Mixed Tape

One of the wonderful things about music is how it can bring to you a place or mindset. The moment you close your eyes a world fills yours mind. it’s a beautiful thing.

So my question is, when you’re writing, what does your playlist consist of?

At first I loved listening to angsty teen music, but then I found myself singing in my head and not focusing on the scene at hand. I needed music without works to really make me focus. I skimmed my iPod and found a lot of symphony, instrumental music. Mostly from different Disney movies (Does it really surprise you?).

I started this when working on my paranormal WIP. The Little Mermaid and songs from Aaron Zigman were the first ones on that playlist. Say what you want about Disney, but they have amazingly intense music. Music I needed to get my blood boiling and fingers moving.

95% of the time now I listen to classical, symphony music while writing. I have over 150 songs, from Trans Siberian orchestra to Disney, Mozart, Debussy,  Bach, the Nutcracker, other ballets, the options are endless. Those really do it for me, unless I know a song that fits the scene perfectly and need it to make my emotions rise.

With COLLIDE, which I am now rewriting, I used a lot of angst music to help me get in the scenes, since it’s a book that deals a lot with abuse.

So, I ask you….what’s on your writing playlist?

Trailer Park Dreams

Reposting some of the trailers for COLLIDE that I did last summer. check them out. I had an amazing cast  and crew. (FYI, I did the voiceovers)

Reminder, these are PG-13

“Nobody Needs to Know”
Lucas’s dark past doesn’t stop Madison from falling for him. Regardless of how her friends try to reach out to her, she can’t turn back now. She trapped, suffocated by Lucas. Maddie fears there’s only one out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFNxpkGoxfs

“Truth or Lies”
All-Star athlete, Lucas Valentino has his eye on Madison, the ‘drama freak’. But he has a reputation, one Madison is well aware of, plus, her best friend has had a thing for him since elementary school. Against her better judgment she finds herself curious about him, but is it all a joke, like the ones he used to play on her in middle school?

Watch past credits for a suprise…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piuUmrp-gns

“Ever-Changing Moments” - MY FAVORITE
There aren’t too many moments in a lifetime you can honestly say, that’s when it all changed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v_vX-WNoh4

“Sleeping Awake”
Some things aren’t what they seem. Madison and Lucas are one of those things. For years, Drew was the only man in her life, and with the dangerous arrival of Lucas, Drew finds out some unsettling news. Madison is faced with a tough decision.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOvmserm3fk

 

 

Shout out to my crew

Dustin Holton
Torrey Taylor
Christina Johnson
Jordan Weber
Savannah Fuss
Austin Hammesfahr
Candice Brown

StandAsOne Productions
SBN Studios

Hope you enjoy!

Sad, Sad Song

In May Sarah Dessen, my all-time favorite author, has a new book coming out–Whatever Happened to Goodbye. One of my favorite quotes is from her book Just Listen.

“Music is a total constant. That’s why we have such a strong visceral connection to it, you know? Because a song can take you back instantly to a moment, or a place, or even a person. No matter what else has changed in your or the world, that one song says the same, just like that moment.”

 So, I’m doing a random survey. What’s your saddest song ever? It doesn’t have to slow, I know one of mine isn’t.

I’ll go first….

1. Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman

2. Cherry Bomb by John Cougar Mellancamp

Both make me think of my dad.

You’re turn!!

Cell Block Tango

I’ve had Cell Block Tango from Chicago in stuck in my head for like a week. Everywhere I go, I’m like “He had it comin’ , he had it comin’” people probably think I’m insane, but at least I haven’t started dancing randomly…yet.

I think writing and constructing a concept from scratch is a lot harder than editing.  I’m working on my first paranormal book. No vampire or werewolf love, lol. But a concept I hope is fresh and new, though it’s rare to find too much now-a-days. And I’m not writing it because of the fad of paranormal, I’m writing it because the idea wouldn’t leave my head. I read a book written in third person. Most of what I read is first, but after reading it, I thought, hrm, maybe I should try it, just to see if I’m any good.

So not only am I branching out from contemporary high school dramas, I’m taking on a new style of writing and it’s a blast. It took me a few months to hammer in the story, bouncing between different ideas until the right one hit me. Think a super twist on my favorite fairy-tale Sleeping Beauty meets Revelation. It’s fun and exciting with character that challenge me daily. Especially the guys I’m writing. Sometimes I wish I didn’t know their back stories, because I’m so excited about them I want to open the can of worms I can’t. lol.

Update on my book out to query THE PROS AND CONS OF BREATHING: Things are going well, and I’m loving the feedback so far. I got a full from a really amazing agent so keep your fingers crossed.

If you haven’t already, check out my book trailers for COLLIDE at www.youtube.com/angelhett and let me know what you think. I put them together with the help of MMJoe with StandAsOne Productions. (I did the voiceovers)

Saturday Josh and I celebrated our 6 year anniversery. just think, if we hadn’t met at one of Carissa’s infamous parties 6 years ago, we might not be getting married in 134 days…I’m not excited or anything…lol

And I saw this at Downtown Disney and i want it so bad, not only for the wedding but it’s so cute!!

Here is a short Teaser Tuesday from THE PROS AND CONS OF BREATHING.

“Actually, Ariel is Owen James’s sister,” Liam said.

Rhea moved her arms on her hips.

“Ew, didn’t you end up in rehab?” she asked. “Ohmigosh, yeah, I heard about you.” She said to me, then turned to Liam. “It’s nice to see you doing charity work now.”

“Just ignore her, Ariel, her thong must be in a bunch.” Rachel gritted her teeth together, but Rhea didn’t seem to notice; instead her brassy eyes were on Liam and me.

“I’m not wearing any, so that wouldn’t be a problem,” Rhea retorted, her eyebrows flashed at Liam and his hand left the small of my back. He shook his head and looked down at the ground. “You always liked that, didn’t you, baby?”

A smile crept across my lips. “Wait, I think I heard about you too! You were the whore my brother dated last fall, right? The one he screwed and dumped in the same night, yeah, that’s definitely you. He was right, you look kindda loose.”

 

I chose this scene because i know how much Ryann loves it. lol.

Ciao~

Angela