Hello, lovelies! I’m still recovering from the hustle and bustle of spooky season, but I managed to read and watch tons of good stuff last month and I can’t wait to share my thoughts below! Also, I started a MAJOR round of structural revisions for my historical fantasy WIP and found some great music to help me write! Check it out:
I Read…
THE INHERITANCE GAMES by Jennifer Lynn Barnes!
I’ve been drafting a historical fantasy novel that includes heist elements, so I’ve been indulging in a lot of “heisty” novels lately. This series is definitely a favorite!
Avery Grambs has a plan for a better future: survive high school, win a scholarship, and get out. But her fortunes change in an instant when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves Avery virtually his entire fortune. To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into Hawthorne House, filled with puzzles, riddles, codes, and the four Hawthorne grandsons: dangerous, magnetic, brilliant boys who grew up with every expectation that one day, they would inherit billions.
Exactly the fast-paced, unputdownable inspiration I was looking for! As secret after secret was revealed, new layers to the story appear, leading to a MAJOR cliffhanger left me wanting more! Sooo, I finished the entire trilogy and THE BROTHERS HAWTHORNE is next on my TBR list (#teamgrayson).
I Watched…
The first season of the latest Star Wars series AHSOKA on Disney+! In short: this new spinoff in my favorite universe is moody and mysterious and I LOVE it!
Also: EPISODE FIVE was freakin’ amazing!!!! I grew up on the Star Wars prequels and crushed hard on Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker (yes, yes, I know…).
Anakin’s introduction at the end of episode four was yummy, with the chilling notes of John William’s musical theme for Darth Vader. Then, enter episode five: Ahsoka enters the world between worlds only to find her former master waiting for her, ready to teach her a final lesson. Christensen absolutely nailed the Anakin Skywalker attitude once again—a mix of know-it-all sarcasm and somber reflection.
And did I squeal like the girl I am, watching Christensen do his infamous Anakin Skywalker lightsaber twirl? Heck YES, I did!
I Listened to…
THE PLANETS by British composer Gustav Holst: “Mars, The Bringer of War”; “Venus, The Bringer of Peace”; “Mercury, The Winged Messenger”; “Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity”; “Saturn, The Bringer of Old Age”; “Uranus, The Magician”; and “Neptune, The Mystic”.
THE PLANETS is one of the most successful compositions of the 20th century and inspired countless Hollywood soundtrack composers: it’s not difficult to hear nods to THE PLANETS in the music from INDIANA JONES, SUPERMAN, JURASSIC PARK, and HARRY POTTER. There are chord progressions in “Mars” that are sooo similar to the “Imperial March” that it’s impossible NOT to hear the comparison. The same is true for the title theme of A NEW HOPE.
Also, THE PLANETS is a perfect soundtrack for writing: get a good speaker or a pair of noise-cancelling headphones and enjoy the ride!