After years of journaling, writing essays, reflections, and short stories, Claudio D’Andrea (BA 1986) began noticing a common thread in his work — much of it was intertwined with music.

D’Andrea is now debuting his book Stories in the Key of Song, a collection of 10 short stories and one essay written over the last 10 years, all united by a musical motif. The collection launches Thursday, Sept. 12.

“It started unintentionally. I just love music. I love listening to it and playing it. I used to be a drummer back in the day, and I still get on my little electric drum kit and practice whenever I can,” D’Andrea said. “Music has always been playing in the back of my mind, so I think it naturally inspired my writing. It started showing up quite a bit, in small ways and large.”

A lifelong writer, D’Andrea has worked in journalism and the newspaper business for more than 35 years. He first dabbled in creative writing in high school and as a student at the University of Windsor, and then returned to the art form about 10 years ago.

Inspiration strikes D’Andrea in many forms — a photograph, a phrase, a Christmas costume he once wore, or a song lyric can spark a story.

“The last story in this collection began when I woke up one morning with the phrase ‘I meme mine’ in my head. Of course, it’s the famous Beatles song, ‘I Me Mine’ and I wondered, ‘Where did that come from?’ I thought it was a cool, unique expression,” D’Andrea said.

That phrase led to his story I Meme Mine, about a failed writer who finds success in the afterlife by mining George Harrison memes.

Stories in the Key of Song showcases a variety of literary styles and topics. According to publisher Black Moss Press, the collection spans everything from realistic character portrayals to horror, surrealism, and metafiction.

One story, Bus Stop, Bus Goes, was inspired by the 1960s pop-rock band The Hollies’ song Bus Stop, and D’Andrea’s own commute. It tells the story of an older woman with an ear for music who meets a young man on a Transit Windsor bus one New Year’s morning.

"I guess that theme was in my head, and I just thought of the main character in that story. I pictured her on the bus, this troubled character, with that song playing in my head. Those two things kind of dovetailed, and the story came together from there,” he said.

That story is also being adapted into a short film.

D’Andrea was approached by friend and videographer, Walter Riggi, to see if he had any work that might translate into film. He chose Bus Stop, Bus Goes because it is character-driven and dialogue-focused. D’Andrea, Riggi, and Christian Vegh — a local guitarist, songwriter, actor and model — have been working on the film together.

“We’ve gone through a few readings and revisions, and it’s been great,” D’Andrea said. “It’s been very different. It’s a different kind of writing, and my friend has been opening my eyes to seeing it from a videographer's perspective, which is where a lot of the changes come from. It’s been fun!”

An official book launch for Stories in the Key of Song will be held at the Giovanni Caboto Club on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. The book is also available for order at blackmosspress.com and will be available for purchase at Biblioasis and the River Bookshop.