I’m Jill Jaracz. I’m one of the legions of women who like Oprah Winfrey. I watch her show, sometimes I’ll read a book she recommends, and I subscribe to her magazines. When I started this project, I was a corporate researcher who was in the wrong job. In February 2008 I managed to leave that position to try my hand at my passion: writing. I’m a freelance writer and blogger, and I’m hoping this writing full-time will work out.
I live with my husband (referred to as “the Boy”) in an apartment in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. Being in my mid-30s, I’m definitely in Oprah’s target age group, though when the magazine first started, I was a little young for it. Feels weird to grow into a magazine.
Please feel free to comment. You can also e-mail me at pa2jilljaracz {AT} yahoo {DOT} com.
Thanks for reading!
Dear Jill,
I am writing on behalf of The Conversation Group, a San Francisco-
based company devoted to participatory media. Currently, we are
working with SkinnySongs founder and lyricist Heidi Roizen to
communicate with bloggers about her new “SkinnySongs” CD. We are
wondering of you would be interested in receiving a copy of the
SkinnySongs CD to hear it for yourself?
SkinnySongs is not about dieting, and is not “workout music.”
Instead, SkinnySongs is the first radio-hit-quality music specifically written to
empower and inspire people to reach their weight and fitness goals.
While some people listen to it while exercising or walking, others find it
helps to listen to SkinnySongs even when driving or cooking — to get through
rough days and strengthen their resolve to to reach their goals.
Penned by Roizen
herself, the songs reflect her personal journey. Roizen writes:
“About seven months ago I hit an all time high, I had gone from a
size 8 to a size 14. Facing my 50th birthday, I did not want to
enter the ‘back half’ not feeling good about myself, and at an
unhealthy weight. Since music has always been a motivator to me, it
occurred to me that maybe there would be great songs I could listen
to while walking, or even in my car, that would
motivate me to succeed, much in the way ‘I will survive’ by Gloria
Gaynor got many of us through a breakup. I couldn’t find any, so I
wrote SkinnySongs.”
With 10 tracks produced by Nashville producer David Malloy
(who has produced for Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Rodney Crowell, Tanya Tucker,
and Rosanne Cash and has over forty #1 hits as a producer) and George Daly
(CEO and founder of independent record label About Records, formerly of Columbia &
Atlantic Records), and featuring an equally talented group of emerging musical artists,
SkinnySongs crosses genres and styles to match the perfect mood, rhythm, melody
and beat to the message being delivered. From driving rock and roll, thumping hip-hop,
and adult contemporary to pure pop, SkinnySongs will help listeners find the motivation to
reach their weight loss and fitness goals while, Roizen hopes, enjoying the music all the while.
Roizen writes:
“In these songs, I tell stories about women who decide to take charge of their
own lives, to exercise, make better food choices and to become their personal best. The
music does not speak about quick fixes — in each story months go by, and the storyteller
acknowledges that hard work and commitment are part of the requirements to succeed.
This is really not about one particular Weight or body type — it is just about taking care
of — and feeling good about — yourself. I don’t mention any specific age OR weight,
except in one song — where my protagonist goes from a size 16 to an 8. Ultimately,
this music has helped me return to a size 8 and a very healthy body weight, and I’m
hearing from other women every day about how much they are enjoying the music
too and finding that it Speaks to them about the challenges they face and gives them
a coach and kindred spirit to help them through their weaker moments.”
I hope you’ll be interested in reviewing this CD. If you are, please
visit http://www.skinnysongs.com in order to learn a little more about the
musical artists and Roizen’s mission to help others reach their
fitness goals.
If you would like to receive a copy of SkinnySongs for review on
your site, please contact me at the e-mail address below. Our goal
with this project is to encourage honest and insightful commentary
about SkinnySongs.
I appreciate your time and look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Maren Sands