the inspiration

I'm wrapping up my next book, and I keep listening again and again to the album that inspired the story.

I first found The Hush Sound while enjoying The Cat Empire Channel on www.pandora.com, which is an amazing music genome project. Their song, Sweet Tangerine, was interesting enough to send me out to the local Indie music store for the complete album, Like Vines. I listened to it in the car on the way home, then once more while I worked online.

After two full listens, I had the strangest dream. One that struck so deeply that I began a book that would have been laughable to me only the day before. Going from a middle grade adventure to an adult paranormal romance was a big flip, but that's what's so fun about following the muse.

I'm not ready to reveal anything further, but here are the lyrics that started the book.

*

Sweet Tangerine by The Hush Sound

Rain falls quickly wetting my hair, and clothes
My cries fall upon her deaf ears more tears
Let me in, please it's cold I'm freezing out here, I miss you my dear
You're all his and I'm all yours, like it or not, I'm all you've got

Everyone will make mistakes
Without the sour the sweet wouldn't taste and...

Sweet Tangerine, will you please come back to me?
Cause I don't think that these feelings are gonna leave

Light cuts through the clouds and haunts me, like bad dreams
Outside lookin' in I'm feeling lost and cold as sin
A shred of hope a little bit of sweetness - anything please, except for defeat
If I could I'd lock you up and toss out the key, it's just you and me

Everyone will make mistakes (and I know I have)
Without the sour the sweet wouldn't taste and...

Sweet Tangerine, will you please come back to me?
Cause I don't think that these feelings are gonna leave (yeah, yeah)
Sweet melody, you'll be singing in your sleep
But this time you're not listening to a word I say

Crept through the curtains, as quick as the cold wind
Slowly exploring the room where you sleep
The stare of your portrait, the passing of your scent
Left me no choice but to stay

I will dissolve into the dark beneath your bed
My hands will wait for a taste of your skin

Sweet Tangerine, will you please come back to me?
Cause I don't think that these feelings are gonna leave (yeah, yeah)
Sweet melody, you'll be singing in your sleep
But this time you're not listening to a word I say
A word I say

*

The whole album tells the story, but in totally the wrong order.