Books & Bands: Celebrating The Book Jewel

On August 31, 2025 By Lorraine Devon WilkeIn Latest Thoughts

Music, singing, songwriting, my band, parties in bookstores … these things make me happy. And in a delightful mash-up of all the above, my band will be entertaining party-goers celebrating the 5th Anniversary of one of the most creative, welcoming, inventive indie bookstores around, The Book Jewel.

It’s interesting how, during these trying times politically, people still want to get out and celebrate; gather with friends, experience art, feel joy, shake off the doldrums and anxieties that seem to endlessly swirl around us. I appreciate when people show up at gigs, join me at a show, text me about a new art exhibit, or just want to get out on a walk. We need to break away from noise and clatter.

In my last Substack piece I mentioned that my readers tend to less interested, however, in reading about these things, more focused on political analysis and opinion. So when people do join the party, so to speak, do read the piece on music or publish, do share articles about new, great places to eat, I’m encouraged. Because, as I’ve said countless times, we’ve got to find balance. Never more essential that in this mad moment…

So if you’re in the Los Angeles area next Saturday night, I hope you’ll come join us for this celebration of a fantastic indie bookstore. I promise it’ll be a rockin’ good time!

Chick Singer: How Creativity Became a Lifeline

On November 15, 2024November 15, 2024 By Lorraine Devon WilkeIn Latest Thoughts

These past ten days since the election have been brutal, certainly those of us who worked and hoped hard for the more joyful, optimistic outcome. For many, the results cratered their forward motion, and left them fighting to even stay afloat (see How to Survive a Rip Tide … and live to see another election). At the end of the day, creativity is what keeps me sane, for many reasons. And because I know art has the power to lift us up, I’m shifting my focus at this moment from election madness to my latest creative project:

Writing has always been a balm for me. Whether pounding out letters I never sent, winding my way through the puzzle of song lyrics, crafting essays and op-eds that spoke my mind and heart, or taking on the heft of a novel, immersing myself in the art and craft of writing has truly, without hyberbole, kept me sane.

My latest novel, Chick Singer, has been signed by Sibylline Press, and will be released (in print, audio & ebook) via their Sibylline Digital First imprint in March 2025, and that is something that not only cheers me greatly!

The story was birthed from one of those random “what ifs?”, the kind that sticks; the kind you can’t stop thinking about, that tickles your brain until you follow the thread to some ultimately satisfying fruition. In this case, it was a prompt based on my wild, rollercoastering, exhilarating years in rock & roll, and went something like this: “What if somebody secretly posted your old ‘80s music online and it went viral?”

I remember laughing, thinking that would, indeed, be random, but the idea sparked a bigger idea, one that carried me into the world of “Libby Conlin”—her band, her family, her life, her dreams, her secrets—all of which led to Chick Singer. It’s a story that has percolated through various iterations, engaging the input of many wonderful readers, consultants, editors, and advisors, all of whom contributed to a “satisfying fruition” in novel form. To give you a snapshot of its story:

Logline: A former ‘80s rock singer is forced to excavate her mysterious past when her boomeranging adult daughter secretly—and successfully—posts her old music online.

Rock & roll stardom is something you dream about when you’re young, and for Libby Conlin the ‘80s and all their wild promise are ancient history. What pulls her attention now is the unexpected arrival of Bridget, her newly divorced daughter who’s home again despite their historically fractious relationship and the chaos it inspires. And, as if predestined, life quickly turns upside down when Bridget’s application to a local art school involves anonymously posting Libby’s old music online, music that’s good enough to garner the attention of industry gatekeepers. When Libby’s mysterious past—and all its dark secrets—comes roaring into the present, the reconfiguration of everything and everyone in her orbit is both bittersweet and life changing.

When fascination with rock & roll remains a never-ending draw, CHICK SINGER steps onto that stage with its raucous exploration of a complex mother/daughter relationship set against a backdrop of music, dreams, and love—and the art of redefining all three.

If you’d like to keep up with the process as it moves toward publication, you can tap its page on my website, and of course I’ll be posting pertinent updates from time to time here and on my socials.

Then Suddenly There’s Music Again… Women Of Substance Radio

On September 8, 2014March 15, 2016 By Lorraine Devon WilkeIn Latest Thoughts

And then there was music again

My rock & roll past is no secret. In fact, most who know me are aware of how all-encompassing music was, has been, for most of my life. It wasn’t a hobby, a little thing I did on the side; it was MY LIFE… in all caps.

I started singing professionally when I was a teenager, hit the road with a rock & roll band before I was old enough to drink in the bars we played, and I ate the LA music scene during the ’80s like it was the best damn meal out there. No matter what else I may do in my life as a creative artist, being a singer/songwriter, and being able to get up on stage or behind the mic in a recording studio with incredible musicians making magic around me is, seriously, one of the greatest highs to be had.

But rock & roll dreams tend to be built on the alchemy of youth, opportunity, contacts, and, in some case, sheer luck, and as luck (or destiny or fate or whatever it is that drives these things) would have it, and as much fun as I was having, I didn’t quite get to the mountain I had in mind. There was disappointment in that, surely, but still… what a journey!

So now, as I write my articles and books, take and share my photographs; do any of my beloved creative activities, I keep my Music Muse nearby, always ready to tap her shoulder and say, “Wanna come out and play?” And she still (I see my Music Muse as a “she”!), miraculously, does. A few months ago I was in the studio singing backups for the upcoming album of my friend, Ken O’Malley, and his new band, The Ne’er Duwels. Friend and frequent songwriting partner, Jason Brett, and I cut one of our songs this past year and will get to others when I’m in Chicago next. Occasionally people write to tell me they picked up my CD and, still and always, I sing my lungs out in the car. It may not be Madison Square Garden but damn if the acoustics aren’t good! 🙂

Then, out of the blue, a music colleague of mine shared some information from an Internet radio station called Women of Substance Radio, the music brain child of musician and entrepreneur, Bree Noble; they were looking for new music from female artists. I had not heard of the station but loved the name and mission statement:

WHAT IS A “WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE”?

Substance can be defined as “significant quality with the implication of a hidden or special significance.” Music of Substance is not just entertainment or fluff, but has an essential “core” brimming with heart, soul, and spirit.

Women of Substance are female performers who deliver high quality music that speaks to the listener through vocal excellence, depth of character and emotion, and lyrics that leave a lasting impression. This includes Label Artists, Indies and Unsigned artists alike.

Women of Substance Radio has been on the air for 7 years. We are an Internet Radio station garnering fans from all over the world. WOSRadio plays the BEST female artists, both label and Indie, in all genres. We hand-pick all of our music starting with icons of the past like Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, Fleetwood Mac, Heart, Tracy Chapman, Mariah Carey, No Doubt, Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, Jewel, Michelle Branch, Kelly Clarkson, Sara Bareilles, Colbie Caillat, Adele, Carrie Underwood, Amy Winehouse, Feist, Christina Perri, Ingrid Michaelson, and so many more.

As one who sings, loves, and – hopefully – writes the kind of music that has an “essential core,” I raised my hand without hesitation. And, lo and behold, one of the two songs I submitted, “Comfort Me,” was chosen for their new music playlist and will be put into rotation starting tomorrow (9.8). As the title says… then suddenly there’s music again!

I’d be delighted for you all to click onto the station, listen, vote, do that thing you do. The necessary information and links follows, and I sincerely thank you in advance for your ears and your support. Of course, I mostly hope you enjoy listening to my song and the music of other singing, songwriting “women of substance”!

COMFORT ME (written by Lorraine Devon Wilke, David Resnik & Rick M. Hirsch) will debut on the “What’s on my iPod” Show, our weekly new music show on WOSRadio. See the playlist HERE.

Show airs September 8-12, 2014 at 2 PM PT; same show airs every weekday this week.

Listeners and fans can tune in at: http://rdo.to/WOSRADIO (click on “Website”).

You can also tune in on Mobile Devices by downloading our Mobile App. Just search for “Women of Substance” in your App Store or use these links to download:

iTunes Store (Apple): Women of Substance app on iTunes
Google Play Store (Android): Women of Substance app

After this week, COMFORT ME will enter heavy rotation on WOSRadio for 2 weeks. Fans are invited to vote “thumbs up” for your song by clicking the “thumbs up” icon while it is playing on our desktop player (and some Android devices). Fans can also request your song right from the desktop player top menu. Songs that receive votes and requests will remain in heavy rotation for an additional two weeks (possibly more depending on voting) and will be considered for the Top 20 which is posted on our website and linked to our player.