What Song Goes With Your Character?

I have a special guest here today. Tara Tyler dropped by the house and shared some of her Writing Process with me. (Hint: It's musical!) I loved it so much that I asked her to put it in a blog so that I could post it for YOU. Prepare your toe for some tapping and get HAPPY!

I love Robin's blog. She is, sorry, but I have to say it, Rockin Robin! She dedicates videos and songs to other bloggers. She gives us Battles of Bands. She is real and honest and supportive. I'm very excited to be guest posting here today! And to keep with a Rockin theme, I'm talking about...

Songs and Soundtracks for Books

Music is a big part of me. I love to sing! Music boosts my mood, whether good or bad. I like upbeat songs when I'm feeling good, familiar songs I can belt out when I'm pumped up or need to get energized, hard rock when I'm feeling rebellious or angry, and HAPPY makes me smile no matter what mood I'm in! I always have music playing in the background.

Except when I'm writing. Some of you listen to music when you write. But, that's where I need peace and quiet or my mind will wander... I guess I have to focus on one creative task at a time. In case you missed it, M.J. Fifield revealed some awesome soundtracks that inspire her while she works when she posted at Alex's (or as she calls him, the Blog-father - love that!).

I also read that Alex's latest MS was inspired by a song. Has that ever happened to you? Music inspires me all the time. My short story, The Comeback, a zombie love story (soon to be in CQ's anthology!) was inspired by the song Comeback which was part of the Avengers movie soundtrack, unbeknownst to me at the time.

Some of us have participated in blogfests that ask to pick a book soundtrack or what theme song would go with our books. I was lucky enough to have my oldest son read POP TRAVEL and do a Soundtrack Project on it for school!

Here are my book theme songs:
POP TRAVEL - New Low by Middle Class Rut (edgy, futuristic, down on your luck)

BROKEN BRANCH FALLS - Move Along by The All-American Rejects (rockin' youthful song, friends can help you overcome life's problems!)

Do you have theme songs or soundtracks for your writing?
Rockin Robin, thank you for all your inspirations!
And thank you again for having me! It was melodious!

Try this BEASTLY QUIZ and find out which beast you are!

(It's part of the August giveaway below.)

BROKEN BRANCH FALLS (MG Fantasy)
by Tara Tyler
Release Date: June 24, 2014 (NOW!)
Publisher: Curiosity Quills

Gabe is an average fifteen-year-old goblin. He’s in the marching band, breezes through calculus, and gets picked on daily by the other kids at school, especially the ogres. But Gabe wants to break out of his nerdy stereotype and try other things. He has his eye on the new ogress at school. Though it’s against all beastly rules, there’s just something about her.

Gabe starts a fad of mingling with other species, forcing the High Council to step in and ruin things by threatening to destroy the school and split up Broken Branch Falls. With help from other outcast friends, Gabe sets out on a quest to save his town. They'll show 'em what different friends can do together!

Available at
B&N ~~~ Amazon
Add it to your GOODREADS list!

Tara Tyler has had a hand at everything from waitressing to rocket engineering. After living up and down the Eastern US, she now writes and teaches math in Ohio with her three active boys and Coach Husband. Currently, she has two series, The Cooper Chronicles (techno-thriller detective capers) and Beast World (MG fantasy) She's an adventure writer who believes every good story should have action, a moral, and a few laughs!

Twitter ~~~ Facebook ~~~ Blog

Also by Tara Tyler, techno-thriller detective series,

The Cooper Chronicles, Book One: POP TRAVEL

a Rafflecopter giveaway

IWSG: Casting Call and DSCP

Today is Wednesday and the monthly installment of sharing our fears with you. It is the day when we expose our ruffled feathers and all of you kind, supportive folks come by and remind us that it "really is okay" and even offer suggestions to bring us back to earth. How awesome is that???? So, thank you, Alex, for bringing us the IWSG. You can follow the link to sign up to participate or simply read blogs from other participants.

I believe that I mentioned James Scott Bell's book on revising and editing in my last IWSG post. He makes many suggestions in order for you to know your characters better. One is casting them with real people. Want to make your character come alive? Give them a face and a voice. If you really want to have fun cast them with someone of the opposite sex. Today we are going with same sex casting. What a fun experiment this was. I encourage you to do it!

Real Name: Georgina Haig

 
Hello. My name is Gigi. I am the main character in this story. When I was six years old I discovered that touching anything with an emotional fingerprint attached would launch me into a vision of the inciting incident. It was horrifying and scary and I avoid touching anything whenever possible. And still, visions are ruining my life.

Real Name: Michelle Pfeiffer

This is my my mother, Eileen. Yeah, I call her that and have since my father died. She didn't want me to call her "Mom" anymore. She is not the warmest person I have ever met.

Real Name: Emma Stone

This is my best friend, Franny. She was also my neighbor for most of my life and was there the first time I had a vision. She is one of the only people who even knows I get visions. She is spunky and fun and I wish I could be more like her.

Real Name: Susan Sarandon

This is Franny's mom. I call her Mimi, just like her grand kids do. She is the only other person who knows about my visions. Sometimes I pretend she is REALLY my mom. I would be lost without her.

Real Name: Ellen Burstyn

This is Grandma. She is a force of nature. She is my paternal grandmother and the strongest woman I know. Sometimes she scares me with her determination. She wants a lot of things for me. How can I ever measure up?

Real Name: Ian Somerhalder

This is my ex-boyfriend, Leo. He broke my heart back when I was in college. He has now come back into my life and wants another shot. I don't know how I feel about that. Has he changed at all or will he just break my heart again?

Real Name: Cam Gigandet

This is Alex. He works for Grandma and being around him scrambles my brain. He is all questions and no answers.  The thing is that I really want to know those answers. He makes it difficult for me to even concentrate on Leo and what we might or might not have...

Real Name: Emma Watson

This is Megan. She also works for Grandma and is way more than what she seems. Would you be surprised to know that she started working for Grandma after picking the lock on her store and disabling the alarm when she was only twelve? Grandma admires a person will skills. She hired Megan immediately.

Real Name: Logan Lerman

This is Chance. He stole Grandma's car. Turns out he is a computer hacking genius and he might be the one person who can provide the key to saving us all. He also talks non-stop and can't keep his mind off of Megan, who doesn't seem aware that he is breathing, let alone interested.


Now for the DSCP part of this post. Desperately Seeking Critique Partners. If you are interested, please email me: rarichards68 at gmail dot com.

One quick note before I end this post. Mary Chapin Carpenter stomped all over Lucinda Williams in Battle of the Bands. Your votes left it 19-5. I really like both versions but have to go with the majority on this one. I simply cannot vote against MCC.  So, make it 20-5 and we will see you again on the 15th for Battle of the Bands!

Thank you for visiting this episode of the IWSG. Do these people seem more real to you with a face? Have you considered casting your novel? Looking for a CP? Did you vote in Battle of the Bands? If you want to come back on the 15th of this month!

Battle of the Bands ~ Passionate Kisses

 Hello everyone! I am back. If you didn't at least glance over yesterday's HERE'S TO YOU post (there might be something for YOU!), I suggest that you take a moment after this post and do just that!!!

Today is Battle of the Bands!

Okay, stop that hootin' and hollerin' and sit back down. This isn't a high school football game.

Up for today is a song called Passionate Kisses. It was written and first recorded, without much fanfare, by Lucinda Williams. Not saying I don't like her version, because I do (very much). In the early 90s (I am relying on memory here instead of consulting wacky wiki for the answers), Mary Chapin Carpenter recorded the song. It was HUGE for her and won MCC an award (Grammy maybe?) and Lucinda Williams an award as the songwriter that same year. In other words, they both won on this one.

I discovered Lucinda Williams and her music about a decade after all of this went down. Lucinda Williams is one of those grassroots artists that has a tremendous fan base but I have never heard her on the radio. There simply isn't an easy niche that she she fits into. Her version of Passionate Kisses remains true to her overall style. Ironically, after MCC achieved rather a lot of success she, too, stopped recording songs that the radio wanted to play BUT she still puts out albums enjoyed by her loyal fans. I think Passionate Kisses is also very representative of her sound - at least at that time.



First up, the songwriter and the first to record it... Lucinda Williams




versus

Mary Chapin Carpenter (if your vote will be swayed by the images, just listen and do not watch!)




For more Battle of the Bands fun, check out the other BOTB bloggers to vote on their battles:

• Far Away Series
• Stephen T. McCarthy's Battle of the Bands Blog
• Tossing it Out
• DiscConnected
• The Creative Outlet of Strait Player 
• Mike's Ramblings
• Donna Hole

Now, is the critical moment. It is time to vote for your favorite version of this song. I even encourage you to leave me long comment explaining all the ins and outs of why you voted as you did!