Sharon Struth | The Power of Song

On the day of my wedding, I worried about getting crying and ruining my mascara the
second the service started. I didn’t and thought I was home free. That was until the
singer we hired stood with the string quartet and opened her mouth. My lower lip
trembled and tears spilled in a matter of seconds. That is the power of music.

Somehow I managed to get through it without the puffy eyes that usually accompany my
tears.

Writers often have playlists for their novels. For me such a thing kind of happens by accident. Driving in the car, for example, I heard Imagine Dragon’s song “Demon,” and instantly knew it belonged to the main character in HARVEST MOON, Trent Jamieson. Trent has hoped his addiction issues are behind him, but it isn’t easy. He has a history that follows him into his attempt at a new life.

The song “Blue Skies,” written by Irving Berlin also played into my novel (I love
the version by Willie Nelson). Trent is a musician who plays the guitar and
performs. In his past, this was the song he selected to sing to his first wife at
their wedding—only their life together wasn’t filled with blue skies. This song also
happens to a favorite Irving Berlin classic for our heroine, Veronica. Symbolically,
Veronica is waiting for her skies to clear.

I even found an instrumental I loved that reminded me of my hopeful story theme. Sometimes I’d just listen to it for inspiration. I ended up using it in a book trailer for Harvest Moon. Have any books made you think about songs you love?

About Sharon Struth

Bestselling author Sharon Struth believes you’re never too old to pursue a dream. The Hourglass, her debut novel, is a finalist in the National Readers' Choice Awards for Best first Book. Her follow-up release, SHARE THE MOON-Book one in the Blue Moon Lake Novel Series-is published by Kensington Books and is a Barnes & Noble romance bestseller. The series also includes Twelve Nights (11/15), Harvest Moon (12/15) and Bella Luna (2016).

She writes from the friendliest place she’s ever lived, Bethel, Connecticut, along with her husband, two daughters and canine companion. For more information, including where to find her published essays, please visit sharonstruth.com

Series include: Blue Moon Lake

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About HARVEST MOON

Getting past the librarian’s guard…

Trent Jamieson isn’t one for virtual romance, but there’s something about the intriguing woman he meets on the Internet he can’t resist. Then the small town bachelor discovers the mystery woman who shares her secrets with him online is the laced-up librarian in his self-defense class! Veronica Sussingham may just be his toughest student yet. Because how can he show the vulnerable beauty that some men are worth letting your guard down for?

Veronica returned to her hometown seeking shelter for her shattered spirit. The last thing she needs is a blue-eyed charmer who wants to show her how to live—and love—again. Then she discovers Trent is not just another admirer, but a man who knows her deepest secrets. Now Veronica must choose between running from her past—or finding future happiness with the kind of man she swore she’d never fall for…

Blue Moon Lake #2

Buy on: Kindle | BN.com | Kobo | iTunes/iBooks | Google Play

“Struth has a gift for layering stories within stories while keeping them all connected.”—Library Journalz

“Sharon Struth writes a good story about love and loss. She knows her characters and has a path she wants them to take.”—Eye on Romance

Comments

2 comments posted.

Re: Sharon Struth | The Power of Song

Your posting was very touching, and very informative. I was
touched reading about your wedding, and didn't know about the
song Blue Skies, although it's a very pretty one. There have
been times that a book has reminded me of a song, now that
you mention it, and I've reached for it on the shelf.
Sometimes, however, the story line isn't exactly what I've
been looking for at the time, and I put it back on the shelf.
I'm looking forward to reading your latest book, and have put
it on my TBR list. Your book is one read that I'm really
looking forward to!! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!!
(Peggy Roberson 9:23am December 24, 2015)

I was reading a book about a huge snow storm and I thought about White Christmas and found myself humming the song. I also love the movie of the same name and have watched it many times. Then I checked my email and read about some college students claiming that White Christmas should be banned "because it is racist". I wondered how they ever made it to college.
(Gladys Paradowski 1:54am December 27, 2015)

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