6.2.16 - 7 Minutes With... Daniel Palmer (Part 1)

I have a special two-part interview with my friend Daniel Palmer today and tomorrow! Daniel is a brilliant thriller writer whose new book, FORGIVE ME, came out this week. But he's also a talented musician, and I wanted to look behind the curtains with both his song writing and his book writing. Here's Part One: Daniel Palmer the musician! 

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Set your music to shuffle and hit play. What’s the first song that comes up?

Uh oh, that’s a bit of a problem. See, I needed hard disc space for my work laptop, so I had to move my iTunes library to an external device.  Wait…let me back up. I first had to take all my CDs, (because my laptop doesn’t have a CD player anymore) and rip each disc to digital MP3 format. Hours of effort later, I had thousands of tracks that I had to put on an external hard drive. To add them to iTunes (so I could hear them) meant filling up my hard drive with data again. Basically I have an empty iTunes library. To get my music fix I use Spotify and Sirius XM, none of which has a good shuffle feature. I miss albums, even though you can’t shuffle those either and they get dusty and all scratched up.

Now that we’ve set the mood, what are you working on today?

I’m trying to figure out how to fit a chorus to a verse I haven’t written yet. The song, Only Making Sparks, is about managing expectations. The chorus lyrics are pretty solid I think.

On my way home from my favorite bar
Laughing with my friends the back of a car
And I’m wondering where you are
I’m wanting fire, but I’m only making sparks

The verse has been elusive for a while now. Sometimes it comes quickly, other times you just have to wait for the right words to find you.

What's your latest album about?

I’ve made two albums, ALIEN LOVE SONGS and HOME SWEET HOME. Both reflect a specific stage of my life. ALIEN is about finding love and figuring out who I am, what I have to offer a partner. In a way it’s a very robust Tinder profile. HOME is about being married, starting a family, and coming to terms with choices and tradeoffs. It’s about expectations, but also about the power of love to help overcome virtually any obstacle. One of my favorite tracks on that album is a tune called Nice to See You Smile. I wrote it when my wife and I were dealing with some difficult stuff. The song was my way of telling her that I’m there for her no matter what happens.

The times you find the most trying
Are the ones when your strength seems to fade
But from somewhere inside you
A little light guides you
And slowly it eases your pain
So, it’s nice to see you smile.

I have a third album of material ready to record. Thematically, it’s about getting older, striving, losing loved ones and trying to keep an optimistic outlook despite the pain. It’s not a depressing album, but it reflects the difficulty of forging a life and overcoming obstacles that get in our way of being happy. 

Where do you write, and what tools do you use?

I write in my office. The only tool I use is my guitar. I’d love to learn how to properly record music, but that’s an art form unto itself. For now, I’m going to stick with chord patterns, lyrics, and melodies because those are my strengths.

What was the first album that struck a chord with you? (pun completely intended)

I guess it’s got to be Endless Summer by the Beach Boys. Eventually I found my way to The Beatles, but the Beach Boys showed me the way.

 What’s your secret talent?

I play a mean harmonica. I’m an okay rhythm guitarist, but I can solo on the harp and turn more than a few heads.

Which album or artists have been pumping through your headphones lately?

I’ve been listening to the new Radiohead and Bowie’s last album Blackstar a bunch. Also Cautionary Tale by Dylan LeBlanc is amazing. My good buddy, Don DiLego has a new album coming out in a few weeks, Magnificent Ram A. It’s an incredible set of songs. Don produced my two albums and if I get to make a third, he’ll produce that one as well. He’s an amazing producer, musician, and songwriter.

When did you know you wanted to be a musician?

Never wanted to be a musician. I just was a songwriter. I did it naturally, instinctively. I tried to study piano, but instead of practicing what was on the sheet music, I spent my time writing songs. This was back when I was 10 years old. Songwriting is in my soul, it’s just a part of me, but very few people have ever heard my songs. I’m okay with it, too. I think the tunes I’ve recorded are pretty timeless. I can listen to Alien Love Songs, which I made almost sixteen years ago, and it still sounds good to me. It still sounds authentic and that’s what matters most.

Who is your music idol? Have you met him/her? If so, did you completely nerd out or keep your cool?

My idols are John Lennon, Neil Young, and David Bowie. Sadly, I’ve only got one left. Haven’t met any of them. I would LOVE for Neil to hear my tunes, just to know he listened. Probably won’t happen, but as long as he is around there’s always a chance.

What’s your favorite bit of performing advice?

Don’t do what I did when my band opened for John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. I’ll give you a hint: it involved acid washed jeans, a lot of hair gel, and different colored bandanas tied around my legs.  

What do you do if your creative juices aren’t flowing?

I put the guitar down. My living doesn’t depend on getting down a tune.

Are you creatively satisfied?

I’m happy with the albums I’ve recorded. I’m happy with the songs I have to record. I would like to make a third album and for more people to hear my music, but I’m cool if neither happens so I guess the answer is yes, I’m pretty darn satisfied.

What would you like to be remembered for?

 Being a good friend, father, and husband.

Now for the really important questions:

·      Beach or mountains? Beach

·      Coffee or tea? Coffee

·      Skydive or bungee jump? Barf bag

·      Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla

·      Winter or summer? Summah (that’s how we say it in Boston)

·      Cake or pie? Pumpkin pie (had to be specific)

·      Cats or dogs? Dogs! Mine is asleep at my feet.

·      Pens or pencils? Pen, though I want to be a pencil guy

·      Truth or dare? I’m a songwriter…all about the truth.

·      Mp3’s or vinyl? See above. I miss my vinyl!

DANIEL PALMER is the author of four critically-acclaimed suspense novels. After receiving his master’s degree from Boston University, he spent a decade as an e-commerce pioneer. A recording artist, accomplished blues harmonica player, and lifelong Red Sox  fan, Daniel lives in New Hampshire with his wife and two children where he is currently at work on his next novel. Check out Daniels music by clicking on the covers below or at https://soundcloud.com/daniel-palmer-2/tracks.

Alien love songs

home sweet home

5.31.16 - 7 Minutes With... Alissa Moreno

Alissa Moreno’s voice will break your heart and put it back together again. I’m not kidding. I first saw her play at a Nashville East Side Storytellin’ event, and sat entranced through her set. Of course, I had to introduce myself (something I NEVER do to celebrities), and we struck up a lovely friendship. She’s now part of my tribe, and I’m not exaggerating when I say I think she’s one of the most talented songwriters in Nashville. A lot of other people do, too. She’s also a yoga-loving, clean-eating freak like me, so we’re having a lot of fun sampling Nashville’s finest wares. It’s so incredible for me to see a completely different side of writing creativity—songwriting and performing are similar but so very different from books. I know you’re going to love her as much as I do.

Take it away, Alissa!  

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Set your music to Shuffle and hit Play. What’s the first song that comes up?

Well, embarrassingly, the first song that came up was my song "Get Back U"' but that is because I didn't actually turn Shuffle on correctly the first time, and I was sending files off for mastering earlier today. So . . . once I overcame my computer challenges and correctly turned Shuffle on, "Still Sane" by Lorde started playing. She's outrageously talented.

Oh, this is so fun! Rascal Flatts just came on—it's their version of my song "Every Day" which I haven't heard in years! Okay, I don't focus well when I'm listening to music, so I'm going to come back to you when this song is done. Damn . . . Gary can sing!

Ha!! You crack me up! Now that we’ve set the mood, what are you working on today?

Today (Friday) is a wild card day for me (my Fridays always are), which means I don't have a consistent co-writing session. The focus today was on Easter and all the outrageous colors and art we can come up with for our Easter egg dyeing this year. I spent my day toting my adorable three-year-old son around, and I asked him if he wanted to hear my new song I wrote yesterday.  He's a great A&R guy, and he loves a pretty small percentage of what I write and record. I trust him. His reaction to this new song was so good, I called my co-writer/producer and gave her my edit ideas straight away.

You just released a new album called GETAWAY CAR. Congrats! What’s it about?

Thanks! Getaway Car is mostly about overcoming. And a little bit of straight-up surviving. It's a more mature reflection on love and loss than my first album, In Your Wake, and it's interesting to see the changes in perspective the last eight years have brought me.

Where do you write, and what tools do you use?

I write everywhere. I write in studios and publishing offices around Nashville with grand pianos and a plethora of cool guitars. I write in airplanes with my MacBook and terrible tiny little headphones to a track a producer sends me. I write in my bed at three in the morning with my voice and my iPhone. The really fun writes are on boats and in exotic getaways designed by our publishers, labels, and management to keep us inspired. IT WORKS! Last summer I was in South Beach working on a project, and we discovered that we had a certain magic in one specific hotel room at the W, and another magic entirely on a tiny private island a few miles away.

What was the first album that struck a chord with you? (pun completely intended)

The Cure’s "Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me". Something about Robert Smith's vulnerability when he sings, paired with guitar and synth sounds that were so unique. Then add the melancholic and sometimes even tragic sentiment to the mix with catchy, intelligent melodies and hooky musical interludes . . . I can go on and on . . . . . .

What’s your secret talent?

Identifying people's ayurvedic prakrutis (genetic make-up) and vikrutis (imbalances)

Which album or artists have been pumping through your headphones lately?

I have been on a listening fast—I do this from time to time to "clear out" and let my mind follow new paths to its own melodies, and to let the muse send in fresh ideas and concepts. The neat thing about this exercise is that it lends itself to my theory that there is a creative consciousness that many artists tap into. It's as if we tune in to the same "station", so to speak, because when I come up for air, there is usually a song out in my songwriting community or even on radio that is eerily similar.

When did you know you wanted to be a musician?

At about age 5. For the next 12 years, I vacillated back and forth between actor and musician, but music came very easily, and it seemed more immediate. I pictured myself reciting monologues at parties, and then I pictured myself playing guitar and singing around a campfire. Music won. I've always felt that actors face SUCH a challenge in finding the right script, getting through casting, having a great director, having chemistry with their fellow actors . . . the list goes on. But I can sing and share the gift of music ANYTIME I want. Anywhere. I'm grateful for that.

Who is your music idol? Have you met him/her? If so, did you completely nerd out or keep your cool?

That's a hard one! I have quite a few. Tori Amos, Trent Reznor, Sheryl Crow, Nirvana, Pink Floyd, Ani DiFranco. I had the great pleasure of attending the U2 concert in Nashville a few summers ago and I got to meet The Edge backstage. He kissed my cheek and congratulated me on my song, and my life felt as if it had circled around and come back to me in a matter of seconds. It was bizarre and settling all at once. I was at the show with Bob Ezrin, a wonderful mentor and friend whose album, The Wall, defined my 7th grade experience. It was the soundtrack to my life, and it walked me through a lot. It was very surreal to think I was in the company of such amazing, accomplished, incredible musicians and human beings. We were backstage because of the friendship Bob and Edge have formed in creating their charity, Music Rising

What’s your favorite bit of performing advice?

Spend time getting to know your venue and the crowd before you go on, if at all possible.

What do you do if your creative juices aren’t flowing?

Write a song anyway.

Are you creatively satisfied?

This week? Extremely.

What would you like to be remembered for?

Being kind. Making people feel better. Fragmented sentences.

Alright, now for the really important questions:

• Beach or mountains? Beach.
• Coffee or tea? Lately, tea. High Garden Tea to be specific!
• Skydive or bungee jump? Skydive!
• Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla.
• Winter or summer? Summer.
• Cake or pie? Cake.
• Cats or dogs? Dogs.
• Pens or pencils? Pencils.
• Truth or dare? Dare.
• Mp3’s or vinyl? Vinyl. 

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Alissa Moreno was born on a small Navajo reservation then grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She co-wrote the Grammy-nominated hit "Every Day" for Rascal Flatts; her song "Far From Here" was the show ID for the Lifetime series Army Wives; and she co-wrote/co- performed ABC's Hope and Faith theme song. Her music is featured in television and film with numerous songs licensed to The Vineyard, The Hills, Laguna Beach, How I Met Your Mother, Guiding Light, Will and Grace and many others, including the film Paul Blart: Mall Cop. She was the vocal coach to Ben Affleck for his award-winning role in Hollywoodland. Alissa currently lives in Nashville, and has written with and been recorded by artists such as Colbie Caillat, Alex Da Kid, Kina Grannis, Street Runner, JoJo, Chuck Wicks, Mallary Hope, Kate Voegelle, Javier Colon, Nikola Rachelle Bedingfield, Fast Ball, Big Al Anderson, Vince Gill and Vertical Horizon.
 

You can find Alissa's music on:

5.29.16 - Sunday Smatterings

Welcome to Memorial Day weekend, chickens! It's been a quiet one at Chez Ellison, as the mister and I contracted some sort of plague which includes a lovely low-grade fever. Which is okay, actually, because we've been going so hard and fast the past few months, a weekend off is agreeable to us both. The renovations are done too! We have new floors throughout the house, and finally have some peace.

Anywho, off to the Smatterings!

Here's what happened on the 'Net this week:

It's no secret I am a fan of Steven Pressfield, and his blog this week, "The Blitzkrieg Method" on writing first drafts is stellar. Just vomit them out, people. You can fix the rest later. 

I love the short form, and was excited to see the awesome list of 17 Stellar Short Stories You Should Read Online This Month.

This list of resources on furthering your education, called How to Make the Time to Learn, is priceless. I joke that I get a new Ph.D. every book, but it's true -- and now, here are some seriously awesome links to get you started on yours! 

Because what is Smatterings without talking books: What Your TBR List Says About Your Personality. Full disclosure, I am adventurous. I know, you're shocked. 

And since we all need a little zen in our lives, I highly recommend a cuppa and ten minutes ruminating on this lovely, peace-filled essay: Calling on the Muse: A Meditation for Writers

And on the home front:

There is 1 day left to Win 11 Signed Thriller Novels PLUS a Brand New Kindle Fire! ENTER NOW!

I was blown away to hear NO ONE KNOWS on Modern Mrs. Darcy podcast, and then even more excited to learn it had been chosen for her exceptional 2016 Summer Reading Guide. You'll find it in the Gripping Novels section! 

On the Tao, I hosted my friend and fellow thriller writer Tosca Lee.

From The Wine Vixen: 9 Wines for Barbecues & Beaches This Summer Because it's that time of year, peeps. 

And we've got a sleek, exciting new newsletter coming your way next week. If you're not a part of the list, join us!

That's it from me, darlings. God Bless our fallen heroes, and be safe out there!

XO,

JT

7 Minutes With... Tosca Lee

I'm so pleased to welcome my friend Tosca Lee to the Tao today. Her new book, THE PROGENY, kept me up way too late one night. A fabulous premise, I know you're going to love it, and love her. And... she's a newlywed! So give her some love! Take it away, Tosca!

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Set your music to shuffle and hit play. What’s the first song that comes up?
Linkin Park’s “One Step Closer” :D
 

Now that we’ve set the mood, what are you working on today?
Edits for the sequel of The Progeny, Firstborn. And eating my way through half a rack of ribs. :>
 

What’s your latest book about?
A 21 year-old named Emily Porter, who is starting over in the North Woods of Maine after erasing her memory of the last two years . . . and soon learns she’s a descendant of the infamous “blood countess” Elizabeth Bathory—and that she’s being hunted. Now everything she erased to protect she needs to rediscover to stay alive.
 

Where do you write, and what tools do you use?
I spend most of my time writing at the farm where I live with my husband, three boys, a cat that drools when you pet her and a dog that drinks out of the toilet. I use Word to write in, but Scrivener to organize my notes and research. I think it also does a lot of other stuff like wash your dishes and organize your taxes, but I can’t figure it all out.
 

What was your favorite book as a child?
Green Eggs and Ham. Though I was very disturbed that the pictures weren’t in full color and so colored them in myself.
 

What’s your secret talent?
I can levitate peas. Okay, just one pea at a time. I can levitate pea. Ask me to amaze you next time I see you in person.
 

What are you reading now?
The Fifth Wave. I stole it from my 15 year-old.
 

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
Not until college. I had been talking with my dad about how my favorite books take you on this amazing ride, and how cool it would be to make a ride like that for others. And then I blurted out: “I think I want to write a book.” My dad made me a deal: if I spent the summer writing a novel, full-time, he’d pay me what I would have made working at the bank as a teller. So I took the deal and wrote my first novel—a historical novel about the Neolithic Stonehenge people. It’s still in my basement with the rest of my skeletons.
 

Who is your writing idol? Have you met him/her? If so, did you completely nerd out or keep your cool?
I stalked, met and took a picture with Lee Child last summer at Thrillerfest. I look like a complete grinning idiot.
 

What’s your favorite bit of writing advice?
One I tell myself all the time: write like no one will ever read this. It keeps my first drafts honest and me sane.
 

What do you do if the words aren’t flowing?
Eat and watch TV.
 

Are you creatively satisfied?
Not yet!

What would you like to be remembered for?
Being a great mom.

Alright, now for the really important questions:

Beach or mountains? Beach

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Skydive or bungee jump? I broke out in a sweat just reading this question. Please, I want to live.

Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate

Winter or summer? Summer

Cake or pie? Bacon

Cats or dogs? Dogs. (Sorry, Misty.)

Pens or pencils? Pens

Truth or dare? Dare me. Except to skydive or bungee jump.

Print or ebook? Print, every time.

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Tosca Lee is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of Iscariot, The Legend of Sheba, Demon: A Memoir, Havah: The Story of Eve, and the Books of Mortals series with New York Times bestseller Ted Dekker (Forbidden, Mortal, Sovereign).

A notorious night-owl, she loves watching TV, eating bacon, playing video games with her kids, and sending cheesy texts to her husband. You can find Tosca hanging around the snack table or wherever bacon is served.

And here's a little bit more about Tosca's new book, THE PROGENY.

I’m twenty-one years old and my name doesn’t matter because it’s about to be erased forever.

When you wake up, you remember nothing. Not your name, or where you were born, or the faces of the people you knew. Just a single warning written to yourself before you forgot it all:

Emily, it’s me. You.

Don’t ask about the last two years… Don’t try to remember and don’t go digging. Your life depends on it. Other lives depend on it.

By the way, Emily isn’t your real name. You died in an accident. You paid extra for that.

You start over in a remote place with a new name, a fresh life. Until the day a stranger tells you you’re being hunted for the sins of a royal ancestor who died centuries before you were born.

You don’t believe him, until they come for you. Now you’re on the run. 

Every answer you need lies in a past you chose to erase. The only thing you know for sure is that others are about to die and you need those memories back.

But first, you have to stay alive.  

THE PROGENY is now available wherever books are sold!

Go get you a copy!

5.22.16 - Sunday Smatterings

Hello, dear chickens!

How are you this fine Sunday? I'm riding high this weekend because I finished my editing on the next Nicholas Drummond book!!!!!!!!! 

This is how I feel now that the book is in Catherine's capable hands. It's a fun, epic adventure I think you guys are going to dig. 

On I go to write Sam #5!

Here's what happened on the Internets this week:

Fulfill your kitty's wildest dreams, and let them become a tiny astronaut.

This is how to order wine like you know how to order wine. Impress all your dining mates!

Oh, my fellow book nerds, LOOK at this Etsy shop! Literary candles and original fiction? I am so there.
 

Y'all know that I basically worship the ground Diana Gabaldon walks on. So imagine my sqee when I read this article she wrote about her process—because this is very near to how I write.
 

This is the stuff introvert dreams are made of: How to Host a Silent Reading Party.

For those of you who have or are thinking of selling your creative efforts, this piece on non-compete clauses by Kris Rusch is a must-read.

There's so much to love about Brainpickings every week. Maria Popova knows how to scour the zeitgeist and find some interesting food for thought. This week, she shared her commencement address to her alma mater, the school of communication at the University of Pennsylvania. There are so many stand-up-and-shout, "YES!" truths in here, it's so worth your time. Here's one especially good bit:

You are the creators of tomorrow’s ideas and ideals, the sculptors of public opinion and of culture. As long as we feed people buzz, we cannot expect their minds to produce symphonies. Never let the temptation of marketable mediocrity and easy cynicism rob you of the chance to ennoble public life and enlarge the human spirit — because we need that badly today, and because you need it badly for the survival of your soul.
 

Seriously, go read the rest.

 

And closer to home:

This week, Amy the Wine Vixen brought us a zingy white wine you're gonna take on all your beach trips this year (mark my words).

I continued my perfection series on the Tao this week, giving a positive spin on striving for perfection. Because striving for excellence isn't all bad, y'all!
 

That's all I have for you, my darlings. Be well, and we'll talk again soon!

Xoxo,
J.T.