Long Lost Song

Long Lost Song  by Stephen Ormsby

Book Description

A virus is decimating America today and Michael Decker is the culprit. Or is he?

Is it the work of a curse recorded into a song by 1930's blues musician Ricky Jensen?

Long Lost Song tells the story of Ricky and Michael as they battle their personal and real demons while the world reaches end times of biblical proportions.

One question remains. How do you stop a devil of a song made to break a crossroads deal?

My Review

     Where to begin?  The Long Lost Song by Stephen Ormsby was only 242 pages, and yet the author made it seem like it was much longer. There was so much going on in the pages that not a word was lost or added for cushion.  And I love that!

     From the get go the author sets an ominous picture. A young man, Ricky Jensen, on his way to the cross-roads to make a deal with the Black Man.  A deal to sell his soul to the Devil for the talent to play his guitar like no other man alive.  Then we are off to Australia, on the other side of the earth, meeting Michael, who we find in turmoil.  Michael is a middle aged man trying to find himself through meditation. He is distraught at how little success he is having, and completely and utterly unaware of the shit-storm that is about to fall in his lap. (Some would call it destiny) At first read, one wonders, besides the man selling his soul to the Devil, where’s the horror? But it comes and it comes swiftly.

     Our ‘social’ world that we live in makes it possible for one song or video on YouTube to be shared millions of times within one month.  Here is a shocking example of the power the social media has and the shocking rate at which it, we, can ‘share’ a music video. The particular video I searched originates from South Korea and for whatever reason gained immense popularity all over the world, Gangnam Style by PSY.  It was released 4 months ago and as of the moment I copied and pasted this from YouTube, the video had 911,511,020 views!  And ladies and gentlemen this was only one of the dozens upon dozens of videos and spoofs that share this particular tune. Imagine now that the Devil himself has found a way to touch you and your children through the listening of a song. An infected song that has the power to turn you into a slave, a drone that does the Devil’s bidding.

     The Devil himself has managed to harness the power of music.

     That is where the horror begins to creep into the crevices of the brain.  It’s frightening because everyone has a song that moves them and can make them happy, sad, or nostalgic. Music itself is very powerful, not to mention a primal part of human nature. Where would we be without music? Without any music?  Without the ability to hum, whistle or drum? Just take a second to soak that thought in.  More than likely you can’t, because while you sit in silence your heart is drumming away inside your body making a beat of its own. That’s what makes this book so absolutely terrifying.

     There is only one man, who with the help of his love, has the strength and courage to stand up to the Black Man and maybe put an end to the destruction and mayhem that the world is swiftly becoming and save whatever innocence is left.  But at what cost? Read and find out.

Interview with the Author

Lost in Thought: There are so many things I want to touch on, but first I would like to thank you for giving me the time and honor to interview you!

Stephen Ormsby: Thanks for having me.  It's great sharing my work with others but more importantly it's incredible meeting so many great people.

LIT: I agree, but enough of the chit-chat let's get to business! The Devil using our technology against us, remarkable idea! I mean freakin’ glorious!

SO: Thanks.  I had the idea for LLS (Long Lost Song) for many years, but never had the catch for it.  It was as if the technology needed to catch up with me. I mean downloading was not really a thing 15 years ago.

LIT: I think that it is very interesting that you used the song as a weapon.

SO: The idea of the song fitted with Ricky.  It was one of those things that stayed with me and why the idea never went away.  What would happen if you could get out of a crossroads deal as a musician?  What could you offer?  The obvious answer was always a song.

LIT: Was there any prior research you had to do?

SO: I had to look at downloading for purposes of the book and understand why it becomes such an addictive thing to do.  So easy, to find so much, so quickly.

LIT: Quick question, I just find this interesting so I feel the need to ask. I have heard about militaries wanting to use sound guns, that once fired make you nauseated, immediately.  So, it is plausible that some sound waves could make one a drone as well, it’s not that far-fetched  Did you do any research on noise as a weapon?

SO: Funnily enough, I didn't, but have always understood the impact of noise on me, whether it be music to drown out my mood or to drown out other people.

LIT: Music really is a powerful tool but that isn't all your book is about.  I had to limit myself in the review or I might not have ever stopped!  I found your leading character, Michael, very interesting.  He is a dirty hero.   Or better said a human hero.  Is there a reason you chose a more tarnished character as opposed to a preacher or strong man of God?

SO: I always saw Michael as an anti-hero really.  A man dragged through this shit because other people had designs on him.  He was forcibly wasting himself away.  There was something about that and how Ricky went through the same thing that appealed to me.  Both men lost the music within them.

It is only when he has to stand up that he does.  Many people go through life this way, only taking chances when it is forced upon them.  That's Michael.

LIT: You know who I thought was an interesting character and I wish would have gotten more play?

SO: Please tell.

LIT: The preacher of the ‘freaks’. I thought that whole group could have been actually a book of its own.

SO: Brother Paul?

LIT: Yes, sorry, Brother Paul! 

  

SO: Another man with a second chance at life - who was not in the final write of the 1st draft.  In fact, a lot of the ending was not in the 1st draft.

LIT: I thought the whole idea of the freaks having immunity.  The ones not hooked into the grid, was also very ingenious.

SO: The freaks?  You mean the normal people, really.  They are the ones that had not given themselves to all the false gods we surround ourselves in.  I like the idea that people have not been consumed by consumerism and that was can live a more simple life.  I like to think that I do now.  I listen to music that moves me.  I buy things only when I need to.  I cook food for the family.  All because I can.  I know money is necessary but I do not get consumed by the fact that I need to chase it.  I'd like to think that I would be unaffected by the song for these reasons.  Does that make me a freak?

LIT: Yea, you are definitely a freak, but so am I, so I guess we are in good company!

SO: See, being a freak is not that hard.  It is better than being a sheep and lost to the god of money.

LIT: I agree. Your book made me think a lot about people in general. A lot of us are already drones, buying into trends just to fit in, afraid to be the 'freak, the outsider'.  A lot of the people that became drones in your book were already dispossed anyway.  And I truly hope that people read your book and realize that it is a horror story, but also an inspiration to become a better person.

SO: So do I, really.  So much of the world is lost.  Lost to finding that next job, the next car, that next expensive item that they do not really need.  I would love people to think, just for a second, hey who am I in all of this? Do I even know that anymore?  I know who I am, and writing this book helped me find that.  It is a horror story if you are the ones that would be first in line to be swallowed up by it.  If you think you are different and do not fall into the normal trappings of a monetary life, then you just may survive.

LIT: Well, I am not 100% I wouldn't be a little bit affected...

SO: Now, a couple of things from me. I am not a Christian and I do not want to be seen as a bible basher.  A lot of the end of the book just came about from where the story was going.  I wanted to show how easy it would be for the world to collapse and the bible has shown that there is a history of it happening.  That is what I wanted to tap into.  The fall of Babylon does not need to mean a physical city, it could be something as simple as the internet, which has completely taken over our lives.  I will admit to being that way.  As an author, I feel we need to be.  If it collapsed, I would notice it as much as the heaviest user of it.  That scares me.   Here I am thinking that I am a freak, but still so hooked into everything.  It could disappear just like that.  Where would we be the day after?

LIT: You make an excellent point and an amazing analogy. Where would we be without the internet, the tower that has brought the whole world together, all speaking in the same tongue of 1’s and 0’s?  It’s a scary thought.  And after reading your book you are forced to ponder over these insanely scary things. Music, internet, it’s all at our finger tips but what if it was all gone tomorrow? That would be a sad, scary world to live in.

LIT: There was just one more thing I wanted to discuss I know I am going into overtime with this one, but I felt like there should have been more of a love story between Michael and Roberta.

SO: I wanted the love between them to feel heightened by the world collapsing. A grab on to the one nearest you sort of thing.

LIT: No it was, but I wanted just a little more. I understood it was the end of the world and love at first sight? Do you believe in love at first sight?

SO: The love was based on someone I will admit. Someone I fell for at first sight.

Ok, imagine this. My life was a mess. I had separated from my first wife who hated me writing. Then this woman came along and when she asked what I did (which was computers) she said no, what do you really do?  I said write. I was in love from that moment.

She TOLD me I needed to publish LLS. She felt as though it could happen any time i.e. being infected by the song

LIT: That’s awesome! It's so hard to find someone who supports what we do.   You caught a good one!

SO: I did indeed!

LIT: That is very rare so be grateful!

SO: I am. For her and for great friends.

LIT: Me too! Always be thankful for great company! Thank you so much for your time, and whatever novel you release next I will surely read, you have a fan in me!

 Where to find the Long Lost Song

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Long-Lost-Song-Stephen-Ormsby/dp/1477122486/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354994562&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Long+Lost+Song

Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Long-Lost-Song-ebook/dp/B008LTXG3U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1355030988&sr=8-2&keywords=The+Long+Lost+Song

Other Works By Stephen Ormsby

All Good Socks Go To Heaven

Leftovers from the (Writing) Table

The Gift

Scientist

Last Words

     If I had to rate the book, I would give it 4 stars. There are some typos and I really wanted more from Brother Paul and Roberta, so that is why I personally cannot give 5 stars.  I have also read the shorts and I do recommend you read them if you like this author's work.  I really had a great time doing this blog and interview and I feel like this is the best one yet!  Also, little known fact, Stephen Ormsby’s wife created the cover of his book.  That’s just awesome!