Grammy Tie-In

Um, hello? What does this have to do with writing or freelancing or children's publishing?

Very little.

Except that I'm rooting for the only nominated music/artists I played in my office this past year: Raising Sand by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.

I'd say that 92 percent of the time I can't work with music playing. My brain is wired to engage with it too fully, so out of necessity Quiet is my preferred background for writing and editing.

But, the other 7 percent of the time (no, wait, 8 percent; see? I'm cranking the tunes right now!) — when I need some tuneful inspiration, manufactured calm/pep, a thinking break, or soundtrack for doing administrative tasks — I fire up some music.

Raising Sand has been a regular office buddy. It's so rich and creative, with — I think — a beautiful literary bent. So I hope it wins album of the year and also for the gorgeous "Please Read the Letter," which, incidentally, would be a perfect theme song for a YA novel idea I've outlined and hope to start writing sometime this year.