Your Novel’s Soundtrack

Posted byHurlbertPosted inActors, Authors, Fiction, Middle Grade, Novels, Writers, YATags:, , , , , , , , , ,
Illustration of Chicago's Skyline with piano keyboard in the foreground. Text reads The Blues Behind the Worst Thing About Sam, which is a new novel by Dann Hurlbert

Writing involves reading, and researching, and, in this case, listening to some fantastic Chicago Blues. Often while working on the The Worst Thing About Sam, I listened to Chicago Blues music. A few of the Blues artists that I’ve grown to love while writing this book follow:

Illustration of Chicago Skyline with keyboard in the foreground. Text reads The Blues behind the Story, which is referencing The Worst Thing About Sam, a new novel by Dann Hurlbert
  • Buddy Guy
  • Muddy Waters
  • Susan Tedeschi
  • Koko Taylor
  • Robert Johnson (and Jake & Elwood Blues)
  • Keb’ ‘Mo
  • Delbert McClinton
  • Pokey LaFarge
  • John Lee Hooker
  • Magic Slim
  • Junior Wells
  • Big Momma Thorton

Some of the songs fit scenes in the book perfectly! So, I created a “soundtrack” for the novel. (This book would be great on film, too.) Below is The Worst Thing About Sam YouTube playlist, and here’s the link, so you can share it!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOHSOEiBdv8&list=PLMalmeBRtN6a1u9TPmIy9Sn96h3FVtyIV

Enjoy! (And, if the cello songs throw you off a little, it’s OK. Samira, in The Worst Thing About Sam, plays the cello, and she gets a couple numbers, too.

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Published by Hurlbert

Dann is an educator, Media & Design Guru, Author, and Public Speaker. He currently serves as Media and Design Specialist at an impressive little Midwestern College where he works directly with faculty to develop effective instructional videos. He has an MFA in Digital Cinema from California's National University, a BSED in English and Theatre Education from the University of South Dakota, and a certificate in Online Education from UW Stout. He was founder and principle owner of Little Prompter, LLC, a teleprompter design and manufacturing company until he sold the company in 2020. Prior to joining Carleton's staff, he taught communication, theatre, and video production for approximately 15 years while working as a professional actor and director--appearing in over forty national and regional commercials and directing and editing dozens of videos and musicals. Dann’s MFA thesis project involved writing and directing an original, full-length musical, filming the entire development and production process, and editing it into an educational DVD entitled How to Write and Produce Your Own High School Musical. His DVD is currently being distributed by Films Media Group. His debut YA Christian Fiction novel, Suddenly Rural Girl, is published through Kirk House Publishing.

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