*Spoiler alert for Chapter 17: Lightning Crashes
A unique, one-time occurrence
This is another chapter that didn't have a name until I happened upon a song I hadn't heard in a very long time. It was an obvious fit. There is a "circle of life" element to the chapter, and the song very obviously carries this same sentiment.
Lightning crashes
A new mother cries
Her placenta falls to the floor
The angel opens her eyes
The confusion sets in
Before the doctor can even close the door
Lightning crashes
An old mother dies
Her intentions fall to the floor
The angel closes her eyes
The confusion that was hers
Belongs now, to the baby down the hall
- Live, Lightning Crashes
A very emotional chapter, laced with hope, requires a very emotional song laced with hope.
Honestly, I can't remember if I had the ending to this book thought out before I began writing it. And I've received some feedback that the ending leaves people hanging a little bit. In the grand scheme, this is okay because I may bring more closure to Dustin and Holly's story in a follow-up book (I am always thinking about this stuff). Plus, the story is meant to be about Dustin and Damon's journey, not about Dustin and Holly working through things.
What's great about this song is the slow burn build-up in the music. It crescendos softly with the initial iteration of the chorus.
Oh, now feel it coming back again
Like a rolling thunder chasing the wind
Forces pulling from the center of the Earth again
I can feel it
- Live, Lightning Crashes
When Holly shows up, Dustin can feel gravity again. His feet are underneath him, where they haven't been for some time. One door closes after he experiences a terrible loss, but another door opens back up.
And, of course, there is little Wally. I like to think of this as a small plot twist, in that Holly is looking to the healing power of a dog ("off screen"), as she has many times in the past, and perhaps this is the thing she and Dustin have in common that they can build on again.
I read a book about writing recently, and it says that a story can only be about one thing. Gone to the Movies is definitely about the healing power of dogs. If I have to distill the story down to a one-liner, this is the one-liner. Embarrassingly, without doing it on purpose, I think I captured it perfectly in this ending. I can live with that.
Full circle
And, of course to end this blog series, we must return to the beginning of it. Those of you following since the beginning will remember that my first post focused on the idea that this will someday be a movie. Of course, every movie needs a great song for the credits, and for Gone to the Movies that song is The Masterplan, by Oasis.
I added this song to the soundtrack on Spotify last week; so hopefully some of you have listened to it by now. Oasis was a pretty prolific band during the nineties, and this is one of their lesser-known tracks because it is a b-side. It's not from one of their big commercial albums, but I think it is one of the best songs they've made.
See kids, back in the nineties😆, bands would release something called a single. Singles would be released on something called a CD. Typically, bands would include unreleased tracks along with the single to entice people to buy the single in addition to the full album! This song was released as a b-side on the Wonderwall single, then eventually on a compilation album.
I have no idea what the song was meant to be about, but I take from it a meaning about letting go of the past, and enjoying the present, because none of us know what it (life, etc.) is really all about.
Take the time to make some sense
Of what you want to say
And cast your words away upon the waves
Sail them home with acquiesce
On a ship of hope today
And as they land upon the shore
Tell them not to fear no more
Say it loud and sing it proud today
And then
Dance if you wanna dance
Please brother take a chance
You know they're gonna go
Which way they wanna go
All we know is that we don't know
How it's gonna be
Please brother let it be
Life on the other hand
Won't make us understand
We're all part of a masterplan
- Oasis, The Masterplan
Life is a journey, and sometimes all we can do is forge ahead. This definitely captures Dustin's story.
Thank you
Again, if you've been reading these posts since the beginning, thank you. This has been one of the most interesting things I've ever attempted. I thought I was a disciplined person, and then I tried to write a weekly blog post! The dedication that writing, marketing, and selling a book requires can't be overstated. It is a lot of work, for very little return (financially).
I definitely didn't do this for money though. This has been a learning experience for me, first and foremost. It is also about bringing attention to mental health and animal rescue in the US. I hope that goal is something I achieve better as I release more stories. My prequel to Gone to the Movies will definitely still center on these same two topics, but in a completely different way.
So with that, I'll sign off from this blog series for now. Future posts will slow down a bit, but you can expect some book reviews, insight into my writing process, and teasers for my current project, Ghost of an Angel!
Until next time, see you at the movies.
Soundtrack (thus far):
Bonus Track: Interstate Love Song - Stone Temple Pilots
Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town - Pearl Jam
Bonus Track: Rockin' Chair - Oasis
Bonus Track: Happy - The Tories
Bonus Track: Song for You - Fuel
Follow as we build the soundtrack on Spotify!