October 18, 2007 • Print This Post
Welcome to my very first time blogging at Brava Authors! In keeping with the spirit of good times that generally fills these halls, I’d like to talk to you about music. Yup, music.
You see, everyone of my heroes and heroines have theme songs. In fact, I have a very hard writing a book until I know exactly what their theme song is. Plus, the theme song isn’t about the relationship; it’s about the individual. It tells me their hungers, what they want in a romance – and not necessarily this romance. Often the song tell me how far they’re willing to go to make a relationship work.
So far <knock wood> my characters have introduced themselves and then told me their theme song, before I wrote their book. I haven’t written a book triggered by a song, although there are a couple of songs lurking in the back of my head, just waiting for the right character.
Since I write historicals, I’m eternally grateful to my characters for selecting their theme songs from artists who they wouldn’t have listened to while alive. It’s much easier finding recordings of the latest rock stars and pop divas than 1860’s music halls headliners. Duh! Although those old lyrics can be very, very interesting sometimes… But I digress.
William Donovan told me long before I put pen to paper that his theme song was Celine Dion’s “I Want You to Need Me.” It’s a song about being desperately in love with somebody, yet knowing they won’t – can’t – pay attention to you. Hearing that from such an incredibly strong man told me about his inner vulnerability. Here’s a music video of it.
Viola’s theme song is also sung by Celine Dion on the same album, All the Way. It’s “Then You Look At Me,” which told me so much about how Viola’s heart opened up when she realized somebody – especially William – truly loved her. You can watch the music video from Bicentennial Man (which I’ve never seen <le sigh>) here.
What about you? Is there a connection for you between music and books? When you read certain books, does music run through your heads? Does music inspire you to write?
Hugs -
Diane
Posted by Diane Whiteside @ 7:30 am • Filed under: Diane Whiteside
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I love that your characters have theme songs, that’s awesome and a great idea!
So do you listen to the theme song often when writing the characters? I’ve noticed certain albums or songs really help me set the tone. In fact, if it wasn’t for Death Cab for Cutie, the Postal Service and the Pixies, I don’t think I could have slogged through the first 30K I’m working on.
Ooo and the song Wicked Games by Chris Isaak is so great for writing the sexxxy parts!
Hi, Vanessa! Yes, I listen to the theme songs a lot when I’m writing the characters – especially when I need help getting through a book’s sucky middle. The theme song is a like a conversation with my characters.
But I try to listen to music my characters would listen to while I’m writing. So lots and lots of Stephen Foster and Chopin, Schubert, and Berlioz rang through the house while I was writing The Irish Devil. Mostly Chopin and Rimsky-Korsakov for love scenes, though: I get very easily distracted by lyrics.
Diane
Nothing but the book runs through my head when I am reading.
Y’know, Estella, usually I, too, just zip through a book, too deep in the characters’ story to think about anything else, let alone music. But some authors’ books always bring music to mind when I’m deep into their books. Sylvia Day’s books have very passionate, quick moving string quartets – flirtatious and sensual. Lori Foster is country music, which can make you laugh and sometimes rip your guts out.
Diane
Wow, was I excited when I read this post! I thought I was the only one. Music plays a huge part in my writing, and all of my heroes have their own songs. It may not be so much the theme of a song, as the artist’s voice and the feelings it evokes. I always adopt a musician’s voice and make it my character’s. Once I can hear his voice in my head, writing his dialogue is easy. Some of the sexiest voices I’ve found – Rob Thomas, Adam Duritz, Sting, Edwin McCain.
Jean