I’ve heard rumors that there are writers in the world who can write without music, but I have to confess I’m not usually one of them. Perhaps it’s the lack of quiet spaces living in the heart of a city, but I’ve always found it difficult to summon fantasy worlds when all I hear are the sounds of planes taking off, fire trucks hurrying to the rescue, and my neighbors re-shingling their houses. On an almost daily basis, I put my headphones in and let the music transport me to wild worlds filled with magic. CHILDREN OF LIGHT AND SHADOW by Ryan Kirk The Legend of Adani #4 A new generation of warriors arises Two generations have passed since Elian, Samora, and the united wandering clans fought against the greatest threat their world had ever seen. The land has known peace, and in that peace, humanity has flourished, regaining much of what had been lost during the endless years of war. Now an elder of her own clan, Samora has never believed the war against the Debru was over, but even she isn’t prepared for the overwhelming strength of the foe that appears one sunny day to enslave humanity. She…

I never used to listen to music while writing. But after the pandemic hit, and we went into lockdown, everything changed. It’s been a year unlike any other as I’ve adjusted to having my kids and husband home full-time. The vibration—along with the noise level—in my house shifted. The added energy seeped under my writing lair door, disrupting my muse (the little bugger likes the status quo), and with him in full-blown meltdown, my ability to get into the flow floundered. With deadlines on the horizon, I needed to keep writing, so… Enter the solution—Noise Cancelling Headphones. A gift from God. A happy accident. There’s something about being flexible—adaptive in the moment—that pays off. I resisted at first, trying to power through, but in the end, hopped on Amazon and ordered a pair of NC headphones. And surprise, surprise, it not only worked but also expanded my horizons. Since then, I’ve discovered that each book takes on a musical personality of its own. It happens organically over the course of writing a book. No plans in the beginning. No driving intention behind the process. But by the end, I’m listening to the same string of songs over and over, until…