Book Review: Shadow Resistance by B.J. Cyprian
One of my most recently created quotes is “Randomly meeting ordinary people makes for an extraordinary life.”, and B.J. Cyprian is a fine example of this. We initially engaged through social media and found some common ground. When she asked if I would read a review copy of her book I said “sure”, thinking I’d […]
Dean Robertson Guest Post #3: THEY DON’T LIKE MY NOVEL??
This morning, “On Writing #3” was a short essay describing the next phase of the writing of my autobiographical novel. It followed smoothly and logically from “On Writing #2”– some thoughts on the first four pages and the elaborate techniques I developed to avoid writing them. All as planned. These are, after all, summaries of […]
Dean Robertson Guest Post #2: Book Covers
I thought I would get this bit of flaunting over with. Here are the covers of all my books. The first is a professional job by a fine publisher in Virginia Beach, Virginia–Koehler Books. The next two I designed as part of publishing independently using Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing. KDP is not a perfect system, […]
Dean Robertson Guest Post: On Writing #1
Two novels completed. Not one viable idea for a next book. I find I can’t simply take a break. I am now no longer capable of not writing. And so, the question arises. What in-between writing can I find this time to keep my hand in, to keep my brain fresh, to operate like playing […]
Money Music Musing #7: Barrett Strong
Lyrical Lessons from “Money (That´s What I Want)” by Barrett Strong The money-themed song Money (That’s What I Want) performed by Barrett Strong was released in 1959. The song written by Tamla founder Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford became the first hit record for Gordy’s Motown enterprise. Lyrically, there are only two lines of verse, […]
Money Music Musing #6: Lyrical Lessons from “Dime, Quarter, Nickel, Penny” by Nappy Roots
The money-themed song Dime Quarter Nickel Penny (contains strong language) by Nappy Roots was released in 2002. Though the lyrics focus on drugs and money, my focus is on the title. Whether you use cash or plastic you always have the question of what to do with the change. What?, there’s no change with plastic […]
Money Music Musing #5: Lyrical Lessons from “Billionaire” by Travie McCoy
The money-themed song Billionaire (contains strong language) by Travie McCoy and featuring Bruno Mars, was released in 2010 and worked its way up the Billboard charts to number 4. The lyrics convey the myth of being rich and hanging out with famous people but also recognize the basic needs of food, safety and security. I […]
Money Music Musing #4: Lyrical Lessons from “Rich Girl” by Hall and Oates
The song Rich Girl, written by Daryl Hall and John Oates, was released in 1977 and worked its way up the Billboard charts to number 1. The story line is about relying on OPM – Other People’s Money – and not caring about your actions because of the money. For me, this has a dual […]
Money Music Musing #3: Lyrical Lessons from “She Works Hard for the Money” by Donna Summer
The song She Works Hard For The Money, written by Donna Summer, was released in 1983 and may be best known for its association with the movie Flashdance. Lyrically, there’s not much to the song, two verses, a bridge, and the chorus. While I feel the chorus was overly repeated and the lyrics have little […]
Facing West: Flash fiction based on song titles
Sometimes the real world turns the spotlight on you making you wish it was your last day on earth. You want that rat hole where you can curl up into a fetal position and silently drift into the void, thinking the weightlessness and nothingness will solve your problem. It happens at that point of feeling […]
#Money #Music #Musing #2: Lyrical Lessons from “Mo Money Mo Problems” by The Notorious B.I.G.
By Source, Fair use, wikipedia The song Mo Money Mo Problems written by The Notorious B.I.G. was posthumously released in 1997 and covers a lot of ground with its lyrics. The song opens with the line “Now, who’s hot, who not?” and sets the tone for the story, which describes the struggles for acceptance and […]
#Money #Music #Musing #1: Lyrical Lessons from Smokin’ In The Boys Room
By Source, Fair use, wikipedia The 1973 song Smokin’ In The Boys Room written by the band Brownsville Station may be about breaking school rules for smoking and not getting busted, but what’s the money angle? This kid didn’t want to learn or work. Without education how do you begin to understand money? If you […]