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Bruce Ferber: Playlist Blog
Updated: Jun 17, 2022
We in the I BURIED PAUL camp are starting to get super excited for our June 14th pub date. Are we really a “camp?” you ask, with a tad too much snark. Full disclosure: We can’t afford a team of industry billionaires to bully skeptical readers into submission. Nor can we offer cabins on a lake. So, what’s our angle?
In lieu of lobbyists and jet skis, Camp I Buried Paul offers a Beatles-inspired experience that explores the vicissitudes of the creative life and how that life is shaped by family. Compelling, funny… BUT THAT’S NOT ALL! Not only do we have a novel, WE HAVE A PLAYLIST!
Why is that such a big deal? In truth, it’s not unusual for an author to compile a group of songs that either influenced the book, or pair well with the substance of the final text. Maybe there was a Led Zeppelin tune that inspired the writer to include a black dog in Chapter 7. Or a John Cage piece responsible for the book having twenty blank pages. More often than not, there were particular songs the author listened to while writing the manuscript.
I was prepared to put together such a playlist when I realized I had the opportunity to do something different – to go bigger. Since I BURIED PAUL is set in the world of music, there are songs mentioned in every chapter. So, one morning, I went through the book and took notes, listing every referenced composition in sequential order. Other than the Beatles tunes which appear throughout the novel, the mix is genre-defying and highly weird – in a good way, I think. It’s safe to say there is no other playlist out there that highlights both the Dead Kennedys and “The Dreidel Song.” Another cool thing is that the order of play is a musical road map for the progression of the story. When you give it a listen, you’ll get some idea of what you’re about to read. Some of the transitions will seem bizarre out of context, but it will all “come together” as you follow the characters on their individual paths.
If any of what you hear happens to get you in a pre-ordering mood, the camp suggests purchasing at: Amazon or on Bookshop.
About the Author...
Bruce Ferber built a long and successful career as a television comedy writer and producer. A multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominee, his credits include Bosom Buddies, Growing Pains, Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, Coach, and Home Improvement, where he served as Executive Producer and showrunner. In addition to being recognized by the Television Academy, Ferber's work has received the People's Choice, Kid's Choice, and Environmental Media Awards. He is the author of two previous novels, Elevating Overman and Cascade Falls, along with the nonfiction book, The Way We Work. He lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife, large dog, and assorted musical instruments.
