"I'll Tell Your Story" - Finally Finished Editing!

I finally finished editing the first four chapters of the book in the early hours of December 15. My professor is reviewing the manuscript now. Since then, I've been taking a break and focusing on my job. Next week, I will start working on the section about other artists' spiritual journeys.

Preface, Prologue and Chapters 1-4! (Taken on Instagram)

Happy Holidays!

"'Oh, My Favorite Song'" - Prince's First Five Albums

I'm still editing, so I thought I'd do a different type of post. I am finished writing about the 1999 era of Prince's life, so I'll share my favorite song from each album up to that point:

1. For You: "Soft and Wet." I hate to admit it, but I don't really listen to the other songs on Prince's first album.


2. Prince: I'll have to go with the hit single, "I Wanna Be Your Lover." It's a classic. I also enjoy "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad" and "I Feel For You."


3. Dirty Mind: "When You Were Mine." I especially like the live version on the One Nite Alone...Live! album. 


4. Controversy: It's a tie between the title track and "Annie Christian." I fell in love with "Annie Christian" when I heard it; it's so different and the guitar playing is awesome!


5. 1999: It's definitely "D.M.S.R." I dance every time I play that song. "Clap yo' hands on the four, now..."

What is your favorite song from each album?

"Lookin' for My Sunshine" - The Dark, Grueling Editing Process

I'm being dramatic, but the editing process is painstaking. I was wrong; chapter four is not really behind me. I've spent the past couple weeks making some corrections to the prologue and first four chapters. Adding the Chicago-style citations is especially time-consuming.

I normally work at home, but I'll probably go to a café tomorrow evening for a change of scenery. Here's a pic from my last session at a local bookstore:

The image above is from my Instagram account. I just started it. Follow me!

Here are some more pictures (they're not Prince-related; I just wanted to try out the Instagram widget):

 

Are you on Instagram? I'll follow you!

"Paint a Perfect Picture" - Prince on Pinterest

Well, the Prince is not on Pinterest. However, there are TONS of Prince boards on Pinterest. I'm surprised that Prince hasn't tried to shut them down. I noticed the boards because I recently joined the social media site. I'm promoting my blog through my "A Purple Day in December" board. Follow me!

Other than that, I've just been writing. I've completed chapter four! I've also finished the Marvin Gaye biography. I'm about to start the book on Stevie Wonder.

Now that chapter four is behind me, I hope to resume my weekly blogging schedule.

Are you on Pinterest? I'll follow you!

"I Was Dreamin' When I Wrote This" - The 1999 Album

It's been a stressful week. Sorry, I'm posting a day late. I am about to start writing chapter four. The album of the moment is 1999 (1982). I will be analyzing the spiritual concepts included on that album.

Amazon.com

Prince fans: what is your favorite track on 1999?

"You Didn't Record This, Right?" - Organizing My Interviews

It's time for me to actually delete some interviews from my digital recorder, and organize them on my computer. This is just a fraction of my digital files:

I haven't even named them. It's so bad. I've had my recorder since 2010. All of my Prince-related interviews are mixed together with my interviews for Billboard, Sister 2 Sister, etc. I am going to start getting this under control today!

"Take a Picture, Sweetie!" - Odds and Ends from the Past Week

It has been ages since I've blogged (well, just about a month). I have a good excuse; I started a new job! I have been focusing on that, but I'm back! Here are some pictures that capture what I've been up to:

I am almost finished with chapter three.

The album of the moment is no longer Dirty Mind; it's Controversy (1981). I am currently analyzing the spiritual themes included on the album. I just bought a new copy from Amazon.com.

After scoring interviews with Chris Moon, Jill Jones and Roy Bennett, I've had some declines. Prince's ex-protégé Denise Matthews (a.k.a. "Vanity") declined, but she sent me a really nice message. It actually made my day. I also had a prospect who agreed to do the interview if he (or she) could have a copy of my entire pre-published book. I had to pass on that.

Prince fans: what is your favorite track on Controversy?