Giveaways Inspirations and Influences

Guest Author & Giveaway: Jeri Smith-Ready on Inspirations and Influences

“Inspirations and Influences” is a series of articles in which we invite authors to write guest posts talking about their…well, Inspirations and Influences. The cool thing is that the writers are given free reign so they can go wild and write about anything they want. It can be about their new book, series or about their career as a whole.

It is no secret that we are fans of Jeri Smith-Ready. She has blogged with us before and Ana recently fell in love with her YA novel Shade (reviewed here). And to celebrate the UK release of Shade -out now – we invited the author to talk about Inspirations, Influences and the music behind the book.

So, please y’all, give it up for Jeri!

Disclaimer to Book Smugglers’ Readers: The more I care about a topic, the less coherently I can write about it, because I get all intimidated. This month I set out to pen the world’s most inspirational post about music and writing—because, you know, THAT’s a specific, achievable goal—but ended up focusing on what I knew best: me, my books, and my drooling fandom over the bands I love.

Pop singer Elvis Costello supposedly said, “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.” Most people think this means that writing about music is pointless and silly. Possibly pretentious.

Yet many of us can’t resist. Most of my all-time favorite books feature music, including some lovely YA novels from the last few years: I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE by Stephanie Kuehnert, FRETS & STRUTS by Jon Skovron, IF I STAY by Gayle Forman, THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson, and NICK & NORAH’S INFINITE PLAYLIST by Ruth Cohn and David Levithan.

Each of my own urban fantasies has a musical focus, whether it’s classical (REQUIEM FOR THE DEVIL), punk/indie (the SHADE series), or various eras of rock ‘n’ roll (the WVMP RADIO series). I can’t help it. Writers are always told to “write what you know.” But I say, write what you love.

Even authors who don’t write about music are inspired by it. It makes sense, because some of the best music tells a story—a love found, a heart broken, a hero fallen. So it automatically puts us in a story-telling frame of mind.

Music also works at a deeper level, forcing us to focus on our feelings. When I sit down to write, my mind is scattered in a million directions: Did I mail that prize yet? Is my cat’s medicine working? Who’ll win the big game on Sunday? (And most important: are there any bagels left?)

But the perfect song can drop me right into a character’s struggles. It goads me to dig deep and not gloss over their pain with an easy joke or a stale cliché. Music, even more than mere words on a page, can slice our guts with the right turn of phrase.

So for my I&I post, it made sense to talk about some of the music that has influenced my writing. (It was either that or soap operas.) The hard part was figuring out where to start. Which bands? Which novels?

But since my YA debut, SHADE, just came out in the UK on 2 September, I decided to focus on three bands with a British or Irish connection, and by doing so, trace the progression of SHADE from idea to novel to series.

In the beginning, there was Flogging Molly….

Soon after I got the original idea for SHADE, I decided that the main character (Aura)’s soon-to-be-dead boyfriend Logan would be in a band. (Figuring out a story’s connection to music is usually when the idea goes from hmm-maybe vague to OMG-must-write-now specific.)

Since I’d just discovered the magic of modern Irish punk rock, I modeled Logan’s band, the Keeley Brothers, after Flogging Molly (who are technically American, but their lead singer is Irish, so I’ve decided they count). As I wrote the first few chapters, I watched their videos again and again, hoping to capture their amazing energy and reproduce it on the page. Like this video, of their performance of “Seven Deadly Sins”:

In writing the concert sequences, I wanted readers to feel like they were there in the middle of the crowd. (Insider tip? It’s really hard to write about a concert without overusing the word “crowd.”)

And then…

Most of my novels have a particular band that helps shape the story and mood, a band I consider the “patron saint” of that book. For Shade, it was Northern Ireland’s Snow Patrol.

One day early in the novel-writing process, I heard “Chasing Cars” over the PA system at a local store. I’d heard it many times before (it was a pretty big hit at one point), but for some reason that day its haunting notes literally stopped me in my tracks. I knew right then that the song would sum up Aura and Logan’s relationship, especially after he died. I even wrote it down on the back of my receipt so I wouldn’t forget.

As I finished writing each draft of the book, I played Snow Patrol’s last three CDs on infinite repeat. This way I’d keep the focus where it belonged: on the feelings of hope and love in the face of a horrible loss. Plus, their lyrics reminded me to search for simple, original, eloquent ways to describe those feelings.

Here’s the video, although personally this is a song I like to hear and not see. It’s a song for staring off into the distance. But hey, it’s up to you.

Suddenly, this summer: Mumford & Sons…

I first heard of the London band Mumford & Sons from a reader, Karen, who runs the book blog For What It’s Worth. She told me that the music on their debut release, SIGH NO MORE, made her think of Logan. Not just one song, but the entire album’s mood, attitude, and themes.

(By the way, nothing warms this author’s heart more than hearing that a song reminds someone of a character. It blows me away that my fake people can live in a reader’s head and heart long enough to form connections to things outside the book.)

So of course I had to see what she was talking about. Immediately I could tell that Mumford & Sons was no casual background listen. Their music reached down my throat, yanked out my heart, and proceeded to gnaw on it, snarling and licking its chops. For several weeks, I couldn’t even give the CD a second listen. I was not “emotionally equipped,” as they say.

But I knew when I would need it. Karen had deemed M&S to be Logan’s band, so who else would I listen to when writing his own short story? SHADE and its sequel SHIFT are told from the point-of-view of Logan’s girlfriend Aura, but now I had to get inside his head. I had to imagine what it would be like to lose everything. To see and hear your loved ones but never touch them. To be invisible.

So when I opened up my computer to start the story, I played SIGH NO MORE. And played it. And played it. Probably five or six times a day as I wrote about Logan’s attempt to communicate with the older brother who couldn’t hear or see him. The brother whose guilt and anger over Logan’s death was driving him near suicide.

The entire CD is magnificent and beautiful, but its lead single, “Little Lion Man” brings the brothers’ relationship to life (painfully, of course, but there’s beauty in pain).

(Warning: Explicit Lyrics!)

(Speaking of explicit lyrics, I love the way Londoners drop the f-bomb, adding three or four f’s to the beginning of the word. They really mean it!)

As a bonus, here’s Mumford & Sons playing the song that makes me cry EVERY time, “White Blank Page,” during one of their very cool Bookshop sessions.

While I don’t need music to form sentences, build a plot, and create characters, I think that without it, my books would be emotional duds. That’s why today I’ve submitted this as the dedication appearing in the front of SHIFT:

To those who make music.
Many books—many lives—would be impossible without you.

So there, I’ve tried, flailingly, to talk about music and writing. I have another file with several pages worth of paragraphs I’ve deleted from this post. They’ll probably show up someday in an eloquent, encyclopedic book entitled MUSIC AND WRITING: SOME STUFF ABOUT THEM.

Visit the SHADE music page on my website to hear the full soundtrack to the novel. You can follow me on the new iTunes social network Ping (where my username, shockingly, is “Jeri Smith-Ready”) to see what I’m listening to, purchasing, and currently loving. Or follow me on Twitter (http://twitter.com), because I’m almost always there, and always looking for new music.

Thanks for listening!

Jeri Smith-Ready
www.jerismithready.com

Thank you, Jeri!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

We have FOUR COPIES of Shade to give away! The contest is open to EVERYONE and will run until Saturday, September 18, 11:59PM (PST). To enter, leave a comment here telling us about your favourite band or favourite song. We will randomly select the winner and will announce it this Sunday in our weekly Smugglers’ Stash. ONE entry per person please – multiple entries from the same ISP will be disqualified. Good luck!

100 Comments

  • Ceilidh
    September 15, 2010 at 6:11 am

    Ah, Mumford and Sons. I tried to not get taken in by the hype because I tend to have a serious aversion to anything Radio 1 declares to be the next hot thing but alas, Winter Winds grabbed me and refused to let go.

    My favourite song is, appropriately enough for a student/writer-in-progress, Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie but my favourite musician of all time is Rufus Wainwright. I could listen to him all day, and have been known to do just that.

  • Samantha Thomson
    September 15, 2010 at 6:18 am

    Favorite artist is Tori Amos and fav song is Little Earthquakes. Her music is the perfect music to light a candle, grab a book, and just relax.

  • Cheri H.
    September 15, 2010 at 6:28 am

    It’s too hard to narrow down to a single favorite band or song! If I had to choose one artist to have in my collection for eternity it would have to be Bob Dylan.

  • Anne Royce
    September 15, 2010 at 6:36 am

    I’m more of a J-pop person even though I don’t understand Japanese 😛 My favorite band is UVERworld and my favorite song is Colors of the Heart.

  • Carol Thompson
    September 15, 2010 at 6:52 am

    My favorite band is no more !
    Oh woe is me !

    I was and still am a great fan of Freddie Mercury and Queen. The band is still around but withoput Freddie they just aren’t the same.

    Thanks for the giveaway.

    Carol T

    buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

  • J
    September 15, 2010 at 6:56 am

    Keane came up one day on the radio, and I was instantly hooked. Under The Iron Sea is the album I listen to most.

  • Jennifer Rayment
    September 15, 2010 at 7:00 am

    My favorite song is hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright. I don’t like anything else by him, but that song just moves me

  • Amanda Isabel
    September 15, 2010 at 7:06 am

    At the Moment my favourite song on repeat is MAssive Attack – Paradise Circus.

    Thanks! And Awesome Post! 😀

  • JenP
    September 15, 2010 at 7:08 am

    I will always love ‘Wide Open Spaces’ by the Dixie Chicks

  • Sharon K
    September 15, 2010 at 7:15 am

    My favorite song is ‘Amazing Grace’, I have 23 different renditions and still looking. My next favorite is ‘Lola’ by the Kinks. Or ‘I Walk The Line’ by Live. Different day, different song, it depends on my mood. I think music defines us.
    Just finished ‘Wicked Game’ and started ‘Bad to the Bone’. Awesome!
    Thanks for having this contest!

  • Etta
    September 15, 2010 at 7:32 am

    My favorite band is Crowded House, and luckily, they reunited a few years back. I have about 100 favorite songs–way too many to pick just one.

    This was a great post–I always have songs in my head when I write, and I tend to associate books I’m reading with certain songs.

  • Pamk
    September 15, 2010 at 7:35 am

    I was lucky enough to win this book in another contest and I let my ya read and it. I asked him if he finished it and he said yep where’s the next one? That is is ultimately compliment. If he wants more it was a good book. lol.

  • Amanda
    September 15, 2010 at 7:59 am

    Picking a favorite song or band is like choosing a favorite child- impossible, and your decision has life-long repercussions. 😀 But in this moment, if I had to choose one band and you were fresh out of cake and there was only death… I’d have to go with The Beatles. No matter my mood, I can always find a Beatles song that works for me.

  • Jenni
    September 15, 2010 at 8:00 am

    My favourite band is The Script.I absolutely LOVE their newest song For The First Time. But I love every single one of thier songs.
    This book sounds absolutely brilliant.

  • Page (One Book At A Time)
    September 15, 2010 at 8:17 am

    I couldn’t name a favorite band of a favorite song (I love lots). If anything I would say Hoobastanks The Reason is my favorite.
    But, I have to say that I love Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. Although it reminds me of Grey’s Anatomy. I cried during that episode!

  • CrystalGB
    September 15, 2010 at 8:27 am

    My favorite band is Lady Antebellum. Shade sounds good. I love the cover.

  • Marie
    September 15, 2010 at 8:55 am

    Based on what I’m doing, my fave bands/songs change (work, housecleaning, roadrage, etc).

    However, I will listen at any given time to Eva Cassidy’s rendition of ‘Fields of Gold’, Norah Jones’ ‘American Anthem’, and Sarah McLachlan’s ‘Ordinary Miracles’ (all pretty mellow, but melodically beautiful).

  • Lisa
    September 15, 2010 at 8:55 am

    I’m a huge Queen fan! And I really really want to read this book!

  • Katy
    September 15, 2010 at 8:57 am

    I don’t really have a favourite song or a band, it changes all the time. But right now, it’s Train and their The Finish Line.

  • Stacy
    September 15, 2010 at 8:58 am

    My favorite singer is Tori Amos. There is no way I can pick a favorite song of hers because it changes all the time.

  • Kai
    September 15, 2010 at 9:37 am

    Hmm, kind of hard to pick one, but I’m a huge Japanese rock fan, and if I have to choose, its the GazettE’s Calm Envy. It’s a very sad song about goodbye written from a woman’s perspective. 🙂

  • heather
    September 15, 2010 at 9:49 am

    it’s hard to pick one band, but i’d have to go with frightened rabbit – keep yourself warm is such an amazing song! honestly, though, all their catalogue is good.

  • Susan Laura
    September 15, 2010 at 10:32 am

    This is a hard question! At various times in my life there have been different favorite bands. But I will say the one band/artist that has been very consistent over the last 20 years (gulp!) is The Police/Sting. What great music & lyrics! I will always stop the radio dial scan to listen to their songs.

  • Sandyg02
    September 15, 2010 at 10:36 am

    One of my favorite songs is What Have You Done by Within Temptation.

  • Mel S
    September 15, 2010 at 10:41 am

    My favourite has to be Take That – their latest two albumn have just been fabulous and the songs seem to cover all sorts of emotions. My favouite song is probably Rule the World – it’s so romantic. Best come back ever! 😀

  • Megan
    September 15, 2010 at 10:42 am

    My favorite is Queen (and I see I’m not the only one!)

  • Bookworm134
    September 15, 2010 at 10:52 am

    Thanks again for the great blog guys!

    I would have to say one of my favorite songs is “The Origin of Love” by Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The melody is beautiful and the song is just perfect…A blend of fantasy/science fiction/horror/beauty/romance…and anything else you can think of….

    Thanks again!

  • Steph Burgis
    September 15, 2010 at 11:16 am

    Ooh, I’d already loved Flogging Molly, but I’d never heard the other two bands, and I especially loved the Snow Patrol song. Thank you!

    My favorite band is Pink Martini. And I would love to be entered in this contest!

  • Mezzowriter
    September 15, 2010 at 11:30 am

    I love Chicago, especially their early albums. But Billy Joel is wonderful, too…his ballad “She’s got a way” is still probably about the sweetest song someone has ever dedicated to me. 🙂

  • Chelsea B.
    September 15, 2010 at 1:20 pm

    Thanks for sharing, Jeri! Your book sounds great!

  • Lexi
    September 15, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    I like a random combination:Rhianna, Nightwish and movie soundtrack instrumentals.

  • Lindsey
    September 15, 2010 at 1:45 pm

    I can’t say I really have a favourite song. Music (like reading) is a mood dependent thing, though I can tell you a song I’ll always sing along to is Counting Crows, Mr Jones. Another of my favourite ever songs is Englishman in New York by Sting. Mmmm, what a voice!

  • fairy_morgaine
    September 15, 2010 at 2:33 pm

    I have several favorite ones. But I can say that I do love Linkin Park and some of there songs are all time favorites, for example Numb or In the End. 🙂

  • Su
    September 15, 2010 at 2:48 pm

    Favourite song? I’d have to go with Perfect Day by Lou Reed. It’s what I imagine the perfect afterlife to be like: small, quiet moments, with someone I care about.

  • Ruth T.
    September 15, 2010 at 3:02 pm

    My favorite is Dream a Little Dream of Me by The Mamas & The Papas what can I say it is one of the few song I can Karaoke to without making other peoples ears bleed.

    Um…surprised nobody has said “Don’t Judge Me” Yet.

  • Tina
    September 15, 2010 at 3:47 pm

    I like the song Oscar Wilde by Company of Thieves a lot. Not sure if I’m ready to commit by saying it’s my favorite song though. A new band (or a new band to me, at least) that I’ve really been enjoying is “The New Pornographers”. Thanks for the chance to win

  • Robin K
    September 15, 2010 at 3:51 pm

    I love so many different songs and bands. 80’s rocks is one of my guilty music pleasures.

    Recently I fell in love with All Be by Edwin McCain.

    robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com

  • Inspired Kathy
    September 15, 2010 at 3:56 pm

    Favorite musician is by William Joseph. Thanks for entering me.

  • Victoria Zumbrum
    September 15, 2010 at 5:12 pm

    I am a follower. My favorite band is Lady Antebellum. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

  • Kailia Sage
    September 15, 2010 at 5:26 pm

    Within Temptation is my most recent favorite band! I loved “All I Need”

  • ritu
    September 15, 2010 at 6:00 pm

    I just got hooked on Maroon 5. Its on endless loop. Esp love Misery from their latest song. And yay, a few more bands for me to hear. Thanks Jeri!

  • Jasmine A S
    September 15, 2010 at 6:02 pm

    I have to only pick ONE favourite band/song? DARN IT.

    Well, after clicking through, I’m really liking mumford and sons.But I haven’t known them enough to make them my true faves. We’re just dating, not in a relationship. And today, my fave songs are Vertigo, by U2, and Money for Nothing, by Dire Straits.

    😀

  • E.J. Stevens
    September 15, 2010 at 6:05 pm

    Fabulous interview! My favorite music artist is Patrick Wolf. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him play live in Boston and in London and he is amazing no matter how large or how intimate the venue.

    Thank you for the wonderful giveaway! 🙂
    xx,
    E.J.
    From the Shadows
    e.j.stevens.author[at]gmail[dot]com

  • Kim Cline
    September 15, 2010 at 6:26 pm

    motion city soundtrack “the future freaks me out” is my current favorite 🙂

  • Iyana
    September 15, 2010 at 6:26 pm

    my favorite song is miley cyrus – can’t be tamed because it really expresses how i can be who ever i want to be and how nobody can tame me into something that they want me to be. 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀

  • Iyana
    September 15, 2010 at 6:28 pm

    my favorite song is miley cyrus – the climb because it lets me know that know matter what struggles im going through i know i can make the climb and get to the other side. Nothing can keep me down. 😉 😉 😉 😉

  • Iyana
    September 15, 2010 at 6:30 pm

    My favorite song is miley cyrus – robot because it lets me know that im nobodys robot and they cant make me their thing to controll at their will. I am my own person!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😀 😀 😀 😀

  • Iyana
    September 15, 2010 at 6:32 pm

    My favorite band is Selena Gomez and the scene because i can really relate to all of their songs. I feel that there songs relate to my life 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀

  • JenM
    September 15, 2010 at 7:04 pm

    My favorite song is Hallelujah. It was written by Leonard Cohen, but the version that is best known (and the one I love) is sung by Jeff Buckley. I’ve always loved songs written in that a minor key and this one gets to me no matter how often I listen to it.

  • Llehn
    September 15, 2010 at 8:03 pm

    My favorite band is Westlife.

  • martin
    September 15, 2010 at 8:14 pm

    One of my favorite bands is mindless self indulgence. The song I like best by them is prom I think. Yea, most definitely.

  • Stephanie K.
    September 15, 2010 at 8:33 pm

    My favorite band is the Doors.

  • Fif
    September 15, 2010 at 8:35 pm

    At the moment my son and I have the Kaiser Chiefs on endless loop in the car (much better than the Transformer soundtrack he insisted on before!)

  • jmspettoli
    September 15, 2010 at 9:13 pm

    My favourite band is Linkin Park, their new album just released on Tuesday!

  • Courtney
    September 15, 2010 at 9:31 pm

    One of my favorite songs ever is….Defying Gravity from the Wicked Soundtrack!! It is such an awe-inspiring song!

  • Misha Mathew
    September 15, 2010 at 9:36 pm

    My favorite band is Within Temptation! Love Sharon Den Adel!

    Misha
    mishamary@gmail.com

  • jessica
    September 15, 2010 at 10:16 pm

    My favorite song of all time is Love Song by the Cure

  • Judit
    September 15, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    Music is my second favourite thing after reading. So if I read while listen to music I’m literally in heaven 🙂
    My favourite band is 30 seconds to Mars!

    Thank you for the giveaway.

    judittten at gmail dot com

  • Gillian
    September 15, 2010 at 11:30 pm

    Please don’t enter me in the contest as I read an ARC for review from my local bookshop andI have to say… Talk about ripping your heart out, chewing it up and squishing it sideways!

    I just have to share with you my favourite band, though. The Snowdroppers are an Aussie band that plays dirty blues. Those guys are awesome.

  • Mariska
    September 16, 2010 at 12:42 am

    My favorite band, Back Street Boys !

  • Cass
    September 16, 2010 at 1:11 am

    At the moment, my favourite band is either Regina Spektor or Imogen Heap. Yes, I love Paramore too. No, not because of Twilight…I don’t like Twilight. 😐

    Favourite song? Well, that’s even harder than choosing just ONE band/artist, so I’ll skip out on that one.

    Thanks for the giveaway! I really want to read Shade!

  • Stella (Ex Libris)
    September 16, 2010 at 1:14 am

    Bryan Adams! Time and time again I realize when hearing his songs how incredibly talented and fantastic he is. His songs can make me so energized and happy, or sexy depending on the song. And also it doesn’t hurt that I have amazing memories: a few years ago with one of my best friends we flew to Rome for a Bryan Adams concert, had the time of our life, and then spent 5 more days in Rome, was AMAZING! 😛

    Thanks for the great giveaway!

    stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com

  • Maureen
    September 16, 2010 at 3:49 am

    Faith Hill is one of my favorites, her songs Fireflies and Stealing Kisses seem to tell stories.

  • Marco
    September 16, 2010 at 4:07 am

    One of my favourite bands is offspring and the music the meaning of life

  • Mrs. DeRaps
    September 16, 2010 at 4:35 am

    My all-time favorite band is Cake! They are too cool for their own good, jazzy and brassy and witty and smart. I love their quirky lyrics and the diversity of their music. They are the best!

    mrsderaps @ hotmail . com

  • Stacie
    September 16, 2010 at 5:07 am

    Right now my favourite band is Daughtry. I love his voice!!

  • Dovile
    September 16, 2010 at 5:15 am

    My favorite band is Snow Patrol, and my current favorite song is Secrets by OneRepublic.

  • Sandy G
    September 16, 2010 at 5:41 am

    My favorite song is I Love the Night by Blue Oyster Cult

  • Donna W
    September 16, 2010 at 7:13 am

    My favorite band is Daughtry.

  • Giada M
    September 16, 2010 at 8:41 am

    My favorite band? Muse!!! 😀 Thank you for the great post and giveaway!

    Giada M.

    fabgiada (at) gmail (dot) com

  • Anonymous
    September 16, 2010 at 8:44 am

    my favorite song is Free Spirit. I love the melody and the lyrics touch my heart. <3

  • beliar
    September 16, 2010 at 10:53 am

    My favourite band right now would probably be “Krypteria” from Germany. As for the favourite song – it is very hard to choose just one. Maybe Bible Black by Heaven & Hell, Blood Red Sandmen by Lordi or Try by Krypteria.

  • Hannah
    September 16, 2010 at 1:56 pm

    Oh Mumford and Sons, I love them. Discovered them about three months ago and haven’t looked back!

    I don’t have a favourite, but my love for The Kinks has spanned over a decade. And recently Enya’s ‘Wild Child’ has totally inspired me – there’s a video on YouTube celebrating strong female characters of sci-fi and fantasy using it as the soundtrack, and now whenever I hear it I feel like I can do anything and be anyone.

  • jennifer
    September 16, 2010 at 2:53 pm

    my fav band is down with webster & my fav song is i like that (im a teen & i lov books but im no nerd just in case u wonder)

  • Linz
    September 16, 2010 at 4:09 pm

    Oh wow…favorite band…Breaking Benjamin. Thanks for the giveaway and the interview!

  • Eva SB
    September 17, 2010 at 1:30 am

    A favourite of mine in the 1980s was Suzanne Vega. I listened almost non-stop.
    I have been listening to her again recently and wonder why I ever stopped. Her music stands the test of time.

  • Grace
    September 17, 2010 at 4:03 am

    my fav song right now is the Glee version of Don’t Stop Believing 🙂

  • Jeri Smith-Ready
    September 17, 2010 at 9:06 am

    Just wanted to stop in and say hi, and thanks for having me! I’m loving the responses, especially the bands I haven’t heard of. Can’t wait to discover some new favorites. 🙂

    Have a great weekend!

  • Mette Jensen
    September 17, 2010 at 10:15 am

    My favorite son is Only One with Alex Band I love that song!

    Thank you for this great giveaway.

  • Teresa C
    September 17, 2010 at 1:37 pm

    My favourite band is The Swell Season (otherwise known as Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová). The passion and raw emotion in their music (and Glen’s other endeavours–he fronts the Irish rock band, The Frames as well) is beyond my capability of putting into words, at least coherently.

  • Danielle(With A Book)
    September 17, 2010 at 3:13 pm

    I never keep a favorite band or song for long. I love music though, I wouldn’t be able to live without it.

    At the moment my favorite song is Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri. It’s so raw and emotional and fits to my life at the moment perfectly.

  • Breanne M.
    September 17, 2010 at 3:44 pm

    When reading Shade, Flogging Molly was the band that immediately came to mind, so it’s nice to read that it was influential.

    My favourite band of all time is probably Our Lady Peace – but my favourite band at the moment is A Fine Frenzy.

  • Van P.
    September 17, 2010 at 6:31 pm

    My favorite bands are, Linkin Park and Green day.

  • Linda Henderson
    September 17, 2010 at 7:47 pm

    My favorite band right now is Shinedown, I love their songs. I just discovered them a few months ago and I can’t get enough of their music.

    seriousreader at live dot com

  • Angelique
    September 17, 2010 at 7:51 pm

    Would love to have this!!
    And my favorite band would be Fall Out Boy. I haz my reasons =)

    willowwind@gmail.com

  • Audrey
    September 17, 2010 at 8:59 pm

    Awesome. I just stumbled across your blog and I’m really digging it. My music tastes and favorites change almost weekly, but I definitely have one that stays:
    A Drop in the Ocean by Ron Pope.
    I just love his voice!
    Anyway, thanks so much for the amazing giveaway!

  • Raquel Vega-Grieder
    September 17, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    My favorite song happens to be from my favorite band Paramore and the song is called “Ignorance”. Paramore is such a great band to listen to and there songs really speak to me. “Ignorance” is a song that I think everyone can relate to at one time or another.

  • LLL Reviews
    September 18, 2010 at 11:24 am

    This has got to be the most interesting post I’ve read lately. I love books and I love music and to read the influence and incorporation of music here is wonderful and inspiring in a way!!

    Thanks you for the post. Hopefully, I am not to enter.

    lllinthe808 AT gmail DOT com

    I would love to read this one!!

  • Erica O.
    September 18, 2010 at 12:14 pm

    This an awesome giveaway! Thanks for the chance. My favorite song is Kings & Queeens by 30 Seconds to Mars. It is amazing!
    Thanks again.
    Pokadots1121@yahoo.com

  • heatwave16
    September 18, 2010 at 1:31 pm

    My favorite band is The Clarks. They are a band from my hometown of Pittsburgh, and I love the music. They also give me warm fuzzies.

    heatwave96(at)hotmail.com

  • Audra Holtwick
    September 18, 2010 at 3:31 pm

    MY all time favorite band is JOURNEY with Steve Perry singing OPEN ARMS

  • Jennelle S
    September 18, 2010 at 7:37 pm

    My favorite band is Boa. I’d have to say that my favorite song is Duvet, because I use it as the ring tone for my boyfriend.

    jlynettes at hotmail dot com

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