“Crawling in my skin” was a day to day existence
Sustained on the façade of happiness
Drifting toward the cold misery that yearned to claim me in its abyss.
Do I let it take me or “Bleed it out” until there was nothing left of me?
“Breaking the habit” scared me.
Could I do it?
Could I be free of this way and be what I want to be?
Really me?
I had to own up to “What I’ve done” or not done to find myself in such a state
On a “Collision Course” to “Numb”.
“Minutes to Midnight”, determination outweighed the doubt
I took step one to finding “Somewhere I belong.”
~by Angela B.
Linkin Park is a rock group I’d heard of but hadn’t really
listened to a whole lot of their music until I found myself upon the precipice
of making some dire-need-decisions in my life. Their lyrics were like a balm to
my soul. So many things I thought were battles I and only I had to endure,
well, they set me right with their music in letting me know I wasn’t alone.
Chester’s crazy screams echoed the pains I felt. And when my pain passed, his
screams just felt right for the song J
So, it was no surprise that Linkin Park got a brief spotlight in Neverlove, my young adult novel with
elements of action, romance and paranormal woven throughout.
Abigail, the main female character, is from a rich family,
the exemplary one that lives in the really nice house at the top of the hill.
The family everyone envied…if only they knew the truth. Her life was troubled,
one where she felt alone in her tribulations. And so she made a choice.
A second chance at life gave her a second chance at
discovering more things to enjoy, Linkin Park’s music being one of them. Much
like Chester’s screams in the songs, it just felt right.
It’s also no surprise that writing and music tend to go hand
in hand. Music is, after all, writing layered over a musical composition.
Linkin Park gets a tip of the hat from me and I’m grateful
for their timely, challenging, chaos-in-motion music that spoke so much in
three minutes than could ever be said.
What does music say or do for you?
___________________________
Born and raised in Little Rock, AR, Angela now calls Central Texas home.
Reading and writing have been lifelong passions. It was around the time she gave birth to her forever-love, nicknamed Chipmunk, that she really took writing seriously. After all, how could she teach her child to follow her dreams if she hadn't tried herself?
As a YA fantasy/sci-fi reader and author, she favors the magical, mysterious, the darker side of life...even harbors a secret fright for things that go bump in the night.
NEVERLOVE is a special project spawned from a blog-challenge-turned-blog-opera, the Abby and Basil affair. It is the first in the Shadow Jumpers series.
As a YA fantasy/sci-fi reader and author, she favors the magical, mysterious, the darker side of life...even harbors a secret fright for things that go bump in the night.
NEVERLOVE is a special project spawned from a blog-challenge-turned-blog-opera, the Abby and Basil affair. It is the first in the Shadow Jumpers series.
For more information about Angela, get click-happy here:
Goodreads
Angela Brown in the Pursuit of Publishness blog
Amazon author page:
Partners in ParanormYA (with Gwen Gardner):
Twitter:
Music can help in so many ways. Although I am old and no longer have the romantic angst that I experience in my youth, I have always had a love of classical music too, and it still supports me through difficult times. Same process, different music.
ReplyDeleteSuch is the beauty of music. It is a thread woven through any fabric of life.
DeleteNever would've pegged you as a Linkin Park fan!
ReplyDeleteMusic is very important in my life and definitely contributes to my writing.
lol!! Yeah, I'm eclectic like that :-)
DeleteThank you so much, Jessica, for having me here today :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for being here, Angela! :-) Sorry I wasn't around for the post. I was in the air! xoxo
DeleteMusic gets my muse going each and every time. Nice to meet you.
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you as well, Em-Musing :-)
DeleteAh, yes. Good Ol' Linkin Park. High School would've been a different experience without hearing them blared from car radios and other listening devices. Music gets me going like no other, but it's usually the non-lyrical stuff for me (weird, I know). :)
ReplyDeleteNot weird at all, David :-)
DeleteI love the way you phrased layering writing over music. Beautiful writing needs rhythm, melody, and layers. Lovely post, Angela!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Martina. That layering and rhythm has always been a big attraction when it came to music.
DeleteMusic does evoke such strong emotions. I definitely felt the Linkin Park in Neverlove. I have yet to listen to music while writing, though - might have to try it:) Lovely post, Angela!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gwen. LP had a place in Neverlove, for realz :-)
Deleteholy hell i lurve LP so much! For me, they were the catalyst that drove me towards my new love of rock music (this was maybe 14 years ago?) and i haven't looked back since.
ReplyDeleteAlright!! Gotta love LP :-)
DeleteMusic always cheers me up and makes me feel like moving my feet. It's great to share music with friends or to listen to when you're alone. I can't imagine being without music.
ReplyDeleteOh my, I can't imagine being without music either. That would be terrible!
DeleteLove this, Angela! And like Gwen, I also felt Linkin Park music interwoven throughout Neverlove. Some days I can listen to music while I write. Each piece demanding certain songs. Evanescence's Bring Me To Life evokes some major feelings in me lately. Not sure what'll come of it. We'll see.
ReplyDeleteIt can be interesting the way musical inspiration can make itself manifest :-)
DeleteI actually haven't listened to a lot of their stuff. I'll have to give them a shot, especially knowing they inspired you!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could say that everyone would LOVE LP, but that's like saying everyone would LOVE Neverlove. They're a group I'm glad I discovered and if someone else can enjoy a song or two by them, then YAY!
DeleteGreat verse Angela, and I agree about music. It is so essential at times and can soothe more than almost anything else! I haven't listened to a lot of Linkin Park -even thought I know who they are. I think I need to check them out more closely. :)
ReplyDeleteAngela, I have to tell you, your picture just makes me smile every time I see it. :D
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm right there with you on the Linkin Park--LOVE those guys. They give me great emotional, angsty ideas when I'm writing. Hubs, on the other hand, is always, "You LIKE this???" With a total confused expression on his face. LOL!
So I guess not everyone "gets it." But I do! Great post~ <3
I know Angela. She's great! And welcome back, Jess.
ReplyDelete