Updated Review Policy and My Love Note to the FTC

Hear ye, hear ye!  I have updated parts of Backseat Writer’s Review Policy and added a bit of plain speak to my FTC Disclosure.  Read on, you know you want to…

REVIEW POLICY

Request for reviews/interview/marriage proposals can be sent to amy@backseatwriter.com.

Why, yes, I would love to review your album, book, movie, or product!  Due to time restraints, that book I’m eventually going to write, and my personal preferences, I may not be able to honor all requests for reviews, interviews, or Nigerians who want to wire me money.

Before you hit me up with your latest and greatest, please note that I will only accept music for review (and artist interviews) that is downloadable or send to me via snail mail.  Additionally, I will only accept books that are readable on Kindle or sent to me in hard copy format (again, in the mail).  My reasoning?  I need my music and reading material to be portable—to go with me where I need to go.  That’s how I live life and that’s how I review materials.  I cannot be chained to my computer listening to music or reading books.

Additionally, I retain the right to accept or reject all materials based on quality of content and whether or not I believe the materials fit in with the vision of Backseat Writer.  Usually I can tell whether or not something is a good fit by the press release and I will tell you so before you send materials, so feel free to send your queries to amy@backseatwriter.com.

I also added this to that terribly interesting FTC Disclosure or what I like to call “My Love Note to the FTC”…

I do not get paid to do reviews or interviews (though if anyone wants to hire me for freelance work, I’m listening.)  I do not accept money in exchange for posting press releases or endorsements.  All content is generated for the pure love and joy of writing!

Links included in posts are for informational purposes only and are never composed for the purpose of including advertising.

No record company, publisher, publicist, band, artist, hobbit, or gnome will ever influence the content, topics, or posts made in this Backseat Writer, though they may inspire a few!

Any time you want to review parts of my publications policies, you can click on the “About Backseat Writer” tab and read your little heart out.  It is slightly more interesting than watching paint peel.

UnWrapping Christmas with musician Josh Wilson

Yup, we used this pic last year. It's still great though, isn't it?

Musician extraordinaire Josh Wilson is a faithful friend.  Despite the fact he’s already participated in UnWrapping Christmas twice, he’s willing to go another round with Backseat Writer.  Fortunately, being the creative genius that he is, Josh provides fresh and insightful answers each and every year. Exciting things are on horizon as Josh’s new album is set for release in February 2011.  Currently, the album’s first single, “I Refuse,” is playing on Christian radio stations throughout the country.

Did you score any good deals on Black Friday? Is it a day of great deals or terrifying chaos?
I decided to continue my Black Friday tradition of sleeping in.  I scored the great deal of getting a massive amount of rest.

Where are you spending Christmas this year…and what are you looking most forward to?

I’m spending Christmas this year with my wife Becca’s family.  This will be my first Christmas with her family, so I’m most looking forward to learning about their traditions and getting to know her parents and siblings more.

What was the best Christmas gift you ever received? (Don’t say “Jesus” because that’s a given!)

The best Christmas gift I ever received was my Taylor guitar.  I had been saving up for the guitar for months, visiting the store daily to play it.  One day, it had disappeared from the wall and I was devastated.  On Christmas morning, the guitar showed up under the tree.  My dad had secretly bought the guitar for me.  I’ve had it 10 years, and it’s still my primary guitar.

Describe one of the most hilarious Christmases.

Looking back, this is hilarious to me, but I’m sure my parents hated it.  Growing up, my sisters and I would wake up at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning because we were so excited about what Santa had brought.  Our parents told us not to go in the living room until they were awake, because they didn’t want us to see the presents without them being there.  So we would stand in the hallway by our bedroom at 4:30 am and scream at the top of our lungs, “Moooooooom!!!  Daaaaaaaad!!!  Waaaaaake uuuuuuup!  Santa came!!!”  After 15 minutes or so, my parents would groggily come into the living room and let us see our presents.  We usually finished opening everything by 6am.

What’s your fave Christmas song/Christmas movie or cartoon/Christmas cookie?

Favorite Christmas song is probably “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”  Incredibly haunting melody.  Favorite movie is either Elf or Home Alone.  We watch them both every year.  Favorite Christmas cookies are my mom’s homemade sugar cookies.  My mouth is literally watering thinking about them right now.

New Year’s resolution—yes or no? If yes, what is your resolution?

As usual, my New Year’s resolution will be to make no New Year’s resolutions.  I’ve held to it every year.