Edited by John Bohlinger

Edited by Justin Stelter

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On Sale: May 14, 2008
Page Count: 272 pages
Publisher: Center Street
ISBN-13: 9781599950648

Nothing tells a story better than the story-songs of country music. A Guitar and A Pen presents, for the first time, the literary work of some of the best storytellers in the world: the songwriters who cut and polish tales down to sparkling three-minute gems. A blend of humor and poignancy, these tales range from Kris Kristofferson’s charming tale of how an explicit natural rock formation causes chaos in a small farming town, to the domestic drama of a Kentucky family with six daughters, to Charlie Daniels’ character-driven fable of money and unhappiness, to Gary Nicholson’s riveting tale of an albino African American singer/songwriter who inspired him to be a musician.

A celebration of music and storytelling, other contributors include Hal Ketchum, Janis Ian, Mark D. Sanders, Tom T. Hall, Marshall Chapman, and Robert Hicks, among many other notable Nashville luminaries.

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"Country songs have always told the best stories and no one--really, no one--has ever done it better than Nashville."
B. B. King
"A GUITAR AND A PEN is long overdue. But I feel like I do when I hear a great song: I sure wish it had been my idea!"
Bill Anderson, legendary songwriter, Country Music Hall of Fame member
"A GUITAR AND A PEN is a wonderful vehicle to show that songwriters possess a creative dimension that extends way beyond their musical creations...fascinating and refreshing!"
Barton Herbison, Executive Director of the Nashville Songwriters Association Int'l