E.A. Aymar Asks Singer to Accompany Him at Festival

by E.A. Aymar

I’ve collaborated with artists before and I love it, but I’ve never done something like this.

I asked Sara Jones, a talented local singer, to accompany me during my reading. I’ve known Sara for years, ever since I first heard her sing at the Baltimore Book Festival (where she won the Billie Holiday Vocal Competition), and I’m a huge fan of her music. There’s a somber song she sings, called Les Feuilles Mortes, that would make a wonderful companion piece to the section I’m going to read from my dark debut thriller, “I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead.”

At least, I think it will make a wonderful companion piece.

As I said, I’ve never done something like this before, and I imagine it will either be beautiful or awkward. (I usually make things awkward.) Who knows? There are natural breaks in the song and story, so Sara and I won’t end up shouting over each other, but this is still all new to me. Even so, I like the idea of spontaneity in a live reading, because that’s when the performers and the audience communicate most honestly. Energy bubbles up, excitement starts to ripple. You feel it in the best live performances, that spirit of companionship.

Plus I’m giving away free pens. There’s also that.

So stop by the Dashiell Hammett Pavilion at 10:30. We hope to see you there! And we’re as curious about what’s going to happen as you are.