Released in 2003 to critical acclaim, three of the songs off of Christie McCarthy's Everyday Real have already been singled out: Nothing Moves Me is featured on The Sharper Image Sirens of Song CD (which also includes Norah Jones, Diana Krall and Oleda Adams); and is a finalist in the 2003 UK Songwriting Contest. Flood Gates took 1st place in the Americana category (and 3rd overall) in the West Coast Songwriter Competition; and Anniversary received honorable mention in the Country category of the West Coast Songwriter Competition. McCarthy's songwriting is nothing if not eclectic, yet her uniquely delivered contralto vocals weave a thread of soul and continuity through every track off Everyday Real. As a performer, McCarthy's solo show lends itself to introspection and for the past few years she has found a niche opening for best-selling authors and inspirational speakers Rachel Naomi Remen, MD (Kitchen Table Wisdom, My Grandfather's Blessings) and Neale Donald Walsch (Conversations With God). McCarthy is equally at home onstage with a 5-piece band, belting out her danceable originals and covering one of her favorite genres, Motown. McCarthy's songwriting influences include Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon and Willie Nelson. An avid reader, her favorite books are Les Miserables (Victor Hugo); The Pillars of The Earth (Ken Follet); Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand); The Magic Mountain (Thomas Mann); One Hundred Years of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez); and A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving). Discography: Serendipity, 1997: After graduating from UC Berkeley with a major in History, Christie landed a job as a curriculum developer for an educational software company, which happened to be owned by a music producer/entrepreneur. He signed her to a development deal and produced her first record, aptly named Serendipity. The Fantasy Sessions, 2000: Christie hooked up with legendary engineer Wally Buck to record this 5-song disc (actually 6, including a hidden track remake of My Favorite Things). Everyday Real, 2003: In 2002 Christie met guitarist George Cole. George had been playing with SF's Big Blue Heart's and she asked if they'd be interested in recording and producing her new batch of tunes. What ensued was a year of Tuesday and Thursday night rehearsals. Fantasy Studios engineer Michael Rosen was called in to record and engineer the basic tracks. Then they overdubbed guitar, keys and vocals.