Saturday, October 29, 2022

Rock on! What Song would YOU Choose?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: The  link between music and mystery is marvelously universal. It's storytelling, isn’t it? For a good story you need a character you care about. A problem that needs to be solved. You need a good guy and a bad guy. You need emotion. You need to lure the reader along until the irresistible end. Just like in a song.

How many stories are written as songs? From the doomed love of Greensleeves (Alas, my love, you have done me wrong) to Miss Otis Regrets (She pulled a gun and shot her lover down, madam); to Frankie and Johnny, when Frankie walks into the bar room, and pulls out her old .44. The Ode to Billy Joe, when Billy Joe McAllister throws something off the Tallahatchie Bridge. In the Cher classic Bang Bang, it’s all about murder. (Isn’t it?) Oh, and in the sprightly Copacabana, right? A murder mystery (and psychological thriller) in three verses and three choruses. And, in my teenage years at least, we learned you won’t come back from Dead Man’s Curve, and understood that if you dated The Leader of the Pack, it would not end well. And poor Teen Angel.

And if you are laughing now, and singing in recognition, that’s exactly the point. No matter when and where we grew up, it was the music that brought us together. And it still does.

That’s why I was so delighted (and incredibly honored) to be asked to write the introduction to the Triangle Chapter of SIsters in Crime’s new short story anthology. It’s about–well… Here's the wonderful Karen Pullen to give you the scoop. 


Rock, Roll, and Ruin Makes Three

by Karen Pullen

A loooong time ago (2014), the Triangle chapter of Sisters in Crime produced our first short story anthology, Carolina Crimes: 19 Tales of Lust, Love, and Longing. Our sex-themed collection. I had the honor of editing it, and even wrote a Jungle Red post about our anthology journey. (Ever notice how every activity is a “journey” these days?) I swore I’d never do it again because it was a lot of work and I am lazy.

In 2017 we produced a second anthology, Need, Greed, and Dirty Deeds (the drugs collection), edited by Nora Gaskin Esthimer, but I stayed out of the fray for that one.

Fast forward a few years, and certain Triangle chapter members (I won’t name them) pestered asked me to do it again. The chapter had, after all, promised a trilogy of anthologies around the three themes of sex, drugs, and rock & roll. I caved; it was now time for our musically-themed anthology.

Write a crime story about rock and roll. That was the guidance we gave to prospective authors, either chapter members or Sisters in Crime members who live in the Carolinas. The rock & roll theme was to be interpreted loosely and could include any form of music. Music is so significant in our lives. It can raise your mood, contribute to relaxation or excitement. It can provide an escape, or increase tension, as in a movie. Most importantly, music like lullabies or romantic ballads or the rock & roll of your teen years will trigger memorable emotions. Music truly is the soundtrack to our lives.











Dozens of writers submitted original, never-before-published stories around a musical theme. A blind judging selected the finalists, and then the fun began: the back-and-forth of revisions. The final result? A collection of twenty-seven musically-themed crime stories around situations as unique as your fingerprints. Carolina Crimes: Rock, Roll, and Ruin, edited by me, with an introduction from the inimitable Hank Phillippi Ryan, published by Down & Out Books on October 3, 2022.

 I wish I had room in this post to include each author’s name, title, and logline. Let me just say that the musical score to murder, malice, and mayhem includes Elvis, church music, tribal drumming, a Broadway show tune, bluegrass, opera, the Stones, Joan Jett, Stevie Nicks, and, of course, the Beatles.

Why does a SinC chapter undertake such a project? For some chapters, it might result in revenue. For ours, an anthology offers a publishing credit and opportunities for fledgling writers. We are particularly proud of three who were brave enough to submit their good work, resulting in their first-ever stories in print:  Pamela Raymond, James Michael McGuffey, and David Goldston. Remember their names!

Tell me in the comments about your first published short story—whether in an anthology, online, or in a journal or magazine. Was it fun to write it, easy to work with an editor, thrilling to see it in print?

In one week, a lucky commenter’s name will be drawn at random, to win a copy of Carolina Crimes: Rock, Roll, and Ruin.


HANK: Or an alternative question: What  song is your anthem? What song changed your life? What song would YOU like to write a short story about? (You don't have to write it, even better!) Right now, I’m going  with Defying Gravity. But wait, that's not rock ‘n roll. Okay–how about–The Waiting?

How about you, Reds and readers?

 

Karen Pullen is a proud founder of the Triangle chapter of Sisters in Crime, celebrating ten years in 2022. She edited the Anthony-nominated Carolina Crimes: 19 Tales of Lust, Love, and Longing. Her first story in print won a Derringer award; her story collection Restless Dreams was published by Bedazzled Ink. She has also published two mystery novels, Cold Feet and Cold Heart. She lives in Chapel Hill, NC.


68 comments:

  1. This sounds like quite an undertaking, Karen . . . Congratulations to you and to the authors included in the book; I’m looking forward to reading their stories.
    If I were choosing a song to write a short story about, I pick Randy Travis’s “Three Wooden Crosses” . . . .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I don’t know that’s all! Let me go look it up…

      Delete
    2. I don't know it either, but the title is a real hook!

      Delete
  2. Congrats on getting this project finished!

    Just like when I'm asked about a favorite book, my mind goes blank when I am asked about favorite songs. So many. Too many to list. And, since I mainly listen to Christian music, most are probably by artists you haven't heard of before.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A Christmas song short story might be really great!

      Delete
  3. Congratulations on the anthology, Karen! That kind of project is indeed a lot of work.

    My first published short story, in a local newspaper, was "The Viking Girl" when I was nine. Then "The Odakyu Line," a competition-winning flash (600-word) Christmas story in 1996, followed by "The Taste of Winter" in the Larcom Review. All of those pretty much poured out of me.

    My first crime fiction short was "Obake for Lance" in Riptide: Crime Stories by New England Writers, the second-ever Level Best Books anthology in 2004. I have 28 published short stories, and for only one was I asked to make any substantive edits.

    I love writing short, changing up the form from novels, and often taking a darker look at life and murderous revenge!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are amazing. And no changes, wow. We’ll have to talk about that someday!

      Delete
    2. Edith, you are a writing force, for sure. Since the age of nine!

      Delete
  4. That's impressive, Edith, that you were only asked for edits for one story. I've had that experience a couple times with nonfiction articles published in national magazines, and it's such a wonderful validation, isn't it?

    Karen, I LOVE the theme of your anthology trilogy. Sex, drugs and rock n' roll--what could be more encompassing? Hits all the highlights of life.

    No fiction published for me, alas. I'm a reader. However, if I were to write a story around a song, it would have to be "Goodbye Earl", by the Dixie Chicks. A perfect crime, with a justifiable motive, carried out by best friends. Good riddance, you rat.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, another song I don’t know! I’ll have to Google…

      Delete
    2. Love that song. The video is so great.

      Delete
  5. Congratulations on the new anthology. Great theme for the trilogy!

    I am a reader, unpublished in any genre. However, Hank got me going this morning and I now have a half a dozen funny old songs competing for "Air Time" in my head.

    Love Potion # 9
    Spooky
    Haunted House (Gene Simmons version)
    The Eggplant that Ate Chicago
    (Hah! )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Love potion number 9! Hilarious! And now I am singing…

      Delete
    2. Uh oh, now they're competing for attention in my head too.

      Delete
  6. Congratulations Karen, and to you too
    Hank, the stories sound delicious. Songs, well now where to start? Miss American Pie, that anthem of the ‘70’s, and why? Because my tiny daughter of 2+ could belt it out and to me it sang of all the absurd and fascinating things I was encountering in my new life in the USA. I’m not an author but recently I was a part of a public reading of one of my memoir pieces. No, not looking for a publisher- Celia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I so agree! That song is absolutely irresistibly wonderful!

      Delete
    2. Celia, how about "Alice's Restaurant" for a memorable anthem of that time?

      Delete
  7. I love the themes for the anthologies! Unfortunately, a song that came to mind was Maxwell's Silver Hammer by the Beatles. I remember going to a party when I was only 11 or 12 and laughing about that song. It came to mind because, sadly, a real crime using a hammer was prominent in yesterday's news.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. True. That is outrageous and terrifying and hideously disturbing in so many ways. And so incredibly sad.

      Delete
  8. Bruce Springsteen, Thunder Road. "There are ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away
    They haunt this dusty beach road In the skeleton frames of burned out Chevrolets." Where did Mary end up? Did she climb in?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He is such a genius! So many of his songs would be perfect…

      Delete
    2. Oddly, no Springsteen references in any of the stories. Hmmm....

      Delete
  9. Fun idea for an anthology, Karen. I have two feel-good go-to songs : Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock & Roll," and Kiki Dee & Elton John's "I Got the Music in Me." Singing along at the top of my lungs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those are such fabulous anthems!

      Delete
    2. I sing in the car, if alone. And dance, kinda?

      Delete
  10. I would like to be able to publish two books. One is a story about how my 10 yr. old grandson overcame his fear of having to jump off an ocean pier into the waves for his jr. life-guarding class. And the second book is to help my husband get his children's book published - it is a story told using double words as a family travels to places like Bora Bora - "It's so Nice, it's Named Twice."

    As far as a song for an anthem, given the death yesterday of the great Jerry Lee Lewis - "Goodness Gracias - Great Balls of Fire"!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is absolutely a brilliant brilliant brilliant idea! I hope you will do it. Walla Walla. Xx

      Delete
  11. As Judy put it, there are so many songs competing for air time in my head. I seem to go it spells with one dominating, then suddenly being replaced by another. Ode to Billy Joe has certainly been on that list, along with Hotel California, Miss American Pie (that one was in there for a about a week not more than a month ago), and many more. First short story...hmmm...I believe that would be Murder on Front Street, a McKenna Mystery that was set in Lāhainā.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great choices! Hotel California is one of my all-time favorites…

      Delete
    2. Terry, now I can't stop thinking of the dramatic ones! So many stories in songs!!

      The Doors: LA Woman
      The Eagles: Take it Easy
      Allman Brothers: Melissa

      Delete
  12. For no particular reason " I Shot the Sheriff" comes to mind, although that doesn't seem to leave much mystery, does it? I'll have to find your book as I am sure I will enjoy it. None of my short stories have ever been published; they were only written for my family's entertainment. However I did have a tip published in American Baby. My "pay" was a few copies of the magazine.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Congratulations! And bragging rights and some magazines to give to friends… That is always wonderful!

      Delete
    2. But that’s a good song choice! Why did he confess? And who shot the deputy? :-)

      Delete
  13. Well, I've never written a short story outside of school assignments so I've never had one published.

    But there have been plenty of songs that have changed my life.

    Iron Maiden's "Alexander The Great" from their 'Somewhere In Time" album opened my eyes to how to tell a history lesson in a song without being totally damn boring.

    Hearing the song "Hall of the Mountain King" by Savatage changed my life because that led to them becoming my favorite band, seeing them in concert, meeting the guys in the band and writing a couple of articles about their albums.

    Hearing Queensryche's 'Operation:mindcrime' album definitely changed my life because it is a full-length concept album that tells a tale of conspiracy, murder and more. I own that album on cassette, vinyl, three different versions on CD and I saw the tour they performed the whole album twice plus bought both versions of the live release of that tour. And years later saw the singer do the whole album live again. And wrote articles about the album. It is without a doubt my all-time favorite album.

    And then there's the Metal Church song "Badlands". The song is great but there's a line in the song that kind of serves as an anthem for me. It reads as follows: "As the world awakens me so hard / my values haven't changed / I make a promise to myself / Never again.

    And over the last couple of years, the Greek metal band Illusory opened my eyes anew with their album 'Crimson Wreath'. It showed a jaded music fan that there are still new or new-to-me bands out there making damn good music. I listen to that album at least once every week and every song start to finish is amazing. 75 minutes long and I never once get bored with even a single note. Not only did I love the album from the start, but because of how it hit home with me, I even did an interview with the band. And I love this lyric from the song "A Poem I Couldn't Rhyme" - "Words I once wrote / through them I speak / a never-ending story / Singing a poem I couldn't rhyme / yet, melody's inside me

    And let us never forget the late great Warren Zevon whose work is peerless in my eyes. It is hard to pick a particular song as the perfect example of his work but I know that it was "Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner" that I heard first and loved that there was a curse word in it. (Hey I was young then, give me a break).

    Hopefully that gives not only the answers to the questions asked today but an insight on what music means to me and how it fuels me in life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jay, thank you for this thoughtful reply and introduction to some artists I don't know. Those lyrics are powerful!

      Delete
    2. LOVE Warren Zevon! Send lawyers, guns and money....

      Delete
  14. "The Sound of Silence" could work... showing the state of mind of either the criminal or of the noir-ish detective.

    Avis Crane

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A favorite and a classic, and I can see how it could be a backdrop for a crime story. I stole "restless dreams" (the name of my story collection) from that song!

      Delete
  15. What a marvelously intriguing trilogy. And the music one is especially enticing.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I completely love the concept of the anthologies... I'd pick something by Paul Simon... Graceland with his usual double and triple meanings...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He is the best. I once wrote an essay on Homeward Bound--a song I never liked until I went on book tour. Then I realized I just didn't understand it.

      Delete
  17. I love the idea of Alice's Restaurant for a crime story. Also was glad to read that opera was included in some of the submissions. Someone has called opera "songs of love and death," Which I think is a great story title.

    ReplyDelete
  18. sorry I am late to the party. Slept in this morning. Writing is a lot of work! I just wrote and wrote then forgot to eat!

    Karen, welcome to JRW. Your short stories sound interesting.

    Still new to music and songs myself since I am in the midst of learning how to hear again. An author friend was asking us about playlists while writing. I never thought of listening to music or playlists while writing.

    However, I do love going to the Opera. I can read the English subtitles and enjoy watching the performance on stage. I learned that I like listening to Beethoven when I was in a boutique and someone was playing Beethoven music. I also enjoy music by Mozart. They are all dead white men.

    Grew up in a musical family, ironically. Several family members have careers in music. Bluegrass country, folk, and jazz music.

    Diana

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's no such thing as late to Jungle Red!

      Delete
    2. Diana, I like opera too. So dramatic, and those voices!

      Delete
  19. Jody Reynolds singing Endless Sleep. Another teen suicide song but much better than the later Patches. And who can forget Freddie Mercury singing "Mama, Just killed a man" in Bohemian Rhapsody? And that old folk song the Kingston Trio made famous again, Tom Dooley. Or one of my favorites when I was a kid: Marty Robbins singing El Paso. What a voice!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Patches, no no , not that one! Ahhh... And now it is in my head. But whoa, El Paso. Yes, that's a true classic.

      Delete
    2. Does Patches come across as whiney in your head? Does in mine. Wipe it out with Endless Sleep.

      Delete
    3. I'm getting inspired by these song titles. More stories!

      Delete
  20. My ultimate and only favorite song that is inspiring, captivating and beautiful and makes me feel utterly transported is Hallelujah sung by Leonard Cohen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes. Or k. d. lang. Transported is the right word.

      Delete
    2. Yes, and that could be an amazing short story!

      Delete
  21. Crazy by Patsy Cline. So emotional and heartbreaking.

    ReplyDelete
  22. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  23. How fabulous! This is a definite holiday gift for the music lovers in my life!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jenn, you win a copy of Rock Roll and Ruin! Can you email me a mailing address? karen (at) karenpullen.com?

      Delete
  24. Congrats for pulling this together, Karen. It was fun to be part of it. I'm not a natural short story writer, but my first published one was in the first Carolina Crimes anthology, titled "Forever Yours", and it was dark, just the way I like my stories. As far as rock music, anything by Ray Charles. I still have a bunch of his albums. All I have to do to play them is find my record player in the attic. There's a short story up there, a mystery, titled, "What's hiding in the attic?"

    ReplyDelete
  25. "Forever Mine"? Dark indeed. Now go look in the attic for the record player! With a flashlight!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks, everyone, for your comments and the musical memories and inspirations. I have randomly (Excel has a function!!) chosen a winner of a copy of Rock, Roll, and Ruin - drum roll please - Jenn McKinlay! I'll try to find her contact information...

    ReplyDelete