Dynamic Duo Delivers Double the Fun!

New co-written book and Music & Meaning podcast drop on same day

Andi and I are 14 months from celebrating 50 years of marriage—but let's not get ahead of ourselves. At this moment, we are celebrating the release of Why Everything That Doesn't Matter, Matters So Much: The Way of Love in a World of Hurt, written by us, Andi Ashworth & Charlie Peacock.

On my first "meet at the park" date with Andi back in the Summer of '71, who could've predicted that 50+ years later we'd have co-authored a book, released today, March 12, 2024? (I brought her a live turtle in a Chinese food box on that first date—many years later, the turtle and box were replaced as shown in photo).

For all of you who pre-ordered, thank you! For those who answered our survey with: "I don't know about that, I think I'll wait," wait no more! Along with supporting your local bookstore, here's the easy option.

Some of you know our friends the Borger’s who have Hearts & Minds Books—it is the antithesis of the behemoth above (Bryon’s BookNotes newsletter is a reader’s delight). Parnassus here in Nashville is supporting our book launch and we want to give them props too!

In the tradition of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, or Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne, our dynamic duo has jumped off the cliff and written the book. Unlike those four though, we've social-media-wrangled this thing and dangled it in front of you far more times than we're comfortable with. Thankfully, now that the book has officially "dropped," we can drop some of the oversized, look over here, us, us, us.

Nevertheless, we are two very grateful people. We know from experience, that once you read the book, you'll do all the rest of the "marketing" for us. If it's good, helpful, entertaining, and just what you needed—you'll tell someone, or many someones. You'll post an uncoerced review. We hope that's the outcome for all of us. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Next.

I said we'd double your fun and we will. A new episode of Music & Meaning drops today too! Monkeys At The Zoo: Metaphors, Methods, and Possible Dreams. This time out, I answer several questions from listeners around the globe, including:

What's the story behind the songs, "Fine Way to Live Your Life" and "Monkeys At The Zoo?" How do you pick a cover song to sing? Please unpack the art of songwriting for us, will you? Tell us how you got started and were ever really a punk rocker? And finally, how do you keep pursuing your dreams even when they seem so far off, misunderstood or unattainable?

But that's not all. We have two special guests: Former Motown session drummer Aaron Smith (complete with drumsticks in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame)—he'll be playing along throughout the podcast—AND Grammy and Oscar nominated singer-songwriter, my very own son, Sam Ashworth.

Enjoy it all, and let us and the world know what you think. If there’s any day to be a commmenter and liker everywhere, this is the one! Peace and love.