“Music can act as a time machine…”
“Soundtrack or not, some of the songs below were on my mind in the making of certain characters, in writing specific scenes, lines of dialogue, little images. The songs refer to three different landscapes, as the novel is set between the South of Italy, London and Morocco, and are often intertwined with specific memories of my own.”
“Charli xcx’s album Brat was released on June 7th, 2024. I sold my book on June 20th. By mid-summer, the album was everywhere. And its angry-funny swagger seemed to mirror exactly what my protagonist Dell Danvers wanted: to be seen entirely and exactly on her own terms.”
“Music, then, is not just the cultural capital and fabric of Jean’s world, but a conduit to deeper human interaction: it is through music that Jean feels.”
“While writing The Death of a Jaybird, I listened to a lot of gospel music. Writing about illness and grief is emotionally demanding. Because I grew up in the church and sang in choirs for years, gospel music feels like home and a warm hug.”
“Years ago, I learned it helps me to have a playlist for each manuscript, so that after a year or more away I can just hit play and quickly find my way back into the mood and tone of those pages.”
Largehearted Boy’s favorite short fiction collections of the year.
Largehearted Boy’s favorite poetry collections of the year.
Largehearted Boy’s favorite nonfiction books of 2025
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Largehearted Boy’s favorite novels of 2025
Largehearted Boy’s favorite novels of 2025