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Suzie T. Roos | I Can Name That Tune in Two Notes!
A lot of authors say music inspires them . . . well, Iβm definitely in that boat!
When I write (especially, when itβs a more dramatic scene), there must be music
playing through my desk speakers. Not just anything either, Iβm picky. Very picky.
On my playlists, the music ranges from Frank Sinatra to Siouxsie and the Banshees!
As a matter of fact, thereβs music playing nowβNik Kershawβs song, Wouldnβt It Be
Good.
Since my books, GIRL SPOKEN FOR & GIRL DIVIDED TWO, are set in the 80βs,
this especially helps. No secret I was a teenager during that decade. For instance
if Cyndi Lauper or Pat Benatar is playing, I can go back to a certain time in my
life and relive those emotions and feelingsβwhether the music reminds me of the
hardship of my rougher teen experiences or the excitement of a hot guy asking me for
my phone number.
(*Disclaimer~ any hot guy who ever asked for my number was my husband, we met when I
was 15 yrs old. No one besides him has ever asked for my phone number!*)
Then when that special song comes on, watch outβ¦Iβm on my feet taking a dance break!
Iβve thrown in random songs throughout the books. If a song works brilliantly with
the scene, itβs in the book. If you read book #1, GIRL SPOKEN
FOR, you may remember in the book what song played when Tatum had her first real
kiss. And that song played over my speakers just as I was writing the scene. The
tone, the feeling I got hearing the song just spoke to me. How lucky can an author
get to receive free inspiration! That song was not originally intended to be in
thereβitβs just what played at the right time, right scene for that emotion to be
written.
You may also remember what song drove Tatum and her girlfriends to the Homecoming
dancefloor? That wasnβt planned either. It just worked for that scene and was
realistic.
The crazy thing is sometimes they work. Itβs what totally happens in real life.
Totally!
When writing YA thereβs not much of an opportunity for those βsexy timeβ scenes
(those will be in Tatumβs NA trilogy). But when I have a kiss scene in this YA
trilogy, one of my go-to songs is Otis Reddingβs, These Arms of Mine. Another one is Try a Little
Tenderness, also by Otis. If you canβt feel the soul in these songs, check your
pulse!
Hereβs an interesting little surprise too . . . years ago, my sonβs original iTunes
account was linked to my library. As a result, a theme song from a video game will
shuffle through once in a while. For example, something from βCall of Duty Black Ops
Twoβ will play. I canβt tell you how many times Iβve written Zachβs POV to that kind
of music, or my sonβs other very cinematic compositions. It doesnβt work all the
time obviously, but it does happen.
Now that I think of it, most of the βsongsβ that are in my books are not the ones I
listen to most while I write. Because of the era my books are written in, you wonβt
get any Neko Case in the YA trilogy (although maybe later in the NA trilogy). And I
have a serious girl crush on Neko. Another of my girl crushes from today is Sharon
Jones. Met her twice! I would also add Florence from Florence & The Machine. Even
though their songs arenβt mentioned, rest assured their music was heavily relied on
to help write these books.
What other inspiration could you spot in GIRL SPOKEN FOR? Any songs/artists I didnβt mention
above?
GIVEAWAY
Readers, time to bring back the '80's. What is your favorite '80's song? (As if
you can pick just one!) Leave a comment below and be entered for a chance to win a
$25 Amazon gift card!
Suzie T. Roos is from, and has settled in, St. Louis with her husband, two children
and a number of foster pets at any given time.
She and her husband have lived everywhere from Philadelphia, PA to out West in Santa
Monica, CA. Theyβre thankful they could expose their children to different American
lifestyles and cultures.
Besides writing, Suzieβs hobbies include movies, traveling, and especially concert
going with her husband and friends.
Sheβs always been an animal lover and animal rights advocate. She is certified by
FEMA in IS-00011.a Animal in Disasters: Community Planning. Sheβs also an active
volunteer at the Humane Society of Missouri.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Whatβs the point of making a New Yearβs resolution when weeks later your life
goes to the toilet anyway?
Sixteen-year-old Tatum Duncanβs life has turned upside down. Her best friend and
grandmother has died, her mother is threatening to send her to an all-girls school
for defending herself against a bully, and her abusive boyfriend nearly kills hers.
1989 isnβt turning out to be her year.
But just when it seems like all is lost, Tatum is saved by Zach Bertano, her
longtime friend and secret crush. Her dormant attraction to him surfaces with his
persistent attention. As her love for Zach grows, she comes to learn that he too has
skeletons, and his issues could affect Tatumβs life in ways she never imagined.
Zachβs overlooked her baggageβcan she overlook his?
Comments
43 comments posted.
Re: Suzie T. Roos | I Can Name That Tune in Two Notes!
My favorite 80's song is "One Night in Bangkok" bu Murray
Head. It's different.
(Debra Kelley 1:52am June 26, 2015)
new author for me.
(Lorelei Frank 6:50am June 26, 2015)
Always looking for a new author to read.
(Cynthia Schwarzer 8:15am June 26, 2015)
Back to the 50s with You Send Me by Sam Cooke.
(Leona Olson 9:15am June 26, 2015)
Missing You John Waite
(Marissa Yip-Young 9:56am June 26, 2015)
Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac. Thanks for this lovely post.
(Sharon Berger 10:39am June 26, 2015)
My favorite song from the 1980s is "Man in Motion" sung by John Parr. I never get tired of it.
(Jean Jackson 12:30pm June 26, 2015)
One song I remember always playing on the jukebox at our fav pizza place was The Bangles' Walk Like An Egyptian... but there were so many songs I enjoyed.
(Colleen Conklin 1:03pm June 26, 2015)
Sea Of Love - The Honeydrippers
Like A Virgin - Madonna
Greatest Love Of All - Whitney Houston
so many more that are great
(Jennifer Beck 1:31pm June 26, 2015)
I really can't remember. I do know that I like to put on golden
oldies from the 80's and just listen.
(Nancy Luebke 2:33pm June 26, 2015)
"If You Don't Know Me By Now" by Simply Red
(Delta Upton 2:56pm June 26, 2015)
Loved John Baldry. Whatever he did in the 80s is at the
top of my list.
(Deb Philippon 5:58pm June 26, 2015)
Too many to mention! I loved the 80's!
(Karen Mikusak 6:56pm June 26, 2015)
Greatest Love of All by Whitney Houston and anything Madonna remind me of the 80s. And We Built this City.
(Pam Howell 7:20pm June 26, 2015)
She Blinded Me With Science by Thomas Dolby!
(Diane Pollock 7:22pm June 26, 2015)
I couldn't possibly come up with just one favorite song.
The 80's is my favorite music decade, and there was just so
much to love!
(Janie McGaugh 9:29pm June 26, 2015)
I LOVE that soo many of you listed a song. Doesn't have
to be an all-time fav, just a great 80's song. I agree
with you all, there's just too many to pick just one--
impossible! Because I'm jealous and want to jump back in
this topic, I want to pick a song. I'll give you a song
that I love and also inspired me during my writing, but
not listed anywhere. Hmmm Anyone love Adam Ant, "Strip"
I can't help myself with that one. :) Keep the good
songs coming...
(Suzie T. Roos 10:23pm June 26, 2015)
She Blinded Me With Science by Thomas Dolby. Love that song.
(Mary Songer 7:46pm June 27, 2015)
I've always liked "Burnin' For You" by Blue Oyster Cult. Some of my favorite songs though were in the years leading up to the 80's: "One of These Nights" by the Eagles, "Cold as Ice" by Foreigner, "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac, and "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" by the Hollies. Oh, and Santana, too!
(Cynthia Powers 10:24pm June 27, 2015)
Send Me An Angel by Real Life
(Christina Riggs 5:57am June 28, 2015)
One of These Nights" by the Eagles
(Patricia Wagner 9:11am June 28, 2015)
Anything by Michael Jackson! The Thriller video is my
favorite! Also: Beat It, Bad, etc...
(Diana Huffer 11:26am June 28, 2015)
Total Eclipse of the heart
(Yaritza Santana 11:31am June 28, 2015)
Dreaming by Ann Murry
Anything by Alabama
(Cynthia Cook 3:24pm June 28, 2015)
Any Madonna song.
(Nadine Stacy 5:13pm June 28, 2015)
"Sea Of Love" brings back lots of good memories .
(Joan Thrasher 6:04pm June 28, 2015)
Some of my favorite songs of the 80s are: I've Had The Time Of My Life by Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes, Hungry Eyes by Eric Carmen, Hungry Like The Wolf by Duran Duran, and Fame (I Want To Live Forever) by Irene Cara.
(Bonnie H 6:58pm June 28, 2015)
The start of "Miracles" by Jefferson Starship!
(Nancy Ludvik 7:07pm June 28, 2015)
Take On Me By: Hunting High and Low
(Chris K 4:42am June 29, 2015)
Come on Eileen
(Linda Kyle 5:04am June 29, 2015)
When Doves Cry
(Mary Byars 5:14am June 29, 2015)
Call me
(Lisa Horton 5:25am June 29, 2015)
American Gigolo
(Lisa Horton 5:26am June 29, 2015)
Whip It
(Angela Mansfield 5:32am June 29, 2015)
Time after time
(Linda Kyle 5:36am June 29, 2015)
new author for me!
(Lorelei Frank 7:11am June 29, 2015)
I don't have one favorite 80's song. I loved the hair bands. :)
(Kerry Shaw 12:41pm June 29, 2015)
Too many good ones to name a fav! GIRL SPOKEN FOR sounds intriguing.
(Janice Milliken 12:59pm June 29, 2015)
Maybe Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes....
(Mary Ann Dimand 5:40pm June 29, 2015)
Turn back the time! I love the 80's!
(Racquelle Robinson 6:01pm June 29, 2015)
Cher's "If I Can Turn Back Time" is how I feel about the 80s.
(Fred Holmes 8:35pm June 29, 2015)
βDriveβ by the Cars
(Kirsten Kimball 10:07pm June 29, 2015)
This is turning out to be an awesome playlist!!Thank you.
There is one song I see on the list that is in the book.
Wonder if anyone knows which song?
Keep them coming! This is great.:)
(Suzie T. Roos 12:13pm June 30, 2015)
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