L.J. Greene's Blog, page 3
October 13, 2016
Bad Irish Sex Puns and Other Things I Learned from Writing Sound Effects
Suffice it to say, for an author, every book written is a learning experience. Some lessons come in the form of a pleasant surprise–like the discovery of five bucks in the pocket of a jacket you haven’t worn in a while. Who knew you had it in you?! But some lessons come like the discovery of a black whisker on your chin. Makes you wonder how long that little lovely has been there, and who might have noticed it before you did. Seriously, don’t dwell on that.
So here are a few things I learned from writing Sound Effects:
1. ‘How’s the craic?’ makes for a very bad pun.
Sound Effects, Jamie and Mel’s story, was sort of an accidental one. Over the course of writing Ripple Effects, I absolutely fell in love with this couple, who were important secondary characters. I couldn’t not write their story. But curse my wild imagination while dreaming up Ripple Effects, and curse my inherent loyalty to an idea once it pops into my head, because I made Jamie Irish.
And I’m going to be honest here–writing a dual POV novel, partially from the viewpoint of an up-and-coming, Irish-born musician was a bit daunting. And yet, after listening to and reading countless interviews of native Irish speakers, Jamie’s voice came easily–maybe more easily than any character I’ve ever written. He’s a honey, for sure. Did I take liberties? Yep, a few. But I wanted to make Jamie as authentic as possible, and also give him a voice that was distinct.
So what does this have to do with bad puns? Pronounced like ‘crack,’ ‘how’s the craic?’ is an Irish expression that means roughly ‘how’s it going?’ Jamie says it a few times in its intended context. But I will confess that, in the absence of adult supervision, I couldn’t resist using it once at the end of a love scene. I’ll just apologize in advance for that one.
2. It’s good to break with convention.
Many of my favorite romance novels feature that dark and brooding hero. I’m all for it! But I love the challenge of writing characters that fly in the face of common romance tropes, and creating extraordinary situations from ordinary occurrences. We don’t often see the strong male lead who is unapologetically emotional and demonstrative, not just with his lady-love, but with his friends, as well. And that’s what made Jamie so much fun for me. He’s an open book. He says things easily–big things–without any hesitation or self-consciousness. He’ll cop to his own flaws, and when necessary, he’ll call you on yours. In one of my favorite scenes in the book, Jamie hands one particular record exec his head on a platter. But when it comes to Mel, who better to speak those words of love?
3. Not every idea is a good idea.
Oh sure, as an author, you covet all lightening bolts of divine inspiration, but let’s face it – in the light of day, some ideas are just stinkers. To be fair, my first encounter with this bit of wisdom came while writing Ripple Effects. I am very glad to report that before publication of that novel, I had the good sense to delete a particular scene involving a Butterfinger. Yes, you read that right. A Butterfinger. And trust me on this; you really don't want to know.
But armed with that bit of experience, I came to understand as I wrote Sound Effects that knowing which scenes to cut was every bit as important as knowing which scenes to craft. In fact, I deleted nearly seven thousand words from the final version of Sound Effects, and its pacing is one of the things of which I’m most proud. This book really moves! No mid-novel sag here! There’s a great secondary storyline that keeps everything hopping and provides a compelling through line for the romance. And no Butterfingers, I promise.
4. ‘Oh, yes baby!’ only gets you so far in the writing of great love scene.
Well, yes, we do love our oohs and ahs. But it turns out that love scenes are very tricky, and much harder to craft than one might expect. Too much description with too little emotional context for the scene and you have wandered into “Hokey Pokey” territory, my friend. Readers deserve much more than just being told where the right arm presently is.
In fact, I’ll tell you that the first full-length love scene in Sound Effects, told mostly from Mel’s perspective, required at least a dozen re-writes before hitting those critical notes. On more than one occasion, that scene made me want to curl up in a ball and eat cake, but now it’s one of my very favorites.
The portion of it narrated by Jamie took extra special care. My belief was that, as a songwriter, he would describe things in a more artful way, with the precision and economy of a lyricist. So his perspective is exactly 78 words. And believe me, you’ll get it!
5. You are my inspiration.
Maybe the most important thing I learned through writing Sound Effects is how incredibly inspiring and generous an audience can be. The funny/eerie/awesome thing about life is that over the course of writing Sound Effects, my first venture, Ripple Effects, was finding its audience. And periodically romance bloggers or readers would post kind reviews or send me messages via Twitter. And those posts always seemed to come when I most needed a little boost of confidence to push through a tough spot in the process. They were a big part of the reason I never lost steam, and I am profoundly grateful for their kindness and encouragement. In case you may wonder, Chapter 35 (Jamie’s blog) was inspired by them, and is dedicated to them.
Romance, in general, is an underappreciated genre and one that deserves far more respect than it generally receives. We, both readers and writers, are not who they say we are. By the efforts of romance bloggers, indie authors can reach an audience that is far more accepting than the publishing industry at large. It is because of their passion that voices like mine can be added to the mix. Talk about inspiration!
Sound Effects
L.J. Greene
So here are a few things I learned from writing Sound Effects:
1. ‘How’s the craic?’ makes for a very bad pun.
Sound Effects, Jamie and Mel’s story, was sort of an accidental one. Over the course of writing Ripple Effects, I absolutely fell in love with this couple, who were important secondary characters. I couldn’t not write their story. But curse my wild imagination while dreaming up Ripple Effects, and curse my inherent loyalty to an idea once it pops into my head, because I made Jamie Irish.
And I’m going to be honest here–writing a dual POV novel, partially from the viewpoint of an up-and-coming, Irish-born musician was a bit daunting. And yet, after listening to and reading countless interviews of native Irish speakers, Jamie’s voice came easily–maybe more easily than any character I’ve ever written. He’s a honey, for sure. Did I take liberties? Yep, a few. But I wanted to make Jamie as authentic as possible, and also give him a voice that was distinct.
So what does this have to do with bad puns? Pronounced like ‘crack,’ ‘how’s the craic?’ is an Irish expression that means roughly ‘how’s it going?’ Jamie says it a few times in its intended context. But I will confess that, in the absence of adult supervision, I couldn’t resist using it once at the end of a love scene. I’ll just apologize in advance for that one.
2. It’s good to break with convention.
Many of my favorite romance novels feature that dark and brooding hero. I’m all for it! But I love the challenge of writing characters that fly in the face of common romance tropes, and creating extraordinary situations from ordinary occurrences. We don’t often see the strong male lead who is unapologetically emotional and demonstrative, not just with his lady-love, but with his friends, as well. And that’s what made Jamie so much fun for me. He’s an open book. He says things easily–big things–without any hesitation or self-consciousness. He’ll cop to his own flaws, and when necessary, he’ll call you on yours. In one of my favorite scenes in the book, Jamie hands one particular record exec his head on a platter. But when it comes to Mel, who better to speak those words of love?
3. Not every idea is a good idea.
Oh sure, as an author, you covet all lightening bolts of divine inspiration, but let’s face it – in the light of day, some ideas are just stinkers. To be fair, my first encounter with this bit of wisdom came while writing Ripple Effects. I am very glad to report that before publication of that novel, I had the good sense to delete a particular scene involving a Butterfinger. Yes, you read that right. A Butterfinger. And trust me on this; you really don't want to know.
But armed with that bit of experience, I came to understand as I wrote Sound Effects that knowing which scenes to cut was every bit as important as knowing which scenes to craft. In fact, I deleted nearly seven thousand words from the final version of Sound Effects, and its pacing is one of the things of which I’m most proud. This book really moves! No mid-novel sag here! There’s a great secondary storyline that keeps everything hopping and provides a compelling through line for the romance. And no Butterfingers, I promise.
4. ‘Oh, yes baby!’ only gets you so far in the writing of great love scene.
Well, yes, we do love our oohs and ahs. But it turns out that love scenes are very tricky, and much harder to craft than one might expect. Too much description with too little emotional context for the scene and you have wandered into “Hokey Pokey” territory, my friend. Readers deserve much more than just being told where the right arm presently is.
In fact, I’ll tell you that the first full-length love scene in Sound Effects, told mostly from Mel’s perspective, required at least a dozen re-writes before hitting those critical notes. On more than one occasion, that scene made me want to curl up in a ball and eat cake, but now it’s one of my very favorites.
The portion of it narrated by Jamie took extra special care. My belief was that, as a songwriter, he would describe things in a more artful way, with the precision and economy of a lyricist. So his perspective is exactly 78 words. And believe me, you’ll get it!
5. You are my inspiration.
Maybe the most important thing I learned through writing Sound Effects is how incredibly inspiring and generous an audience can be. The funny/eerie/awesome thing about life is that over the course of writing Sound Effects, my first venture, Ripple Effects, was finding its audience. And periodically romance bloggers or readers would post kind reviews or send me messages via Twitter. And those posts always seemed to come when I most needed a little boost of confidence to push through a tough spot in the process. They were a big part of the reason I never lost steam, and I am profoundly grateful for their kindness and encouragement. In case you may wonder, Chapter 35 (Jamie’s blog) was inspired by them, and is dedicated to them.
Romance, in general, is an underappreciated genre and one that deserves far more respect than it generally receives. We, both readers and writers, are not who they say we are. By the efforts of romance bloggers, indie authors can reach an audience that is far more accepting than the publishing industry at large. It is because of their passion that voices like mine can be added to the mix. Talk about inspiration!
Sound Effects
L.J. Greene
October 10, 2016
I vote for kindness
After more than a year in the making, I am so pleased and so proud to say that Sound Effects is now live! This book is so personal to me and is, in many ways, a loving tribute to so many of you who supported and encouraged me through the creation of Ripple Effects. Never underestimate the power of a kind word.
Launching a new book is such a thrilling experience - filled with excitement and some trepidation. But I'm so ready to share it and to introduce readers to some truly beautiful characters whose relationships with one another exemplify what is great in all of us.
In a time of such divisiveness, it's nice to celebrate acceptance and love.
Thank you to all who have and will bring these characters into your hearts and homes. I am forever grateful.
Sound Effects
L.J. Greene
Launching a new book is such a thrilling experience - filled with excitement and some trepidation. But I'm so ready to share it and to introduce readers to some truly beautiful characters whose relationships with one another exemplify what is great in all of us.
In a time of such divisiveness, it's nice to celebrate acceptance and love.
Thank you to all who have and will bring these characters into your hearts and homes. I am forever grateful.
Sound Effects
L.J. Greene
October 4, 2016
Final Excerpt - Sound Effects
Sound Effects is releasing on Oct. 10! I cannot wait! So in honor of this upcoming event, here's one more preview...
===========================================
Even if I had wanted to, I couldn’t have hidden where my own imagination had gone. Every inch of his body called to mine. His fingers in my hand were large and rough. I bit down gently on the pad of his index finger as he drew it from my mouth. Then, he pressed his thumb to my lower lip and I opened wider to take it in. His eyes were ablaze. In and out, I sucked the tip of his thumb while he stood, statue-like, staring. Arousal was radiating off of him in the short, shallow bursts of his breath and in the rapid rise and fall of his chest.
“Don’t tease me,” he finally whispered, his voice hoarse with desire.
“I wouldn’t.”
I couldn’t, honestly. I wanted him that fiercely. I was sure that my body was already primed for it.
Suddenly, he spun me to face the sink and I felt the cool edge of the countertop cut across my abdomen. There was a window directly in my view, but my mind’s eye was focused intently on the press of his body behind me. His hands brushed my hair forward to one side. As he traced my neck and shoulders, I could feel the calluses on each fingertip from his instruments, and on his palms as a consequence of his work. My own hands clenched into fists and felt soft and untested by comparison.
Sound Effects
L.J. Greene
===========================================
Even if I had wanted to, I couldn’t have hidden where my own imagination had gone. Every inch of his body called to mine. His fingers in my hand were large and rough. I bit down gently on the pad of his index finger as he drew it from my mouth. Then, he pressed his thumb to my lower lip and I opened wider to take it in. His eyes were ablaze. In and out, I sucked the tip of his thumb while he stood, statue-like, staring. Arousal was radiating off of him in the short, shallow bursts of his breath and in the rapid rise and fall of his chest.
“Don’t tease me,” he finally whispered, his voice hoarse with desire.
“I wouldn’t.”
I couldn’t, honestly. I wanted him that fiercely. I was sure that my body was already primed for it.
Suddenly, he spun me to face the sink and I felt the cool edge of the countertop cut across my abdomen. There was a window directly in my view, but my mind’s eye was focused intently on the press of his body behind me. His hands brushed my hair forward to one side. As he traced my neck and shoulders, I could feel the calluses on each fingertip from his instruments, and on his palms as a consequence of his work. My own hands clenched into fists and felt soft and untested by comparison.
Sound Effects
L.J. Greene
September 22, 2016
Sound Effects - Excerpt 4
Sound Effects comes out Oct. 10 and I cannot wait to share it! Here is a little teaser. Enjoy!
==================
“Can I call you?” he asked softly.
I slumped the top of my head into his broad chest, and his arms came around me.
I had arrived at a junction, and no small one. I could easily answer no and go back to a life that I knew would be prudent. The road more traveled is always the safer one. But tonight I had glimpsed the other, a gloriously uncertain path that would take me far beyond my comfort zone, embodied by a man whose heartbeat was fast and strong beneath my cheek.
What promise did that road hold? And who would I need to be in order to walk it? I didn’t yet have the answer, but I closed my eyes and took the first step, anyway.
“Yes,” I told him.
I wasn’t naïve. I knew exactly what I was agreeing to. Not just a phone call, not just another date or another gig to attend. But joy and heartache. Pleasure and pain. Life for those brave enough to really live it.
In the cool of the evening, I slid out of his grasp and started for the waiting cab.
“Mel.” I turned at the sound of his voice. “What did you think of the show?”
I smiled. “It was…exceptional.”
Sound Effects
L.J. Greene
==================
“Can I call you?” he asked softly.
I slumped the top of my head into his broad chest, and his arms came around me.
I had arrived at a junction, and no small one. I could easily answer no and go back to a life that I knew would be prudent. The road more traveled is always the safer one. But tonight I had glimpsed the other, a gloriously uncertain path that would take me far beyond my comfort zone, embodied by a man whose heartbeat was fast and strong beneath my cheek.
What promise did that road hold? And who would I need to be in order to walk it? I didn’t yet have the answer, but I closed my eyes and took the first step, anyway.
“Yes,” I told him.
I wasn’t naïve. I knew exactly what I was agreeing to. Not just a phone call, not just another date or another gig to attend. But joy and heartache. Pleasure and pain. Life for those brave enough to really live it.
In the cool of the evening, I slid out of his grasp and started for the waiting cab.
“Mel.” I turned at the sound of his voice. “What did you think of the show?”
I smiled. “It was…exceptional.”
Sound Effects
L.J. Greene
September 14, 2016
Excerpt 3 - Sound Effects
I do love this one... :) And note the new release date for Sound Effects! Oct. 10!! Also, the giveaway ends tomorrow at midnight. Enter! Enter!
=========================
“Tell me your passion.”
My passion? Now, there was a question. One I did not have an answer for. In truth, nothing made me feel more vulnerable than that question.
He waited expectantly, not realizing that in the course of one conversation, he had unknowingly twice touched a tender spot. Of course, to someone like him, it would be unfathomable to live your life without a passion. He probably had many of them. But the fact was, I didn’t think I did.
I liked lots of things. As a child, I did all kinds of activities–gymnastics, piano, soccer, debate, track and field, and on and on. I was sort of a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none. Reasonably good at lots of things, but missing that one thing that I lived for. It had always made me wonder if I had failed to apply myself on some level. Or maybe I was just truly average as a human being. Unlike Jamie, I couldn’t think of anything I was really driven by. Not like he was. Not like having something in my life that I lived for. Maybe save one thing…
“My family, I guess.”
I wondered how utterly ludicrous that must sound to him. He had unwittingly just met the most astoundingly vanilla person on the planet.
And it didn’t help me any that he didn’t make a sound for an unnervingly long stretch of time. He seemed to be studying something in me. I couldn’t put my finger on it. And then he surprised me by reaching up to touch my face, almost reverently. His fingertips were cold against my skin, and his touch was soft.
“Family is a noble passion,” he said. “Beautiful and noble.”
Sound Effects
=========================
“Tell me your passion.”
My passion? Now, there was a question. One I did not have an answer for. In truth, nothing made me feel more vulnerable than that question.
He waited expectantly, not realizing that in the course of one conversation, he had unknowingly twice touched a tender spot. Of course, to someone like him, it would be unfathomable to live your life without a passion. He probably had many of them. But the fact was, I didn’t think I did.
I liked lots of things. As a child, I did all kinds of activities–gymnastics, piano, soccer, debate, track and field, and on and on. I was sort of a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none. Reasonably good at lots of things, but missing that one thing that I lived for. It had always made me wonder if I had failed to apply myself on some level. Or maybe I was just truly average as a human being. Unlike Jamie, I couldn’t think of anything I was really driven by. Not like he was. Not like having something in my life that I lived for. Maybe save one thing…
“My family, I guess.”
I wondered how utterly ludicrous that must sound to him. He had unwittingly just met the most astoundingly vanilla person on the planet.
And it didn’t help me any that he didn’t make a sound for an unnervingly long stretch of time. He seemed to be studying something in me. I couldn’t put my finger on it. And then he surprised me by reaching up to touch my face, almost reverently. His fingertips were cold against my skin, and his touch was soft.
“Family is a noble passion,” he said. “Beautiful and noble.”
Sound Effects
September 8, 2016
Sound Effects - Excerpt 2
Ahhh...this is getting fun...! :)
=======
And as I watched him play, it hit me like a ton of bricks. He was a lead singer–a front man. God, of course he was.
How could I not have seen it? He had that air of confidence, arrogance almost. Almost. But not… quite.
Suddenly, I was seeing him through a different lens, though. I don’t know why it changed something for me that he was a front man. But I’d had enough experience around musicians to know the general type. I’m not saying it was necessarily fair to draw those conclusions, but I didn’t think my own experience was an anomaly. Jamie would be like fly paper to a swarm of women who were likewise captivated by his soulful vulnerability on stage. I’d seen it enough times to know better. I did know better. I’d been through it already and knew how this would likely play out. I could see all of the images in my head as he sang–the furtive glances, the unexplained absences, the looks of pity from those who knew the truth.
It was time for me to go.
I rose from the bench without warning, and Jamie shot up beside me.
“Thank you. This was…”
Before the word was out, he took my mouth with his own.
He kissed me with no preamble. There was nothing tentative about that kiss; he wasn’t asking permission–he was making a statement. And a strong one at that. His lips and tongue were soft, but demanding. His firm hand caressed the back of my neck in a way that made me feel tingly and weak–as if I had gone to putty. Without consideration, both of my hands went to his chest, where I could anchor myself against the dizzying effects of that kiss.
Whatever resolve I had was lost. I folded into his body in willing submission. I wanted him–wanted beyond any sense of logic or self-preservation. I wanted.
=======
And as I watched him play, it hit me like a ton of bricks. He was a lead singer–a front man. God, of course he was.
How could I not have seen it? He had that air of confidence, arrogance almost. Almost. But not… quite.
Suddenly, I was seeing him through a different lens, though. I don’t know why it changed something for me that he was a front man. But I’d had enough experience around musicians to know the general type. I’m not saying it was necessarily fair to draw those conclusions, but I didn’t think my own experience was an anomaly. Jamie would be like fly paper to a swarm of women who were likewise captivated by his soulful vulnerability on stage. I’d seen it enough times to know better. I did know better. I’d been through it already and knew how this would likely play out. I could see all of the images in my head as he sang–the furtive glances, the unexplained absences, the looks of pity from those who knew the truth.
It was time for me to go.
I rose from the bench without warning, and Jamie shot up beside me.
“Thank you. This was…”
Before the word was out, he took my mouth with his own.
He kissed me with no preamble. There was nothing tentative about that kiss; he wasn’t asking permission–he was making a statement. And a strong one at that. His lips and tongue were soft, but demanding. His firm hand caressed the back of my neck in a way that made me feel tingly and weak–as if I had gone to putty. Without consideration, both of my hands went to his chest, where I could anchor myself against the dizzying effects of that kiss.
Whatever resolve I had was lost. I folded into his body in willing submission. I wanted him–wanted beyond any sense of logic or self-preservation. I wanted.
September 1, 2016
Excerpt 1 - Sound Effects
In honor of the Oct. 18 release of Sound Effects, I'm going to share an excerpt each week. This week, you meet Jamie! He's a honey, for sure. And did I mention, Irish???
Don't forget to enter the Sound Effects giveaway before Sept. 14!!
--enjoy!!--
It wasn’t just one thing about him–his beautiful eyes fringed with thick lashes, the richness of his dark, auburn hair, the curved mouth, or the solid frame–it was how it all came together so devastatingly. This man had a magnetism that was absolutely undeniable, like a secret so big it just oozed out of him, despite any effort he may take to keep it in check. And I knew right then and there, if he ever turned it loose on me for real, I’d be finished.
“Abort! Abort!” my head shouted, but to no avail; my body was not listening.
Because to top it all off, like catnip to a kitten, he was carrying a guitar.
It was beautiful Gibson dreadnought, slung behind his back and positioned in such an organic way that it looked a part of him. The way he cradled it gently with his elbow told me it was a part of him. And everything I loved and hated about musicians came rushing back in a surfeit of hormones and horror stories. He was my siren song.
“I’m Jamie Callahan.” The siren had a name. Jamie, I said in my head. I think I may have sniffed him a little, too. Subtly, of course.
Sound Effects
Don't forget to enter the Sound Effects giveaway before Sept. 14!!
--enjoy!!--
It wasn’t just one thing about him–his beautiful eyes fringed with thick lashes, the richness of his dark, auburn hair, the curved mouth, or the solid frame–it was how it all came together so devastatingly. This man had a magnetism that was absolutely undeniable, like a secret so big it just oozed out of him, despite any effort he may take to keep it in check. And I knew right then and there, if he ever turned it loose on me for real, I’d be finished.
“Abort! Abort!” my head shouted, but to no avail; my body was not listening.
Because to top it all off, like catnip to a kitten, he was carrying a guitar.
It was beautiful Gibson dreadnought, slung behind his back and positioned in such an organic way that it looked a part of him. The way he cradled it gently with his elbow told me it was a part of him. And everything I loved and hated about musicians came rushing back in a surfeit of hormones and horror stories. He was my siren song.
“I’m Jamie Callahan.” The siren had a name. Jamie, I said in my head. I think I may have sniffed him a little, too. Subtly, of course.
Sound Effects
August 14, 2016
The Story Behind the Story - Sound Effects
Sound Effects, Jamie and Mel’s story, was sort of an accidental one. Over the course of writing Ripple Effects, I absolutely fell in love with this couple. I couldn’t not write their story. But I had two challenges: First, I had to go back 12 years because by the time we meet them in Ripple Effects, they are long married and have two kids. Thus, 2004.
My first inclination was to write Sound Effects in such a way that it could take place any time. That meant no texting, no iPhones, no markers of any kind that would tie the story to a certain time.
But as I began researching the music industry, I realized that 2004 was an incredibly interesting year for music. (Jamie being an aspiring musician, and all.) The iTunes Music Store (now just iTunes) was dragging the music industry kicking and screaming into the digital age of downloadable singles. Its profound impact on the industry cannot be overstated. It was also the year that 360-contracts were taking hold. These were recording contracts that aimed to make up for the revenue lost by a sharp decline in album sales by charging back to the artist every conceivable cost. They were really a nightmare for artists then, and remain so today. And finally, 2004 was the year that MySpace was officially launched. Few may recall that music industry veterans created MySpace as a way to connect artists directly with fans. It became much more than that, but its influence on the music industry was significant.
So how could I not take advantage of this incredibly interesting time in music history? I had to. But it is worth noting that Sound Effects is not a novel about the music industry in 2004. It is a romance novel, first and foremost. And thus, the character arcs take precedence over everything else. I loved the scenes that pertained to the record industry, but the real essence for me was how the events of the book shaped each character’s growth, and their growth as a couple.
The second challenge was that Jamie is Irish. Curse my wild imagination while dreaming up Ripple Effects, and curse my inherent loyalty to an idea once it pops into my head!
For more experienced writers, his Irishness would be no problem. For me–I’m going to be honest here–it was intimidating. And yet, after listening to and reading countless interviews of native Irish speakers, Jamie’s voice came easily–maybe more easily than any character I’ve ever written. Did I take liberties? Absolutely. And any inaccuracies are completely on me. But I wanted to make Jamie as authentic as possible, and also give him a voice that was distinct.
Now, let’s not forget Mel. She was a little easier for me because we share a great love of music and an absolute lack of talent for creating it. And like Mel, I’m a sucker for a good sale. But Mel is a strong heroine with her own vulnerabilities that I think many of us would relate to. I certainly did. And because of that, she will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Finally, I want to say this: as an author, you have a crossover point with every character you create that resonates (or stings, as it may be) with something very real in your own life. That’s what makes a character feel real, rather than cartoonish. This book has many of those points for me. But as wonderfully enjoyable and cathartic as it has been to write Sound Effects, sharing it with others just multiplies the effect. And I’m grateful beyond words for the opportunity to do so.
So, once again, I thank you for welcoming these characters into your lives. Reading is something we do because we want to, and it is my joy and my honor that you have allowed me me a part of your ‘me time.’ I don’t take that gift lightly.
As Jamie would say, you’re magic.
My first inclination was to write Sound Effects in such a way that it could take place any time. That meant no texting, no iPhones, no markers of any kind that would tie the story to a certain time.
But as I began researching the music industry, I realized that 2004 was an incredibly interesting year for music. (Jamie being an aspiring musician, and all.) The iTunes Music Store (now just iTunes) was dragging the music industry kicking and screaming into the digital age of downloadable singles. Its profound impact on the industry cannot be overstated. It was also the year that 360-contracts were taking hold. These were recording contracts that aimed to make up for the revenue lost by a sharp decline in album sales by charging back to the artist every conceivable cost. They were really a nightmare for artists then, and remain so today. And finally, 2004 was the year that MySpace was officially launched. Few may recall that music industry veterans created MySpace as a way to connect artists directly with fans. It became much more than that, but its influence on the music industry was significant.
So how could I not take advantage of this incredibly interesting time in music history? I had to. But it is worth noting that Sound Effects is not a novel about the music industry in 2004. It is a romance novel, first and foremost. And thus, the character arcs take precedence over everything else. I loved the scenes that pertained to the record industry, but the real essence for me was how the events of the book shaped each character’s growth, and their growth as a couple.
The second challenge was that Jamie is Irish. Curse my wild imagination while dreaming up Ripple Effects, and curse my inherent loyalty to an idea once it pops into my head!
For more experienced writers, his Irishness would be no problem. For me–I’m going to be honest here–it was intimidating. And yet, after listening to and reading countless interviews of native Irish speakers, Jamie’s voice came easily–maybe more easily than any character I’ve ever written. Did I take liberties? Absolutely. And any inaccuracies are completely on me. But I wanted to make Jamie as authentic as possible, and also give him a voice that was distinct.
Now, let’s not forget Mel. She was a little easier for me because we share a great love of music and an absolute lack of talent for creating it. And like Mel, I’m a sucker for a good sale. But Mel is a strong heroine with her own vulnerabilities that I think many of us would relate to. I certainly did. And because of that, she will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Finally, I want to say this: as an author, you have a crossover point with every character you create that resonates (or stings, as it may be) with something very real in your own life. That’s what makes a character feel real, rather than cartoonish. This book has many of those points for me. But as wonderfully enjoyable and cathartic as it has been to write Sound Effects, sharing it with others just multiplies the effect. And I’m grateful beyond words for the opportunity to do so.
So, once again, I thank you for welcoming these characters into your lives. Reading is something we do because we want to, and it is my joy and my honor that you have allowed me me a part of your ‘me time.’ I don’t take that gift lightly.
As Jamie would say, you’re magic.
