If you read (and I hope you did) my last blog (Here if you haven’t ), you know I am a music person. In that post, I delved into the minds and music of my fellow authors from Falling Hard, debuting September 30, 2021. I should have thought about my sequence more. They are a hard act to follow. I was so impressed with their songs, stories and how they arrived at their choices. My process is much more random. But I am getting ahead of myself, another thing you will learn about me.
My story, The Homecoming, is a second chance at first love. Lauren and Beck met in eighth grade and it was love at first sight for Beck. He broke Lauren’s heart at the homecoming dance after their first kiss. Twenty plus years later, thanks to Facebook and a few glasses of wine, Lauren makes a date with Beck to reconnect in person. Drinks in a cozy Manhattan bar turn steamy and their old spark is rekindled, but Beck leaves her wanting more. Still haunted by the heartbreak of homecoming, his sudden cancelation causes Lauren to doubt the budding relationship. Can Beck convince her to give him another chance? Or will the distance, both in time and location, keep them apart?
Music is a thread through my story: their first dance, the trio in the background of the bar, and the hotel room. I didn’t reference specific songs because I wanted you to supply your own soundtrack for the occasions, but I definitely had songs in mind. Here’s my playlist for the The Homecoming. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/11br0jZGY8j2zZMU7zl65J?si=650793005641494b
For the homecoming dance slow song, I imagined Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden. I included I Do It for You by Bryan Adams because it just seemed to fit those intense first love emotions. The bar scene was jazz, so I envisioned those three Wynton Marslis’ tracks seamlessly transitioning to create the building mood of intimacy and anticipation. Solo dancing was selected because Beck leaves her wanting more. I just love Norah Jones’ Come away with me. Who wouldn’t want that played for them? I had to include a shout out for 5 Seconds of Summer. Their song Old Me fit because Lauren has changed. She never confronted Beck about breaking her heart when it happened, but when he breaks their date, she demands an explanation. Fallin (Adrenanline) was playing in my head as I wrote the part where they are walking under the huge harvest moon holding hands. Read my story and let me know what you think about the song choices. Agree? Disagree? I want to know.
For inspiration, I have music playing constantly. So, what was I listening to while I was writing The Homecoming? Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6mDhnsX3WLbF8v9EKTJv6u?si=b979f4873a07427c
That is just a snapshot of the playlist.
What about you? Do you listen to music while you work? Drop me a note and let me know. I am always looking for new music. Is there a story behind that choice? I want to know.
Falling Hard is Passionate Ink’s celebration of autumn. Seven sexy MUST reads from Calia Wilde, Michal Scott, Ryan T. Osborn, Jordyn Kross, Deni Dawson, Ryley Banks, and me. We know how to make a short story sizzle. There are aliens, ghosts, and friends. There is history, contemporary, and sci-fi. But all are hot and guaranteed to please.
Passionate Ink passionateink.org is an organization for erotic fiction authors. Their goal is to promote erotic fiction through education and to encourage good will and respect for all erotic fiction writers, regardless of the genre in which they write. One of their projects is to publish an anthology. This is their third year. The anthology is a fundraiser for ProLiteracy www.proLiteracy.org, an organization that is the leading resource and champion for adult education and literacy worldwide.
Xoxo
Candy
Candice LaBria 