What is Songwriter Night? It's a romantic comedy audiobook.
AND it's also a full cast musical.
AND it's also a full cast musical.
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Lyle and Trish are two aspiring Country music songwriters that meet at a Nashville coffee house. With Trish being new in town, Lyle invites her to his monthly gathering of songwriters to get to know her better. The evening of quirky characters and light-hearted singing is interrupted by the arrival Aiden Bronson. He’s got a hit song on the radio, and he’s back to show off, stirring up some rivalry while he’s at it. How will Lyle compete against Aiden’s charisma and talent in order to win Trish’s heart?
This unique audiobook features a full cast of Nashville performers and twelve original songs, Songwriter Night is a fun, sweet romantic comedy that’ll get you smiling and tapping your toes. |
The audiobook version of Songwriter Night is only $5.25 and runs just shy of three hours in length. A great deal, because you may want to listen more than once!
Simply click on the hyperlink of the vendor you prefer:
GooglePlay * Apple Books * Audible * Audiobooks.com *
Nook Audiobooks * Scribd * Kobo/Walmart * Chirp * eStories * Binge Books * Hoopla
If you'd like your library to carry the audiobook, it's now available through Overdrive and Libby. Request that they add it to their collection.
*For reviewers: I have a limited number of giveaway codes for the audiobook redeemable at authors-direct.com
Simply click on the hyperlink of the vendor you prefer:
GooglePlay * Apple Books * Audible * Audiobooks.com *
Nook Audiobooks * Scribd * Kobo/Walmart * Chirp * eStories * Binge Books * Hoopla
If you'd like your library to carry the audiobook, it's now available through Overdrive and Libby. Request that they add it to their collection.
*For reviewers: I have a limited number of giveaway codes for the audiobook redeemable at authors-direct.com
If you prefer to read it instead of listen (or perhaps you want to read it while you listen), there is a book version available.
The ebook version is currently discounted to $0.99 on Kindle, Nook, Scribd, Apple Books, and Kobo among other vendors.
A print version is now available at Amazon for $7.99.
The ebook version is currently discounted to $0.99 on Kindle, Nook, Scribd, Apple Books, and Kobo among other vendors.
A print version is now available at Amazon for $7.99.
Reviews are starting to come in! All 5-star so far!
"It was such a pleasure to read Songwriter Night: A Musical Romance"... The story is delightful, touching, romantic and very funny. A sweet original love story which I highly recommend."
Becky's Bookshelves blog review
"Melt my heart! Driver's story is a sweet love story that pulls at your heart strings. Her story is full of poetry and music that makes me excited to hear the audio version. This is a quick and wonderful feel good read that I will definitely return to."
Ally.is.reading bookstagram review
"The majority of the events at the songwriter night, and it's really entertaining... The lyrics for the songs are throughout the book, and I think it would have been really entertaining to have listened to the audio version of this. It's a really great idea for a book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, even without the music. Highly recommend for all those who love music and romance."
Georgia Rose Books blog review
"Songwriter Night is an exceptionally well-written, sweet romance novella that contains memorable characters and wonderful songs... Over all, I loved this story. I’m going to rate it as 9 out of 10. I don’t think it’s perfect, but it’s pretty close."
The Romance Bloke blog review
"Songwriter Night is a fun, uplifting, sweet, funny, inviting audio musical new school and old school song lovers will love and enjoy. The drama/chemistry singing from every character (including the narrator) kept me interested and excited the whole time. I didn't want it to end."
GooglePlay customer review
"It was such a pleasure to read Songwriter Night: A Musical Romance"... The story is delightful, touching, romantic and very funny. A sweet original love story which I highly recommend."
Becky's Bookshelves blog review
"Melt my heart! Driver's story is a sweet love story that pulls at your heart strings. Her story is full of poetry and music that makes me excited to hear the audio version. This is a quick and wonderful feel good read that I will definitely return to."
Ally.is.reading bookstagram review
"The majority of the events at the songwriter night, and it's really entertaining... The lyrics for the songs are throughout the book, and I think it would have been really entertaining to have listened to the audio version of this. It's a really great idea for a book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, even without the music. Highly recommend for all those who love music and romance."
Georgia Rose Books blog review
"Songwriter Night is an exceptionally well-written, sweet romance novella that contains memorable characters and wonderful songs... Over all, I loved this story. I’m going to rate it as 9 out of 10. I don’t think it’s perfect, but it’s pretty close."
The Romance Bloke blog review
"Songwriter Night is a fun, uplifting, sweet, funny, inviting audio musical new school and old school song lovers will love and enjoy. The drama/chemistry singing from every character (including the narrator) kept me interested and excited the whole time. I didn't want it to end."
GooglePlay customer review
Want to hear some samples?
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This second one is in chapter three, when Lyle and Neil sing their first song that they joke "will be the song" that's going to make them famous. It's the song I can't get out of my head, anyway.
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Meet Trish, our female protagonist. Here's a little bit of dialogue leading into one of her pretty songs. She has a little secret about this song, but you'll have to get the book to find out what it is.
Mid-way through the story, we meet Aiden. He's got a record album, and the success has gone to his head. Here's a little of him showing off with his new song "Those Old Days".
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I had to put in a little of George and Tammy. They were members of the group until they broke up. Now they're back, but who gets to stay? Between you and me, this is my favorite song in the book.
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Want to hear more? Well, that's all I'm going to share. If you want to hear the full songs and find out how it all works out, go get the audiobook and have a listen.
Songs featured in Songwriter Night: a musical romance:
"Red River Valley" - (our original arrangement of this old folk tune) - Lyle, Neil, Odetta, Pearl, Roy
"Best Night of the Week" - Lyle, Neil
"With My Baby on my Lap" - Odetta
"Possibility" - George
"You're Not the Only One on this Planet" - Roy
"Two Minutes" - Trish
"I Won't Let You Down" - Lyle
"In the End" - Holly, Brooke
"Always Look Over Your Shoulder" (well, a little of it, anyway) - Odetta
"Tennessee's Too Busy Anymore" - Roy
"Those Old Days" - Aiden, Holly, Brooke
"He Looked at Me" - Trish
"Best Night of the Week Reprise" - full ensemble
If you enjoy the songs and want to listen to them over and over, we have: Songwriter Night, Original Cast Album. Look for it at Spotify YouTube Amazon Music
"Red River Valley" - (our original arrangement of this old folk tune) - Lyle, Neil, Odetta, Pearl, Roy
"Best Night of the Week" - Lyle, Neil
"With My Baby on my Lap" - Odetta
"Possibility" - George
"You're Not the Only One on this Planet" - Roy
"Two Minutes" - Trish
"I Won't Let You Down" - Lyle
"In the End" - Holly, Brooke
"Always Look Over Your Shoulder" (well, a little of it, anyway) - Odetta
"Tennessee's Too Busy Anymore" - Roy
"Those Old Days" - Aiden, Holly, Brooke
"He Looked at Me" - Trish
"Best Night of the Week Reprise" - full ensemble
If you enjoy the songs and want to listen to them over and over, we have: Songwriter Night, Original Cast Album. Look for it at Spotify YouTube Amazon Music
How did this project come together?
In addition to being an author, I'm a director/performer of theater in the Nashville area. When live theater was put on hold last year, lots of theater types got innovative and came up with ways to do virtual shows. I wanted to try something different than a play done on video or over zoom . I pulled out an old story idea I'd come up with years ago and dusted it off. I then spoke to Caleb Dinger who had been musical director for a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat that I directed back in February, 2020. He is an accomplished musician, songwriter, and composer. He got on board with the project to help write and arrange the music as well as record and edit the full project. He's amazing, and I could not have done this without him.
Next up, we approached some of our wonderful colleagues in the Middle Tennessee theater world about playing the roles. I would like you to meet all of them, so here's a little roll call for you:
In addition to being an author, I'm a director/performer of theater in the Nashville area. When live theater was put on hold last year, lots of theater types got innovative and came up with ways to do virtual shows. I wanted to try something different than a play done on video or over zoom . I pulled out an old story idea I'd come up with years ago and dusted it off. I then spoke to Caleb Dinger who had been musical director for a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat that I directed back in February, 2020. He is an accomplished musician, songwriter, and composer. He got on board with the project to help write and arrange the music as well as record and edit the full project. He's amazing, and I could not have done this without him.
Next up, we approached some of our wonderful colleagues in the Middle Tennessee theater world about playing the roles. I would like you to meet all of them, so here's a little roll call for you:
Caleb Dinger:
Composer, sound engineer, and editor Nashville based recording artist, composer, and pianist Caleb Dinger effortlessly blends jazz, classical, folk, and gospel music with his unique and accessible piano driven sound. Caleb’s music is reflective of his musical journey: growing up playing classical and church music, studying jazz in college, and collaborating with some of Nashville’s best local acts. Caleb continues to push genre boundaries while embracing all of his various influences as valuable parts of his musical journey that he feels is just the beginning. Learn more about his music at www.calebdingermusic.com |
Deb Moore: Narrator
Deb Moore returned to stage after a lengthy hiatus a couple years ago, and thankfully to be in shows I directed. She played Ouiser in Steel Magnolias and then the Stage Manager in Our Town (which, if you're not familiar with that play, is the narrator). She holds a B.S. in Speech and Theater and an M.A. in English, both from Tennessee State University. Deb is an Associate Professor of English at Volunteer State Community College and writes plays, poetry, and fiction. |
Jack Forte: Lyle
Jack is an actor and singer in Nashville, TN. Recent shows include playing Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Davey in Newsies, Gideon in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Sam in Mamma Mia and Mal in The Addams Family. He has been studying music recording at Columbia State College. He has big dreams and a big talent, and I know he'll go far. |
Caylin Maguire: Trish
Caylin is currently pursuing an BFA in Musical Theatre at Lipscomb University. Among her many roles, she's played Fiona in Shrek, Tanya in Mamma Mia, Marta in Diary of Anne Frank, Emily in Our Town, and she played multiple roles in the drama about the Sandy Hook tragedy called Twenty-Six Pebbles. In addition to voicing the role of Trish, she contributed some lyrics and the melody for the song "In the End" for Songwriter Night. |
Lisa Graham: Odetta
Lisa is an accomplished actress/singer with a growing reputation in the Nashville theater community. Some of her many roles include Narrator in Joseph, Grace in Annie, Muzzy Van Hossmere in Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Lindsay in Godspell. She's a high school librarian in real life and is slated to play Marian the Librarian in a production of The Music Man (hopefully) later this year. In addition to acting, she has done music recording with her talented husband. |
Mitchell Vantrease: Neil
Mitchell is the co-founder and artistic director of Centerstage Theatre Company here in Middle TN. In addition to directing, over the four seasons he has played Avery Brown in August's Wilson's The Piano Lesson, Felix Ungar in The Odd Couple, Albert Sawyer in Miracle on 34th Street, and Willie in Master Harold and the Boys. His other favorite roles in his acting career include George Murchison in A Raisin in the Sun, Richie in A Chorus Line, Tinman in The Wiz, Marcellus Washburn in The Music Man, Sammy Davis Jr. in The Rat Pack TV Spectacular, and Booker T. Washington in Ragtime. |
Tony Bernui: Aiden
Tony is a singer, actor, and voiceover artist who studied acting at Towson State University in Maryland before moving to Nashville to pursue a career in music. His career has taken many twists and turns since then. Although he never got his “big break,” he played his original music at a variety of writer’s nights around town in the early days, and he has played covers at bars too numerous to count. His voiceover work has mostly consisted of online courses for higher education and corporate online training. He also enjoys performing in community theatres around Nashville. Some of his favorite roles have been, Igor (Young Frankenstein), Piragua Guy (In the Heights), and Jesus (JC Superstar). He's also going to be Sam in a production of Mamma Mia (with me) hopefully later this year. 
Elliott Winston Robinson: George
Elliot is a singer, actor, and voiceover artist (documentary, audiobook). Some of his many dramatic roles include John Prentice, Sr., in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner; as Sam Semela in Master Harold and the Boys; as Doaker Charles in August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson; and Dr. Joshua Larabee in Akeelah and the Bee. Some of Elliott’s favorite musical roles include Tonton Julian in Once on This Island, Horse in The Full Monty, King Triton in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jim in Big River, and Daddy Warbucks in Annie. He has continued to do quite a bit of work in virtual shows and readings over the past year, and it was really exciting for me when he agreed to join the cast Songwriter Night. 
Kevin Driver: Roy
So, yes, this is my husband. He's also a wonderful actor singer. We actually met doing the show Hello Dolly fourteen years ago. After a couple years singing in a gospel band, he wound up on stage as Daddy Warbucks in Annie after taking his daughters to an audition. Other roles he's enjoyed have been Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, Scrooge in Christmas Carol the Musical, The Old Man in A Christmas Story the Musical, Judge Thatcher in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun. |
Beverly Grant: Pearl
Beverly Grant has been a happy participant in community theatre for more than 42 years as a character actor, musical director/singer and anything else that needed to be done to get a show on the boards. She considers theater family. Some of her favorite roles include Narrator in Joseph, Ruth Gottschall in Mary Poppins, Dolly in Annie Get Your Gun, and so many others. She is very familiar with songwriting nights, being married to Country music songwriter Tom Grant as well as working in publishing and A&R for twelve years. Beverly and her husband still perform Country music every year at the Wilson County Fair. 
Joy Baughman: Tammy
Joy has been singing and acting her way through life over the past five decades. After an award-winning turn in her acting debut in high school as “Lady Larken” in Once Upon A Mattress, she went on to earn her BS in Theater. For the next 30 years, she performed in both professional and community theater while teaching piano, voice and drama to students ages 3-73. Joy has also enjoyed fronting several classic rock bands, most recently in Nashville. Favorite theater roles include “Lucy” in Jekyll & Hyde, “Lucy” in You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, “Narrator” in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and “Lily” in Annie. She will be Donna, my fellow Dynamo, in Mamma Mia when theater gets rolling again. Her role as “Tammy” in Songwriter Night is her first experience recording an audio book. She hopes it will not be her last! 
McKenna Driver: Brooke
McKenna is a professional dancer. She teaches belly dancing and performs in a troupe through her own company called Fire Phoenix Belly Dance as well as teaching ballet, tap and jazz to children at a dance studio. She's an actress and singer, having performed in many shows such as Newsies, Freaky Friday the Musical, American Idiot, Bye Bye Birdie, Hello Dolly, and Annie. She has toured with a production of Veggie Tales and got to perform as a dancer/singer one summer at a theme park in Germany. |
And, well, I lend my voice to the role of Holly. I hold a BA in Theatre from U.C. Irvine. I performed professionally in theater in Southern California. I sang in a folk/country act for several years, followed by another couple years in a cover band. I had some aspirations of being a Country music songwriter back in my twenties and one of those old songs made it into this recording. I now do theater here in Middle Tennessee. Some of my favorite recent parts have been Mother in A Christmas Story the Musical, Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol the Musical, Sheila in A Chorus Line, Annie in Annie Get Your Gun, Irene in Hello Dolly, Grace in Annie, and hopefully will soon get back to rehearsing my role as Tanya in Mamma Mia.