Before Paper, Pen, and Keyboards...

'On a dark desert highway,

 cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas,

rising up through the air…'

Although not a literary classic, ‘Hotel California’ is a classic in its own right and, when you think about it, thousands of years ago, this song very well could have been the basis of modern day literature.

Because back before paper and pen, when the majority of the human race didn’t know how to form symbols into recognized words, there was song. 

And poetry.

Stories were passed down through word of mouth.  And a rhyming story set to melody was the easiest way for storytellers to remember the order and wording of a piece.

Like today, some ballads were for entertainment value only- a work of fiction.  But others were strung together in hopes of relaying important historical details- kings, queens, knights and battles both won and lost.   The basis of many religions were upheld by stories about Gods and Goddesses performing impossible feats.

Today, the need to combine our tales with song and poetry is long lost.  The tethers of storytelling rope have been unbound and left us with three separate and very different forms of creative expression and entertainment.

But there are still some artists who hold the power of music and poetry in such high esteem that they continue to combine and express their tale through all means.

Jessica Bell is one of those people.

A poet and lover of words, Jessica’s novel about a housewife who wishes to reclaim the stage  ‘String Bridge’ is being published through Lucky Press in November 2011.  Her book trailer features a song Jessica wrote and performed herself- further proof of her all around talent and creativity.    Check it out!