Welcome to our first Round Robin!
A Round Robin interview means each person answers the same question.
This Month's Question for Authors
What song helped you set the mood for a great love scene in one of your books?
Music has always been an important part of my life. I grew up listening to every kind of music and still have eclectic taste in music. I'm happy listening to Afro-Euro rock, Japanese koto music, Bob Seger, Mozart, Caught A Ghost, Santana, Los Lobos, The Eagles, Asleep at the Wheel, some hip hop—well, you get the picture.
Don't get me started on soundtracks like Streets of Fire! I listen to classical when I'm writing except when I'm gearing up to write a special scene, like a love scene.
Then I listen to a song that make me think of my characters or the situation they find themselves in or fits the intensity of the mood. Sometimes I listen over and over. Drives my Darling Hubby crazy.
As I write this, I'm listening to Tom Waits sing "Heartattack and Vine," a song Hubby and I have been dancing a little West Coast Swing to. In many of my books, characters listen to music, probably because I do.
In April Fool Proposition, my latest book (on pre-order, publishing April 4), I have a scene where the hero, Travis, is dancing with the heroine, Brenna, to the song Wicked Game by Chris Isaak.
Travis asks, "Is that what you're doing. Playing a wicked game with me?"(There's a lot of music in this novella. If you want to know how his question is answered, April Fool Proposition is at the New Release price of 99¢.)
I love Wicked Games. It's one of my favorites ever. Isaak's voice is as haunting as the lyrics.
Judge for yourself. Here's a YouTube link to Isaak singing Wicked Game. Turn the volume up because the way he's singing it is as if he's whispering to his heartless lover.
Kathleen Lawless: What song helped you set the mood for a great love scene in a book?
It started off as the ultimate reunion… Cassidy’s chance to get revenge for the way Sloan broke her teenage heart.
Her Unwilling Cowboy was originally titled Wicked Night Games, so this song always fit perfectly. [And still does.]
[Note from Joan: Great minds think alike.]
M.J. Schiller: What song helped you set the mood for a great love scene in a book?
In my latest release,
Rocked By Love, Book Two of the Love and Chaos Series, my heroine, Mia Love, actually does a sort of private strip tease to this song for the hero, rock star Rafe Santiago.
The lyrics don't apply in any way, but the beat is great to dance to.
When rock star Raphael Santiago jumps in the crowd at one of Just Short of Chaos' concerts to defend a woman whose boyfriend has gotten physical with her, he meets the woman's cousin, newspaper reporter, Mia Love.
When Rafe extends an invitation to Mia to meet him backstage after the show, he is rebuffed, which is a first, and it starts a hot, sometimes friction-filled relationship between the two.
Nancy Fraser: What song helped you set the mood for a great love scene in a book?
Can he fix more than just her rusty pipes?
The song is "The End" by JPolnd which is used in Bridgerton during the Daphne takes hers scene.
I've used this song for the steamiest scenes in the last three books. The music is haunting, but the lyrics even more so.
Check out The End on YouTube.As I've compiled this, I've listened to all of the songs my friends mentioned.
I think authors listen to music to "set a scene" because music is emotion. It digs deep into our psyches where we store our pain and our love, our triumphs and our tragedies. Music helps us excavate those emotions and put them into our stories.
Hans Christian Andersen said, "Where words fail, music speaks."
Join us again on May 2 for another Round Robin interview with Romance Gems Authors. It may be about music or something entirely different.
Like They Say in Hollywood, "That's a wrap."
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Welcome to our first Round Robin!
This is so interesting. It was a question to which I had NO answers, but I love reading these!
ReplyDeleteAlways glad to be entertaining! Thanks, Liz.
DeleteLoved reading these. Got new music to check out and new books! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. Kind of gives a peek into our brains, huh?
DeleteThis is great!! I don't listen to music when I write. Unless hub is being too noisy, then I put in ear buds and listen to classical piano. I can't have lyrics when I'm writing because then I end up singing and NOT writing!
ReplyDeleteYes, I can't write with music on unless it's classical, but when thinking about certain scenes, I listen to be inspired by the mood of the music.
DeleteI don’t listen to music when I write, nor do I have photos of characters around my office. I am all about the words, no visual clues or auditory inspiration. Weird I guess?
ReplyDeleteHey! Whatever gets you there! ;)
DeleteLike Joan, I can't have distractions like music when I write, but it's inspiring for setting a certain mood.
ReplyDeleteYes. I'm listening to Deceptively Yours (Norah Jones & the Peter Malick Group) which is the title for my next book. Only the first 2 lines of the lyrics fit the story, but the moody music fits a crucial scene in the book.
DeleteI always loved wicked games. I saw an interview with Chris Isaak and he said it was about a woman he knew--of course-- playing games and about obsessive love.
ReplyDeleteOh, thanks for sharing that. I knew it had to be about a woman.
DeleteI love "Wicked Games!" A local hard rock band does a great rendition of it. I also love the round robin theme. I can't wait to see what else you come up with!
ReplyDeleteLooks like Wicked Games is a fave for many. Thanks, MJ. Glad you like this format. I already have the next idea. This is fun.
DeleteLove this Round Robin approach. How fun! Love the varied responses.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marcia. Maybe you'll join us next time.
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