Randy Ribay's Blog, page 6

I’ve been thinking about the soundtrack for AN INFINITE NUMBER OF PARALLEL UNIVERSES for a LONG time. I love music, and it plays a big part in my writing process, so I wanted to get it right. So…here it is. The YouTube and Spotify playlists are below, and then I’ve said a bit about each choice below (avoiding spoilers). There are also page numbers* so when you get your copy of AN INFINITE NUMBER OF PARALLEL UNIVERSES, you can listen along as you read. Now click play, and let the goodness tickle your ears.

1.) PAGE 7: “The Winner Is” by Devotchka 

Yeah, I know I stole this from LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE. But it’s such a great opening song, and I probably listened to it a million times on repeat while writing this book. It feels like the start of a journey, where potential trouble and hope live.

2.) PAGE 13: “Can’t Admit It” by Lily & Madeleine 

For some reason, few things resonate more with my soul than vocal harmonics and strings. This song has both, so you know it’s good. And listen to the lyrics for a sense of Archie’s state of mind.

3.) PAGE 52: “Fourth of July” by Sufjan Stevens

Love this song. Sad. Beautiful. Haunting. Everything I want people to feel while reading Mari’s scene in this chapter.

4.) PAGE 78: “Boys in the Street” by Greg Holden

I cried the first time I heard this song on the radio. The lyrics tell such a simple and powerful story that I think many people probably relate to–including Dante.

5.) PAGE 132: “Suddenly Everything Has Changed” by The Postal Service (Flaming Lips cover)

Love the Postal Service to death. They’re my go-to music on a road trip once night falls. I had a hell of a time trying to figure out which song of their to include on this playlist, but ultimately went with their cover of the Flaming Lips track because the sound and refrain fit with Sam’s discovery on this page.

6.) PAGE 147: “push pull” by Purity Ring

I love the energy and sound of this song. Perfect flying along the highway as the sunrises behind you.

7.) PAGE 150: “Wild” by Royal Teeth 

Yeah, I know track 6 is probably still playing as you get to this page, but whatever. This is another rad, energy-filled road trip song.

8.) PAGE 179: “Bittersweet Genesis (for Him & Her) by Kishi Bashi

If you’re not listening to Kishi Bashi on a regular basis, you’re doing life wrong. His music is amazing and so damned interesting. This song is my favorite off his most recent album, and perfect for this scene, especially for RPG’ers.

9.) PAGE 190: “Rivers & Roads” by The Head & The Heart 

This is probably the single song I listened to the most while writing INFINITE. It has those soaring female/male vocal harmonics for which I’m such a sucker, and killer lyrics that I think captures the essence of our fictional friends at a literal and metaphorical level.

10.) PAGE 201: “Hoppípolla” by Sigur Rós 

More epic music to be played near the end or your road trip. I can’t speak to the lyrics since Jonsí uses an invented language called Hopelandic, but they’re probably as amazing as the sound of the song.

11.) PAGE 221: “Santa Monica Dream” by Angus & Julia Stone

I stole this song from the soundtrack for the video game Life is Strange, which basically plays like a YA novel reads. I’ve probably listened to that soundtrack a zillion times this summer, so it was difficult deciding which song to steal from it. Ultimately I went with “Santa Monica Dream” because I think this song’s refrain and tone perfectly fits the mood of this scene.

12.) PAGE 230: “Think of Me As a Time of Day” by Explosions in the Sky

While “Rivers and Roads” was the song I listened to most while writing this story, Explosions in the Sky is the band I probably listened to most. If you’ve ever seen Friday Night Lights, then you know that their atmospheric instrumentals make absolutely ANYTHING feel epic, including this scene hopefully. I wish I could program the book to just automatically start playing this band every time you open INFINITE, just like one of those musical greeting cards.

13.) PAGE 240: “Wherever Is Your Heart” by Brandi Carlile 

This song came out after INFINITE already went to print, so I didn’t actually listen to it while writing the story. However, I love it to death, and the first time I heard it I knew it was perfect for the ending.

—

Well, that’s it, party people. I hope you’ve enjoyed my playlist. I think it’s pretty rad, at least. Keep an eye out for the book trailer later this week, and don’t forget to pre-order AN INFINITE NUMBER OF PARALLEL UNIVERSES or pick it up once it hits shelves on October 16th so you can actually understand what the hell I’m talking about in this post.

*Page numbers are based on the ARC, but I will revise them for the hardcover once it’s actually in people’s hands. 

Just wanted to drop a link to my interview over on Geekadelphia, where I was crowned Geek of the Week! They do so much for the city’s nerd culture, so it’s an incredible honor!

Here’s what I’ve been up to:

What I’ve been writing…

Still working on rewriting that weird YA dark fantasy. I’m about halfway through the rewrite, and I’ve actually been having a tough time making much progress. Sometimes that’s just how it goes, though. Also, I think anxiety about my impending book release and the start of the new school year is getting to me, so I need to figure out that action. I think it’s important to acknowledge that this is a stressful time for me and it’s okay if I’m not churning out words.

What I’ve been reading…

ARMADA by Ernie Cline
THE SERPENT KING by Jeff Zentner (a new favorite!)
SNOW LIKE ASHES by Sara Raasch (audiobook)
MODERN ROMANCE by Aziz Ansari (audiobok)
BORN WITH TEETH by Kate Mulgrew (audiobook)
100 SIDEWAYS MILES by Andrew Smith (audiobook–we did a lot a driving this month)
SHADOWSHAPER by Daniel José Older
THE CREEPING by Alexandra Siwory
A friend’s manuscript
THE COURAGE TO TEACH by Parker J. Palmer

What I’ve been watching/listening to/playing…

Watching: Everest, Fear the Walking Dead, Married, Wet Hot American Summer, Dating Naked, Twinning, Bachelor in Paradise (the last few here are kind of embarrassing when I list them all in a row like that…)
Listening to: Life is Strange soundtrack, the soundtrack for AN INFINITE NUMBER OF PARALLEL UNIVERSES (coming soon!)
Playing: Life is Strange (for a second time), Settlers of Catan, Chess, Tokaido, Three Cheers for Master, Machine of Death, Magic: The Gathering

What’s new…

Hung out in Boston to hang out with friends and took a dip in Walden Pond
Drove to Florida to visit family (including my new/first niece!)
Went to Harry Effing Potter World
As stated earlier, the school year is starting back up!

Bonus photos!

About a year ago, I signed with an agent. And shortly thereafter I signed a book deal with a publisher. These were joyous times, something I had worked toward for years. Even still, I was not without my insecurities.

As my debut novel’s release date approaches, I’ve felt increasingly anxious about whether or not my book will be “successful.” I do not want to disappoint my publisher, my agent, my family, or anyone who pays actual money for my words. These people have supported me. I want to make them proud.

There are two main measures the industry uses to determine a book’s success: sales figures and awards. But even with these metrics, success is ultimately a subjective concept. Stephen King might be bummed if he sells 50,000 copies, but my head would explode. What satisfies one might not satisfy another. So I’ve been asking myself: what would need to happen for me to feel content? After thinking pretty hard on this question through the last month while swimming, eating ice cream, taking long walks on the beach, etc., I’ve narrowed it down to just two things…

1. I want people to connect to my characters and find meaning in my story. This is why I read, and it’s why I write. I love falling in love with fictional people, living in their world, and accompanying them on their journeys. And I love when a story moves me and makes me think about myself, others, or life in a new way. Of course, if this is happening with my readers is a difficult thing to measure. The only way I will know is if people tell me through emails or tweets or reviews or old-fashioned conversation. So, people, if you read a book you love, I encourage to tell the author. It will make him/her very happy.

2. I want to sell enough copies that someone will want to publish more of my books. I don’t need to make the NY Times bestseller’s list, but I certainly want people beyond just my family and friends to buy my book. I like writing, and I want to keep doing it. I have a day job, so I’m not rubbing my hands together in anticipation of potential earnings. I just want respectable sales figures so that a respectable publisher will want to put something else I’ve written into the world. If my figures are laughable, it’s still possible to publish again, but it will make it much harder.

So there you have it. Has figuring this out helped lessen my anxiety? Meh. For now, I suppose. I’ll try to keep reminding myself of these things and hope it’s enough.

About a year ago, I signed with an agent. And shortly thereafter I signed a book deal with a publisher. These were joyous times, something I had worked toward for years. Even still, I was not without my insecurities.

As my debut novel’s release date approaches, I’ve felt increasingly anxious about whether or not my book will be “successful.” I do not want to disappoint my publisher, my agent, my family, or anyone who pays actual money for my words. These people have supported me. I want to make them proud.

There are two main measures the industry uses to determine a book’s success: sales figures and awards. But even with these metrics, success is ultimately a subjective concept. Stephen King might be bummed if he sells 50,000 copies, but my head would explode. What satisfies one might not satisfy another. So I’ve been asking myself: what would need to happen for me to feel content? After thinking pretty hard on this question through the last month while swimming, eating ice cream, taking long walks on the beach, etc., I’ve narrowed it down to just two things…

1. I want people to connect to my characters and find meaning in my story. This is why I read, and it’s why I write. I love falling in love with fictional people, living in their world, and accompanying them on their journeys. And I love when a story moves me and makes me think about myself, others, or life in a new way. Of course, if this is happening with my readers is a difficult thing to measure. The only way I will know is if people tell me through emails or tweets or reviews or old-fashioned conversation. So, people, if you read a book you love, I encourage to tell the author. It will make him/her very happy.

2. I want to sell enough copies that someone will want to publish more of my books. I don’t need to make the NY Times bestseller’s list, but I certainly want people beyond just my family and friends to buy my book. I like writing, and I want to keep doing it. I have a day job, so I’m not rubbing my hands together in anticipation of potential earnings. I just want respectable sales figures so that a respectable publisher will want to put something else I’ve written into the world. If my figures are laughable, it’s still possible to publish again, but it will make it much harder.

So there you have it. Has figuring this out helped lessen my anxiety? Meh. For now, I suppose. I’ll try to keep reminding myself of these things and hope it’s enough.

Only TWO months until my book baby is born! To celebrate, I’m giving away a couple of signed ARCs over at Goodreads. May the odds be ever in your favor! (Ends 8/28. International love!)

Goodreads Book Giveaway


An Infinite Number of Parallel Universes
by Randy Ribay

Giveaway ends August 28, 2015.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Mark your calendars–local authors will be signing books throughout the store at the Cherry Hill, NJ Barnes & Noble on Saturday, September 12. AN INFINITE NUMBER OF PARALLEL UNIVERSES won’t be available yet, but I’ll be there from 2-4pm taking pre-orders, handing out swag, and juggling burning cats.

Keep an eye on the events page to see what else I’ll be up to.

Here’s what I’ve been up to:

What I’ve been writing…

I’m about a third of the way through a complete rewrite of a story I drafted in the fall/winter. I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s a YA dark fantasy featuring a girl, a boy, a goblin, a talking whale, a cult, and an ocean world of perpetual darkness…

What I’ve been reading…

The Witch Hunter by Virginia Boecker
Crow’s Rest by Angelica R. Jackson
Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertelli
Blackbird Fly by Erin Entrada Kelly
The Walking Dead vol. 23 by Robert Kirkman
The Rat Queens vol. 2 by Kurtis Wiebe
Armada by Ernest Cline

What I’ve been watching/listening to/playing…

Watching: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Inside Out, Trainwreck, Ant-Man, Dating Naked, Flight of the Conchords
Listening to: The XX by The XX, Stay Gold by The First Aid Kit, So Jealous by Tegan and Sara, Another Eternity by Purity Ring
Playing: Life is Strange, Outlast, The Stanley Parable, Gone Home

What’s new…

Lots of napping
I spilled a lot of super glue on my hand yesterday
Got some swag for my book

I spoke to a writers’ group the other day, and the most interesting question I received was about how my style/approach to writing has changed since going through the publication process with my first novel. Without hesitation, I answered that it was coming to understand that most of writing is revising. I told them that if I quantified all the hours I spent working on that book, less than a tenth would come from writing the first draft.

I used to equate “writing” with “composing a first draft.” Revising and editing were necessary evils that would be tacked onto the end of that process. But, to me, the meat of the process was just getting that story down. If I could put down a good enough story, then I could be a “writer.”

However, I now understand that that’s just the beginning. The meat of the process is revision. And I no longer view it as requisite tweaking, but rather as the actual place where I take something vaguely shaped like a story and shape it into an actual story. If you were to compare it to baking, writing the first draft is not the baking. It’s not even the mixing. Writing the first draft is like gathering the ingredients in front of you.

“That’s kind of discouraging,” one of the members of the group said. “Thinking of all that work you put into the first draft.”

But I told her that it was actually freeing. Understanding that the first draft doesn’t need to be good (or even kind of remotely good) allows me to write more and more quickly. I no longer stop and torture myself searching for the perfect line of dialogue or clever twist or inspiring description. I just write, and I tell myself, “Yeah, it’s crap, but whatever. I’ll fix it later.”

If you read a lot of writing advice, this probably isn’t new to you. But I didn’t learn this by reading a quote about it on Twitter. I learned it by doing it, by revising the hell out of a story until I sold it. So if you find yourself stuck with a manuscript nobody will buy, maybe you need to write another one. Or maybe you need to actually write that story.

Three months until AN INFINITE NUMBER OF PARALLEL UNIVERSES hits shelves! To celebrate, I created a fancy new Facebook author page! To celebrate my fancy new Facebook author page, like my fancy new Facebook author page by midnight (PST) 7/16 for a chance to win a signed advanced review copy + white walker bobblehead! Exclamation point! Winner will be announced on fancy new Facebook author page on 7/17!