Category Archives: Inspiration

Music that has shaped my life ~ a bit of Rock and Roll?

My husband was the lead guitarist in a rock and roll band for well over 40 years called Chris Cole and the Rockets.

They were well known in the Bedfordshire area, where they all lived and were very popular. Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of a dance to Rock around the Clock or the less well known Rocking Daddy? It is playing if you follow the link above. Rock and Roll isn’t my first choice of music, but who can resist a bit of Buddy Holly or Elvis from time to time, and we sure still know all the words, don’t we?

No True Love Ways is irresistible romance isn’t it?

I became what a friend called recently a groupie!!! Playing his guitar almost daily, even though they had their last gig last July, still gives him a great deal of pleasure and long may it last, even though he feels a bit bereft not having an outlet for his music.

How would I feel If one of my novels were published and I had no audience, having been shy of social media for a while?

I don’t sit and write creatively very often at the moment though, since I’m editing my next novel, but when I do have a chance to write creatively, my heart sings, I’m lost in a world of my own making and I’m filled with joy.

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Filed under Author Diana Jackson, Inspiration, Writing a novel

Music that has shaped my life ~ creativity working hand in hand (4)

Continuing with songs which influence my writing, but also those which tell the story of my life, oh, there are songs too numerous to mention really, including Stairway to Heaven ~ Led Zeppelin, Bridge over Troubled Water ~ Simon and Garfunkel, both iconic tracks that everyone knows, but Thank you ~ by Dido (my namesake and nick name when I was young) resonates with a moment intime. However, all these tracks have a special place in my heart and memory, and are reflected in the romantic side of my writing and a belief in love.

If I were to chose a whole album then, unlike my husband who would choose tracks with Peter Green in it such as Black Magic Woman and Albatross, I would play Rumours by Fleetwood Mac. For me, it reflects the good times and the not so good. My favourite tracks by far are Songbird and Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow.

Don’t you think that music reflects moments in your life too?

And finally, later in my life, I got hooked on Bob Marley and the Wailers, with Three Little Birds, No Woman No Cry, and Is this Love.

Each song oscillates with the ebbs and flow of my life, and the powerful and poignant words thread unknowingly through my mind as I write; creativity working hand in hand.

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Filed under Author Diana Jackson, Family History, Inspiration, Writing, Writing a novel

Music that’s shaped my life (3) ~ and my writing

Resilience, survival and determination have been the backbone of my life and are reflected in my writing too. Believing in deep reciprocal love too.

Harriet in Riduna survived, just as I did. Gloria Gaynor’s song became an anthem for many of us and if anyone embodies resilience and survival in my writing, it is Dot in MISSING Past and Present, whose continued story I am editing at the moment. I was 20 when this song was released. Perfect timing.

If I were to choose a song that had the greatest impact on the way I see the world and its people, which certainly was released at an impressionable age for me at 13 years, it has to be Imagine by John Lennon. Wouldn’t it be great if we all aspired to these sentiments.

And finally, throughout my life I’m aware of my own failures and need for something greater than myself to lift me up and put me back together again. However much I am moved by John Lennon’s sentiments, my own faith has pulled me though time and time again and music has always been an integral part of this. The allegory of the Lord being the potter and me being the clay is a powerful and poignant one, which will always live with me.

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Filed under Author Diana Jackson, Inspiration, MISSING Past and Present, Riduna