Author Blog Challenge: Music I Love and Book Playlists #LifeBooksWriting

This week is about music and book playlists. I usually do the opposite thing most authors do. I make my playlist after writing the book. Sometimes I'll have pieces of a playlist if one or more songs inspired the book or certain scenes.

I have twelve complete novels and soon to have three published books. Please don't get me started on my work-in-progresses and brainstorms or I shall go on forever.

I've had a complete book come to me in one song. Crazy, I know. I do listen to music when I write, but I can't listen to music when I edit. I usually listen to the same three bands. Here is the key to my writing chaos:

Sirenia

Sirenia is everything to me. I studied and pasted tests in college thanks to them. I wrote so many books and I can just relax listening to them. They also have songs that are just...hard to explain. Sadly I've never seen them live. They're from Norway and haven't toured in America yet.

Xandria

 

This German band is another I have to write to. They have so many songs I can listen to them for hours and get into the best writing mode ever. Luckily I attended their first US tour a couple years ago and met the band after the show. They are all amazing people.

and Evanscence

Evanescence started my writing career. I fell in love with Amy Lee's voice, her words, and her melodies. First I wrote poetry, but after over one hundred poems, I switched to books. The first book I finished is also my longest (about 600 pages long). I listened to ONLY Evanescence when writing this book and this was before their last self-titled album, Evanescence. I don't think it's hard to believe my first finished book is about a female rock star and the book is named after one of their songs, "Taking Over Me."

A few years ago I saw Evanescence live and met Amy after the show! Best night of my life. Sadly I couldn't tell her how she inspired me that night. I did get my ticket signed though and she pretty much hugged me in the pic. Anyway, one goal of mine is to meet her again and hand her one of my books and tell her how much her music helped me get the words from my head out onto paper.

Okay, so I can go on and on about music. I'm addicted to concerts and I have the soul of someone born in the 60s. I love 80s rock and so many bands no one has heard of. Now to playlists.

For Sydney she was inspired by Lady Gaga's song "Summer Boy." Her entire story sparked from that song and from there I hit my notebook and she took shape.

Playlist for Shades of Sydney

"Summer Boy" by Lady Gaga

"Spellbound" by Lacuna Coil

"U + Ur Hand" by P!nk

"Lost in Paradise" by Evanescence

"Darkened Days to Come" by Sirenia

"Give Me Something More" by Lacuna Coil

"Dark Side" by Kelly Clarkson

"Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence

"Confessions of a Broken Heart (Daughter to Father)" by Lindsay Lohan

"Sober" by P!nk

"Don't Put Dirt on My Grave Just Yet" by Hayden Panettiere

"Bad Kids" by Lady Gaga

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon AU

Amazon CA

Barnes & Noble

Sydney's second novel

Playlist for Breaking Down Sydney

"Opheliac" by Emilie Autumn

"End of Time" by Lacuna Coil

"Closer" by Nine Inch Nails

"Hurt" by Johnny Cash

"My Heart is Broken" by Evanescence

"Darkling" by Sirenia

"Your Biggest Mistake" by Ellie Goulding

"Dear Father" by Sum 41

"Teeth" by Lady Gaga

"Emotionless" by Good Charlotte

"Because of You" by Kelly Clarkson

"Neon Lights" by Demi Lovato

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon AU

Amazon CA

Barnes & Noble

Sydney's third and final book is coming soon. I'll be posting the playlist to that book on my Facebook page.

#LifeBooksWriting

Thanks for reading! What are some of your favorite bands/singers?

Authors Blog Challenge: Top 5 Books and Why

Welcome to Week 6 of the Authors Blog Challenge. Sorry I haven't been keeping up.

Top 5 Books and Why

1.) Go Ask Alice by Anonymous

This book really got to me. It was so deep and raw. After reading this, and another book called Cut by Patricia McCormick, I was inspired to write a YA book about a girl who cuts herself and runs away from home. One of these days I'm going to edit and publish it.

2.) If I Stay by Gayle Forman

This book broke me, I rarely cry when reading and this had me on my bedroom floor crying my eyes out. My cat was concerned. Mia and Adam were all I could think about for days. My heart hurt so much I had to read Where She Went asap. And then I cried all over again. I had the pleasure of meeting Gayle and having her sign my books. I wasn't able to tell her how much her books affected me, but that was still an awesome day.

3.) Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

This is another book that had me crying on my bedroom floor. I don't know why my favorite books are always the ones that leave me in tears. Perhaps it's because I remember them best. They touched me on a deep level and in turn became a part of me. Hannah's tapes were haunting. I'm sure I'm not the only one who was heartbroken and angry about what had happened to her. I loved how Jay had her use tapes, something already old, and how Clay had to go around trying to find a tape player. That was genius. It makes the book never age!

4.) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

I had to read this book for my English class in high school. When I first started reading it I thought it was boring and wished I didn't have to. Except the more I read it the more I got into it. Firemen set fires to books! I mean WTF? After college and learning more about how the world works I've come to truly love this book. It shows how society can change for the worst and I think this book is actually coming true.

5.) Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

I've read almost every book by Sarah since she's one of my favorite authors, but this one is pretty much my favorite by her. Sydney's brother changed her life and she feels the guilt of what he did. Her parents, especially her mother, live in denial. I hated her mom so much. I wanted to slap her anytime she showed up.  Anyway, Sydney then meets Mac and...oh I can't say more because I'll ruin it. But Mac and his sister become so important to Sydney and they are so amazing. I love how there's a key scene that ties in the cover image and even an object that ties into the title. This book was fantastic. The ending is left open though, but overall it's a must read.

That's it for this post. What are some of your favorite books?

My Writing Room

*brushes away cat hair and dust*

Hello! I'm trying to bring this blog of mine back to life. Today you shall see where I have written my twelve novels, over one hundred poems, and I don't even know how many scripts.

Yes, this is my sad looking rocking chair located in Arizona. I've had this chair for years, hence the sheet to protect what's left of my beloved chair. My cat likes to sleep on the arm or on the back of the chair when I'm writing. I always have my iPod nearby and sometimes the TV is on, but muted.

One day my writing room will over look the ocean. That or my writing room will look like this...

Yes, this is what a writer's work space should look like! This is the dream! This lovely picture was taken at Warner Brother's studio in Burbank, California. Hopefully my dream of turning my books into film and TV shows will come true and I will not be just a guest at WB or any studio.

A writer can dream...