Top 100 #4

Most people know the Tears For Fears classic, "Mad World", from American Idol when Adam Lambert sang it. Or they remember another rendition from the cult movie, "Donnie Darko." 

I remember if when I first heard it when I was a sophomore at a new high school. 

It will always be a classic. And it will always be one of those songs that came at the perfect place and perfect time (during a miserable year stuck in a miserable place). Songs are just for celebrations. Some are about basking in misery, right? 

Here are the lyrics to "Mad World":

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Goin' nowhere, goin' nowhere
Their tears are fillin' up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dyin'
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
'Cause I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad world, mad world
Mad world, mad world

Children waitin' for the day they feel good
Happy birthday, happy birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sits and listen, sits and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson?
Look right through me, look right through me

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dyin'
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
'Cause I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad world, mad world
Mad world, mad world

And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dyin'
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
'Cause I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very
Mad world, mad world
Mad world, mad world
A raunchy young world
Mad world

The Soundtracks Say It All

Here are the soundtracks I'm listening to as I write the first in my supernatural teen series. They actually reveal some of the story, too. No, there are no vampires. And no, there's not some silly virus going around in the plants and the trees. But hey--the story is still being formed, so there's always a possibility! 

Michael Jackson

Like so much of the rest of the world, I fell in love with Michael Jackson after Thriller came out. I was just starting to get into music and this guy was just--he was magical and extraordinary. His songs rocked and made me want to dance (I love dancing) and it didn't matter what his skin color was or what "type" of music he made. I hate "types." Screw types. I hate boxes and types and all that nonsense. Michael Jackson came along and definitely broke any box and type he might have been in. 

I grieved with the rest of the world when I heard that Jackson passed away. It's so sad. His life is one of magic and majesty coupled with scandal and sadness. He was never allowed to grow up because his talent didn't allow it. Whatever might have happened once he was an official adult, this remains true--God gave this man such talent and such soul that he gave it all to the rest of the world. 

The world, like they always do, took as much as they could and then forgot and abandoned Jackson when there was nothing left to take. 

Now, his music is selling. And I believe in the words of his famous producer, Quincy Jones, who says that in 50 or 100 years, the only thing that will matter is this: the music. Whether that saddens you or gives you hope, it's true. 

Recently, there are two songs of Jackson's I've rediscovered. Oh, I know Thriller by heart along with the rest of his classics. But it's two gems on his album HIStory. 

One is "They Don't Really Care About Us."

The other is "Stranger in Moscow."

Take a look at these lyrics from the latter:

"How does it feel (how does it feel)
How does it feel
How does it feel
When youre alone
And youre cold inside

Here abandoned in my fame
Armageddon of the brain"

A man can have everything--talent, fame, fortune--and lose it all. 

No need to put a spiritual spin on that. That's the truth. And it's sad and tragic. 

It's sad that a man like Jackson could get to a point in his life when he felt "abandoned in (his) fame." That he felt "cold inside."

The music will live on, yes. But that lonely boy is gone. 

I feel for that boy. I grieve him. I feel that he never had a chance. Not one bit. That the machinery of art ground him up and spit him out. They put him on a pedestal for a short while, only to knock him down. 

He left us so much music. To me, it will always be beautiful and haunting. 

Ghostwriter Reviews

Ghostwriter has been out a little over a month, and it's been great to see the reviews coming in. Here are some quotes from some of them:

“Chicago author Travis Thrasher has produced a frightening story reminiscent of the work of Stephen King. . . Thrasher has created a winning character and thrown him into a genuinely scary plot.”—Chicago Sun-Times

“There's a deep love story between the author character and his late wife interleaved with lots of cinematically creepy scenes played out at ordinary places in upscale suburbia . . . An emotional wallop of a book. Thrasher just keeps getting better.”—Publishers Weekly

“Travis Thrasher only continues to astonish me with not only the quality of his writing, but his ability to tell powerful stories. It’s rare to find an author who can take us to places we don’t want to go in order to bring us to a place we long to be. Ghostwriter is the kind of gem that comes along far too seldom; displaying the kind of writing that deserves to be devoured by the masses.”—FictionAddict.com

“Thrasher’s creepy tale will keep readers up late into the night. The timeline is occasionally confusing, but that actually adds to the suspense rather than detracting from it. Not a book for the easily spooked, it’s great for those who enjoy a good ghost story with a subtle spiritual message.”—Romantic Times

“With Ghostwriter, Thrasher establishes himself as an author fully capable of leading his readers through an intensely-emotional and spiritually-provocative journey all while disguising it as a suspense novel.”—CBA Retailers & Resources

“In addition to the depth of the story itself, Travis Thrasher has created real characters whose personalities, beliefs and insecurities are woven beautifully into their actions and dialogue. Dennis is flawed as can be, but likable as well. He aches for his wife, loves his daughter beyond measure and proves himself a loyal friend. Bob, the ghost’s pawn, is hands down the scariest thing in the book, taking pleasure from committing gruesome acts that the rest of us don’t even want to contemplate. If you like supernatural, horror, or thriller novels, this is the book to read.”—FaithfulReader.com

“With Ghostwriter it snuck up on me like a snake. Thrasher has crafted a story that powers the themes of love, relationships, and personal struggle---themes that dive deep into the thoughts and actions we take in our daily lives and pull at the burdens of those that we have lost. I look forward to Thrasher’s next release, and even previous releases, ready to take another ride into the unknown and enjoy it immensely.”—TitleTrakk.com

“For those who love a good ghost story . . . It’s a page-turner.”—BookViews.com

Top 100: #3

For my top favorite songs, I'm putting those that I love at this moment. I could put about forty of Coldplay's songs on this list, I love them so much. I adore "Viva La Vida". It was an album at the right place at the right time. It was the soundtrack for a still unreleased novel I spent most of last year on. It was beautiful and will remind me of Rock Bottom and of looking upward. 

This is the last song on that album, and it definitely makes my list. Here are the lyrics:

All winter, we got carried
Oh way over on the rooftops let's get married.
All summer we just hurried
so come over, just be patient, and don't worry.
So come over, just be patient, and don't worry.

So come over, just be patient, and don't worry.

And don't worry.

No I don't wanna battle from beginning to end;
I don't wanna cycle or recycle revenge;
I don't wanna follow death and all his friends.

No I don't wanna battle from beginning to end;
I don't wanna cycle or recycle revenge;
I don't wanna follow death and all of his friends.

Random Story Idea

Where do you get your ideas from? Probably one of the questions I (along with other novelists) get asked the most. 

So I thought from time to time as I think about it, I'll share a random story idea. One that pops in my head that I know I won't ever write but that's an interesting story idea regardless (note--interesting doesn't always mean good). I just want to show my thought process.

I just read this today on CNN.com: "Michael Jackson's body will be returned to Neverland Ranch on Thursday for a public viewing on Friday, CNN has learned."

So a story idea pops in my head. 

A group of friends who have grown distant over the years reconnect to go view Michael Jackson's body. Could be a comedy, could be a love story, could be a drama. They might not even make it to Neverland Ranch--who knows. They (along with millions of others) grew up listening to Jackson and still share this bond even though their lives have gone in opposite directions. 

I looked on iTunes to see if Jackson has a song with the word "Never" in it. Of course--a classic: "Never Can Say Goodbye." 

There's your title. 

The theme of saying goodbye resonates in the story, along with the word "never." 

Am I a huge Michael Jackson fan? No. But doesn't mean that it couldn't be a moving story. 

See--a story idea simply from seeing a blurb on CNN.com. That's how my mind works. 

Top #100: #2

"Morning Glory" by Oasis

All your dreams are made
When you're chained to your mirror and your razor blade
Today's the day that all the world will see
Another sunny afternoon
(I'm) walking to the sound of my favorite tune
Tomorrow never knows what it doesn't know too soon
Need a little time to wake up
Need a little time to wake up wake up
Need a little time to wake up
Need a little time to rest your mind
You know you should so I guess you might as well

What's the story morning glory
Well
(you) need a little time to wake up
Wake up well
What's the story morning glory
Well
Need a little time to wake up
Wake up

(Cos) all your dreams are made
When you're chained to the mirror with your razor blade
Today's the day that all the world will see
(It's) another sunny afternoon
Yeah I'm walking to the sound of my favorite tune
Tomorrow doesn't know what it doesn't know too soon

Need a little time to wake up
Need a little time to wake up, wake up
Need a little time to wake up
Need a little time to rest your mind
You know you should so I guess you might as well

What's the story morning glory
Well
Need a little time to wake up, wake up
Well
What's the story morning glory
Well

Need a little time to wake up, wake up
Well
What's the story morning glory
Well
Need a little time to wake up, wake up
Well
What's the story morning glory
Well
Need a little time to wake up, wake up