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Saved by a Song

The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting

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Saved by a Song

By: Mary Gauthier
Narrated by: Mary Gauthier
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This program is read by the author and includes original music and a bonus conversation with Amy Ray of Indigo Girls.

From the Grammy nominated folk singer and songwriter, an inspiring exploration of creativity and the redemptive power of song

Mary Gauthier was twelve years old when she was given her Aunt Jenny’s old guitar and taught herself to play with a Mel Bay basic guitar workbook. Music offered her a window to a world where others felt the way she did. Songs became lifelines to her, and she longed to write her own, one day.

Then, for a decade, while struggling with addiction, Gauthier put her dream away and her call to songwriting faded. It wasn’t until she got sober and went to an open mic with a friend did she realize that she not only still wanted to write songs, she needed to. Today, Gauthier is a decorated musical artist, with numerous awards and recognition for her songwriting, including a Grammy nomination.

In Saved by a Song, Mary Gauthier pulls the curtain back on the artistry of songwriting. Part memoir, part philosophy of art, part nuts and bolts of songwriting, her audiobook celebrates the redemptive power of song to inspire and bring seemingly different kinds of people together.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Essentials

"Generous and big-hearted, Gauthier has stories to tell and worthwhile advice to share." —Wally Lamb, author of I Know This Much Is True

"Gauthier has an uncanny ability to combine songwriting craft with a seeker’s vulnerability and a sage’s wisdom.” —Amy Ray, Indigo Girls

Creativity Entertainment & Celebrities Instruction & Technique Music Personal Development Personal Success Celebrity Heartfelt Memoir Inspiring Thought-Provoking
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This book is an absolute masterpiece.
Mary so generously shares so much about the craft of writing, offering up examples from her own work.

Beyond gifting the world her stories through song, this book goes deeper into the stories behind the songs. It’s so raw and deeply human. I’ve laughed, cried, taken notes, and sung along.

Sometimes the audio versions of books lose a little magic. Not so here. In this, the audio is the perfect way to enjoy it. Mary’s own voice brings so much depth to it. And you get the added joy of the songs being sung.

I’ll still buy a hard copy for the shelf and to scribble on. But this was the perfect way to enjoy it first. 5 stars. Every moment is beautiful

Phenomenal

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May has a moving and powerful story to tell and she does so with disarming honesty. Don't leave songwriting to the professionals she says and I love that. As Mary says, she is a song encourager. She encourages courage. I used to write songs as a kid and now yearn to do so again. Listening to Mary read her beautiful words the other night encouraged me to take down my guitar from the wall (where it usually hangs mockingly) for the first time in a very long time. I didn't write a song that night but I'm getting there and celebrating the first steps.

I loved it!

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I’m a songwriter of RNB but I always believe if you want to be a great writer you should listen to more than your favourite genre of music. I love the stories and how the songs were created very special moments.

Inspiring hidden gem

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there's nothing I didn't enjoy about this book. I couldn't wait to get back to it, desperate to hear more and heartbroken when it ended.

so inspiring, I wrote my first song

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This audio book is perfect. Mary's voice perfectly matches her writing style, and each chapter includes a performance of the song to which the chapter refers. When I first started listening, I found myself often stopping what I was doing to just listen, and quickly it became my treasured treat to sit and fully engage with the next chapter. Her use of language is exquisite and powerful, her story honest and a profound expression of the strength of the human spirit, of love, understanding and creativity. I loved this reading so much I went and bought the hard back edition of the book, and it has pride of place on my songwriting bible shelf, as my number one most favourite book on songwriting. But I would also recommend it to people who are not songwriters as it is universal in its truth and its inspiration. This book is like no other, in how it weaves her song lyrics, song performance, life story, and self-expression, into a unique audible experience. It is not just an audible book, it is a work of art. Beautiful and moving.

Stunning

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