Victoria Botwinick from New York writes…

Fan Victoria Botwinick and Linda

Dear Linda,
I just wanted to say thank you so very much! Last night at your Westbury show, which was enough of a joy in and of itself, I had the pleasure of meeting you. I was there as a "gift" from a friend who was able to arrange this as a surprise for me. Needless to say, I was nervous all day long in anticipation. I was not afraid that you would not be warm and sincere but that I might faint because I am just an adoring fan.

Without insult to my iconic songbird Barbra, I refer to you as my "Replacement Streisand!" Allow me to explain. Since I was a little girl of seven-years-old back in '68, I received my very first album. On the cover was a close-up of a beautiful woman who my mom and I had just seen in the movies. Her name was Barbra Streisand. After seeing her in FUNNY GIRL, I was hooked! Anyone who knows me at all knows I have always been an adoring fan.

Then "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" came along. I really enjoyed her show as I could relate to her. We are both about the same age, grew up on Long Island and loved Barbra! One day she introduced someone named Linda Eder who she had just seen in concert. I thought if Rosie appreciates this singer I should really take note. Well, you sang "Vienna" and that was it. Since then I have been a happier person! I LOVE music and your song choices just get me. I could ramble on about my own musical experiences but know that my appreciation is a truly valid one.

I thought I had "died and gone to heaven" when my husband of 25 years went to the ends of the earth to get me tickets to see Barbra, not once but three times! It was something I had dreamed of doing for 40 years! Unfortunately, my funny girl is not giving me enough live thrills, and I do need my musical highs more often. That is why YOU are my "Replacement Streisand!" I can dream again of many more future thrills by following your tour schedule! A little trick I play on my husband is that I'll suggest from time to time a little get-a-way weekend in some random town. He has learned to respond "intelligently" now and says, "What time is her show?" A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

In closing, I just want to say that I personally loved both of your dresses, especially the first one! I was the "Shixa" that said hello to you! Thank you for the picture. It will be framed and hung in a place of honor! If you want to go shopping for some more beautiful dresses, come see me at Macy*s. Have I got a deal for you! Hope to see you soon.

Justin Steele from Ohio writes…
Linda, thank you for finally putting out THE OTHER SIDE OF ME. I've always loved your voice in every genre that you have performed. While nobody else will ever sing a show tune from JEKYLL & HYDE the way you do, I've always wanted to know what you would sound like on this kind of a CD. I've read that your goal was to put out a CD that you can listen to on a long drive, and for what it's worth, I think you have more than accomplished that goal. Admittedly, I have often taken long drives and listened to your other CDs just fine. However, it was definitely after listening to GOLD that I always imagined a CD of more songs like "Until I Don't Love You Anymore," "Gently Break My Heart," and "Drift Away" from that album. They had more of a pop/country feel to them. I feel like you've extended it even further with the new album, THE OTHER SIDE OF ME. Thank you for that. Again I love whatever you put out but this, I think, is my favorite.

Mari Grace Covert, Josh Covert, and Suzette Gardenhour from Pennsylvania write…

Fans Mari Grace Covert and Suzette Gardenhour with Linda

After the first night of Linda Eder's performance with the Pittsburgh Symphony on October 2, 2008, Linda and Marvin Hamlisch had a question/answer session for audience members who wanted to stay. Linda was so gracious answering our questions and afterwards Josh, Suzette and I went up to the stage to tell her that we were all high school music teachers and before we even got to ask her to have a picture with her, she had already come down to take a picture and talk with us. Thank you, Linda, for the beautiful performance and especially for taking the time to talk with us. You are not only a beautiful singer, but a beautiful person inside and out. We continually play your music in our classes for our students and they love you too, as several of them have come to see you in concert too. Our school is performing the musical MAN OF LA MANCHA this April, and I'm sure you can guess that we play your versions of the title song and "The Impossible Dream" quite often… love it! We look forward to following your musical endeavors to come. Thanks for being the wonderful person you are and best wishes.

Rodney Boyers from Pennsylvania writes…
THE OTHER SIDE OF ME is an excellent album. It is nice to see Linda showing everyone how versatile she really is. She is an amazing artist with an amazing voice, and it is ever so present on this new album. I have been a fan of hers for years now, and I am really enjoying this "Other Side" of Linda. I had the pleasure of first hearing this material during an intimate concert Linda held earlier in the year. (To those of you who we met at our hotel, sorry we have not been in touch. We have had some pc issues and lost e-mails.) I actually bought the concert tickets for my partner, George, of seven years as an anniversary gift. He is the ULTIMATE Linda fan and is responsible for making me a Linda fanatic as well! We will be seeing her this weekend on Sunday Oct. 5, 2008, at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We never have enough of her! She is truly an amazing and inspiring artist. That is something very rare and hard to find these days. As one of her songs indicates, Linda is "Gold." Stevie Wonder has a wonderful song titled "Stay Gold," which I wish Linda would cover. This song also appeared in one of my very favorite films THE OUTSIDERS. There was also a poem by Robert Frost featured in the film "Nothing Gold Can Stay." The lyrics to the Stevie Wonder song are truly inspiring. If you get the chance, check out all three items I mentioned, the song, the film and the poem.

Again to me, Linda is "Gold," inspiring others with her artistry. Linda also does amazing things for animals, which is very near and dear to my heart. I am a pet owner of two Golden Retrievers named Austin and Dallas and an animal lover in general. I appreciate and thank Linda for all she does with animals. I think all of the songs on THE OTHER SIDE OF ME are great, but the following are my absolute favorites: "Lifted," "If I Could," "Waiting For The Fall," "Both Sides Now," "They Are The Roses," and "Ghost." I think "Waiting For The Fall" would be an excellent choice for a single. I also think Linda should do some dance remixes for "Waiting For The Fall" like she did for "Vienna" and "I Am What I Am." I hear a club hit! I think she should do a fun dance video to go along with it as well. I think that particular song has a lot of youth appeal. Again, I truly recommend Linda to everyone… this new album and actually all of her albums! I know there was a lot of speculation and criticism in regards to Linda doing the new music. I enjoy the music she is known for, but love the new stuff as well. I think as an artist Linda needs to do this. Linda, thank you for entertaining us, inspiring us, and changing and growing as an artist. You are truly an amazing and gifted lady. Stay "Gold" Linda… stay "Gold."

Fan Jay Barry and Linda		Fan Todd Bulmash and Linda

Lynn Adler from New York writes…

Fan Lynn Adler with Linda

In May 2006 as part of a fundraising auction for Pets Alive, I was the fortunate winner of two house tickets to any of Linda's concerts. I had been holding out on picking a show for more than two years. It's not that I wasn't still going to as many of the New York area concerts as possible, but for these special tickets I was holding out and hoping for Carnegie Hall or someplace seemingly impossible to get great seats.

Then in July, my best friend of nearly 30 years, MJ, passed away… a non-smoker with lung cancer. I had spent much of the past months with her and then the end of the summer quickly training for a bike tour to raise money in her honor. I really needed a treat and some uplifting, and decided there was every reason not to wait. I had never been to Tarrytown and was able to get tickets in November to Linda's concert at a gala event for the music hall there.

Since we met in college, MJ would play "Both Sides Now" on her guitar and sing to me. I would cry every time. After a while, she did it as a joke, JUST to make me cry. It actually did become pretty funny over three decades. So that night, hearing Linda's version, which I love, with Clint was especially touching.

A dear friend came along and brought her new camera, which of course I was hoping she'd use to capture the moment! Well, she felt too awkward to ask to take a picture, so luckily I have another one! This was taken at a champagne event after one of Linda's concerts at Feinstein's, when even though she wasn't feeling her best, she stayed to meet people and even sought out a nicer backdrop when another friend asked to take this picture. Linda, you and your music and generosity are truly treasured.

Fans Deena and Donna Hugh-Yeun with Linda		Fan Michael Mott and Linda

Fans Leanne and Mike with Linda		Fan Jeff Spar and Linda

Denise Lobb from Pennsylvania writes…

Whenever someone was taking my picture or I asked someone to take my picture, I never asked, "How do I look?" or "Is my hair in place?" All I wanted to know is "Can you see my t-shirt? Can you see Linda?" I knew Linda loved Greece and specifically planned to wear her shirt when I went to The Acropolis.
	Fan Denise Lobb on vacation in Greece... wearing her TOSOM t-shirt!

Fans Ron and Maureen Curtin with Linda		Fan Nathalie Monahan, Linda, and Fan Beverly Miller