If you could have your own singer/songwriter to love… And WIN more goodies ;o)

Can you tell from the cover of Love on Mimosa Lane that one of the central themes in the book is music? I hope so. We worked pretty had on that one (pats self on back).

More accurately, the healing, magical restorative power of music. At least it is to me, and to my central characters.  Yeah,  the book is about community and patching back together broken homes for two very special kids and still loving unconditionally when you think someone’s forever ruined your ability to be vulnerable in love, but music is a key factor for bringing everyone together in the end. Music has been a safe, deeply moving, motivational place for me my whole life. I wanted to share that.

Our hero in LoML is a singer songwriter. He’s given up for years his gift for moving his own soul and others with his creativity and talent and unique voice. Allowing inspiration to move within him again, because he can no longer hold it back each and every time he confronts our heroine (No, he doesn’t burst into song and dance, this isn’t a musical. But she DOES inspire him in ways only music has before ;o), is a first step toward healing for him and so many others in the book. I sense many artists are this “soul” place within their own realities, where their paintings or music or words or photographs or whatever transform more around them than they’ll ever know.

I actually patterned Love on Mimosa Lane, at least in theme, after a series of Jim Croce lyrics I’ll be sharing over the next week on my Anna DeStefano: Author Facebook page. Croce’s ability to tell a story with a few perfect words, to paint a picture with the movement of simple notes and the timber of his voice, is life transforming. He reaches into me with every song and phrase.

At one point while drafting  the book, I included snippets of his lyrics at the opening of each chapter, to remind myself of the theme I was going for within. These had to be stripped away before publication for copyright reasons. But I squirreled away those moments (my husband says I save everything). I’ll be sharing them here and on social media. I eventually, at the end of the novel, have our hero sing a couple of Croce songs that melt hearts and reveal who he really is, soul-deep, more than he can possibly reveal without his music. I LOVE it when a plan comes together!

Can you guess which of Croce’s songs he chooses.

It’s an epic moment, symbolism-wise, even if I do say so myself ;o)

Music is an epic thing, if we let it work its magic in our lives.

I’d love to know what singer/songwriter/music can do that for you. I’d love to share the fascination (okay, borderline obsession) I’ve had with music since I was a small child. I’d love to know their are other freaks like me out there, who if they could write novels would dream and plot and fashion an entire novel around a musical theme, if they could ;o)

Which leads us to Release Week 2’s  CONTEST ;o)

Riddle me this: Who’s your favorite singer/song writer/musician? Which song’s touched you more over the years than any others?

Talk music with me, and I’ll select two winners again this time:

ONE randomly from all you play along
ONE, like before, with the most creative comment!

How to enter:

You can comment below (here on the blog)
You could post a picture of your favorite artist/album/music video on my Anna DeStefano: Author Facebook Page (Like the album cover above).
Or both!

What you can win:

1Signed copy of Love on Mimosa Lane, OR
$10 Amazon Gift Certificate (to buy Love on Mimosa Lane or music or whatever else your heart desires)

CONTEST ENDS:

Midnight Monday, January 27th, 2014.

I’ll choose 2 winners, ONE FOR EACH PRIZE, from a combination all who enter (see Magic FB Disclaimer Words below)!

I’m DYING to read your responses.

Good luck everyone!

MAGIC FB DISCLAIMER WORDS

By commenting/participating, you release Facebook from any involvement in or responsibility for this contest.
The owner of this blog/giveaway acknowledges that this promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.