evancho (my perfect 10 year old Christine) will perform in the semi finals. The show is on from 8:00-10:00 PT on NBC. I can’t wait to hear her again, and I’m very curious about her song choice.
I am currently ripping apart the opera scene in Book Two of Chanson de l’Ange, The Angel’s Song. After working for weeks on the revisions, I decided that the scene was simply dragging too much, so RIIIIP…Snip…Chop chop chop!
To be honest, it is much more nerve racking working on Book Two than it was Book One. The ending of a story is of the utmost importance, and I do not want to screw this up! By tomorrow I’ll be finished with the revision process in my PAGES format. Next comes printing out the manuscript and going painstakingly through it with my red pen. Lord, I wish I had an editor!
Okay, so back I go to the opera!
(I leave you with this)
Last Updated on Tuesday, 31 August 2010 06:54
Recent Comments
“My gosh,Amy, I did not know the title of that piece. I decided to post this song in honor ...”
“What you've written here is beautiful Bonnie Anne. I know Amy is indeed dressed in white, right beside Yeshua. ...”
“So sorry to hear of your friend's passing, Swannie; it seems that Heaven has gained another angel... ”
“Oh Bonnie, This news is so sad. I am so sorry to hear this. You know, Bonnie, when someone ...”
“Oh my dear, thank you for your comment. Yes I am aware that there are technical errors in Chanson. ...”