A vivid, highly evocative memoir of one of the reigning icons of folk music, highlighting the decade of the '60s, when hits like "Both Sides Now" catapulted her to international fame.
"Sweet Judy Blue Eyes" is the deeply personal, honest, and revealing memoir of folk legend and relentlessly creative spirit Judy Collins. In it, she talks about her alcoholism, her lasting love affair with Stephen Stills, her friendships with Joan Baez, Richard and Mimi Farina, David Crosby, and Leonard Cohen and, above all, the music that helped define a decade and a generation's sound track.
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Sweet Judy Blue Eyes" invites the reader into the parties that peppered Laurel Canyon and into the recording studio so we see how cuts evolved take after take, while it sets an array of amazing musical talent against the backdrop of one of the most turbulent decades of twentieth-century America.
Beautifully written, richly textured, and sharply insightful, "Sweet Judy Blue Eyes" is an unforgettable chronicle of the folk renaissance in America.

"From the Hardcover edition."

Catherine Saint is a rock photojournalist whose New York life includes shoots for Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone, concerts, parties, and intimate friendships with the world's top entertainers. Through grit, luck, and soulful talent, she's finally made her dreams come true - until she discovers she is in mortal danger. As the menace and suspense intensify, she begins to view the people in her life through a different lens: from her sexy financier lover to her trusted lawyer, who is the agent for a hot new rock group fronted by a self-destructing lead singer; from her old shrink who won't go away to her dearest friend, a beautiful rock icon. Peopled with music-world characters from the sixties to the present, SHAMELESS is laced with the rhythm and imagery of Collins' most lyrical song-writing...and is a novel only she could create.

For the millions who know Judy Collins' unforgettable music, this remarkable memoir will come as no surprise. A moving account of growth and healing, memory and rebirth, dreams and meditations, this is Judy's heart statement, imbued with the introspection we love in her songs. From coping with every mother's greatest sorrow -- the loss of a child -- to the shock of seeing her companion of fifteen years nearly die, hers is a ballad of transformation in which some of life's worst tragedies lead to the discovery of a deeper love. "Before I suffered a major catastrophe, I had no way of understanding the depth to which the soul is shaken, the exterior shattered, the interior made vulnerable and raw. Perhaps this is the way the wound works, to open us up so that we can feel and experience the depths, and having gone there, climb to heights we could never imagine...." It was the suicide of her son Clark in 1992 that signaled the slow dismantling of Judy's life, "the end of the world." But in its wake came a choice: to become another victim of the tragedy or to emerge victorious. Judy chose victory, freeing her heart to appreciate every precious moment of life, and see the gift of memory for the miracle it is. With quiet grace and uncommon candor, Singing Lessons reveals some of those miracles -- Judy's memories of places, people, triumphs, and tragedies. From meeting Gloria Steinem and John F. Kennedy to dining with Bill and Hillary Clinton and spending an extraordinary night in the Lincoln bedroom; from recalling the lessons of her beloved music teacher of thirty-two years, Max Margulis, to reflecting on her marriage to Louis Nelson, lover and soulmate for twenty years; and from her fierce battles with her own demons to heartfelt remembrances of her son, Judy shares herself,in the sweet, clear voice that is as true as her music, with the insight her fans have come to know from her lyrics. More than an intimate memoir, Singing Lessons is the triumph of a keenly observant, brilliantly gifted artist -- a deeply affecting and eloquently written journal of a woman determined to keep her heart open, her spirit intact, and all the elements of her life in harmony. It is the heart and soul of Judy Collins.

Beloved singer-songwriter Judy Collins draws on her personal experience with her son's suicide to guide readers through grieving the loss of a loved one who has died under tragic circumstances. The death of a loved one is always painful and the grieving process complex and profound. Yet when the loss occurs under tragic circumstances, there is a whole other set of emotional variables that the people left behind must face. Questions abound, such as "Could I have stopped this?" Feelings of guilt, shame, and even anger combine with the overwhelming sadness of losing someone who was dearly loved. Drawing on her own experience of losing her son to suicide, as well as her conversations with hundreds of people who have grieved the tragic death of a friend or family member, revered singer-songwriter Judy Collins has culled together seven powerful steps toward healing. The Seven T's are: TRUTH: Tell it. Regardless of how terrible the facts may be and how hard it is to talk about, don't hide the truth about how you lost the person you loved. TRUST: Allow it. Don't let the painful circumstances surrounding the death of your loved one prevent you from talking with friends about your loss. THERAPY: Get it. Seek help-whether through traditional talk therapy, your art, meditation, or whatever method you choose-but get the help you need. TREASURE: Hold on. Don't stop treasuring your loved one. Don't let the horrible events leading to his or her death wash away all of the things that were good and beautiful about that person's life. THRIVE: Keep living with your eyes wide open. Don't give in to the temptation to use alcohol or any other addiction to blunt or blur your sadness. TREAT: Be kind toyourself. Give yourself the gift of self-nourishment. TRIUMPH: You must. Live a life of joy, abundance, and forgiveness. From a woman famous for her wisdom and compassion, "The Seven T's" is destined to become a classic on the subject of grieving and loss.

Renowned singer/songwriter Judy Collins's deeply moving memoir chronicles her journey from pain to survival following the suicide of her son, and offers comfort to those who struggle in suicide's aftermath.
"Sanity & Grace" speaks to all who have endured the sorrow of losing a loved one. In the depths of her suffering, Collins found relief by reaching out to others for help and support. Now she extends her hand to comfort other survivors whose lives have been affected by similar tragedy. Honest and inspiring, this story will not only interest Collins's followers but will also help soothe and heal those wounded by suicide and depression.