So, if you don’t know me… if I’m happy and writing then I pretty much live my days in another place. I’ll be doing soccer pick-up and be sketching out a sword fight in my head. PTSA meeting? I’m thinking of the ogre who is my next character. Grocery shopping? That’s a great time to develop my next villain. Especially if the lines are long. Grrr.
I’ve been removed from that world for a while now. Oh, I check in once in a while, but it’s not the same. The problem is that when I go there… I’m there. That isn’t always great for the people who need me in this world. Bit of a push me, pull me thing happening there.
It occurred to me this evening as I stared at the stars that perhaps one reason I haven’t really gone into my world for a while is I’m missing a soundtrack. In the end… the music is the muse for me. For The Dragon in The Garden I listened to Yes’ Learning to Fly album. Then for Sea Strand I listened to Nightwish Once and a bit of Iron Maiden (yes, Flight of the Navigator… well spotted). Finally, for Galliano Greys I listened to classic Priest and Blind Guardian. These are other people’s stories, but they help me find my way. I’m thinking one thing I need now is a trail of bread crumbs…a yellow brick road… perhaps the second star to the right?
Maybe the right song? Maybe the right firing of the right synapses? That perfect bottle of Malbec?
Tonight I listened to the Poet and the Muse. It’s a song that is ten years old, though new to me. It’s from the video game, Alan Wake. It’s about a successful novelist cursed with writer’s block, searching for his missing wife. There are strands in there that hit home for me. I’ve been in a bit of a writer’s block myself. Usually I would work this out on a run… or twelve. Sadly, I injured myself… a bunch. Bleh. Injuries are stupid. In early July I had hip surgery and running is not yet a possibility for me. Maybe in a another month. (PT is coming along… I live in hope.) Soooo… how to find my way back to Oz?
I digress.
Yes, the right song. The Poet and the Muse is a lovely story teller song. A bit of a ghost story, a bit of fantasy, a bit of romance… everything a dreamer needs to begin her own flight of fancy.
And let’s be honest, the book I am working on, the story that I need to tell includes all these things. It’s called The Gryphon in The Tree. It’s the sequel to The Dragon in The Garden… loooonnnggg overdue, but I can only beg to having a life. A complicated, feet of clay, crazy, lovely life.
What will the dragons do now that they are home once more? What will the Fallen’s next move be? What will happen to Alex and his Valkyrie love, Nefta? Will Siobhan and Turel continue their journey together? Has war come to Earth? Who is Finn truly? For that matter who is the Hag actually?
I’m putting together my soundtrack… The Poet and the Muse… and I’m thinking perhaps Nightwish’s new album Human Nature. Next Monday we should come up with another muse.
In the meantime… I think… I think maybe I’ve cracked my writer’s block.
Please, enjoy this week’s song, The Poet and the Muse.
With mystery of Tom
The poet and his muse
And the magic lake
Which gave a life
To the words the poet used
And he rhymed about her grace
And told her stories of treasures
Deep beneath the blackened waves
Still in its mystic crown
The muse she went down to the lake
And in the waves she drowned
You will need the witches cabin key
Find the lady of the light gone mad with the night
That’s how you reshape destiny
To call out to his dear
When there was no answer
He was overcome with fear
And too soon the night would fall
And only his own echo
Would wail back at his call
By the stories he create
Nightmares shifted endlessly
In the darkness of the lake
You will need the witches cabin key
Find the lady of the light still ravin in the night
That’s how you reshape destiny
With darkness in her eyes
Wearing a mourning gown
Sweet words as her disguise
He took her in without a word
For he saw his grave mistake
And vowed them both to silence
Deep beneath the lake
One mystery remains
For it is said
On moonless nights
They may still haunt this place
You will need the witches cabin key
Find the lady of the light gone mad with the night
That’s how you reshape destiny
You will need the witches cabin key
Find the lady of the light still ravin in the night
That’s how you reshape destiny