For The Sender: Four Letters. Twelve Songs. One Story. "Includes CD" [Hardcover]

Alex Woodard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 18, 2012

Sometimes a letter is like a prayer; it's more for the sender than the receiver. Singer-songwriter Alex Woodard was letting go of his best friend, a Labrador named Kona, and most of his dreams when he received a letter that would change the course of his life.  What began as a song about that letter evolved into a book and album package about real-life letters, featuring Grammy-winning artists and a live show that has sol d out every performance and inspired thousands in its first few months. Join the Hay House author and award-winning songwriter as he takes you on a moving journey of release, redemption, and realization through the letters, songs, and story of FOR THE SENDER. Proceeds generated by the songs from each letter go to a cause of the sender's choice. 
 

CD INCLUDED

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Alex Woodard's For The Sender radiates with love and is a beautiful tribute to the resilience of the human spirit."    - Deepak Chopra, MD, spiritual leader and #1 New York Times bestselling author

"From the moment I started reading For the Sender, I couldn't stop. On a coast-to-coast flight, I finished it in one sitting, pausing only to hide my tears. Gorgeous writing and a touching story combines to make this read something special - a word-of-mouth worthy book." - Cheryl Richardson, life coach and New York Times best selling author

"This is a beautifully written book with a powerful message; I read it in one sitting and absolutely loved it."
- Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, renowned spiritual teacher and #1 New York Times best-selling author

"For The Sender is a 'can't put it down' great read that is accompanied by a wonderful soundtrack. An engaging story and concert together. Doesn't get any better than that!"
- Christiane Northrup, MD, pioneer in women's health and New York Times best-selling author.

 

“A good book resonates with your heart. Good music resonates with your soul. So what happens when a talented songwriter pens a memoir? You’re taken one step closer to understanding life. The pure emotion that flows from Alex Woodard’s For the Sender can hardly be contained within its small size. The short book and accompanying CD tap into rich veins of creativity, sorrow, pride, despair, and most of all, love.”

- Chris Henning, Honor Your Spirit blogger

 

 

“Woodard discusses the hidden elements of his soul with candid appraisal; his memoir is poetry in prose. His talent as a storyteller is apparent in his writing as well as his music. For anyone intrigued by the inner workings of the artistic mind, Woodard’s autobiography will afford a prolonged glimpse, tempered by a jarring dose of realism.” - Julia Ann Charpentier, ForeWord Review

 

“I recommend getting this book ¾ the actual book, not the ebook. Hold it in your hands and open up the pages, revealing the delicate treasures inside. It sounds like I'm overstating, but For the Sender is not just a story, it's an experience.”- Mary Lavers, Cozy Little Book Journal blogger

 

"This is an organic tapestry of words and music, melancholy and hope, giving and receiving. It began with letters. The letters triggered emotions which drew creative talent to themselves in order to achieve expression. Under the mid-wifery of singer/songwriter Woodard, it became a chain of voices, back and forth, turning loss into healing and passion into compassion. (You can read the details at www.ForTheSender.com.) Beautifully designed and lovingly presented, this will be a special gift for any one who’s heart has been opened by love." - Anna Jedrziewski, Retailing Insight

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

About the Author

When he’s not surfing in a little beach town north of San Diego, Alex lives with a big dog and a bigger horse in the mountains of Idaho. For further info, visit www.ForTheSender.com or www.AlexWoodard.com.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 127 pages
• Publisher: Hay House; Har/Com/Cr edition (September 18, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401941214
• ISBN-13: 978-1401941215
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 5.3 x 7.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (110 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #252,186 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Singer-songwriter and author Alex Woodard has toured nationally behind five critically-acclaimed albums, earning prestigious industry nods and shared the stage with some of today's most popular acts. Joining a family of prominent musicians in his small beach town home, Alex created For The Sender, a unique book, album, and concert event that features his story of release and redemption woven through songs written about real-life letters. "It started with one letter," Woodard explains, "and evolved into something bigger than I could have imagined." Alex was overwhelmed with the letters he received and had no idea it would later turn into a whole new songwriting life."

Alex lives with a big dog and a bigger horse in the mountains of Idaho. When he is not writing and playing music, he can most likely be found surfing, riding his horse, and reading the incredible letters people keep sending him. www.ForTheSender.com


FOR THE SENDER - EARLY REVIEWS


"This is a beautifully written book with a powerful message; I read it in one sitting and absolutely loved it."
⎯ Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, renowned spiritual teacher and #1 New York Times best-selling author

"Alex Woodard's For The Sender radiates with love and is a beautiful tribute to the resilience of the human spirit."
⎯ Deepak Chopra, MD, spiritual leader and #1 New York Times bestselling author

"From the moment I started reading For the Sender, I couldn't stop. On a coast-to-coast flight, I finished it in one sitting, pausing only to hide my tears. Gorgeous writing and a touching story combines to make this read something special - a word-of-mouth worthy book."
⎯ Cheryl Richardson, New York Times best selling author

"For The Sender is a 'can't put it down' great read that is accompanied by a wonderful soundtrack. An engaging story and concert together. Doesn't get any better than that!"
⎯ Christiane Northrup, pioneer in women's health and New York Times best-selling author

"A good book resonates with your heart. Good music resonates with your soul. So what happens when a talented songwriter pens a memoir? You're taken one step closer to understanding life. The pure emotion that flows from Alex Woodard's For the Sender can hardly be contained within its small size. The short book and accompanying CD tap into rich veins of creativity, sorrow, pride, despair, and most of all, love."
⎯ Chris Henning, Honor Your Spirit blogger


"Woodard discusses the hidden elements of his soul with candid appraisal; his memoir is poetry in prose. His talent as a storyteller is apparent in his writing as well as his music. For anyone intrigued by the inner workings of the artistic mind, Woodard's autobiography will afford a prolonged glimpse, tempered by a jarring dose of realism."
⎯ Julia Ann Charpentier, ForeWord Magazine


"I recommend getting this book ⎯ the actual book, not the ebook. Hold it in your hands and open up the pages, revealing the delicate treasures inside. It sounds like I'm overstating, but For the Sender is not just a story, it's an experience."
⎯ Mary Lavers, Cozy Little Book Journal blogger


"This is an organic tapestry of words and music, melancholy and hope, giving and receiving. It began with letters. The letters triggered emotions, which drew creative talent to themselves in order to achieve expression. Under the mid-wifery of singer/songwriter Woodard, it became a chain of voices, back and forth, turning loss into healing and passion into compassion. Beautifully designed and lovingly presented, this will be a special gift for any one whose heart has been opened by love."
⎯ Anna Jedrziewski and Retailing Insight.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Music Makes Book Come Alive and Vice Versa August 25, 2012

By K. McGee VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I put all the songs from the CD onto my MP3 player and listened to them while reading the book. It really made the experience resonate for me and I ended up crying quite a few times. Not necessarily out of sadness - though there was a bit of that too - but more because it touched my heart. Some days I seem to come into contact with people who think the cost of being courteous is just beyond them or online they don't "see" you as a real person and couldn't care less about any problem you are trying to solve but the letters this book describes made me realize that I come into contact with wonderful people more than I probably notice because the rude ones are so jarring that they seem to stand out more but that's all a state of mind really. I just need to dwell on and appreciate more the people who deserve it.

I could really relate to the author's relationship with his beloved dog Kona. I've lived through that experience myself and it's been over 4 years now since my dog passed, I still think of her every day.

The letters are varied - a woman who lost her young husband, another who volunteers in Haiti, one who runs a shelter for children and more - but to me they all seemed to have a theme of appreciation, of blessings, of resilience, running through them. I can't imagine that there's not at least one story/song that anyone who chooses to read the book can't relate to in some way.

It also made me realize just how long it's been since I received a letter. An honest-to-goodness letter from anyone I know. Sure I get cards sometimes and, of course, lots of emails but it's been years since I got a newsy kind of letter from a friend. I really miss those. There's something so much more personal about a letter that you don't find in cards or emails. It made me sit down and write a couple of letters to my friends who don't live close by. I'm betting getting a letter will be a day brightener for them as it is (or used to be) to me.

In short, this book touched me and made me think. It's a small volume, about 125 pages or so but it was just enough and the CD is outstanding. I've only had it about 3 days or so but I've listened to it so much that I can sing/hum along with many of the songs. This kind of shocks me since my musical tastes are varied - Audioslave, Foo Fighters, Fleetwood Mac, Beyonce, Flo Rida, etc - but they tend to be pretty much mainstream but I really like this CD. I can see myself listening to this often for a long time. Once you know the story behind the songs they resonate and the music is soothing/calming which is just what I need in my life right now. All the songs are good but I think my favorite is "Love Began as a Whisper". The lead singer has such a sweet voice and I loved the story behind it about how maybe we can't heed or hear someone's kind words to us, that eventually we can believe them and come to love and believe in ourselves.

The book and CD together are absolutely wonderful. Though this isn't my usual genre of either music or literature, I'm so glad I didn't miss this one.

Thank you to the publisher, author and Amazon for giving me the opportunity to try them out.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshly original story+ amazing album August 30, 2012

By Wyatt

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Two things here- first the book.
This is a story that reminds us it's never to late to change our game plan of how we live our lives. Alex's story of letting go in order to let the light in is an inspiration.
Second, the album. Based on 4 letters all amazing, yet we all have something in common with them. Reminder that all of our lives are amazing... Anyway, just the roster of musicians on this should be enough for you to warrant a listen: Sara and Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek), Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), Jack Tempchin (songwriter for the Eagles), Jordan Pundik (New Found Glory).... You get idea, but the music is truly great and resonates with the letters that inspired the songs in ways I could never imagine.
You'll read it in one sitting and be better for it.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good CD, slim volume August 28, 2012

By Rushmore TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I listened to the CD a couple of times before I read the book. The liner notes are basically the book, so I initially heard the CD with no prior knowledge other than what I had read in the book synopsis. I liked the CD quite a bit. At first listen it struck me as solidly in the singer-songwriter genre but with lots of guest musicians. (And did I hear Sara Watkins on a couple of tracks? Yes I did!)

The book itself is quite short. Although Alex Woodard clearly went through an epiphany about himself as a songwriter in the production of this album, these are sketches rather than a memoir. Basically he started out as a struggling young musician writing songs about himself; his songs touched other people who in turn shared their own stories; and he found artistic fulfillment and a measure of success by turning their stories into songs. Along the way he had help from other musicians who were friends and friends of friends - most notably the aforementioned Sara Watkins as well as her brother Sean; Molly Jenson; Shawn Mullins; and Jack Tempchin.

The CD is really quite good. It contains elements of folk, pop and rock as well as country, Christian rock and gospel. Knowing the stories behind the songs definitely adds a lot to the listening experience.

To my mind this is basically a CD with an accompanying making-of book. And what a great idea that is. (I loved it when David Berkeley did that.) How many times have you wished for more background on how your favorite album came to be? I think it is being excessively hyped as some kind of mystical and even magical occurrence when in reality I imagine it happens every day. Songwriters looking for material use other people's stories. In this case the resulting songs are well done, moving and also very musical. I like the CD. I think it is the stronger part of the package. Alex Woodard seems like a nice guy who deserves to be successful. I think he also realizes how lucky he is to have such talented friends.