Title: Ella Bella
Author: Jennifer Kathleen Gibbons
Release Date: July 4, 2012
Publisher: Smashwords
Buy Here: Amazon
Set in 2001, Ella Drake has just experienced two terrible losses: her father's death and her brother going overseas to fight the war against terrorism. Just when things start to calm down in her life, her mother's job is outsourced to India.
Frightened, Ella tries to find security for herself and her mother. The search for security leads to a children's bookstore, a new friend, and her first kiss. And possibly, it paves the way for healing to begin.
From the bestselling author of I Woke Up In Love This Morning, Ella Bella explores loss and how lives can be changed.
click the cover above to add this book to your TBR list on Goodreads.
Whenever I start writing a big project; be it a novel, essays, what have you, I need music. I have two IPods and a iPhone loaded with songs, and often you can see me in San Francisco walking around and singing "Bang a Gong" by T Rex. I could easily do this in my town of Lafayette, but I'm pretty sure there's a city law forbidding bad singing (In SF bad singing is allowed and encouraged) Including music in novels can be tricky because of music copyright; yet my characters are like me. They love music. They tend to be music nerds. They know who Lester Bangs is (Google him or watch the movie Almost Famous) Yet they're not music snobs; they like just about anything (but might not admit it)
So this is the playlist for Ella Bella. Some songs are mentioned in the book, some aren't. But they're all in the background as Ella goes on a difficult journey.
1. "Here Comes The Sun" The Beatles: Ella's dad is a Beatles fanatic. The book is set in 2001-2002; around the time George Harrison died, so it fit that this is the "theme song" for the novel itself.
2. "Hungry Like The Wolf" by Duran Duran: When Ella goes to an 80's dance this is one of the songs played. You know you're getting old when you remember songs that were considered "new" back in the day.
3. "In My Life" by Judy Collins: I've always loved this cover by Collins, so beautiful and stripped to its essence.
4. "Time After Time" by Eva Cassidy: Like Collins, Cassidy's version is beautiful and every time I hear it, I cry. This is one of the songs on a jukebox at Maybelline's, a lunchtime hangout for Ella and her best friend Carey.
5. "Whatever Happened to the 8 Hour Day?" by Anne Feeney: I first heard this song while walking to a temp job I had where I was overworked and underpaid. Feeney describes the frustration that everyone feels (regardless of age) when money is tight and a good paying job feels like an impossible dream.
6. "The Rainbow Connection" by Kermit the Frog: Ella's parents' first date is at a Muppets exhibit. This songs shows the hope in their new relationship.
7. "One Way or Another" by Blondie: Ella's mother Joan loved Blondie back in the day, and was often seen wearing a Blondie T-shirt back in the day.
8. "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton: I love the piano playing here, and I can also imagine Ella listening to this song and missing her dad and brother.
9. "Not While I Am Around" by Mandy Patinkin: Ella's grandmother Penny is a musical fanatic and is often in the kitchen singing along to her favorite musicals. When Ella is in trouble, it made sense Penny sings this song to her granddaughter in her time of need.
10. "Here Comes The Sun" by Richie Havens: I know this is a repeat, but I love this cover by Richie Havens, and I wanted it to bookend the Beatles' original.
BELOW, I have attached a playlist of all of the songs except 1 (couldn’t find it) that Jennifer has selected. You can listen to it if you have Spotify installed on your computer… if not “Click Here” to download Spotify!
Jennifer Kathleen Gibbons is the author of the Smashwords bestseller I Woke Up In Love This Morning and the essay collection I Woke Up In Love This Morning. She lives in Lafayette California and is working on a novel. Find Jennifer Here: Goodreads|Facebook|Twitter|Website
Thanks for stopping by and sharing the playlist for Ella Bella! It has been a pleasure to have you here at Bengal Reads Jennifer. I hope that everyone enjoys it.
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