BLOOD

The Oscar- and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter's lyrical memoir shares the harrowing story of the murder-suicide of her parents, addressing the legacy of violence and healing through art.

In 1986 in Mobile, Alabama, when Allison Moorer was fourteen years old, her father shot and killed her mother, and then turned the gun on himself. This horrifying event forever altered Allison's life and that of her older sister, Shelby, creating an unbreakable bond between them. Both women would grow up to be award-winning musicians and singer-songwriters (Shelby is Shelby Lynne, the Grammy-winning country artist), with Allison releasing ten critically acclaimed albums, including the Grammy- and Oscar-nominated "A Soft Place to Fall."

In BLOOD, Allison turns her full lens on the events leading up to the moment that forever altered her life to try and finally make sense of her dramatic, dysfunctional but highly artistic upbringing. Now a parent herself, Allison asks, What is the meaning of inheritance? Are we destined to live out the painful stories of our parents or can we craft something new out of trauma and shame? And what of the good parts if Allison's upbringing was dysfunctional and violent, it also paved the way for an artist's life. Allison tells of her early years growing up dirt poor in rural Alabama, her parents' explosive relationship, and what they passed down to their daughters. But the heart of the story is the powerful bond between Allison and Shelby, who call each other "Sissy." With photos, lyrics, and ephemera throughout, BLOOD reads like an intimate journal, recounting both the emotional damageand the giftsthat play out in Allison's life and how she healed through her art.

Allison Moorer is an American writer and singer/songwriter who has released ten critically acclaimed albums. She has been published in American Songwriter, Guernica, No Depression, Lithub.com, Bittersoutherner.com, and has been nominated for Academy, Grammy, Americana Music Association, and Academy of Country Music Awards. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and lives in New York City and Nashville.