There are elements of There Will Be A Light by Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama, Bob Marley’s Buffalo Soldier, and the music of Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Odetta, and Tracy Chapman that feel as though they belong on the pretend soundtrack to SUPERZERO. My WIP is all about Blind Melon’s classic No Rainand (more Marley) Redemption Song right now. And while generally I’m all about the soothing murmurs of Public Radio while I work, sometimes Dimitri from Paris, Roni Size, Lagbaja, Couperin, Yo-Yo Ma or Maxim Vengerov playing, or the Goldberg Variations are just the thing for a productive day. A few members of the children’s book community shared their personal soundtracks, book tunes, and other ‘music to book by’:
“I listen to Miles Davis’ album, Kind of Blue while I write. It’s soothing, quiet and yet upbeat…I listen to different music depending on the story (I make up book soundtracks, and also sometimes have whole albums that fit the mood).”
Linda Trice, author of KENYA’S WORD (PB) and CHARLES DREW: PIONEER OF BLOOD PLASMA
For GIVE UP THE GHOST, the main album I listened to while brainstorming & writing was Lisa Germano’s Geek The Girl, and I think the song “Trouble” is a nearly perfect fit for Cass, the main character.”
“I’m currently listening to The New World Symphony as Iwork, although Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s “Blue on Black” and Concrete Blonde’s “Mexican Moon” tend to show up often on my personal soundtracks.”
-Saundra Mitchell, author of SHADOWED SUMMER
“I tend to like obscure rock (Sick Puppies and Brand New are two of my favorite bands), but I can only listen to musical scores when I write because lyrics distract me. I usually choose a couple scores that represent the mood of the book I’m writing and then I listen to that and only that while I write and revise. It’s helpful because I can always go back to it and immediately be re-immersed in the mood of that particular book. For PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS it was the score to The Village. For book two in the Prophecy series it’s been the Lord of the Rings scores from all three movies, and for my WIP it’s been the Batman Begins and Dark Knight scores (gotta love Hans Zimmer!).”
“Music is a constant in my life. Even if I’m not singing or listening to music, it’s still playing in my head. My tastes are somewhat eclectic: It’s not unlike me to listen to the soundtrack of Singin’ in the Rain and then Hook Me Up by The Veronicas. My most recent CD acquisition is Whisper House, the soundtrack for one of Duncan Sheik’s musicals.”
Little Willow, bookseller, writer, web designer.
“There was a piece by Beck that I happened upon: “Que Onde Quero“. It had a funky Chico neighborhood beat.
The song inspired a chapter, which inspired a backstory, which actually gave the muscles my novel needed. If my novel could be one of the greeting cards that played music, I wish this would come out when the pages opened. (Note: Music is PG-13)”
Bettina Restrepo, Moose and Magpie
“Working on our newest children’s stories, we’re always energized by a rousing chorus of “Goat Kids Rock.” Our first two books, MEET THE GOAT KIDS and THE GOAT KIDS EXPLORE THE WOODS, inspired Delaware Township 2nd Graders to compose an original song about our 4 pygmy goat characters, Charlie, Ella, Jack, and Sally. When 100 students sang “Goat Kids Rock” to the local school board and a packed auditorium, we felt like rock royalty. The students thanked us for being their inspiration, but we’re the ones inspired every time we hear our very own theme song!”
Yvonne Brooks and Steven Grant, Co-Authors, MEET THE GOAT KIDS and THE GOAT KIDS EXPLORE THE WOODS
*Check out “Goat Kids Rock,” on YouTube!
What about you? Is there a song or piece of music that represents a memorable character, a book, or story in general? Do you have a surefire musical cure when writer’s block strikes? If you can’t actually play music at your job, is there a soundtrack that plays in your head? What’s your favourite Music To Book By?
Comments
1 Little Willow // Mar 9, 2009 at 10:40 pm
Thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of this! I love reading everyone’s answers.
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