November 2004
I am standing here, out on my balcony that over looks the sea, with the cold winds blowing through me. Wrapped in a cobweb, it seems, my old black knit shawl wraps around me twice with the warmth of a thousand candles surrounding me like the black wings of a raven. I feel the love that must have been weaved into it when it was first knit, not for me, but given to me with that same love - and that feeling tranfers through the midnight soft yarn right into my soul. Today the sunset looked like a brilliant pastel pink and gold fire before it faded into the deep blue of evening and ultimately surrendered to the night. And in that cold night, here I stand, wondering why the cold makes the stars appear that much brighter. That same cold brings tears to my eyes, though it is hard to know if it is the icy wind or the bright beauty of this November night. It is so still...I feel tiny, and yet one with it all...part of a bigger portrait of understanding when you are one with the night.

Since last we spoke we have been to the beautiful country of Japan to promote our latest release on Yamaha records: "All For One - the Finest Collection of Blackmore's Night"  and to promote the song "All For One" that is being played as the theme song of the television show Third Watch. It was certainly a very interesting journey considering the natural disasters that we witnessed in the short time we were there. Due to perform in Nagoya on October 21st, we took the bullet train against warnings by the weather bureau that there was a typhoon heading right to the area we were playing. They decided to cancel all trains after the one we took because of the danger. As a matter of fact, during the show we were told to play as long as we could in order to keep the fans in doors and safe from the fury of rain and wind that was building outside. To read more on the typoon that we encountered click here.

As if that wasn't frightening enough, the night we played Tokyo October 23rd, was the night the earthquake hit.

Being from New York where we are not accustomed to earthquakes, this shook me up a bit to say the least. It was a 6.8 on the Richter scale and it occured right after Under A Violet Moon. The lights over our heads on stage were swinging so much that the stage manager thought we'd have to stop the show. But, after a few minutes, and seeing that the audience hadn't moved from their seats and run away, we played on. We got hit with a few after shocks but it didn't stop us. Only after we finished the show and got back to the hotel and turned the tv on did we realize how much damage it had done.

I have to say that we had such a wonderful time while we were there. The fans were so incredible, it had been such a long while since we were there last. And they still believe... thank you for that!!! I went in search of the famous Japanese Snow Monkeys while I was there. But they seemed to be hiding... so we did the next best thing. Tack took me to a pet store with monkeys! I made another new friend while there too. Of course I wanted to take them all home with me.

We made more new friends at Osaka Castle. And general silliness between Carole Stevens and myself. But most importantly, I want to share my deep appreciation to the unbelievable fans who came out to see us and made us feel so warm and welcome. Thank you to all those who made it happen: Mr. Udo, Tack Takahashi, Akira Yoneya from Yamaha, Masa Itoh, Kaz Hirose, Koh Sakai, Start From Zero merchandise and Wantanabe publishing. Most of all thank you to: Ayako Chikayama and her Dad (Ayako is in a Blackmore's Night cover band in Japan called Maria's Night- if you ever get the chance to see them perform- do it! I saw their video and they are really good!!! Ayako your voice is beautiful... Thank you for helping to spread the word of Blackmore's Night in Japan when we are not there!); Satomi F., Mayumi Suzuki, Takanori Matsuoka, Yuriko Wakui, Sooshi Hirose, Mio Nishimoto, and  Miyachi Shigenobu who gave us a cd of her singing 3 of our songs. I hope you have a band that plays out, too... you sounded amazing! Thank you all Japanese fans for the flowers, the adorable hand made Candice and Ritchie dolls!!, the stuffed animals, jewlery, books, letters, scarves, everything!! Most of all for your singing, clapping, and smiles...I love you for that...

After Japan we stopped for a few days in Hawaii where I was in heaven playing with the dolphins. They are such magical creatures, and to be able to swim with them is such a gift and so inspiring. They really allow you to enter their world...or at least peer in from above. If you ever get the chance to do this I highly recommend it! See www.dolphinquest.org for more details.

Then it was on to San Francisco for the night. Checked out some places to play on the west coast, something we're trying to get together for early next year. Made a stop at the sea lions and seals of famed Pier 39.

All the time we've been writing and getting ready to record a new album for you next year. But for now, I am enjoying the Holiday songs that we put out as a special surprise hidden in the Beyond the Sunset compilation cd. We just made a radio edit for  Christmas Eve and are working on getting that song heard. But in the  Beyond the Sunset- the Romantic Collection you'll find Christmas Eve (the full version) , Emmanuel and We Three Kings..Blackmore's Night style. There's also 14 songs for your Renaissance Romance including: Once In A Million Years. And the 5 track DVD sampler from our performance in Schloss Burg in Solingen show from 2003.  You can get Beyond the Sunset at major record retail stores by you or from Amazon.com. Or check www.blackmoresnight.com/merch.html where you'll find all the latest merchandise including the new Ghost of a Rose songbooks, new merchandise from Japan, and the All Because Of You remix.

It seems that you have been very busy too! I see these wonderful sites that you are creating coming through... give a moment to check them out and sign the guestbooks too! Wendy from Holland - what an amazing job!! Click here to see her Candice Night site from the Netherlands... wow!

Love and light,
Candice