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a look around and ahead on a three-year writing project
More than three years ago, while listening to Norah Jones sing with Belle and Sebastian their song, Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John, the idea hit me. The song title is based on dream characters only mentioned a couple of times in the song. They have no history, no life story, just an ethereal existence in a dream. I thought, “What if I could give them life? What if I ‘knew’ and told their backstory?”
Stories Everywhere!
Then, I began to think of characters from other songs, and soon the idea for a book of short stories inspired by (not based on) characters from popular songs. A writing project loomed before me, a mountain of imagination I was eager to scale. Since my make-believe friends, Big Ricky and Little Ricky, when I was four years old, I have been doing this. Why not do it with a ready-made inspiration?
I have been releasing the stories individually as I complete them, but only in eBook format. Once they are all completed, I will release the book under the title The All-American Songbook: Stories Inspired by the Songs That Made America, a title inspired by the hymnal of choice in the churches where I grew up and the ones I served as pastor a lifetime and a half ago.
Despite the collective yawns, some of these stories have found their way into the hearts and minds of readers. One reader said the first Western story I released was reminiscent of Lonesome Dove. I will take any favorable comparison of anything I do to the work of Texas’ greatest novelist, Larry McMurtry, any day and twice on Sunday.
Another reader told me she loved Bobby McGee and Me. She is an avid reader and said it was as satisfying to her as any book she has consumed lately. That’s nice!
The Magnificent Seven
Here are the links to the seven stories already released.
Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John—inspired by the song of the same name by Belle & Sebastian
Confession: The True Story of Pancho & Lefty—Inspired by the song Pancho and Lefty, sung by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, written by Townes Van Zandt
Tilly Rae and the Rainbow Cafe—Inspired by Here Comes That Rainbow Again, written and performed by Kris Kristofferson, also recorded by Johnny Cash and others
Vincent: The Man from Nowhere—Inspired by Van Gogh, written and performed by Pony Bradshaw, and by Vincent, written and recorded by Don McLean
Bobby McGee & Me: The Rest of the Story—Inspired by Me and Bobby McGee, written and recorded by Kris Kristofferson, and recorded by Janis Joplin and more than 50 other artists
Or the Magnolias Bloom—Inspired by Cover Me Up, written and recorded by Jason Isbell, and recorded by several other artists, as well.
Mona Lisa and Mad Hatter—Inspired by Mona Lisa and Mad Hatter, written and recorded by Elton John.
I am planning to include a dozen songs. The next one up I will offer for free for one week only. Keep an eye out. It is…
Dead or Gone to Dallas
I am currently working on Dead or Gone to Dallas, inspired by the song of the same name, written by Steve Earle and recorded by Earle and Reckless Kelly.
Here’s a taste, a nibble:
Earl Oldham raises a hand and it is like Moses raising his rod. All fall silent. In this club of over-achieving world-changers, it seems, the most elegant and polished (and eccentric, with the bowtie) among them commands their respect and the room.
“Mr. Holmes has come to hear a story. Let’s not waste his time, nor what’s left of ours.”
No one agrees. No one disagrees. All eyes turn to me.
Mr. Oldham nods to me.
“You have the floor.”
The floor is mine, but I was not even a gleam in my father’s eye when these men were making their way into the wild, wild world of Texas oil—a world they would tame and tap by the billions of barrels. These mortal giants have danced in oily rain, wildly celebrating a lucky strike and in the ballrooms of kings and queens. They have testified before the Senate and Supreme Court Justices. They count presidents and preachers, world-class athletes and world-famous actors, and kings and prime ministers among their friends. They were in their day kings of industry and the envy of lesser men. They were the jokers and the butts of jokes.
They are strong but aging, and mortal at last.
I take, therefore, a moment to gather my thoughts before I begin.
Others, too…and your vote counts!
Other titles coming include Whores at Christmas, Baby Blue, Gold Dust Woman, and Hallelujah (Love is not a Victory March). If there is a bonus track, it will either be I Sang Dixie, Auld Lang Syne (Unforgot), or The Gambler.
Of those possible bonus tracks, which piques your interest the most? Let me hear from you.
Happy reading and Happy Valentine’s Day!
By the way, buy Moonshine Love for your Valentine or be selfish and buy it for yourself.
