The Voice - The Official Linda Eder Newsletter

Dear Linda and Readers of The Voice,

Wow! What an incredible spring it has been for Brittany and our family…and all because of YOU! The amazing article, “Brittany’s Story,” was so well presented in The Voice, and it introduced people across the whole country (and the world) to Brittany and the beauty of life that she represents. We are so thankful that it was you, Linda, who launched this vessel and your crew of fans who guided us through a sea of uncertainty. We wondered for years how a national audience would receive Brittany, and it has clearly been with open arms. Perhaps it was because of her story but also because of the fans’ love and trust of you. It is no small thing as a celebrity to lend your name to benefit another person and to introduce that person to your devoted fans. You are a remarkable woman, worthy of all the praise and admiration you’re given.

In this short time since Brittany’s Story graced your on-line newsletter, we have experienced many new and exciting things! First of all, we found a world of your friends and admirers (aka fans) who adore you as we do, which makes your message board a pleasant place to visit each day, if only for a few minutes to enjoy “Ederland.” As a result of this, we have met the “regulars” who have welcomed us, the “intrigued” who have questioned us, and the “loving” (a combination of both) who just wanted to let us know how truly moved they were by Britt’s story. They all expressed their gratitude to you, the vessel who brought them the story. Many people purchased Brittany’s CD and then went on to recommend it to their loved ones. Thank you for helping to share Brittany’s music with others.

Also in these months, we have again been treated to your divine voice on Broadway My Way-a true gift to us fans and a treasure that Brittany opens every day, sometimes at 6:45 am when the rest of us are sleeping! But can you blame her? I imagine she doesn’t want to wait any longer in the day to experience greatness if she doesn’t have to…and what a way to start the day! Her delight in hearing you sing “Don’t Rain On My Parade” and “Some People” was beyond description. Soon after, she discovered “Edelweiss” and “The Impossible Dream,” and they were all we heard for weeks! Thank you so much for the unexpected joy you brought her. (She is on the piano now playing “Gold” as I write this!)

I would like to thank the readers of The Voice for their letters of encouragement and loving thoughts to Brittany. As I have stated before, all messages to her are printed, read to her and saved in a memory book, partly because they belong to Brittany and this way she can enjoy them forever, but also because there are moments when I hold back Brittany’s story from adventuring further in the public eye, and rereading your letters helps me focus on the bigger picture of what God intended.

In closing, I am often asked what is next for Brittany, and so I thought I’d share the answer with you. We are never sure what direction is next, but instead we have let her story lead us wherever it goes. That’s how we ended up here, so this must be a good thing! We know that all Brittany wants to do is perform for audiences, and we allow her the pleasure of it as much as possible. Her audience is usually several hundred people at a church or local organization approximately once a month, but she would enjoy more frequent performances. On a daily basis, Britt plays her piano about eight to ten hours a day, and she will only stop if we make her. I know that is hard to imagine, but it’s true. I hope that one day you will have the opportunity to enjoy her playing in person. Her concerts, however, take a large amount of coordinating that can be time consuming and tedious. Therefore, this mom’s energy is spread pretty thin! Linda, how do you do it? In my spare time, I am very near finishing a memoir of raising Brittany. It includes discovering her talent, addressing curiosity type questions, and, of course, meeting Linda Eder, as it was she who encouraged me to write this book.

Chuck and I would like to again thank Linda and the staff of The Voice for their devotion in bringing you Brittany’s story and in giving us a forum in which to express our very deep and heart-felt thanks.

“I wonder if when all is done, anyone heard my voice - But from the start we have no choice….
Our journeys just begin.”

What a beginning!

  Warmest regards,

Tammy M. Maier