Thursday, April 24, 2014

Holiday Hearts Playlist

By Kimberly Quinton

Do you listen to music while you read? Do you have to have the radio on at work or while you’re cooking dinner or folding laundry? I do. Turning on my music is one of the first things I do when I sit down at my desk. Music comes before checking email, Facebook or writing a word. I need peppy, upbeat tracks to get me going in the morning and also to put me in the creative mood. But! And this is a big one… I can not have music with lyrics playing while I’m writing. Before writing and when brainstorming or when researching or playing on social media—music is essential. While actually in the zone and letting the words fly—only soothing classical or “spa” like music will do. Otherwise, I find myself getting lost in the lyrics, singing along and losing focus on the book and letting the music send me daydreaming.

For my Holiday Hearts Series, I put together several playlists to get me in the mood for the stories and ready to write. I find myself using the feelings and emotions the songs evoke as a muse and I try to hold onto it as I write.

A few of my favorites- With Videos! Enjoy!

Her Wish Before Christmas

 I’m a child of the 80’s so Wham’s Last Christmas is way up at the top of my Christmas Song list. And the video is adorable.

Rachel Potter sings a fabulous version of All I Want For Christmas Is You. I love her voice and this is one of my all time favorite Christmas songs. 

Cupid’s Promise 
Lena is a former supermodel trying to find a new direction in life and Marcus makes a fool of himself trying to fit her into a neat little category. Her Roar makes him take notice that his assumptions really had made him an ass.

Roar, Katy Perry

Just The Way You Are, Bruno Mars 
Who doesn’t want to be loved for the little things?  The feeling that both Marcus and Lena are looking for the person who loves them just the way they are is what I think about when listening to Bruno’s beautiful voice.

Coming Soon! Star Spangled Surprise- Holiday Hearts #3.

This is Jacqui’s story and her steamy start to a love affair takes her on a journey unlike Books 1 and 2. I can’t wait to show you more of Jacqui and Ryan soon! For now, know I needed some of my favorite sexy songs to get in the mood to write their story.
I Need Your Love, the Pentatonix version. So awesome!

As I brainstorm Cilla’s story, I’m going back to all of these for inspiration plus a few more:
I Want You To Want Me,  Cheap Trick 
Crazy In Love, Beyonce ft. Jay Z 
Gypsy, Fleetwood Mac 
Need You Tonight, INXS

I would love to know if you have a favorite song-book combination. Do you have a song or songs that remind you of a favorite book?


#kimquinton, #decadentpub 

3 comments:

Jerrie Alexander said...

Kimberley, great post. I love music, but it's too easy for a song to get stuck in my head. Somebody mention 'Happy' the other day and there it was, firmly lodged in my brain. Now, it's 'Roar'!

I write in silence. Once I get started, even the phone can pull me out of the zone.

Love you work!! keep them coming.

Unknown said...

Love this list! I have different playlists for the different type of books I write, but when I edit, it's complete silence. No distractions whatsoever. It's almost like the music helps me create the imagery I want, and the silence cleans up all the extra BS that may have snuck into the story ;)

And PS. I hate to admit this, but I had a Wham cassette tape before they were even known in the US thanks to a friend that worked at a music store. (that's right a cassette tape)

Unknown said...

Hi Jerrie and Kym! Thanks for stopping by!

I have to have some music to get me in the mood, but silence or soft spa like music to write. I love pandora's Music for Brainwave massage station… It's the only music I can focus with otherwise I need quiet.

Kym, I wanted a Wham cassette so bad but could never save enough money while waiting until we went to a place with a music store to buy one! I did have several records still in the early 80's- The Police was one of my favorites. LOL. I remember, before we had MTV, watching Wham and Madonna videos on Night Tracks.. ANd the petit four cookie cutter infomercial that would play before it started that always made me wish I had cake… Random thoughts. :)

Miss my records.. Don't miss the cassettes! And recording music off the radio…

Thanks!
Kim