I’ve been asked what kind of music I listen to while writing. I love this question. Occasionally, only total silence will do as I’m concentrating on a scene. Most of the time, though, I’ve got my ear buds in.

While writing TMI, I listened to a ton of White Stripes, especially Get Behind Me Satan. I quote “Blue Orchid,” a song off this album, at the beginning of the book. In early drafts, I actually made Becca a huge fan of the band, but I eventually removed the references because I was worried that it would date the book. Of course, I imagine rocking out to Jack and Meg when I’m eighty, but I don’t know if anyone else will be. Time will tell.

I’m going to continue to be tight-lipped about my new book, but my playlist provides a few clues to what the book is about:

1. “Piano & I” by Alicia Keys
2. “Hey Hey What Can I Do” by Led Zeppelin
3. “Alcohol” by Barenaked Ladies
4. “Summer’s End” by Foo Fighters
5. “Start Choppin’” by Dinosaur Jr.
6. “Animal Girl” by Liz Phair
7. “Making Out” by No Doubt
8. “Hymn to Her” by The Pretenders
9. “House of Cards” by Radiohead
10. “The Waitress” by Tori Amos
11. “Wish Fulfillment” by Sonic Youth
12. “She Looks to Me” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
13. “Positive Bleeding” by Urge Overkill
14. “Effect & Cause” by The White Stripes
15. “Like a Luminous Girl” by Mike Doughty

P.S. Today is the year anniversary of TMI’s release! Last April 16, I was eating a lot of sugar and trying to find a bookstore that had copies of TMI in stock. You rock, Book Passage.

P.P.S. Still haven’t read TMI? Trying to track down a copy? Check out author Malinda Lo’s post about why your local bookstore might not have the books you want and what you can do about it.

P.P.P.S. Support your favorite authors! Support independent bookstores! Rah, rah, rah!

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