In early 2010, Nan did an interview with "The Voice" for their special issue about Linda Eder's new album, NOW. The interview is reprinted with permission below. For the complete newsletter, visit The Voice - The Official Linda Eder Newsletter.

Trying to find new ways to tell stories in love songs is so difficult, yet Nan Knighton does it on every song she writes for me. Her lyrics are so poetic and so personal to her that she has a way of stringing words together that sound fresh. I am a romantic and her work is full of romance. She gave Camille Claudel a powerful voice. I love that there are three of Nan's songs on NOW. Linda

The EDER-tors of THE VOICE are thrilled to welcome Nan Knighton back "home!" We had the privilege of interviewing Nan at the time of the world premiere of CAMILLE CLAUDEL, and we're thrilled to have the opportunity of speaking with Nan once again about her involvement in the making of Linda's latest CD and about her extraordinary and varied career. Her gift as a lyricist is a priceless treasure and is so appreciated by Linda and the many fans of her work.

VOICE: Please share with us your reaction when you first learned that Linda and Frank were reuniting for her latest solo recording, NOW?

NAN: Well, I didn't know whether this was their first "reunion" or not because I did know that they had been doing more work together over the past years, such as Wildhorn concerts where Linda sang some songs, etc. I am so happy that they're still working together and not just because of the music, but also because they share this amazing kid, Jake.

VOICE: Can you describe the magic that happens when Linda and Frank create music together? What makes them a magical pair in the music world?

NAN: That's a hard question to answer because each of them is so talented. Independently, they both shine. I guess it's just synergistic when you combine those two talents. I do know that the "magic" started when Frank first heard Linda sing after "Star Search" (the original "American Idol" which Linda won). I think he must have sensed immediately that his music and her voice would be a perfect fit. Often, it felt to me, over the years, that he cared more about getting her voice heard than anything else. He was always (still is, obviously) so blown away by her voice. The other thing I would say about them working together is that Linda becomes very active in the recording studio, in the whole process, etc. so that there is a very collaborative dynamic. She'll tell Frank when she disagrees with a tempo or needs something different to happen melodically, etc. So this sort of collaboration also creates a great end-product.

VOICE: What were your thoughts when you learned that you were going to be a big part of this reunion album?

NAN: Well, I kind of found out gradually. I haven't written in many years. Four years ago, I quit smoking and literally was unable to write. Literally. As in: nada. Since the age of 18, I had never written without smoking. So, after I quit, Frank would periodically email me or call and ask if I was ready to do a new show and I always had to tell him no, that I still wasn't writing. I became adjusted to the idea that this part of my life was done. Then this past summer Frank emailed again and asked if he could just send me a melody. And something simply clicked inside and I emailed back and said yes, told him I'd give it a shot. And when I heard the music, I started to cry because ideas came at me and I realized that I was going to be able to do this. Anyway, I've strayed a little from the topic. I didn't find out until after I'd completed the lyric that it was going to go on an album and the album was in fact going to be a new Linda album. I was thrilled and then after that, I found out the two CAMILLE songs were also going to be on the album. After four years of being convinced I was no longer "a writer," this was all pretty wonderful.

VOICE: Linda's fans know how dear CAMILLE CLAUDEL is to your heart. You must be thrilled that Linda has recorded "A Woman In His Arms" and "What's Never Been Done Before!"

NAN: Yes, as I've said, it was all quite wonderful. I'm especially happy that it's these two songs in particular. I think "What's Never Been Done Before" is one of the best lyrics (and for Frank -best music) I've ever done, and I think it's one of Linda's most spectacular vocals. She really was an inspiration to me when I wrote that song up at Goodspeed in Connecticut. We were all having drinks one night - I think it was right before previews began or it may have been at the start of previews - and we knew we needed a song at that spot in the show that would evince Camille's passion and frustration after her brother attacks her. Linda spoke so powerfully as we sat at the table - ideas started to fly at me as she talked. I then literally took one last gulp of my drink, tore out of the bar, crossed the road, ran into my little bungalow, flew to the desk and wrote it, finished it within about an hour. (That's VERY fast for me). And when I first heard her sing it, I just cried - it was so perfect, so right. And I think it's an important song for people to hear who are at similar junctures in their lives. As for "Woman In His Arms," I am very happy that's being included as I think it's the most sensual lyric I've ever written. One day, before I really even started the actual writing of CAMILLE (I was still just doing research), I was with Frank in some rehearsal hall and he was playing the piano. I sat down beside him on the bench and he started playing this melody and it was so beautiful, so sensuous and I said to him, "I know the title of this song. It's going to be called "A Woman in His Arms," because that's what I heard in the music - it was that phrase that kept going through my mind and the feeling that this was a woman who realized, no matter what else she might be in the world, that all melted away when this man held her, that all she could be when he held her was a woman. I love both songs. I'm VERY happy they're on the album.

VOICE: How was the decision made as to which of the wonderful songs from CAMILLE would be used for NOW?

NAN: I don't know. Frank just told me on the phone one day that Linda wanted to do those two CAMILLE songs. I was thrilled, still am.

VOICE: Speaking of CAMILLE, you are looking forward to its Japanese premiere production later this year. Can you please tell Linda's fans more about that upcoming production?

NAN: Frank knows a lot more about it than I do. I'm the writer; he's not only the composer, he's also the mover and shaker and hustler - he's the one that makes these productions happen. I know it's going to be done in Japan, I know things are all in the works now, I get periodic questions from the Japanese about changes I made in the script (or the lyrics) in those last days at Goodspeed and answer them as best I can - it was all kind of a roller-coaster at Goodspeed and we were literally making changes up to the last day or so.

VOICE: You have written "What Did You See Inside The Stars" for the new CD. What was your inspiration for these lyrics? Did Linda give you her thoughts of what she imagined for the song?

NAN: No. When I wrote "What Did You See Inside the Stars?" I honestly thought I was just writing it at random - sort of a trial run for Frank and me to see if I could still write a good lyric. He did mention something about a possible album but I didn't and couldn't focus on that at all. I was just 100% focused on whether or not I could still write a lyric (without cigarettes). I didn't speak with Linda about the lyric until weeks (months?) after it was finished. By then I knew the details, knew it would be on her new album, and heard from Frank that she loved the lyric. Then I got an email from Linda telling me how much she loved it. I didn't actually talk to Linda until we all met up at the recording studio the night she did the first rough recording of the song. It was a very special happy night for me (and I think for Linda and Frank) because it was the first time the three of us had been together since CAMILLE ended at Goodspeed. Also because Jake, their son, was there and I hadn't seen him since he was a little boy. And of course Jeremy was there (so great to see him and work with him again, too!) and so it was a 5-person reunion and I felt like I was just slipping back into this beautiful familiar glove. It all felt so right. The night just glowed, very joyful.

VOICE: Linda now has 13 solo recordings to her credit. To what do you contribute her staying power in the music business?

NAN: She's an extraordinary talent. She appeals to so many people in different spectrums and if you've ever seen her do a concert (such as the ones at Carnegie Hall) then you know how naturally magnetic and fun and honest and blunt her personality is. I can't think of anybody who wouldn't be drawn to her and I can't imagine anyone who knows music not realizing that she's a completely singular, amazing talent.

VOICE: When we interviewed you several years ago, you spoke about some of your projects besides CAMILLE CLAUDEL. One of those projects was the stage adaptation of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER. Please share some exciting news about that project with Linda's fans.

NAN: The best way to find out about productions of S.N.F. is to go to my website which is just plain nanknighton.com. I have this fabulous webmaster, Peter Williams, who knows much more about what's going on in my professional life than I do. Truly. His articles and news pieces are completely up-to-date about all my shows or concerts, including PIMPERNEL, S.N.F., RUDOLF (in which I have several songs, too), CAMILLE, etc.

VOICE: THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL continues to play to enthusiastic crowds. Please give us an update on the show's happenings.

NAN: Again, it's best to go to nanknighton.com - I am so constantly thrilled that PIMPERNEL continues to be a favorite around the country and around the world. I have such love for that show and you have no idea how happy it makes me that it continues to be so popular. Every few months or so, we find out about a new country that wants to do a major production - I think most recently we found out that Korea wants to do it and Japan is planning to launch a second production. There is already an all-female production [done by Takarazuka Revue] in their repertory, but now a male-female production is being planned at a different theatre company. I am giving bare-bones info here. Peter is the one who knows the details on my Web site.

VOICE: Linda's fans know you are an accomplished lyricist and writer. Many may not know that you are also a photographer. Please tell us about MOODY, your book of photography.

NAN: MOODY is still in progress. It's extraordinarily hard to get a volume of photographs published because it is so expensive for the publishing companies, but I have had some interest and am going to pursue it. The more important aspect of all this is that I have developed a major interest in photography - have really been somewhat obsessed with it for about five years now - and am going to continue trying to accelerate that part of my professional life. I love it. Wish me luck for MOODY.

VOICE: Are there any other current projects you would like to share with Linda's fans?

NAN: At the moment, no. I have a whole shelf in my office of ideas for projects (almost all writing projects). But it is still so early in the game for me because I have only just discovered (and it does feel like that - a small lightning flash) that I can still write. So now I find myself wondering - what do I want to write next? Maybe a novel? A mystery? Oh, I should mention - I finished another draft of my mystery play BAD DREAMS and we had a terrific reading with Estelle Parsons being brilliant and I am very hopeful of getting a production of that. There are several other plays that I really need to push - THE PORTRAIT ROOM, MAN WITH 2 HEARTS FOUND ON MOON and my musical with Howard Marren, OPEN HOUSE (if Howard still wants to do that), but as I've said, I'm not a great mover-and-shaker hustler type. I need to get better about trying to push my work out there. At least I know I can write again.

VOICE: We're thrilled that you have a wonderful "new" song and two "old" songs on Linda's latest CD! Welcome back "home!"

NAN: Thank you!