Tales from the Scrapyard - Listen and Watch List

To celebrate the release of Tales from the Scrapyard, author Nicole Zamlout has put together a list of inspirations behind her latest fantasy epic. Pulling from pop culture, mythology, fairy tales, and so much more, here's a primer to help you dive into the world of the Story Scrapyard.

Listen to: “Magic To Do” (specifically the 2013 revival version) from Pippin

-This song helped me capture The Storyteller’s essence as a character.

Look Up: Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh

-There is one part of the story that is dedicated to it, which is one of my favorite parts of the story that focuses on The Storyteller and her inner life.

Watch: Any let’s play of the video game Detroit Become Human

-It also has a revolutionary named Marcus whose story really had me wondering about the nature of creation, life, and choice, which inspired my own. 

Listen to: Unstoppable by The Score

-This song just really boils down Caroline’s thoughts and her attitude throughout the story.

Read: Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

- I have always had a fascination with Shakespeare’s characters, but Juliet always stood out to me as so tragic yet so quietly violent, which I played with a bit.

Listen to: Love Story by Taylor Swift

-This song both made my childhood and captures both Juliet’s joy and some of her suffering in the story.

Also listen to: Could Have Been Me by The Struts

-This was playing a lot as I wrote out Juliet’s arc from helplessness to rebellion.

Read: The original Aesop’s Fable

-The story gives us his cunning nature but also a bit of his nuance, which I played with later.

Also read: “A Day in the Life of Half of Rumpelstiltskin” by Kevin Brockmeier

-I read this while, ironically, taking a fairytale class and it really made me start
thinking past the fable. 

Read: The original fairytale

-This one always haunts me both because of how dark it can get and how deep the story can go.

Watch/listen to: Into the Woods

-The musical version of her became the streamline of her journey from helpless to powerful (looking at her between Acts 1 and 2) but aging her up/adding on some of the darker themes from the original. 

Read: The original comic run

-The comics really had fun in those early days outlining his powers, which will always make me smile.

Watch: Superman: The Animated Series

-This series is what really made me fall for the character and also made me begin to question a lot of what he symbolizes and goes through.

Also watch: The Justice League: Unlimited episode “For The Man Who Has
Everything”

-This one really brings what Superman sacrifices and desires into focus.

Listen to: Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down

-This song drove a lot of those same themes home and was my go-to song for his scenes.

Read: Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett

-This book was big inspiration for how I framed the Scrapyard worldbuilding-wise, albeit without the comedy Pratchett is known for.

Listen To: Test Drive from How To Train Your Dragon

-This was the song that was playing as I wrote “A Journey Home” and just fits the majesty of the Scrapyard.

  

We hope you enjoyed pulling back the curtain and discovering some of the inspirations behind the latest installment in Read Furiously's bestselling One 'n Done series. Tales from the Scrapyard is now available. Get your copy wherever books are sold.