I
once had a lover who had soft classical music already playing on the stereo
when we walked into his apartment. Now there was a man who didn’t want to have
stop and fiddle with the stereo. Smirk. He was also a man who knew a bit about
setting the mood and tone of a delicious evening.
I
think setting the tone in erotic romance writing can also be helped along by
listening to music as we write. I know it helps me.
When
I worked as a writer and editor in offices, music was a definite no-no, though
I often felt the need to put headphones on and listen to a string quartet, or
something, anything, to get the office blather out of my head. But it turned
out to be a great exercise in concentration. I can write just about anywhere,
if I have to, and focus.
When
I started writing SAFFRON NIGHTS, I listened to music that put me in the mood
as background music for my characters. I don’t listen to the music they would
listen to. I listen to what puts me in the mood to connect with them. The kind
of music that reminds me of the tone of my book. Does that make sense?
During
the writing SAFFRON NIGHTS, I listened to a lot of Azam Ali, Bliss, and Morcheeba, and all
of this music is sort of an international, sexy feel that I love. The book
takes place all over the world—Mexico, Hawaii, Hong Kong, India, Italy, and
Morocco.
My
next book will be centered on chocolate and will be set somewhere in South
America. Well, it’s all vague right now. But I look forward to dipping in to
South American music to set the tone of my book.
Sometimes
I can get distracted by the words in music. When that happens, I listen
to Vitamin String
Quartet—a string group that plays a lot of popular music. I gotta
tell you, I love this group.
You
don’t have to have a huge music collection to enjoy different kinds of music. I
am an avid Pandora listener and Spotify user. Both services are free.
Now
I can’t imagine writing without music playing in the background. It really
helps to free my mind, along with give me more focus.
Do
you find music helpful when you’re writing or reading?
Please
visit my site for more information about me and SAFFRON NIGHTS http://www.lizeverly.wordpress.com
. The first two chapters are available there. Check them out. I also blog on http://www.ladysmut.com.
Twitter
@lizeverly1; FB author page.
Please click on the book cover if you are interested in purchasing SAFFRON
NIGHTS from Amazon.
Check
out my Goddess Fish Book Blast on February 6. Leave a comment on any of the
blogs and get a chance to win organic saffron and cedar body wash and soap.
Yum.
