We've talked before about the fact that more short-story anthologies seem to be published these days than in the past. Especially short mystery/crime anthologies and--again especially--crime anthologies based on singers and songs.
Two of these music-themed anthologies were published since I last posted here, two weeks ago, and I was fortunate enough to have stories in them.
A Fanilow of Manilow
The first of those was A Killing at the Copa: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Music of Barry Manilow. Published by White City Press and edited by old friend Jay Hartman, this anthology contains thirteen stories and was released on March 18. My story there is called "Lonely Together," which is also the title of the song that inspired it, from the 1980 Manilow album Barry. (I suspect the reason I'm a fanilow is that so many of his songs bring back good memories.)
My story involves a man and woman who meet by chance at the bar of a Moscow nightclub. One is American and one's Russian and both are single, a situation that seemed to me to fit both the title while offering lots of chances for mystery and deceit and a twisty plot--in fact, there are several complete reversals in the storyline during the course of the tale. The whole thing is written almost entirely in dialogue between these two people, and since I love writing dialogue, that made it even more fun for me. At 2000 words it's fairly short, and includes only two scenes.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Computer
The second music-themed anthology was Every Day a Little Death: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Stephen Sondheim, published by Level Short and edited by writer/editor/globetrotter Josh Pachter. (This is the fifth of Josh's music-based anthology projects that I've been involved with--each one has been great fun and interesting, and I think I'm more excited about this particular story of mine than I've been about any of the others.) Every Day a Little Death features twenty writers, many of whom (except me) were chosen because they're extremely familiar with, and active in, the world of the theatre. It was released on March 22.
My anthology story, "I Love to Travel," is once again based on a song with the same title, this one from the Sondheim musical Frogs. This wasn't my favorite of his songs (my faves are probably "Send in the Clowns" and some of the tunes from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), but this one was fun to spin a story around. My story, about 3800 words, includes two hicks from the South Louisiana swamps who decide to rob the eccentric CEO of a chain of Walmart-like retail stores. These idiots put together a gang of misfits who travel to Florida to pull the heist, which--surprise, surprise!--doesn't go as planned. Now that I think of it, this probably was a case of sending in the clowns . . .
Questions
How do you, as a writer and/or a reader, feel about these "inspired-by-the-music-of" anthologies? Do you find them enjoyable to write stories for? To read? How does that compare to other themes? Do you tend to play the song that's represented by a certain story while you're writing it?--I know some folks do. Does it have to be music by an artist you like, for you to enjoy the anthology? Does it make no difference, so long as the stories are good? Which one(s) of these projects--there have been many--have you most enjoyed? Which have you contributed a story to? Do you have any suggestions for music on which future themed-anthologies should be based? NOTE: I'll be traveling today and might not be able to reply right away, but your thoughts and comments are always appreciated.
In closing, I hope that, wherever you are, spring has sprung. (Begone from me, coats, gloves, and longjohns.) Dust off the pollen, keep reading those anthology stories, and keep writing!
I’ve said this elsewhere, John, and possibly here at SleuthSayers, too: you’re one of what I call my “back pocket” contributors. Whenever I ask you for a story for one of my projects, I know for a solid fact that you’ll deliver the goods — on time, on topic, and either ready to go or darn close to it!
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, Sondheim was my eighth “inspired by” anthology, and I have two more coming up. I’ve also written for several of them edited by other people and, regardless of who’s editing, I find it fun to let a song’s lyrics spark my imagination.
Josh, you are too kind. (This is John, by the way--the Blogger program has renamed me Anonymous.) And yes, for me, it's the lyrics that inspire me, not necessarily the music. I hope you'll edit many more of these!
DeleteI am never inspired to write a story for an "Inspired By" anthology. But I may enjoy reading some of the stories and I think it's great when writers get published, no matter what they write. Write more and publish more.
ReplyDeleteJim, this is John, replying late (we just got home). I suspect you're not the only one who isn't inspired by these kinds of themes. I do like writing them, though. By the way, I'm hoping you'll enjoy reading the stories in *these* two anthologies.
DeleteThanks for stopping in, here.
Here's hoping one day there's a Led Zeppelin anthology and that we're both invited to contribute to it.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Justin! I bet there's a possibility that someone--Josh, Michael Bracken, Jay Hartman, someone--will take you up on that suggestion.
DeleteThe songs we love not only stir emotions, but memories as well. The two can recombine into poignant tales. I had a story featured in Minstrels in the Galaxy, an anthology of 12 science fiction stories inspired by the music of Jethro Tull. It was a blast to write, and an honor to be included with so many gifted authors.
ReplyDeleteHey Mike--This is John (call me Anonymous). I heard about that Jethro Tull anthology! Now I've got to get hold of it, and read your story. And yep, I'm with you on the memories--lots of songs make me remember exactly what I was doing the first time I heard them.
DeleteJosh offered me a slot in his Joni Mitchell anthology (a very successful book, as it turned out) at a point when few songs were still available. I picked one I didn't know. Once I understood the lyrics, I got really annoyed at the woman in the song, who gave all her power to the guy. So my story featured a woman NYPD cop who meets the boy from her lost youth twenty years later on the mortuary slab and has some revelations about the past while investigating his murder. It seems I didn't quite get it how you're supposed to work the song into the story. I thought I did, but Josh regretfully declined. Black Cat MM published the story, which is still one of my favorites, and I haven't tried to write another song tribute story. I leave 'em to you guys who have the knack.
ReplyDeleteLIz, which story was that?
Delete"Death Will Give You A Reason," eventually published in Black Cat Mystery Magazine #10 and again in my e-collection DEATH WILL KEEP YOU SOBER: Bruce Kohler Short Mysteries. The best lines in the song, "A Strange Boy," were, "Grow up! I cried/ "Give me one good reason why." As we gals say among ourselves, MEN!
DeleteLiz, this is John. Leave it to you to come up with a story like that! (Sounds good to me!) I'm sorry it didn't make it into the anthology but glad it found a home at at Black Cat Mystery Magazine. I love BCMM.
DeleteI've never written for a 'song' anthology, and am intrigued now! Do you think someone will do a Gershwin or Rachmaninoff one? grin (Dad was in a big band, hence my name Melodie, and the fact that I read music before I read English.) But thinking about it...if I didn't particularly like a group, I wouldn't know their songs, and thus probably wouldn't be attracted to the anthology. How interesting. I've never though about this before.
ReplyDeleteMelodie, John here. (I am not Anonymous!--Or Spartacus.) I too would love to see a Gershwin or Rachmaninoff anthology, though I'm not sure I could come up with a story good enough to fit either of those. I swear I get goosebumps every time I hear "Rhapsody in Blue" or "On a Theme of Paganini." And I'm surprised to hear that you've not tried a story for these many music-inspired anthologies. I understand there are more of them coming up in the future--get thee to a keyboard!
Delete(head smack) When I saw the title, John, I was thinking humor writer Dave Barry and his good friend and Rock Bottom Remainders bandmate, Stephen King. Oh, you mean THAT Stephen and Barry. In which case I mean to say congratulations!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, Leigh, I've been inspired by that Barry and that Stephen as well. What's funny is, I myself should've thought of that.
DeleteI've written for ten+/- "inspired by the music of" anthologies (and I edited one: Janie's Got a Gun: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Music of Aerosmith. Some were by invitation, some were open-call. And I've written for their close cousins, anthologies of stories inspired by one-hit wonders or specific genres of music.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it isn't a question of liking the artist. Though I've not disliked any of the artists who inspired my stories, I liked some better than others. Instead of listening to the music, I read lyrics, looking for something that inspires me. If I find lyrics that spark something, then I listen to the music.
Two potentially interesting observations:
1) Temple wanted to read an anthology of crime fiction inspired by the music of Lyle Lovett, a conversation I know she had with Josh Pachter. When Josh decided to do a Lyle Lovett anthology, he invited Temple and me to collaborate on a story for it. We did, and "The Road to Ensenada" will appear soon. We later collaborated on a second story, not inspired by music, that's currently making the rounds.
2) I wrote a story that was intended for a one-hit wonder anthology, based on a song that only had two words in it. I did not finish the story in time, but I recently placed it in a lit mag, of all places. Next challenge: Write a piece of crime fiction inspired by a song with only one word in it. "Tequila," anyone?
Michael, this is John, under my Anonymous pseudonym. I too have had stories in ten of these music-inspired anthologies, with two more coming up. Hard to believe there've been so many of them. And I agree with you, I (as mentioned in another comment, I think) get my inspiration not from the group or from a particular song's melody, etc., but from the lyrics. It's usually that that kicks off a story idea, for me.
DeleteCongrats to you and Temple, on that collaboration. Well done!
And I like your suggestion of a one-word-title song inspiration. I can think of many.
This is my second inspired by music story ("Some Kind of Friend" in Copa and "Wildfire" in (I Just) Died in Your Arms: Crime Fiction Inspired by One-Hit Wonders. I'm hooked! These are so fun to write (and read!) Big fan, all kinds of music, so I hope to be able to write another of these stories and looking forward to reading the other anthologies, too.
ReplyDeleteChris, I too think I'm hooked on these music-themed anthologies. (On both writing for them and reading them.) Thanks as always for chiming in, here.
DeleteHere are some suggestions for artists whose songs might inspire: Tom Waits (a noir anthology?), John Prine, Steve Goodman, both great storytellers. And if you edit one of these, keep me in mind!
ReplyDeleteHa! This time, maybe because it's a reply to the final comment, Blogger's going to allow me to use my name.
DeleteSusan, all those are cool suggestions. (Listen up, Josh, Michael, Barb, Jay, etc.!)
My story in Josh's anthology "Every Day a Little Death" is the first one I've written based on the music or songs of an artist. I got a real kick out of it and would definitely do it again, even though historically I've shied away from writing to prompts. Turns out, I enjoyed the challenge of coming up with a story, and the puzzlemaker in me loved figuring out how to pepper it with references to the Sondheim musical "Company" without being too obvious. Also gave me a chance to revisit the music of "Company," which I think is fantastic. I even took the opportunity to catch a performance by a nearby community theater group that was fortuitously staging a production. Overall, it was a blast and I'm grateful to Josh for inviting me to contribute to the project.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Brian! I agree: It's fun to come up with an appropriate story and plant all the easter eggs that point to the song. I'm looking forward to reading your story, and hoping we'll be together in some future anthologies too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment!