Buy Me a Rose – the playlist
Hello and thanks to Cait for inviting me to visit her blog today!
My name is Francesca Hawley. I’ve been writing erotic romance for a number of
years now and I’ve found that one of the most important parts of my writing is
music. Music inspires titles, scenes, love scenes and even my characters.
I think this is true for most writers but it’s especially true for
me. I know many writers who can’t abide lyrics when their writing because it
distracts them. For me, songs with lyrics help me to reinforce my own words and
the feelings behind them. I love to listen to great songs and genre doesn’t
matter. Love songs grab your heart whether they twang, strum or anything else.
Let me give you an example, I’ve been writing about shapeshifters
since I started out and most of my stories have featured couples who are new to
each other. But I wondered what would happen with a couple who’d shared a long
relationship. Would things stay happy or could True Mates, my version of fated
soulmates among my shapeshifters, drift apart.
After considering for a while, I realized that yes, a True Mate
relationship could get strained and just like any other relationship if a
couple didn’t nurture it, the relationship could falter. But with True Mates,
there’s no divorce option because once you’re together, you’re mated for life.
Unlike a human couple, the danger of cheating or splitting up isn’t in the
cards.
To make this story work, my couple, Nathaniel (Nat) and Jessica
(Jess) Whitewolf have allowed their relationship to grow stale, but with help
from their kids and some work together, they get the opportunity to rediscover
each other.
Nat is a dedicated doctor and Jess is involved in her landscaping
business and active in the community. They’d lost touch with one another. My
shapeshifters can communicate mind to mind and Nat and Jess have almost
forgotten how.
So here are a few tunes on my playlist for Buy Me a Rose.
Of course the biggest influence was Buy Me a Rose by Kenny Rogers. I remember watching an episode of Touched by an Angel that featured the
Kenny Rogers and roughly followed the storyline of his song. That episode and
that song stayed with me. When I started writing this story, I knew that this
song had to be featured so I could explore that distance between my hero and
heroine. It ended up being an important turning point for my hero.
Another important song for my hero and heroine is “their song.” All I Need sung by Jack Wagner was a big
hit in the mid-1980s when Nat and Jess met. In fact, it was the very first song
they ever danced to and it expressed feelings they both had at that time in
their life.
Another song that I used when I was writing and I also mention
within the story is a song that long time lovers would respond to is Remember When by Alan Jackson. It’s
sweet and it can make me cry and I know Jess would feel the same way.
Something That We
Do by Clint Black is also one of those songs
that helped me while I wrote. It’s super romantic but it helped me remember
that it really is the little things – the things we do – that show our love to
one another, and that was definitely something that Nat and Jess needed to be
reminded of. Live in each day. Love in each day. Share each day.
I listened to many more songs while writing this romance, but
those were perhaps the most influential ones. If you’re interested in learning
more, here’s a blurb and excerpt.
Buy Me A Rose by Francesca Hawley
Jessica and Nathaniel Whitewolf celebrate their thirtieth anniversary as True Mates but they’ve lost their bond. Now a hot couples’ retreat will get it back.
Excerpt
from Buy Me a Rose by Francesca Hawley
Copyright
© Francesca Hawley, 2015
Chapter
One
She
heard his step on the stairs and dished his bacon and eggs onto the plate.
Right on schedule. Just like every morning. He walked into the kitchen and
absently kissed her cheek as he sat down at the table. He ate neatly, as he
always did.
Jessica
Whitewolf watched her True Mate as he read the paper, his forehead knotted in
thought. He’d been so focused on a case lately. One of his patients was late in
a high risk pregnancy and he had been seeing her often so that she’d have a
healthy pup.
Jess
knew she shouldn’t feel jealous, the wolf bitch needed Nat’s attention. Sadly
though, Jess couldn’t remember the last time her Mate focused so keenly on her.
She fought the envy down and choked it off, wishing the best for the expectant
mother.
“What
are your plans today?” she asked.
Jess
could almost predict what he’d say even though they rarely used their True Mate
telepathic bond anymore. He’d talk about spending the day at the clinic and
checking on his special case. Then he’d get up, give her a quick kiss and tell
her he’d see her tonight.
“It’s
a clinic day. I’ll be slammed all day with office visits.”
“Any
interesting cases? How is Missy Goldwolf doing?”
“Missy?”
Jess
smiled. Nat was a stickler about confidentiality. “She’s pregnant. She’s had a
difficult pregnancy and everyone in the entire valley is holding their breaths
hoping she’ll carry to term. It isn’t hard to figure out, honey.”
He
rose and crossed the room. “I suppose not. She’s holding her own. I’m just glad
that Yohana approved the upgrade to the obstetrics and neonatal units at the
hospital.”
“Well,
considering she’ll need it soon herself, it was a no-brainer for the council.”
“She
didn’t know that at the time it was approved, but my thanks to the council,”
Nat smiled and gave her a wink since Jess was part of that civic body. “I
better go. See you tonight, right?” He kissed her cheek, picked up his
briefcase and headed for the front door. Jess followed.
“The
kids sent cards.”
“Hmm?”
he asked absently as she followed him.
“Anniversary
cards,” she hinted. “For us.”
“That’s
nice.” He opened the door and left without turning around once. She watched him
walk to the car and waved as he drove away. He didn’t wave back. She wasn’t
even sure he’d seen her.
Jess
sighed. When had this happened? When had they become so comfortable and…boring.
She turned around and went inside to wash up in the kitchen before she headed
over to her landscaping business.
About the Author
Francesca
Hawley
Many people don’t like the word, “fat” but I do because it’s the truth and I’ve learned to own it. I am a fat chick and I always will be. When I first began to read romance, the heroines were all thin. I kept wondering, where were the fat heroines? I wanted to read about a fat chick who loved herself—or at least learned to love herself—and a hot alpha hero who liked her jiggly bits just the way they were. Since I didn’t find many big girls to read about, I decided to write about them, so Francesca Hawley – author of Romance with Dangerous Curves was born.
In a Francesca Hawley romance, my readers will find authentic, sensual, fat heroines who love and are loved by their intense, passionate, and seductive Alpha heroes. I hope you enjoy their dangerous curves just as much as their hunky heroes do.
Web site: http://www.francescahawley.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/francescahawley
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/francescahawley
Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/FrancescaHawley
The Naughty Literati: http://naughtyliterati.com/
Thanks for sharing your playlist! Awesome post!!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful list! I love all these tunes! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDelete