With just over two weeks to go before Christmas and having just survived Boy Child’s 18th birthday, my brain is rapidly heading for meltdown. I’ve got lists and post its everywhere as I attempt to stay on track.
So, no excuses, no blog post for this week.
I can’t play the “cute kitty” card as I used that “get out of blog free” card earlier in the year.
I do, however, have a little “gift” to share.
Book Baby 2 is slowly coming together and, like any other “baby”, it’s occupying the majority of my free time. Like any “expectant mother”, I’m starting to get excited for its Spring arrival. Like any “baby”, it’s continuing to grow and the editing process is rounding it out nicely.
I guess you could say this is the equivalent of sharing an ultrasound scan picture with you all…… here’s a sneak peek inside.
Enjoy!
Excerpt from Impossible Depths – Book 2 in the Silver Lake Series
Coffee and cakes from an Italian bakery were the order of the day out at JJL. A routine had been established from the start of the week – Kola brought the pastries down from Philadelphia; Grey brought the coffees. Life in the studio was remarkably calm and laid back. When Jake had driven in on Wednesday, he had played the new song to his fellow band members and Dr Marrs. It needed work. It needed a bass line and a drum track, but there was unanimous agreement that is should replace track twelve on the board. Paul had pulled two late night sessions to record most of the drum tracks. When he heard the new song he nodded approvingly, declared he needed a few hours sleep before working on the drum track then headed out into the lounge.
While the drummer slept on the leather couch in the lounge, Grey began work on the bass line. The three of them worked and tweaked the song for several hours before Kola stopped them for a break. She had taken a run out to the nearest deli, returning with a variety of sandwiches and juice. Both Jake and Rich noted that the sound engineer was subtly a little more attentive to Grey and that he in turn kept his eyes on her as she sat quietly in the corner with her sandwich and a rock magazine. Watching them surreptitiously watching each other gave Jake a flash of inspiration for the lyrics that were needed for track fifteen. Excusing himself, he took his sandwich and iced tea outside along with his acoustic guitar and his lyrics journal. He settled himself in the shade round the back of the building, leaning against the back wall of the studio.
“Jake!”
The voice derailed his train of thought.
“Jake!”
“Round the back,” he called back.
A few seconds later Grey came striding round. Standing towering over his friend, the bass player declared, “Your presence is requested inside. Now.”
“On my way,” he replied, getting to his feet. “Has Paul surfaced yet?”
The bass player nodded. “And he’s come up with something sweet.”
“That was quick,” commented Jake, impressed that his friend had supplied the drum track without any drama.
“Jason’s arrived,” stated Grey bluntly as they reached the front door of the studio.
The Englishman was standing in the middle of the studio chatting with Rich when they walked in. After exchanging pleasantries with the band, he asked where Gary was.
“On his way,” replied Kola, before any of the members of Silver Lake could answer. “He’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Why isn’t he here?” demanded Jason sharply.
“Coffee run,” explained Dr Marrs. “It was his turn.”
“Convenient,” muttered the Englishman under his breath. “I’ve not got long. I need to be back in Philly for six thirty. I’ll cut to the chase. We’ve firmed up the festival dates. There’s six of them for now and I’m waiting word on two more in Canada. I’ve emailed the details to Gary. The record company also wants you to play at an event in Philadelphia on 6th July. It’s a lunchtime slot. Three songs. Two old and one new. I need the single recorded by then if possible.”
Behind them, the door creaked open and Gary slipped in carrying a cardboard tray of coffees. It was his first trip to the studio that week, but the band said nothing.
“Sorry, there was a queue,” he apologised. “Jason, I got you a latte.”
“Thank you but you’re late Mr York,” he stated bluntly as he accepted the tall waxed- paper cup. “Now where was I?”
“July 6th,” prompted Jake calmly. “We’ll be ready by then. When’s the first festival gig? Is it the Bethlehem one?”
“Yes. July 27th. You’ve got an hour on stage around six o’clock,” replied Jason. “Anyway, how’s recording going?”
“We’re only into the second week,” began Dr Marrs. “But we’re on schedule. Drum tracks are nearly there. We’ve made a start on the bass tracking this morning. There was a bit of re-writing required and Jake’s substituted a new song in the track twelve slot.”
Jason nodded approvingly as he sipped his latte. “Is Mz Hyde around?”
“No,” said Jake. “She’s at home.”
“Pity. I’ve some music files for her next project with me.”
“I can pass them on to her.”
He tossed Jake a USB flash drive. “Tell her I’ll call tomorrow morning to discuss it.”
“Sure,” promised Jake as he slipped the flash drive into his jeans pocket. “Want to hear what we’ve been working on so far?”
Silver Lake performed three of their new tracks for Jason, who nodded in approval. While he sat talking animatedly with Gary in the corner of the live room, Jake played and sang the re-worked lyrics for track fifteen. Sitting out in the shade he had come up with a lyric around moving out of the shadows of grief into the daylight warmth of love. He sang it with a straight forward, no frills honest, warm tone to his voice.
“I like that,” approved Rich when his friend was finished. “Could that be our single?”
“Perhaps,” agreed Dr Marrs. “Run through it again.”
On the third run through, Jason interrupted them. “Radio stations will love it. That’s your single, gentlemen.”
“Looks like we’re all agreed,” observed the producer, glancing over at Kola. The sound engineer nodded.
“Glad that’s sorted. Progress. I like that,” Jason stated. “I’m out of here. Gary, call me on Friday with a detailed update. Guys, I’ll see you on 6th July.”
With a slam of the door, he was gone.
Impossible Depths – due to be published Spring 2016
If you’ve not already been introduced to Jake and Lori and all things Silver Lake, you can find them on Amazon.co.uk
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stronger-Within-1-Silver-Lake/dp/151176709X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440260609&sr=8-1&keywords=stronger+within
and on Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Stronger-Within-Silver-Lake-Book-ebook/dp/B00VXDSC1M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449691975&sr=8-1&keywords=stronger+within
Coral McCallum 