A Goodreads user
A Goodreads user asked Michael J. Sullivan:

What a great idea you had by creating two free audiobooks, "The Jester" and "Professional Integrity". I prefer audiobooks to sitting down to read. After listening to the free books, I began to listen to the Riyria Revelations books. So far I have listened to "The Crown Tower" and now has begun "The Rose and the Thorn". Your storytelling has a bright rhythm with a fresh refrain. Do you listen to music while writing?

Michael J. Sullivan Hey Grace,
I'm so glad you enjoyed the free shorts. That was my wife's brilliant idea, and I'm thrilled they enticed you into the longer works. There are some times (particularly when writing an emotional scene) that I turn on some music to help with the rhythm, but about 90% of the time I'm writing in silence. I find noise distracting and the less of it the better. Thankfully I live out in the country where there isn't much (no traffic, sirens, or the like). Just the songs of birds and those just provide a nice background.

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