Quick Update...AND the music behind Novella #1

Feb. 1st, 2012 at 12:33 PM

First of all, I just wanted to say a huge, huge THANK YOU to everyone who bought THE ASSASSIN AND THE PIRATE LORD! Since the novella released, everything has been such a whirlwind, and I cannot even begin to tell you how utterly amazing it is to hear/see/read your reactions to the novella. You are all incredible—thanks for making the past few days some of the happiest of my life. <3

I know that when TAATPL went up Amazon, it wasn't yet available on Barnes & Noble or Kobo, BUT, in case you haven't seen, the novella is now available on both sites. YAY!!!

I'm not sure when the second novella (THE ASSASSIN AND THE DESERT) will release—probably sometime in the next month-and-a-half/two months! I reallllly can’t wait for you guys to read it. I don’t want to give too much away, but the second novella was a project that wound up meaning a LOT to me for various reasons, and turned out to be a story that I poured more of myself into than I realized. I’m currently doing copyedits for Novella #2, so I'll hopefully get a release date for it soon!

Novella #3 (working title: THE ASSASSIN AND THE CAPITAL) is off with my CPs right now, and once I receive & incorporate their feedback, then it’ll be sent to my editor. (Woot!)

I’ve been debating for a little while if it’d be interesting/cool to share the playlists for the novellas (um, if you want me to share them, I’ll gladly put them together!), BUT rather than spam you with an endless amount of music, I thought I’d just share a few of the pieces that inspired THE ASSASSIN AND THE PIRATE LORD…

(Spoiler Warning: though I'm going to do my best NOT to spoil TAATPL for anyone who hasn't read it, there are still some vague-ish references to Important Scenes)

1) Years and years ago, the kernel of an idea that later became Celaena’s encounter with Captain Rolfe (specifically, a certain big-time brawl) came from this piece on the HOOK soundtrack:

So fun, right? It kinda makes me want to go out and kick some pirate booty. ;)

2) Several of you have written me absolutely lovely emails/comments about your favorite scenes in TAATPL (thank you SO MUCH for that), and more than a few of you have mentioned that the scene on the beach with Sam and Celaena was your favorite in the novella. Well, it was probably MY favorite to write (especially when Celaena later walks alone). So, in case you were curious…

This is what I listened to repeatedly during the Sam-Celaena convo:

And then this was what inspired the Celaena-alone-on-the-beach moment, especially that huge sweep of epic music at the 1:40 mark. (I LOVE STAR WARS, OKAY!?!):

3) And then the Big Climactic Moment (um, it is SO hard to do this without spoiling the story), where Celaena is running and certain people are rowing and Sam is doing all that Awesome Stuff …? Okay, it kills me a little to share the music that inspired that scene, because as far as soundtracks/movies go, this is probably one of the most embarrassing movies to admit to loving, but bear with me and just jump ahead to the 6-minute mark…

So…yeah. The complete playlist for THE ASSASSIN AND THE PIRATE LORD is way, way longer (about 55 songs), BUT I figured I’d share some of the pieces that played a huge role in shaping the story. :)

Thanks again, you guys, for supporting the novella—it means the freaking WORLD to me. Thank you for the tweets and FB shout-outs, for the emails and DMs, for the fan-art and for doing your best to spread the word about the novella. I'm the luckiest author in the freaking world to have you all in my life. <3

Current Music:Flight of the Luck Dragon : Klaus Doldinger : The Neverending Story

Comments

( 28 comments — Leave a comment )

erin_bowman

Feb. 1st, 2012 08:52 pm (UTC)

HOOK! FREE WILLY! STAR WARS! Man, soundtracks are the best when it comes to writing inspiration. So much fun to get a peek at what you listened to while writing. Thank you for sharing.

And I know I already said it, but: I had so much fun hanging out with Celaena and Sam in novella #1. Can't wait for the other three! YAYY! <3

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sjmaas

Feb. 1st, 2012 09:13 pm (UTC)

Yesss! Like 90% of my book playlists are movie scores (the rest being normal classical music). I don't know what it is about them, but the storytelling just shines through, and some of the pieces are so full of inspiration that I can replay them again and again and find new material each time.

And dude, I can't WAIT for you to read the other novellas...Agh, I'm so excited.

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sydneygirl90

Feb. 1st, 2012 08:54 pm (UTC)

I'm so happy that I got The Assassin and the Pirate Lord! I have been SO busy lately, so I haven't had time to tell you how much I adore it, but I truly do. I'm so proud of you. <3

As for your music choices, have I told you lately how much I love your music preferences? The epic, sweeping themes that you chose are so awesome. :)

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sjmaas

Feb. 1st, 2012 09:15 pm (UTC)

Awww, thank you so, so much, Sydney!!!!! I'm THRILLED that you liked it!!!! :D :D

And hehe! YAY! I'm so glad you like the music, too. I'm never sure if telling you guys about the music that inspires me/my writing is interesting or not, so it's great to hear that you like it!!! <3

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sammyjones57

Feb. 1st, 2012 10:10 pm (UTC)

I'm finishing up the Pirate Lord tonight!! (My dumb computer wouldn't charge my Kindle for days. I think it was doing it on purpose because I'm like 3/4 done and yelled out a big noooooooooooooo when the battery died!)

I love when authors share novel playlist! I always write with music playing. And actually until I started reading your blog, I hadn't really listened to many scores, but now I find myself searching for some here and there so thanks for that!

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sjmaas

Feb. 1st, 2012 10:41 pm (UTC)

lol!!! That SUCKSSSS! (But thank you so much for reading the novella!!!) :)

And YAY for movie scores!!! If you ever want recommendations, I'm happy to share. :)

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chika_shia

Feb. 1st, 2012 10:27 pm (UTC)

I finished the Assassin and the Pirate Lord in one sitting! It was so good! To be honest, I used to be an avid reader but since college started, I haven't really had much time to read again. Now, after reading TAATPL, I find myself downloading books like crazy onto my nook! I can't wait for the next one. And it was really nice seeing Celaena in her "youth" (she was quite different from her QoG days). And Sam is so <3! I can't help but hope we'll see more of him later (why are all the men in your book so dashing?)

And your soundtracks are amazing. I love listening to instrumentals while studying. If you haven't yet, you should check out the soundtrack from the last harry potter movie. It's on repeat! ;p

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sjmaas

Feb. 1st, 2012 10:45 pm (UTC)

Awwww! THANK YOU!!!! I'm so, so happy to hear that it's gotten you back into reading!! It's one of the highest/best compliments a writer can receive!!! :D

And hehehe! Sam will be in the other novellas!! :)

AND I LOVE THE HP7 (part 2) SOUNDTRACK! It's so epic and sad and lovely. I love the "Courtyard Apocalypse" and "Statues" tracks, and then "Lily's Theme" is just...*sigh* It makes me cry every time. Okay, most of the soundtrack makes me cry. :P

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eaking

Feb. 1st, 2012 11:06 pm (UTC)

It was a fantastic read! Can't wait for the rest! I've been so inspired recently with my own writing for many reasons of which you know!

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sjmaas

Feb. 1st, 2012 11:13 pm (UTC)

Awww, thanks, Annie!!!!! <3 <3 <3

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Priya Jagadeesan

Feb. 2nd, 2012 12:44 am (UTC)

Read it!! Loved it!!

I am still in shock that i got to read it!! It was soooo amazing and i cant wait for the next one!! I even got some friends to read it and they loved it too! They are almost as excited as me for the next ones!!!!!!

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sjmaas

Feb. 2nd, 2012 12:55 am (UTC)

Re: Read it!! Loved it!!

Oh, wow!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! Not just for reading & loving it, but for also telling your friends!! That is so kickass awesome of you!! <3

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krlarson

Feb. 2nd, 2012 12:46 am (UTC)

I love hearing about all the music you listen to. I have to listen to music when I write, sometimes with words, sometimes just instrumentals. Either way, they inspire me so much. It's really cool to see what tracks do the same for you :)

The novella was amazing! I flew threw it! I can't tell you how exciting it was to be able to download it and read. And if all our male characters are as wonderful as Sam, then I am thoroughly excited to read all about them ;)

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sjmaas

Feb. 2nd, 2012 12:56 am (UTC)

Hehehe, thank youuuuu!!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it--and that you liked Sam!!! <3 <3 <3

And YESSSS...I need music to write, though sometimes lyrics are too distracting (hence movie scores and classical). But then other times, I don't notice the lyrics AT ALL.

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Chantal Mason

Feb. 2nd, 2012 04:14 am (UTC)

It was an awesome read!!! I loved being able to re-enter Celaena's world after so long, and reading about events that I only heard reference to in the original QoG. Can't wait for the next one!

Also, I'd -love- to see your playlist for TAATPL!!! You always have the best music!

I'm going to make a post about TAATPL on my facebook as soon as I see it up on amazon.ca :) Most people I know are from Canada, so I want to wait until its available there first. Then I can message all my YA loving friends and tell them to go get it haha

Can it be August 7th already?! It's marked on my calendar <3

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sjmaas

Feb. 2nd, 2012 05:20 am (UTC)

THANKS, CHANTAL!!!!!! <3 <3 <3

Okay, I'll try to figure out how to make one of those playlist-y widgets so I can just post it on the blog to share with you guys! Or I'll make a page on my website for it or something...*ponders*

And THANK YOU for wanting to spread the word about TAAPTL on FB whenever it's available in Canada! (*shakes fist at Amazon.ca*)

lol, I want it to be August 7th RIGHT NOW. <3

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meredith_rose

Feb. 2nd, 2012 04:35 am (UTC)

Ummm, so that scene when Celaena is walking alone on the beach? I loved that. I loved it the first and second time I read it and I loved it even MORE just now when I listened to the Star Wars song just at the 1:40 mark and I think it was in the perfect place. The music swelled when she looked at the tower and.... Well it's been a long time since I read ToG, but I have a feeling that was important. And I just about cried. Because that scene seems so small in this novella, just a tiny observation about where she once lived, but to me it seems SO monumental and the music fit it so well. It made it seem like the monumental moment it is. I think it amazes me how you manage to find the perfect music for each scene. How do you do it? And how do you manage to find the best soundtracks! (Still using mine btw.) I can't wait until ToG has a soundtrack of it's very own. <3

I read all of these scenes again with the music. They were even better. Any chance we can have the playlist for Novella #2 before the Novella comes out so I can read it the first time with the music? Because that would be epic. And I would totally claim it as my birthday present. ;p

Good to hear some updates and I cannot wait to read Novella #2, especially knowing that it means so much to you.

Did I mention I keep re-reading your novella? I might have it memorized by August.

Still missing my lovely-other-boyfriend despite the wonderful Sam,
Mac
<3

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sjmaas

Feb. 2nd, 2012 05:18 am (UTC)

Yesss!! So, so glad that scene resonated with you, too! When I wrote the scene, the whole swell of music at the 1:40-1:45-ish mark totally inspired that moment where she smells the northern breeze and turns northward and thinks of Orynth (the capital of Terrasen, her home kingdom). :)

And dude! It is SO AWESOME that you've reread the novellas so many times already! I'm flabbergasted and flattered and utterly humbled. :)

As for where/how I find the music...I watch a LOT of movies, so I wind up buying a LOT of music. Hehe, I wish there was a greater secret than that, but...I just find stuff by listening to everything. If any of the music feels perfect for the scenes, it's because the MUSIC is what inspires everything--I just hear stuff and start daydreaming about the stories that accompany the music. :)

As for sharing the playlist for Novella #2 before it comes out...Hmmm... What if I shared it the day it comes out? Or the day after? I just don't want readers to somehow find spoilers by seeing what kind of music there is...And I'd feel some need to explain where/how the music applies. I'll think about it! :)

And lol--glad to hear that Sam hasn't eclipsed Chaol!! (I love Sam to death, but Chaol is still my favorite, lol...)

THANKS SO MUCH for all of the rereading and enthusiasm, Mac--just hearing you talk about the novella makes me giddy. <3

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meredith_rose

Feb. 3rd, 2012 01:32 am (UTC)

I am totally up for you sharing it the day it comes out or the day after. That sounds absolutely fantastic and I totally understand not wanting to put in spoilers! I might just have to read it again when you decide to put the music out like I did yesterday. ;p (Also, I'm currently reading it aloud to Wonder Boy. He doesn't like reading on screens so he gets to hear everything in my voice. It's pretty fun!)

Also, Sarah, I've been in love with Chaol since the first day I started reading ToG. I've loved him more than any other character in any book (Though Etienne was seriously close to stealing first place. I am very in love with him >.<) So you should really have no fear of Chaol's place in my heart being taken from ANYONE. (Except my Wonder Boy, of course ;p)

Mer
<3

P.S. Hearing from you about ANYTHING makes me giddy. Just saying. So I'm glad I can return the favor!

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Kelly de Groot

Feb. 2nd, 2012 01:02 pm (UTC)

OMG, Free Willy! Sigh...nostalgia...

I absolutely loved the first novella! I instantly recognized the first scene as a flashback Celaena had back when it was still QoG on FP, and it was like seeing an old friend again :)

The songs definitely convey the moods of the scenes (and I also thought the Sam/Celaena beach scene was amazing), so I think I'm going to try and reread it (again, lol) but then with the music in the background.

I think it'd be a great idea to list the entire playlist, as well. I remember such a playlist on the QoG Yahoo Group many, many years ago, and I was introduced to so many great new songs. I'm also completely in love with soundtracks (I think around 70% of my iTunes is just soundtrack-and I have around 12000 songs), so I'd love to create a little 'Throne of Glass' album on my iPod :)

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sjmaas

Feb. 2nd, 2012 06:53 pm (UTC)

Thanks, Kelly!!!!

And omg--we are SO music buddies! I've got 11,150 songs on my iTunes! :D :D And okay, I'll set aside some time to set up a playlist for Novella #1!!

<3

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DBetweenpages

Feb. 2nd, 2012 05:56 pm (UTC)

Thanks for the link to the Kobo site! :D They have a format that goes nicely with my Sony ereader, just bought it :)
I'm very excited to read it! Can't wait for the other novellas and Throne of Glass to be released!! :)

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sjmaas

Feb. 2nd, 2012 06:26 pm (UTC)

YAY!!! Thanks so much, Daisy!!!! I hope you enjoy it!!! <3

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(no subject) -

Rashmi Singh - Feb. 3rd, 2012 04:47 am (UTC) - Expand

sjmaas

Feb. 3rd, 2012 07:24 pm (UTC)

Eeee! Thank you so much for buying it!!! I hope you enjoy reading it!!! (And good luck getting through your homework!!!)

<3

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Angelica Barone

Feb. 3rd, 2012 06:41 am (UTC)

Those songs are epic... as are the novella titles. I am so excited to read them and there's 185 days till the release of Throne of Glass!

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sjmaas

Feb. 3rd, 2012 07:25 pm (UTC)

Awww, thank you so much, Angelica!

And eeee!!! 185 days left...Wow. Seems SO close, yet so far, right?!

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james_25

Feb. 13th, 2012 01:56 am (UTC)

So August 7 is the big day. I think the Olympics will still be on at that point. Seems there's a lot to look forward to during that period.

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( 28 comments — Leave a comment )

Hi! I'm Sarah J. Maas, a YA fantasy author. My debut novel, THRONE OF GLASS, was published by Bloomsbury in August 2012. Book 2 - CROWN OF MIDNIGHT - will be released in August 2013!

In addition to THRONE OF GLASS, Bloomsbury published four e-novellas, all set before the events of the novel. The novellas, THE ASSASSIN AND THE PIRATE LORD, THE ASSASSIN AND THE DESERT, THE ASSASSIN AND THE UNDERWORLD, and THE ASSASSIN AND THE EMPIRE are available wherever Bloomsbury e-books are sold!

I'm represented by the awesome and lovely Tamar Rydzinski of The Laura Dail Literary Agency. I love meeting new people, so feel free to friend me!

For more information about me and my books, please visit my website: http://sarahjmaas.com/

Follow @SJMaas