In the year 2025, a young man, just 22 years old, embarks on an extraordinary journey through time but this is no ordinary time travel. Rather than visiting distant realms or changing historical events, he dives deep into the world of music. His mission? To transform himself into a modern-day alchemist-not one who turns metal into gold, but a visionary who brings melodies to life, blending raw emotions into chart-topping hits. He isn't just traveling back in time; he's rewinding the music world, heading all the way to 2009, armed with a secret weapon: a unique musical "cheat."
This cheat isn't your typical time-traveler's tool. Instead of manipulating events or finding shortcuts in life, his cheat is fueled by the very emotions that drive human experience. Depression points, happiness points, and other emotional currencies are his fuel, and as he collects them, he unlocks the power to bring songs to life. With enough points, he can either draw a lottery for a song or purchase it outright.
What he receives isn't just lyrics but the complete package of lyrics, musical composition, instrumentation, and everything he needs to bring it to life as though the music were born from his own soul.
As he journeys from 2025 back to 2009, he becomes a musical alchemist, conjuring up one miraculous hit after another. With each new song, he captivates audiences, dominates the Billboard charts, and reshapes the musical landscape in America. His talent isn't merely an act of creation but a form of magic, alchemizing emotions into unforgettable anthems that resonate with millions.
Join this young prodigy on a journey unlike any other-a time-traveling saga where the future and past collide, and music is the magic that ties it all together. From the heartache to the euphoria, follow the rise of a musical alchemist who transforms emotions into melodies, and melodies into pure gold.
Geoff and Naomi are dead, and they're depressed, but when Geoff's cat Bernie dies as well, they embark on a wild journey to find it in the underworld.
*****
When Geoff dies, alongside his girlfriend Naomi, they end up sharing an apartment in the Underworld as skeletons. But after a few years, Geoff starts suffering a mid-death crisis. What's the purpose of going through the motions as a skeleton if you can't really live? Then he gets word that his cat, Bernie, just died and he can collect him and bring him home! Geoff and Naomi hurry to get Bernie only to discover that, due to a clerical error, their cat has been lost. With the hunt for Bernie giving new purpose to Geoff's un-life, he and Naomi begin a quest to get back their cat. Battling skeleton pirates, climbing the sky ladder and facing off against the villain who took Bernie, Geoff is determined to find his purpose - or die a second time trying!
[[2018 Wattys Winner - The Originals]]
[[word count: 30,000-40,000 words]]