Sandy Lo's Blog, page 24

The Love Triangle Begins from Lost In You for #SampleSunday

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This is a scene from Chapter 3 of my first novel, “Lost In You”.  Cooper finds herself intrigued by two pop stars from the boy band Sound Wave while attending a wedding in Florida.  She winds up injuring herself and stuck in Florida longer than expected.

Silence filled the car as Ryan drove.  Cooper glanced out the window at the passing palm trees.

“I could definitely see myself living out here.”

Ryan looked over at her, “Well, maybe you’ll get me to visit here more often then.”

Cooper smiled bashfully.

“Oh really?”

“Maybe.  If you’re nice to me,” Ryan shrugged.

“Oh, don’t do me any favors.  Just because you’re in Sound Wave doesn’t mean I’m drooling over here,” Cooper rolled her eyes.

Ryan laughed and was a bit surprised.

“Do you think my ego is as big as Matt’s?”

“I don’t know.  I don’t really know him…or you for that matter,” Cooper reasoned.  “For all I know you can be an arrogant Hollywood snob,” she shrugged.

“And last night didn’t prove that wrong to you?” Ryan wondered.

“Mmm…” Cooper thought for a second.  “No.”

Ryan gasped.

“Are you serious right now?” he asked, turning serious himself.

Cooper nodded and Ryan suddenly pulled the car over.

“What are you doing?”

“I thought I was a perfect gentleman last night.”

“Ryan, don’t you know when a girl is teasing you?” Cooper laughed.

“Well, I don’t really know you,” Ryan shot back at her, like she had done to him.

“You’re not the only one with a sense of humor,” Cooper said proudly.

Ryan smiled at her and she studied his features.  He did the same to her.  He wanted nothing more than to kiss her, even more so than last night.  Instead, he reached down to switch gears, but Cooper put her hand over his.

Cooper had never made the first move on a guy.  Sure, she’s flirted quite a bit, but never has she been the first to kiss a man or ask someone out.  For some reason though, Ryan made her feel bold and secure.  Plus, she couldn’t resist him any longer and thought his shy manner in their flirtations was adorable.

Ryan froze as Cooper’s hand covered his.  John was right; he was playing a dangerous game.  Ryan swallowed a lump in his throat as Cooper’s eyes burned into his.  He glanced at her lips and he wanted to pull them against his, but he just couldn’t.  That didn’t seem to matter, though, because Cooper was leaving him with no place to go.  Part of him was grateful for that, but another part of him knew he should push her away.  He didn’t though.

Cooper’s lips softly pressed against Ryan’s at first.  As if on cue, they both parted their lips and before they knew it, their tongues were meeting each other for the first time.  Ryan fell deeper into the kiss than he had anticipated.  His inhibitions were gone as he ran his left hand through Cooper’s wavy hair.  He slid his other hand along her waist, feeling the curve that was there before pulling her closer.

The longer the kiss lasted, the more it felt right.  Nothing either of them had ever experienced felt quite like this pure kiss they were stuck in.  As they separated, Ryan opened his eyes slowly and looked into Cooper’s once more and suddenly, reality crashed down around him.  He quickly turned toward the road again.  He peeled back out onto the highway.  Ryan seemed as though something was wrong.  Cooper wondered why.  Her only thought was the kiss.  How could something so perfect for me be wrong for him? she thought.  As the butterflies in her stomach scattered, an awkward discomfort replaced them.  She felt stupid for kissing Ryan now, as if she’d been making a fool of herself since last night.

Ryan didn’t utter a word.  He was robotic as he drove, and Cooper was too ashamed even to bother to make small talk or attempt to kill the silence with the radio.  She just stared out the window with her hand over her forehead.  The yellow lines along the road seemed to be endless and were almost hypnotizing.  Cooper felt her eyes fall into a daze and she was grateful for that.  She just wished her mind would drop out as well.

“We’re here,” Ryan said after he turned the car off.

Cooper made no attempt to get out.  She snapped out of the fog she was in.

“Thank God,” she said purposely with an attitude.

She opened the car door and got out quickly, completely forgetting about her ankle.

“Shit!” Cooper yelled, almost falling, but grabbing onto the roof of the car as she winced in pain.

Ryan quickly got out of the car to help her.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

Cooper didn’t answer him as Ryan sat her back down into the car.  Tears of pain were in her eyes.  Ryan pulled the crutches out of the backseat and helped her up.  He started to walk with Cooper up the path to the house.  There was such an awkward silence that neither of them knew how to break.  I should apologize, Ryan thought.  I’m such an ass. He shook his head as he looked over at Cooper, who stared at the ground.

Ryan rang the doorbell and a short, middle-aged woman opened the door a few moments later.  JT has her eyes, Cooper realized immediately.

“Ryan!” she shouted.

“Mom!”

Ryan returned her greeting and hugged the small woman tightly.  Cooper decided to put on her “happy” face.  She didn’t want to let Ryan know he got to her and she certainly didn’t want to make a scene.

“You must be Cooper,” the woman turned to her suddenly.

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,” Cooper smiled and stuck her hand out.

“I’m Joyce, Jamie’s mother,” she said shaking Cooper’s hand.

“Jamie?” Cooper questioned.  “Oh, JT,” she realized feeling a bit stupid.

“He’ll always be Jamie to me,” Joyce smiled with a wink.

Cooper felt warmth in her presence.  There was some kind of familiarity when she looked at Joyce’s face.

“Thank you so much for letting me stay here,” Cooper said as Joyce welcomed her and Ryan inside her home.

“Oh sweetie, don’t even mention it,” Joyce patted her shoulder.

Cooper glanced around the condo.  There was a ton of open space, and ceiling fans in every room.  Joyce seemed to favor Asian styled furniture and placement.

“Does your son always push off strangers on you?” Cooper laughed.

“He’s the one who’s strange,” Ryan chuckled.

Joyce nodded along with him.

“Cooper!” JT yelled, trotting past his mother.

He kissed Cooper’s cheek before taking her hands in his and kissed them as well.  Ryan rolled his eyes at JT’s actions.

“How’s the ankle?”

“Hurts,” Cooper shrugged.

“Well, while I’m here, I’m your personal slave.”

He winked with a smirk.  Cooper raised an eyebrow.

“Oh Jamie, cut out the charm,” Joyce laughed.  “He lays it on thick, huh?”

Cooper laughed, “Yeah, but it’s a nice change.”

She looked back toward Ryan briefly.  JT caught the awkward look, but ignored it.

“Where are your things?  I’ll put them in your room.”

“I got it,” Ryan announced protectively.

“Rizz, it’s okay¾”

“I said I got it, JT,” Ryan said with tension in his voice.

He walked out of the house and JT looked at Cooper.

“What’s with him?”

“I wish I knew,” Cooper sighed.

“Did something happen?”

Cooper laughed, “You could say that.  But more like something didn’t happen.”

Joyce and JT looked at each other.

“Don’t worry about it.  So, are you sure it’s okay that I stay here?” Cooper wondered, still feeling a bit strange about the arrangement.

“Hey, a friend of my son’s is always welcome here,” Joyce said.

Just then, the phone rang.  Joyce excused herself to answer it.

“Does she know we just met last night?” Cooper asked in a whisper.

“Not a clue,” JT grinned.  “So, would you like the tour?”

“JT…” Cooper whined.  “I don’t feel right about this.”

“Coop, it’s no big deal.  I just don’t want my mom thinking I picked you up off the street,” he explained.  “Come on, I’ll show you around.”

Ryan walked back into the house a moment later with the suitcases.  No one was in sight.  Joyce came out from the kitchen and smiled at him.

“Where should I put them?” he asked pointing to the luggage.

“The guesthouse.”

Joyce led the way out the side door off the kitchen.  Once they walked inside the guesthouse, Joyce turned toward Ryan.

“What’s the deal with this girl?”

“What do you mean?” Ryan asked confused.

Was it that obvious? he wondered.

“Well, there’s some tension between you and my son.  I thought maybe she had something to do with it,” Joyce explained, referring to Cooper.

“JT definitely has a thing for her,” Ryan confessed.

“I realize that, but that seems to disturb you.”

“It doesn’t,” he lied.

Joyce decided to drop the topic.

“How’s the planning going?”

“Slow,” Ryan sighed.  “And now with the next album coming out, I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

“It’ll work out.”

Joyce assured him, with a motherly pat on the shoulder.

JT showed Cooper every inch of the house and saved the guesthouse for last.

“Coop?” he asked, looking over at her as he stood close in case she needed help walking.

“Yeah?”

“Will you go out with me tonight?” he asked.

Cooper looked at him only slightly surprised.  He was straight to the point, and Cooper appreciated that.

“Sure.”

She smiled and JT laughed before kissing her cheek.  Cooper did want to go out with JT, but she still felt not only horrible about what happened with Ryan, but awkward.  She wondered what Ryan’s issue was.  He seemed like such an amazing guy.  Too good to be true, Cooper realized to herself.  She’ll just have to get over it.  She was already angry she let herself get caught up in Ryan in just one day.  In a way, Cooper was grateful the way things turned out.  She knew she wasn’t in control last night, and that scared her.

When Cooper and JT made it into the guesthouse, Ryan was on the phone as Joyce straightened up a few things.  Ryan was speaking in a hushed tone that sounded annoyed.

“Is that Danielle?” JT shouted and Ryan waved his hand at him to be quiet.  “Tell her that her fiancé is PMSing today,” he snickered to himself.

Cooper looked at JT unsure of what to make of that comment.

“Who’s Danielle?” she asked, not caring that she was being nosey.

“Ryan’s fiancée,” he said casually as if it were no big deal.

However, to Cooper it was a huge deal that explained a lot.  Her throat went dry as she spoke.

“Ryan’s engaged?”

“Yeah,” JT nodded as he looked at her strangely.  “He didn’t tell you?”

Cooper shook her head slowly and looked at Ryan.  He had just hung up the phone and turned toward them.  Just from the way Cooper was looking at him, Ryan could tell she knew.  She had a mixed expression of anger and pain on her face.  He felt worse now than he did before.

“I think I’m going to get going,” he announced.  “Can I talk to Cooper alone for a minute?”

Cooper was surprised by Ryan’s request.  She assumed he’d make a quick getaway out of this one.  Joyce and JT walked into the bedroom, both curious to know what was going on.  JT had an idea of what might have happened, but poor Joyce was confused as ever.  Who was this mystery woman?

The sun shone through the blinds in the living room, highlighting Ryan’s already golden hair.  Cooper looked up into his eyes for the first time since they kissed.

“Cooper, I’m sorry¾” he started.

“You’re getting married?”

“Yeah,” he nodded.

“That just slipped your mind last night and this morning?”

Ryan sighed, “I don’t know why I didn’t tell you.”

“Well, maybe you should ask yourself that question then.”

“Maybe I should,” he nodded.  “Look, I’m not going to lie and say I’m not attracted to you.”

“So it wasn’t my kissing?” Cooper asked sarcastically.  “You almost gave me a complex, but now I realize you’re just an asshole,” she said bitterly.

Ryan hung his head down and nodded.

“I really wanted to get to know you.”

“Why?  What good would it do?” she asked in a high pitched tone.

“Because…you’re interesting and seem like someone I want to be friends with.”

She laughed, “Just friends, Ryan?”

“Yes,” he said, knowing that he was definitely thinking of more than friends when they kissed.

“Fine, we can be friends or whatever,” Cooper said not believing she’d ever see him again after this week.

Ryan smiled and hugged Cooper.  He did want to get to know her, but he didn’t know why.  An engaged man does not befriend a mysterious, attractive woman he meets at a wedding without ulterior motives.  Ryan knew what he was doing was wrong, but he just couldn’t fight the feeling that he needs to know Cooper.  She wasn’t like any girl he knew.

Cooper was definitely pretty, but not typically.  She wasn’t some blonde bombshell that makes men fall at her feet.  She was cute at first sight, with soft features, and an easy smile, but once she starts talking, there’s a way about her…a flirtatious banter that suddenly grabs a man’s attention.

Her personality was far from typical as well.  She constantly contradicted herself and shifted moods easily.  One second she’ll blow a situation off and the next she’s overanalyzing it down to the tiniest detail.  Ryan found all of this information out about Cooper last night and he was sure there was so much more he would be fascinated about.

Read the rest of the story…

Update: The Watch Dog & StarShine Magazine

Hello!  I figured it has been a while since I wrote something updating you on writing based things.  “The Watch Dog” is now at over 50,000 words.  This novel is a challenge for me, but a good one.  I’m aiming to release it in October or November of this year.  I’m also planning to do a virtual book tour as well as a physical one.  So if you want me to come to your area, please let me know.  I’ll be searching out cities that I would draw a following in with book stores/coffee shops that would be happy to host a self-published author.

My awesome friends, Stacia Watkins and Alexander Conerly, wrote this amazing song called “When God Whispers”.  The song will be featured in “The Watch Dog”.  It’s similar to what James Manzello and I did with “Haley’s Letter” for “Dream Catchers”.  The song will be released under Stacia Watkins’ name.  (She is a beautiful singer/songwriter who was featured on ABC’s Duets.  Check her out at www.staciawatkins.com)  I am so honored that Stacia and Alex are letting me use their song. 

Moving on, as you might have noticed I was writing for In Phase Magazine, based in Nashville.  I wrote for their first two issues, but decided it would not be beneficial financially or reputation-wise to continue.  They didn’t exactly have their crap together (for lack of a better word).  Since then, they haven’t released any other issues, so I’m guessing me pulling out was a good move.  What I did get from the experience is how much I miss being part of a magazine and having creative control.

After vocalizing these thoughts with one of my best friends, Philip Lucia, he connected me with Mary Beth French, a graphic/web designer.  What has come from these meetings/talks is I’m re-launching StarShine Magazine after a year hiatus.  This time, it’ll be slightly different–following a digital magazine format rather than a simple entertainment post site.

Philip, Mary Beth and myself will be working together on a trial-like basis.  The first issue will be released in October and if all goes well, we’ll be continuing.  If not, well, we gave it a shot. 

Well, that’s the scoop!  To keep up-to-date on my projects and happenings, Like me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorsandylo and on Twitter: www.twitter.com/authorsandylo.

You can also help me get a jump start on creating a buzz for StarShine by liking/following us:

www.twitter.com/starshinemag

www.facebook.com/starshinemagazine

Never Stop Believing

Stop.  Just be.  Listen.  Block out the commotion.  Block out the opinions and egos.  Love comes in all forms.  God’s love is the purest.  I always have His attention–All of His attention.  All of his Love.  Just look for it.

I can find it in a friendly smile, a beautiful sky, inside my own heart as I put pen to paper.  Some things aren’t meant to be answered right now.  I’ll keep praying.  I’ll keep writing warm, touching stories that help people believe.

Faith is powerful.  Things fall apart.  They come together and make sense.  Or don’t make any sense at all.  That’s okay.  Life isn’t supposed to make sense.  Stop over thinking.  Stop pushing.  Just Love and welcome it.  And never stop Believing.

 

*This is an entry from my personal journal.  No matter what your beliefs are, I hope you take something positive from my words.  The more beauty you see in yourself, in others, in the environment, the better you will feel and the more things and people will be attracted to you.

Sandy Lo Contributes to New Publication In Phase Magazine!

Sandy Lo has been embracing her first love of entertainment journalism.  Now residing in Nashville, Tennessee where she moved to write her upcoming novel, The Watch Dog, Sandy is freelance writing for several publications, one of which is the brand new In Phase Magazine.  Sandy has two articles in the first issue, out June 1st and available for free at various Middle Tennessee purveyors.  Sandy interviewed her friend, Nashville singer/songwriter Stacia Watkins as well as the UK band, The Kooks for the issue.  Here is a list of locations you can find In Phase Magazine.  You can also check out their website: www.inphasemag.com as well as like them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/inphasemag and follow them on Twitter: www.twitter.com/inphasemagazine.



Nashville (Midtown area) – Corner Bar, Springwater, Cafe Coco, Jed’s Sports Bar & Grill, Blue Gene’s, Canvas

East Nashville/5 Points area – 5 Spot, Red Door Saloon, Mad Donna’s, The Lipstick Lounge, Samy Citgo (East Main)

Inglewood area – FooBar, Mac’s Drive-In Mkt.

Hendersonville – Holder Family Fun Cntr., Chaser’s Ole Western Grill, 1 Stop Food Mart, Second Skin Tattoos

Rivergate – Super Cuts, Pep Boys, Sam Ash Music

Madison – Rollins Mkt, “o” Rendezvous Bar & Grill

Lakewood – The Boulevard Barber & Style, Forever Yours Tatto & Piercing, Mkt. Discount Tobacco & Beer

Hermitage – Lebanon Rd. Citgo (Shiloh Plaza), SuperCuts, Double “E” Bar & Grill, Indulgence Hair Salon & Day Spa, Bellacino’s Pizza & Grinders, The Rusty Nail, Original Roadside Bar & Grill

Mt. Juliet – Country Store Disc. Tobacco & Beer, Billy Goat Coffee Cafe’, City Hall, Public Library, Capital City Mkt (BP)

Gordonsville – TNT Mkt (Shell), Capital Bank, Citizen’s Bank, Community Bank of Gordonsville, Cheers Wines & Liquor

Carthage – Save-A-Lot, Citizens Bank, Quick-N-Easy (Citgo), Smith County Bank, Riverview Regional Medical Center, Community Bank of Smith County, Carthage Swap-Shop Pawn

South Carthage – Billy Jack’s Mkt

Lebanon- The Mill at Lebanon, JNR Electronics, Linwood BP, Frankie’s Cafe’, Quick-N-Easy (Citgo), Zips, Uncle Pete’s Truckstop, Dunkin Donuts, Mini Mart (231 N), Chum’s, City Hall

Thirty Seconds To Mars Announces Plans for 4th Album!

Thirty Seconds To Mars have announced that they are currently working on their 4th studio album, the follow-up to 2009’s global hit This Is War. The new album is a “dramatic departure from the past”, says singer and songwriter Jared Leto, describing it as being “very orchestral, narrative, interactive and even more electronic than previous projects”. Leto is once again producing the album along with several other talented producers including the return of Steve Lillywhite (U2, THE KILLERS). The trio are working out of their studio in the Hollywood Hills dubbed ‘ICAASS’ (International Center for the Advancement of the Arts and Sciences of Sound) or ‘The Lab’ for short, as well as incorporating site specific recording in locations as far reaching as India, Africa, Yosemite, the California desert and Europe. Jared spoke with Rollingstone.com about recording the upcoming album and new technology venture VyRT, the feature can be read here.

The band plans to re-launch their successful event dubbed The Summit and plans to launch The Summit 2.0 as an app which will allow fans to be a part of live recording for the album through Facebook, Twitter and a new technology platform called VyRT.

The band is also using VyRT for a live performance and sneak peek into the workings of Mars, inviting fans directly into The Lab studio on April 27th for a live digital experience which will include an intimate live performance, preview of their live tour film, sneak peek of their documentary film ARTIFACT, and a discussion with the band. Digital tickets are available at VyRT.net/Mars For the first time ever, VyRT gives artists the opportunity to sell digital tickets to live events that are broadcast worldwide in an online social theater. This isn’t your grandmother’s live stream. VyRT is a high quality, high production value event that’s centered around the idea of creativity and community. VyRT gives artists the ability to share their work without having to rely on the current prevailing sponsor based model. By avoiding that system VyRT helps to create meaningful content that customers truly value. It is a one of a kind digital experience.

In December, Thirty Seconds To Mars celebrated their final shows in support of This Is War with a week-long celebration in NYC dubbed “MARS300” to commemorate their 300 th tour date. They were honored by the Guinness World Records® for performing more concerts than any other band in a single album cycle. Fans around the world were able to experience the big Guinness World Record-breaking MARS300 show by purchasing a digital golden ticket through VyRT.net, allowing them access to a live and interactive broadcast. A first of its kind, ticket buyers got to watch the show live and connect socially with friends and other global fans simultaneously.

Signed to their first record deal in 1998, Thirty Seconds To Mars consists of brothers Jared and Shannon Leto and Tomo Milicevic.

To get involved in the Thirty Seconds To Mars community dialogue, check out the band’s social media sites:

Facebook –http://www.facebook.com/thirtyseconds...

MySpace –http://www.myspace.com/thirtysecondst...

Twitter — http://twitter.com/30Secondstomars

YouTube –http://www.youtube.com/30secondstomars

Thirty Seconds To Mars website: www. thirtysecondstomars.com

Thirty Seconds To Mars tickets and merchandise can be purchased at: http://30secondstomars.shop.musictoda...

The Borrowed Umbrella

The Borrowed Umbrella
By Sandy Lo

©April 2012

December in Manhattan was bitter and hectic. Dee Dee ventured in the city anyhow, along with her eldest sister, CeCe. They took the express bus from Staten Island. The weather, according to CeCe, who checked things such as traffic and news, suspected an early evening drizzle. CeCe brought an umbrella in spite of Dee Dee’s protest that it was sunny out and meteorologists are never accurate these days.

The sisters were heading to see a Broadway show, an after Christmas tradition for them. Dee Dee was on winter break from college, and had missed comforts such as catching a movie with an old friend or family member. Going away to college was something Dee Dee thought would be life changing. And it was—just not the most amazing thing to happen in all her eighteen years, like she had hoped. She gained some independence, and found an inner confidence she always lacked—especially when dealing with her parents. Aside from that, Dee Dee hadn’t made many friends on campus in upstate New York. She spent most nights in her dorm room writing stories, songs and poems. Writing had always been her escape—it was her own form of therapy.

Just as Dee Dee and CeCe were getting off the bus, rain began to slowly fall. They were running late for the show as it was, and bad weather didn’t make it any easier to get around the crowded city. CeCe immediately pulled out her umbrella and opened it.

“Here,” she handed Dee Dee another umbrella, a red one that she grimaced at.

“I don’t want one.”

CeCe rolled her eyes, “Fine, get soaked then. You’re hatred of umbrellas is ridiculous.”

And Dee Dee knew her repulsion for such a simple contraption was in fact silly, but she couldn’t help but to resent the object. She could never resent the rain, though, not any more than she could hate the sun. Reluctantly, she opened the umbrella, not wanting her hair to be a wet mess by the time they got to the show.

Still, in no way was Dee Dee happy about succumbing to using an umbrella. She tried to follow behind CeCe on the congested New York City block. The umbrella would occasionally tilt forward making it hard for her to see where she was going at the hurried pace she was keeping. Dee Dee hated to be late and it was common to be late when dealing with weather and traffic in this city that often made her feel claustrophobic—not to mention her entire family ran late for most things.

As the sisters got closer to the theater, the wind picked up. Dee Dee’s red umbrella flipped inside out; pulling her back with the force. She groaned loudly, trying to hold onto the umbrella. The wind calmed a moment later, and CeCe was laughing. Dee Dee chuckled as well; it was comical as much as it was annoying.

They finally reached the entrance of the theater when another gust of wind blew. This time, Dee Dee didn’t have a strong enough grip on the umbrella. The red nylon looked like a parachute as it went flying into the street where a truck ran it over, crushing the metal and tearing the material.

Dee Dee went into a fit of hysteria. She had tears in her eyes as she laughed, now covered by the awning of the theater. CeCe huffed.

“That is the last time I’m letting you borrow an umbrella!”

Dee Dee shrugged, “I told you umbrellas are nothing but a hassle.”

She smiled, knowing on the way home she wouldn’t mind getting wet. She didn’t want protection. She loved not worrying about how she looked at the end of the day. She wouldn’t mind the raindrops hitting her head. She wouldn’t mind walking from the bus stop, hearing the sloshing of her shoes. It was natural. It made her think of summer time. She was always the first one to jump in the swimming pool; never afraid to get wet like some girls she knew. She liked to jump in with both feet and not be afraid. Walking in the rain was some representation of facing life bravely—as silly as that seemed.

Dee Dee faintly heard CeCe complaining about the demolished umbrella as they walked into the theater. CeCe struggled to close her black umbrella. Dee Dee hoped one day she wouldn’t need protection from people and issues in life, just like she didn’t need it from the rain. She wanted to look at her father like a raindrop; he would just roll off her back. The kids on her campus who partied and made her feel different would fall to the floor in a puddle at her feet. The people Dee Dee lost in her life—like Grandma—would be reflected back to her in that puddle, bringing peace to her heart.

Dee Dee looked back at the umbrella; then back at her sister, realizing all CeCe wanted to do was protect her. She was grateful for that. Being the baby in the family, all any of her siblings wanted to do was protect her—maybe too much at times. Dee Dee knew she could be stubborn, refusing to ever bring an umbrella being a perfect example of that, but she also knew she would have to fight for her independence. The destroyed umbrella represented that: the battle Dee Dee had won.

The Boondocks: From Staten Island to Nashville

Being a born and raised New York City girl, country music wasn’t a consistency in my life. Music was, though. I grew up in the South Beach projects in Staten Island, and though it wasn’t the best neighborhood, it was my home. I can’t change that and I’m never ashamed to say where I came from. I wouldn’t be who I am today without my past. I’ve always been told, even as a child, I remain true to myself. While kids in my neighborhood used bad language, I never did. It was never who I was. When a friend of mine wanted to bully a girl who was different, I didn’t. Instead, I stood up for the girl and befriended her.

Despite staying true to myself, there were times I was tested. There were times I wished life was different. I wanted a swimming pool. I wanted to go outside and hang out with friends, but as I got older the kids in the neighborhood got worse. I wanted to be surrounded by good people, and though, I had quite a few nice people around—I was also around a few authority figures that didn’t do the right thing.

Music was an escape from it all. I remember walking into a different room of my project apartment and hearing The Beatles playing from my oldest sister’s radio. I would walk into my brother’s bedroom and hear Rob Base. My other sister would listen to more Top 40 and dance music. My father would listen to Run DMC while my mother gave me a well-rounded ear for the sounds of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. As a kid, I was partial to the music of the ‘80s even throughout the ‘90s.

My familiarity with country music consisted of Elvis, Bonnie Rait, Kenny Rogers and Charlie Daniels. Those artists were who my mother listened to, and most of them had songs in movies that I frequently watched.

As I grew up, and the South Beach projects began to go downhill, I found solace in music. By the time we moved out of the projects, I was about to start high school, and music became even more important to me, assisting in dealing with all those emotions that come with growing up.

Unlike some of my peers, I didn’t just want to listen to music. I craved knowledge about it. To this day, I’m still renowned for being full of random tidbits of pop culture trivia. It came as no surprise to anyone when I became an entertainment journalist.

Country music gradually began to enter my life as I became more knowledgeable about the music industry. I also made some friends who were big country music fans that began to strategically direct me to songs by Martina McBride and Rascal Flatts.

Soon I was watching CMT on my own since I couldn’t find a country radio station on Staten Island. When “The Boondocks” by Little Big Town came out in 2005, something about that song resonated with me. It’s a song about growing up in the sticks of the South, so how could I, a city girl, relate?

It didn’t hit me until the other night at Keith Urban and Vince Gill’s “We’re All For The Hall” show out here in Nashville. Little Big Town performed the song and I found myself singing along, but getting somewhat emotional.

“I feel no shame. I’m proud of where I came from. I was born and raised in the boondocks,” the chorus sings. Finally, it hit me. I am proud of where I came from, no matter the bad reputation living in the projects has, or for that matter, even just being from Staten Island. I am not ashamed of who I am or where I came from, and certainly not ashamed of where I live now or the people I meet—no matter how different it all is from what I’m used to.

Upon moving to Nashville, I was teased about moving to a town of rednecks, hicks, etc. etc. etc. Well, if Nashville natives are rednecks, then count me as one, too. I feel at home in this city. I’m proud to be here where music thrives, people are warm, and God is celebrated.

“The Boondocks” represents home. “One thing I know, no matter where I go I keep my heart and soul in the boondocks.” What a true lyric! To me, this song brings my past and present together. It reminds me of where I come from and also why I moved to the South. It makes me feel good about where life has taken me.

Aside from this revelation, Little Big Town is simply amazing and everyone (including you New Yorkers) should download “The Boondocks”. While you’re at it, get the band’s new single “Pontoon” when it comes out!

***Random Note: The part at the end of the song with “You get a line, I get a pole” is a variation of a song my mother used to sing to me that she took from The Andy Griffith Show.***

New Interview with JoJo!

R&B/Pop star JoJo, the powerhouse vocalist responsible for hits “Leave (Get Out)”, “Baby, It’s You” and “Too Little Too Late” is creeping back onto the music scene after some much needed normalcy.  At thirteen, she was hitting the Billboard charts, and now at twenty-one, she’s ready for more with new single “Disaster”.

I caught up with JoJo when she was visiting my new hometown of Nashville for local radio DJ, Intern Adam’s Birthday Bash at the club, Mai.  Dressed in knee-high boots and a corset, JoJo stepped on stage proving she is no longer a girl, but indeed a woman packing the same talent she always did.

I skipped out on Intern Adam’s party early so JoJo and I could chat without all the screaming fans at Mai, who were eagerly awaiting Karmin’s performance.  Of course, I got to wish Adam a happy birthday first, who was “hollering and swallering” with the crowd all night.

After getting lost—not surprisingly—I made it to the lobby of the hotel around 1am to a patiently waiting JoJo, who had been up since four am, and had an early flight the next morning.  Like the first time I met her back in 2004, JoJo was eating popcorn.  It was one of those full circle moments, I guess.  Or just pure coincidence, more likely.  Read on for the goods on what’s coming up from Miss JoJo.

Special thanks to Intern Adam and Ashlee Foxx from 107.5 The River, Katie Gallagher, Gita Williams & Diana Levesque.

Sandy Lo:  First, how are you?

JoJo:  I’m good, thanks!

Sandy Lo:  Good.  So since The High Road, which was the last time I interviewed you, what’s been new?

JoJo:  What I did after The High Road, most importantly, was finish high school.  My mom made sure that I prioritized and put my education first.  I resisted that.  I wasn’t that keen on it, but toward the end of my high school experience, I was actually really thankful that I did it.  So I really became academic and went through the college application process and had that conversation with myself, my family and my close team members and decided that I was going to move to L.A. to focus on recording an album and put off school for a while.  Then I lived in Boston for about a year—got a condo in Southey—from 18 to 19.  I still have it, but I’m renting it out.  At 19, I moved to L.A.  For the past few years, I’ve been working on music nonstop and kind of just developing a sound—and writing through my life.  Writing through the good times, the bad times, the weird times, the stupid times.  And just really finding out who I am through music.

Sandy:  Very cool.  Now let’s talk about “Disaster”.  Did you write that song?

JoJo:  I wrote it with my close friend Gino, yeah.

Sandy:  What would you say that the song is about?

JoJo:  It’s definitely about young, crazy love.  About something that was really important to you and something that…  Sometimes when you’re in love, especially when you’re young, you’re totally wrapped up in it.  When it starts to go downhill, it’s completely devastating.  It can feel like a disaster.  It comes out of nowhere sometimes.  So that’s what it’s about.  I can definitely relate being caught up in something and you don’t even know how it got so bad.  And then you just feel you’re in the eye of the storm.  But what I love about the song is that there is kind of redeeming feeling at the end.  Just because a relationship doesn’t turn out the way you envisioned it, there is so much more to life than just a boy.

Sandy Lo:  How would you say you’ve grown—I mean obviously you’ve grown a lot since the beginning of your career when you were thirteen and “Leave (Get Out)” came out, but how has life influenced you as an artist?

JoJo:  Hugely, in every way.  Just from living on my own and not really having to answer to anyone.  You know, that’s what happens when you turn eighteen and go off to college, but especially after that college time and you’re on your own and finding yourself.  I kind of got to do that, especially in L.A.  Just having a great circle of friends; having good times with my girlfriends, and having them to help me through.  Or going through a fun, crazy relationship that turned horrible and destructive.  Being part of the dating scene and things like that, and being comfortable being single.  All that has really influenced my music, as well as things that go on in the industry.  And that oppose to just being from a small town in Massachusetts and finding my place in this big city of L.A.  So all of that is really inspiring to me.

Sandy Lo:  Now to flip it, how would you say being an artist at such a young age has had an impact on your life?  You know, growing up in that kind of spotlight…

JoJo:  I’m sure it had an impact on the person I am, and who I’m growing into, but I don’t know anything different.  I mean, I’ve been singing forever.  I got signed when I was twelve.  So my entire teenage life and now my life as a young woman has been kind of in this.  But what’s cool is that I got time to be a regular person.  My mom made sure I was very acquainted with reality.  I was very close with my family and I really had a nice New England upbringing, I think.  Growing up in this industry just made me comfortable around adults and maybe made me grow up a little quicker I guess.  But I’m not jaded.  I didn’t see like drugs and stuff like that because my mom was already right by my side until I was eighteen.  So I feel like I’m a little naïve to certain things actually because my mom kind of put me in a bubble.

Sandy Lo:  But that’s good.  Your parents should protect you.

JoJo: It is good.  I’m thankful for that.  Even things that my friends who grew up in Beverly Hills were exposed to from such a young age because they had access to everything and were so rich.  They went out to clubs at a young age.  I didn’t do that, so I’m thankful.

Sandy Lo:  Awesome.  So when can we expect the new album?

JoJo:  What I’m saying as far as that is, support the singles.  “Disaster” and we’re moving onto a second single soon.  We’re looking to release the album this year, but I’m still in the studio so the album keeps taking a new shape.

Sandy Lo:  Are you working with any new producers?

JoJo:  I am, but I want to stay tight-lipped about that. [Laughs]

Sandy Lo:  Gotcha!  In the past you’ve had a pop/R&B style.  Are you going to stay with that or are you moving more toward dance?

JoJo:  I’m not really venturing into the dance movement.  I love records that you can dance to and I love the electronic/house sound.  However, I don’t think that is really being true to myself.  So I want to stay in the pop realm, but I want it to be infused with all the things that I love.  From neo soul to hip-hop to rock—I mean all different things.  The record is younger and more fun and cooler than anything I think people have heard from me before.  It’s edgy, but it’s not—I used to describe the sound as pop with an anger management problem, but it’s not angry anymore!  The way the album has evolved…I want to do interesting, cool stuff.  I think that’s more the direction I’m going.

Sandy Lo:  Very cool.  Tonight you performed at Intern Adam’s Birthday Bash here in Nashville.  How did you get involved with that?

JoJo:  The station [107.5 The River] reached out.  Adam has been really, really sweet about following my career and giving me props, so I said of course!  And I LOVE Nashville!  I just texted some of my friends and said we need to take a weekend trip here and come explore.  The music, the culture is so rich.  The city is thick with energy.

Sandy Lo:  It’s nice, especially because most celebrities who live here get to lead a normal life.

JoJo:  Yes!  It’s a really dope place.  So, I was thrilled.  There was just a great energy inside the club.

Sandy Lo:  The crowd reacted to you wonderfully!  They were screaming like crazy.  Outside, there was this guy singing “Leave (Get Out)” at the top of his lungs. [Laughs]

JoJo:  So sweet!  It was really fun.

Sandy Lo:  What’s it like to know your fans have stuck with you all these years?

JoJo:  I can’t even express how thankful I am.  I feel like I don’t even…  What did I do to deserve such loyal fans?  It’s just SO nice.  It’s just amazing and humbling to know people believe in me so much.  And that people are thinking about the long term, and see my same vision for myself.  I’m really appreciative for that.

Sandy Lo:  Well, that’s it for the interview.

JoJo:  Thank you!

Sandy Lo:  No problem.  It’s great to see you and interview you for the fourth time. [Laughs]

JoJo:  You too, and I’m sure there will be a fifth.

Follow JoJo on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jojoistheway

Official Website: www.jojoonline.com