As 2005 draws to a close, I am reflecting on how lucky I've been this year, personally and professionally. I've had the opportunity to play some amazing shows with my wonderful band, made some important strides in some projects that have been ongoing, and continued to grow my lesson program.

The Hilary Scott Band played some new venues this year which we hope to return to again and again, such as Knuckleheads in Kansas City - they treated us so well! CD reviews, new radio play, and other media opportunities have continued, such as the incredibly flattering opportunity to be featured in the December issue of Inside Columbia Magazine.

Through it all, our fan base has continued to grow, with wonderful people like you coming to live shows to support us, buying CDs, and joining the new fan club (check out the site - it really is cool!)

As my EP gets shopped to Sony, and I prepare to embark on a new recording project in 2006, both with the Hilary Scott Band and with Matthew Wilder in Nashville, I continually remind myself that it all boils down to one relationship: musician to listener. If you're reading this now, you've played a very important part in creating everything that's now happening.

Recently, a dear friend of ours (and the wife of our electric guitarist) Lynn Lampe, went to Biloxi Mississippi, with her church to help with rebuilding after the hurricanes. I mentioned in October's newsletter that I was interested in recording 'Blessed,' getting sponsors to purchase a disc (and donate a little extra if they can) and help me send the song to areas that had been hit, providing emotional comfort while the money is given to Habitat for Humanity or other organizations that are working hard at rebuilding the stricken communities. While Lynn was there, she talked to some of the people she met about my vision, and already there are groups of people hoping to receive copies of the song....they DO hunger for understanding, comfort, people reaching out in whatever way they can. There is still so much to be done. Lynn says it will be months and months (probably years) before the need for volunteers ceases. Michael and I hope to follow her incredibly generous example and head down there at some point - they could use Michael's carpentry skills, and hopefully I could do more than just get in the way! :)

The recording of 'Blessed' has now become one of my foremost concerns, so that we can reach out to these people. Please don't forget that if you desire to be part of this, you can approach me at any live show, drop me an e-mail at: hilary@hilaryscott.com, or send your thoughts to the hurricane relief e-mail address: hurricanerelief@hilaryscott.com at any time. We've had an offer from a studio in West Plains (thanks Eleisha) to record us for free, and if we can't plan a trip down there soon, will look closer to home so that we can expedite the process. Several of you wrote after the October newsletter and offered your support and help. THANK YOU!

Sandy had mentioned during the interview that they wanted a 'holiday themed' photo for the cover, and envisioned me in a beautiful dress and expensive jewelry. My jaw dropped; I'd thought I'd have to scavenge through my closet and pick out my own outfits, a thought which inspired nervousness and self-doubt! I was relieved to know I would be given some help...

A few days after the interivew, Sandy contacted me with information from Expressive Outlet, a boutique clothing store in Columbia that would be lending me clothing for the photo shoot. Michelle from Expressive Outlet was incredibly kind, and she set me up with three gorgeous outfits, two dresses, and one goucho pant-set, as well as two of the most beautiful pairs of shoes I've ever seen. I wasn't quite sure how to handle the special treatment, so I just enjoyed it!

LG Patterson, the photographer who does many of the covers for the magazine, then contacted me to set up a date for the photo shoot. Gary B.Robinson jewelers would be transporting an incredible amount of jewelry to the shoot as well, which was held in LG's studio downtown. Prior to the shoot, I even had a salon appointment at Salon Nefisa, where they did my hair and make-up. My hair was done in large, carefully placed curls, reminiscent of the 1940's torch singers. LG's vision had been for me to have an antique microphone and hair and makeup of a different era. It was dress-up time for me! When I arrived at the studio with 5 or 6 changes of clothing, my guitar and violin, and a head full of carefully sprayed hair, I admitted right away to LG that posing for photos was the hardest thing for me. I can get up onstage and sing, but ask me to 'act' for the camera, and I'm incredibly uncomfortable.

However, Pat Robinson was there with her jewlery, and she's a hilarious person who made me immediately comfortable, and was there to help me with zippers and bows. I looked at this spread of beautiful pieces of jewelry, and was told it was - gulp - worth over a hundred thousand dollars. I wore nearly every single piece of it during the 3-hour shoot! We started taking photos at 9pm, we finished a little after midnight! I hoped my eyes weren't too bleary, either from sleepiness or from the glass of wine I had to diminish my nervousness! :) I wore 6 different outfits, we tried numerous different props and poses, and ultimately, I won't know how things really turned out until I see the magazine! Your guess is as good as mine. :) I do know that LG is an extremely talented photographer, so the photos themselves will be impeccable; the issue is how did I come across?

I was allowed to read the article before it was published, a courtesy I appreciate greatly, so I could quote-check, etc. (You're not always given this chance - in fact it's an exception, not a rule.) Michelle from Expressive Outlet gave me a discount so I could purchase something from her store (the goucho pants won!) and Pat Robinson LOANED me some designer jewelry to take to Chicago for our gig at the Elbo Room. I've never been so nervous in my life, toting thousands of dollars worth of jewelry on a six-hour drive, then keeping it safely on my body as I jumped around onstage and pushed through the crowded room. But, her trust in me wasn't misplaced; I brought everything back safely and it was fun extending the dress-up a few days past the magazine shoot.

December will be a full month for the Hilary Scott Band, with the release of the Inside Columbia feature article, several private parties, a holiday show at the Martini Bar on December 10th, and First Night at the Missouri Theater to look forward to. The December 10th show will offer many FIRSTS, as guest cellist Carole Elliot steps up for a set, and new songs are featured.