Yes, it's been awhile since we have connected in this way. I agree. I will also confess that I have actually lost track of how long it has been since I last sent out one of these e-newsletters. But that might be because so many exciting things have been happening, and I can't wait to tell you all about them, and hear what has been happening in your lives as well! Much love,

Shannon

First things first. There's music in the air these days! I am currently writing and fundraising for a new CD. This time, all of the music relates directly to recovery from eating and related disorders. I have been SO privileged over the last several years to share in the tragedies and triumphs of hundreds of women (and several men) struggling to recover. This CD, tentatively titled Precious Little Life, is for these women, their friends and families, the treatment professionals who have been tirelessly working with them, and also for all the men who have yet to find their voice and their wings to heal. If you would like to contribute to the development of this CD, we take donations via Paypal, and please know your contributions will be warmly welcomed and well used.

I am also collaborating with Canadian author Andrea Roe on a wonderful book/CD project called You Are Not Alone: the book & companion CD for women struggling with eating disorders. We are still accepting personal stories and song submissions.

Now. Let's talk about support. Many of you know that when I first began giving what we now call recovery concerts, I was not yet willing to publicly share my story of recovery from anorexia, bulimia, depression and anxiety disorder. So you also know how quickly that all changed! Before I knew it, I was on my first speaking and concert tour, sharing my story with students and patients around the country.

Today, I am also thrilled to report that I moderate several support groups both in person and online. For those of you in the Houston/metro area, you can find me at Cadwalder Treatment Clinic on Tuesday evenings co-leading a free women's life skills support group with Lynn Gerhard.

Every month I send out a recovery-oriented ezine called Good News. Subscriptions are free and each month I answer questions, highlight reader's creativity through poems, song lyrics and short stories, feature a guest writer and also share snapshots from my own journey. You are always welcome to visit the Key to Life website to read past editions.

MyEDHelp.com features a 'Dear Shannon' column monthly in which I answer reader's questions. You can join the network for a very nominal fee.

Who doesn't have a account these days, and I am no exception! You can find me for Key to Life and for music, and I also moderate a very popular called Behind this Mask: there is someone real. Membership is free - just send me an email and I can approve you to join.

is another up and coming popular friends site, and I have just launched an by the same name there as well. If you are on Facebook, membership in this group is free. Follow the same procedure as above to join, then do a search for the group and send me an add request.

Finally, you will find a moderated chat room on the Key to Life website. Membership is free and all you have to do to join is create a screen alias and login/password.

How many of you remember what you wanted to do with your life when you were eight? I do. I wanted to be a songwriter. Too many years later to mention, I am. I have two albums out, and you can find song samples and ordering information on the Key to Life website.

Even more exciting, however, is that there is a new BOOK in the works! The book chronicles over four years of private correspondence between myself and a young woman struggling to recover from anorexia. The book is tentatively titled Letters to a Young Anorexic: recovering the lost art of mentoring in the age of eating disorders. More information will be available soon.

Finally, I have created several wonderful new programs to reach out to a wide variety of audiences with music and timely messages about recovery, eating disorders and self-harm. Beauty Undressed presents a perfect vignette of our media-driven society and the fallout that often occurs from overexposure. Under My Skin unlocks the secret world of those who self-harm and provides information about how and where to get help. Concerts for Life presents in musical form the courageous stories of those who have overcome serious life issues. Mirror Mirror is perfect for professional educators and clinical participants who want to get an inside look at a patient's view of the recovery process. And Finding Your Whole Girl/Whole Woman Beauty offers female audiences the opportunity to affirm the unique beauty in all of us!

RGC Entertainment exclusively handles all scheduling arrangements for Key to Life. If you are interested in scheduling one of the above programs, or in planning a customized visit, please RGC or fill out our Scheduling Request Form.

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Key to Life: unlocking the door to hope