Linda Ronstadt to appear live in L.A. for her book ‘Simple Dreams’

Linda Ronstadt, who recently went public with her diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, will appear in Los Angeles next month to talk about her upcoming memoir. Parkinson’s has taken away her ability to sing, but she still plans to talk about her book, “Simple Dreams.”

Ronstadt will appear at the literary speakers series Writers Bloc in conversation with Patt Morrison. Tickets to the event, which will be held Sept. 24 in Santa Monica, are $25.

“Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir” includes her personal history, stories of her loves and friendships, and the stories behind some of her songs.

“I’d never written anything longer than a thank-you note before. I never kept a diary or a journal,” Ronstadt told AARP Magazine. “But I’m a reader, and I can put a coherent sentence together, so I thought I could make it honest and clear.”

That same interview caused a sensation for something else she said -- that she has Parkinson’s disease.

“I can’t sing. I have Parkinson’s disease,” she said. “I didn’t know why I couldn’t sing -- all I knew was that it was muscular, or mechanical. Then, when I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, I was finally given the reason. I now understand that no one can sing with Parkinson’s disease. No matter how hard you try. And in my case, I can’t sing a note.”

The diagnosis was something that did not make it into the book -- but interviewer Morrison plans to ask her about it anyway.

“It’s almost Greek,” Morrison says. “The idea the disease robbed her of this thing she’s so known and loved for.”

Morrison will be interviewing Ronstadt at the Ann and Jerry Moss Theater at New Roads School in Santa Monica; further information about the event and tickets are available online.

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