In this installment of the Rock is Lit Season 4 Reading Series, Sarah Tomlinson discusses the inspiration for and reads from her debut novel, ‘The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers’.
‘The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers’ synopsis: Anke Berben is ready to tell all. A legendary model and style icon, she reveled in headline-grabbing romances with not one but three members of the hugely influential rock band the Midnight Ramblers. The band members were as famous for their backstage drama as for their music, and Anke is the only one who fully understands the tangled relationships, betrayals, and suspicions that have added to the Ramblers’ enduring appeal and mystique. That is most evident in the mystery around Anke’s role in the death of Mal, the band’s founder and Anke’s husband, in 1969.
When Mari Hawthorn accepts the job to work with Anke on her memoir, she is dead set on getting to the truth of Mal’s death. She has always been deft at navigating the fatal charms of celebrities, having grown up with a narcissistic, alcoholic father. As she ingratiates herself into the world of the band, she grows enchanted, against her better judgment, by these legendary rock stars. She knows she can’t get pulled in too deep, otherwise she’ll compromise her objectivity—and her integrity.
Filled with all of the glamour and attitude of rock and roll, ‘The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers’ is a bighearted page-turner that will appeal to fans of ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ and ‘Almost Famous’.
Sarah Tomlinson, a former music journalist, has been a ghostwriter since 2008, penning more than 20 books, including five ’New York Times’ bestsellers. In 2015, she published the father-daughter memoir, ’Good Girl’ (Gallery Books). She wrote ’The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers’, her first novel, in-between assignments for a who’s who of celebrity clients.
Check out Christy’s interview with Svetlana Zill and Alexis Bloom, the directors of the documentary ‘Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmqtedDBbl4
MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:
- Rock is Lit theme music
- [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop”
- “Midnight Rambler” – Rolling Stones
- “You Got the Silver” – Rolling Stones
- “Salt of the Earth” – Rolling Stones
- [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop”
- Rock is Lit theme music
LINKS:
Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451
Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350
Sarah Tomlinson’s website: https://sarahtomlinson.com/
Sarah Tomlinson on Instagram and Twitter: @duchessofrock
Sarah Tomlinson on Facebook: @SarahTomlinson
Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislit
Christy Alexander Hallberg on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg
Rock is Lit on Instagram: @rockislitpodcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is the energy of electrification available type-desk high-performance variant with nearly 500 horsepower and 278 mile EPA range range Juice from our complimentary charging packages so you can charge how you want the all-electric Actors EDX This is the energy of innovation accurate precision crafted performance This is your local accurate dealer till he's the all-electric zdx for three hundred eighty nine dollars a month With Lulu lemon the real gift happens when they're living in it When you give them the coziest scuba matching set the real gift is this And this And this This holiday Lulu lemon makes it easy to give a gift that goes beyond Open the moment shop now at Lulu lemon calm Is A time to reimagine your future The right business skills may make a difference in your career a cappella university We offer a relevant education that's designed to focus on what you need to know in the business world We'll teach professional skills to help you pursue your goals like business management strategic planning and effective communication And you can apply these skills right away a different future is closer than you think with cappella university Learn more a cappella.edu Rock is lit rock is lit rock is lit rock is lit rock is lit You're listening to rock is lit with Christy Halberg rock on Christie Rock is lit Hey there lit listeners welcome the season four of rock is lit the first podcast devoted to rock novels and also the 2024 American writing awards podcast of the year in the categories of music and arts Rock is lit is a proud member of the pantheon podcast network Hey, I'm John Stewart and you're listening to the pantheon network Rockets lit is hosted executive produced and edited by me Christy Alexander Halberg author of my own rock novel Searching for Jimmy Page big shout out to this season's incredible team social media intern keetling plats and our three production interns major lagullen Tyler Elcock and The air lower This season we're shaking things up with a fresh new format instead of our usual author interviews We'll be rolling out a weekly reading series giving you a deeper dive into the world of rock novels through curated readings and literary explorations to keep up with all things Rock is lit follow me on Twitter Instagram and YouTube at Christy Halberg and At Rock is lit podcast on Instagram for more info head to Christy Alexander Halberg calm Got a rock novel. You'd like to see featured drop me a line at Christy Alexander Halberg at gmail.com I'd love to hear from you if you're enjoying the show, please subscribe Leave a comment and give us a five-star rating on your favorite podcast platform why it the rock is lit mascot and I thank you for your support This is Sarah Tomlinson and you are listening to rock is lit You You You Hear about the minute I'm here today to talk about my debut novel the last days of the midnight ramblers It is based on my experience as a former music journalist turned ghost writer. I have penned more than 20 celebrity memoirs and books since 2008 five of which have been on the New York Times bestseller list In 2015 I published a father daughter memoir called good girl and in February of 2024 I published my debut novel the last days of the midnight ramblers Which I wrote over several years in between penning books with a bunch of different celebrities and public figures The last days of the midnight ramblers is a rock and roll who done it and it's about a baby ghost writer named Mari Hawthorne I wrote this character based on my time as a music journalist and my 16 year career as a ghost writer Mari is hired by Anka bourbon a style icon and companion to three members of a legendary rock band the midnight ramblers Who are bigger than the Beatles bigger than the Rolling Stones? She was married to the band's founder now when he drowned under mysterious circumstances in the summer of 1969 and now in 2019 Anka is the first person in the band's inner circle to publish a memoir and When she hires Mari to go straight for her Mari knows she needs to try to shine a light on what really happened to Mal in order to deliver a bestseller for Anka and for herself because she's never had a bestseller and in ghostwriting circles that is very important for staying in the business and When she gets sucked into the world of the band the midnight ramblers who are still actively Doring and recording her loyalties are tested. She tries to remain true to both her celebrity clients Especially Anka who she is quite fond of and to solve the mystery of what really happened to Mal while the fictional band in my book the last days of the midnight ramblers Exists in a world where the Beatles and the Rolling Stones are also popular contemporary rock bands The midnight ramblers are very loosely based on the Rolling Stones as a music fanatic and a former music journalist and rock critic I've always been fascinated by the mysteries in the rock world and among them was of course the legendary drowning of Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones in the summer of 1969 and while I think it's been popularly accepted that he unfortunately was mentally unwell at the time and had taken a bunch of drugs and Drink there has always been this persistent rumor that perhaps he was murdered and So when I began writing my book which I knew was going to find a ghost writer in the world of rock and roll I thought wow that would be a really delicious mystery to unpack and I had always loved the female companions of the Rolling Stones including Brian's ex-girlfriend Anita Pallenberg Who of course famously went on to be married to Keith Richards for a number of years Marianne Faithful who was Mick Jagger's companion Marianne's memoir Faithful I think is one of the best books about the rock world. She's so insightful so funny so smart And so when I wrote my novel I wanted to center the story on these iconic women who had been so central to pop culture history But who had not always gotten their place in the spotlight? I have to say The last days of the midnight ramblers Is sort of like my love letter to rock and roll? I have always been obsessed with music and I adored my years as a music journalist in the early aughts Primarily for daily newspapers including the Boston Globe and the LA Times Also some wonderful free weeklies like the Boston Phoenix And for those years my lovers my friends my crew were all in the rock world They were musicians. They worked for record labels. They worked for clubs And we had so much fun. It was such a clever kinetic Exciting sexy world And I got to learn a ton about music while interviewing bands getting to review concerts and CDs Learned so much about the music that was coming out at that time and how it had been influenced by earlier music And so when I sat down to write this novel, I didn't have to do a ton of research In many ways, I was sort of reminiscing on the years that I had lived and loved in the rock and roll world And so it was fun to Create these characters that were drawn on some of the personality traits of people I had known And hung out with for a long time I did go back and refresh my memory about Some of the companions of the Rolling Stones who as I've mentioned the female characters in my book were very very loosely based on So there's the wonderful Marion Faithful memoir Faithful There's a great narrative nonfiction book about Anita Pallenberg called She's a rainbow A lesser known companion of Keith Richards in the 70s who was a very large influence on the character of Anka Is a German model-turned jewelry maker ushi Obermeyer And I just looked at pictures of them And re-familiarized myself with their stories And I also listened to a lot of music by Keith Richards When I was working on the book because the character of Dante in the book is very very loosely based on Keith And while he is known to have co-written many of the Rolling Stones songs with Mick Jagger There are a few songs that are attributed to him by himself and my favorite Rolling Stones song of all time It does you got the silver which is understood to be a love song for Anita Pallenberg So that was my soundtrack when I was writing And I think just getting to spend time with those characters As I said was just a wonderful way to reflect back on my early years in the rock and roll world I couldn't do it anymore, but I'm sure glad I had that time there You got my home You got my soul You got the silver You got the gold You got the diamonds From the mine Well that's all right Anybody buy some time The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers by Sarah Tomlinson Prolog how to be a ghost Before the how is the why Ghosts do it for three reasons Money access rays Not public rays of course on a book jacket for instance But the more intimate nod promised in most contracts The heartfelt note of gratitude hidden in plain sight on a star's acknowledgments page That's right ghosts are guaranteed such a mention in collaboration agreements A sweetener to deals that when they disintegrate are settled via a kill fee Sometimes a client forgets to mention you the person who wrote their book But this sting is private and there's an easy fix You are often the one to draft the thank yous to the editorial team in the voice you have been occupying for months Your editor aware of all the reasons you deserve credit contractual and otherwise Simply has you add your name to this list What you are celebrating is more than your mimicry It's the infinite number of moments in which you've inferred just who and how to be That's the secret of making it as a ghost Most people think you have to be a great writer, but no one's claiming to be check off You don't need to be the person who best captures the celebrity's tone either Although that's important Really, it's about not judging your clients Whether they're reality tv divorcees on their way to rehab or the biggest rock stars with the deepest secrets No matter how dark the memories they divulge or how badly they behave from the stress of deciding on deadline how candid to be The bond is invisible, but ghosts must be capable of meeting their subjects always with unconditional love They do love you back Sometimes And always it feels that way for a while in the heady days just before and after submitting the book Best is when they include their own genuine and warm shout out Mention a shared moment or joke for which the most devoted super fan would line up overnight in the rain Since ghostmas work in the shadows and the job is hard and can fall apart even when you do your best It's validating to see evidence of your accomplishments in prints As with any form of intimacy, you can't help but want an emotional souvenir A way to capture what happened and carry it with you into the rest of your life There are other tricks to be mastered as with any trade be patient be attentive be clever Be amusing if possible be comfortable being wrong when some celebrities are ornery They like a foil those in their inner circle are easy targets And maybe just maybe you'll maintain your place in the vip lounge of life For most ghosts such perks are enough. They had always been plenty for this one But that was before the project that almost cost everything and gave just as much by revealing another way to be Wake up and seize a life that's truly lived which has deeper value than a spotlight or a book credit could ever come close to There's always a collaboration like no other the one that teaches you whether you have what it takes or not If you dare to step up ghosting is far more than a job. It's a vocation You must risk everything maybe even your life certainly your pride Your assumptions about yourself and others and the stories you tell about who you are and why you matter If you pull it off You will know you are woven into every word on the page Even the consciousness of those you have occupied as a ghost And yet you will still want maybe even need to be acknowledged It's proof you exist The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers by Sarah Tomlinson first seduce Like an actor who cares about her craft a ghost approaches each new role afresh while building on the experience of her past books Each assignment comes with its own gift bag of unique skills and a deeper understanding of how to excel Not just at writing but at life There are many entry points for getting to know someone well enough to become them The first art is seduction. The trick isn't for you to be wanted by the celebrity But to make her feel wanted in just the right way By discerning her deepest value system and assuring her that you see treasures Not everyone can and you will unearth them and make them shine on the page First this ghost writer must land the job Mari Hawthorne was waiting in the polo lounge at the Beverly Hills hotel on a friday in mid january Beneath the distinctive green and white striped ceiling in a room with the posh intimacy of a cruise ship silverware tingled and laughter rose up in waves Perched on a deep vancette crowned by leafy plants Mari rhymes with sari a joker sister vivian loved to make was starting to sweat She tugged the wrists of her clearance rack jay crew blazer, but couldn't remove it her nicest blouse had a tear in the armpit Even business casual in la required polish and she'd splurged on a manicure and blowout Her long brown hair was styled in loose curls heavy on her neck She ruffled her bangs hoping for a little rock and roll attitude given whose table she was seated at She was about to meet onka rhymes with bianka infamous sixties rock consort and style setter who'd reinvented herself as a glam earth mama and luck's joy designer adored by vogue Onka's staying power added to her mystique as did her post-world war ii evolution from berlin shop girl to international it girl The first model to post topless on the cover of a magazine. She had been a desirable companion for artists and rockers alike Onka's real claim to fame though was the love square she had formed with three founding members of the midnight ramblers What many felt was the defining rock act of the 20th century as good as or better than the beetles and the rolling stones The ramblers too were among the world's biggest rock stars having provided a soundtrack of bohemian flair for three generations mari's father enjoyed bragging about having booked one of their first us shows Without mentioning that he had flamed out as a rock promoter after he had gambled away the payouts of too many bands She wasn't above telling the story at parties without mentioning the fallout Like many she loved the ramblers and had found an album for every stage of her life Stop anyone on the street and they could sing you the chorus of a rambler song Each august hundreds of fans offered up flowers photos and handmade tributes to mark the passing of the band's original leader And most far out genius mal walker He drowned at the band's la rental house in 1969 When he was found to have been on qualudes alcohol marijuana and acid he had earned a place amid those iconic rockers Who had lived too hard and died too young The fact that the girl he'd taken up with not long before he died had been pregnant with his love child Had added to the mood of romantic tragedy surrounding him A few months after mal's death the ramblers charismatic american chauffeur said Had lobbed a grenade at the band in a daily mail interview He alleged that mal could handle his drugs and had met with val play A torn from the headlines book followed the last days of the midnight ramblers The hefty payout sidd had received through his accusations into question and his bombastic title seems silly as the band thrived But ask anyone in their entertainment world allegations live on and retractions go unnoticed Before the band could take sidd to court for slander. He overdosed on heroin The events of that summer had remained shrouded in mournful glamour Inspiring dozens of books and a biopic starring jude law as mal But until now no one from the inner circle had been willing to step forward with their own memoir Onka would have plenty to reveal in hers Let's drink to the heart of the people Let's drink to the lonely birth Regent flats to the good and the people Let's drink to the salt of the earth Do you pray for the common food? If you enjoyed this episode check out my interview with svetlana zill and eluxis bloom The directors of the documentary catching fire the story of anita palenberg only on youtube link in the show notes Thanks for tuning in lit listeners if you enjoyed the show Please subscribe and leave a rating and comment on good pods and apple podcast links in the show notes Wyatt the rock is lit mascot and I really appreciate your support Until next time keep rocking and reading and getting lit rock is lit [Music]
In this installment of the Rock is Lit Season 4 Reading Series, Sarah Tomlinson discusses the inspiration for and reads from her debut novel, ‘The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers’.
‘The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers’ synopsis: Anke Berben is ready to tell all. A legendary model and style icon, she reveled in headline-grabbing romances with not one but three members of the hugely influential rock band the Midnight Ramblers. The band members were as famous for their backstage drama as for their music, and Anke is the only one who fully understands the tangled relationships, betrayals, and suspicions that have added to the Ramblers’ enduring appeal and mystique. That is most evident in the mystery around Anke’s role in the death of Mal, the band’s founder and Anke’s husband, in 1969.
When Mari Hawthorn accepts the job to work with Anke on her memoir, she is dead set on getting to the truth of Mal’s death. She has always been deft at navigating the fatal charms of celebrities, having grown up with a narcissistic, alcoholic father. As she ingratiates herself into the world of the band, she grows enchanted, against her better judgment, by these legendary rock stars. She knows she can’t get pulled in too deep, otherwise she’ll compromise her objectivity—and her integrity.
Filled with all of the glamour and attitude of rock and roll, ‘The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers’ is a bighearted page-turner that will appeal to fans of ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ and ‘Almost Famous’.
Sarah Tomlinson, a former music journalist, has been a ghostwriter since 2008, penning more than 20 books, including five ’New York Times’ bestsellers. In 2015, she published the father-daughter memoir, ’Good Girl’ (Gallery Books). She wrote ’The Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers’, her first novel, in-between assignments for a who’s who of celebrity clients.
Check out Christy’s interview with Svetlana Zill and Alexis Bloom, the directors of the documentary ‘Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmqtedDBbl4
MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:
Rock is Lit theme music
[Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop”
“Midnight Rambler” – Rolling Stones
“You Got the Silver” – Rolling Stones
“Salt of the Earth” – Rolling Stones
[Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop”
Rock is Lit theme music
LINKS:
Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451
Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350
Sarah Tomlinson’s website: https://sarahtomlinson.com/
Sarah Tomlinson on Instagram and Twitter: @duchessofrock
Sarah Tomlinson on Facebook: @SarahTomlinson
Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislit
Christy Alexander Hallberg on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg
Rock is Lit on Instagram: @rockislitpodcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
