Good Morning Everyone,
Please help me give a warm welcome to author Alannah Lynne. She is an amazing romance author and is here today to talk about inspiration and the release of her latest book, Crossing Lines. I am so honored to have here with us today. Thank you very much Alannah for spending this important day here! So without further delay, please welcome Alannah Lynne:
Authors get asked a lot, “Where do you get your ideas? What’s your inspiration?”
A lot of times, writers will say they don’t know where the ideas come from, they just magically appear from the ethers. Others scan newspapers and magazines, clip out interesting stories they believe might have potential and stick them in a file folder. Then, when they’re working on a new book, they’ll put out the folder and read through the articles again, and ideas blossom to life.
But that’s not where my ideas come from. The vast majority of my ideas come from songs. I think it’s because my stories are character driven rather than plot focused. I can get lost in music, the same way I get lost in a good book. And when I’m listening to a song that I love, I see it as a movie, I feel the emotions, and it sparks a story in me.
All of my life I’ve loved music. When I was a little girl, I played “Seasons in the Sun” by Terry Jacks over and over and OVER. It’s such a sad, depressing song and I have no idea why my little seven-year-old self thought it was so great, but I did. I guess it’s because even then I tapped into the emotions of the story being told and the song made me feel.
As I look back on my life, it seems like so many defining moments have been accompanied by song. One example is when I saw heartbreak for the first time, and understood how amazing, and also how devastating, true love could be.
I was nine or ten, standing in my future-aunt’s bedroom, and she was playing Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” She and my uncle had broken up earlier in the week. While I didn’t really understand all of what was happening with them, in that moment, as she stood listening to the song with tears streaming down her face, I understood heartbreak. (They got back together and married, but divorced several years later). She has no idea it’s still one of my all-time favorite songs (although I love the remake with George Michael so much better), and that every time I hear it, I’m instantly transported back to her bedroom. I can still see her crumpled face and feel the agony pouring from her.
I guess it’s no surprise that my oldest son is a musician, because he was surrounded by music growing up. He could barely speak, but he knew the words to Whitesnake, Bon Jovi, and Guns ‘N Roses. In fact, when Slash played “Sweet Child ‘O Mine” with the The Blackeyed Peas during the Superbowl (2011), a friend posted on Facebook that she thought of me and Dusty because I sang that song to him all the time. I once dated a guy who described me to his mom as a “headbanger, raising a little headbanger.” 😀 I’m sure his mother was thrilled.
While I still listen to 80’s Hair Bands and love metal music, I’ve grown to love and appreciate all genres. Each form of music touches a different place within me… and fortunately, also sparks a never-ending supply of inspiration.
Today is the release of “Crossing Lines – Book #3 in the Heat Wave Series.” (One of the songs that was instrumental in helping me figure out some things with Kevin, was “Over When It’s Over” by Erik Church.) I’ll be happy to give away a copy of “Crossing Lines” to a commenter.
Also, “Savin’ Me – Book #1 in the Heat Wave Series” is free at all outlets!! Grab it now, because the price will be going back up soon!!
Thanks for letting me visit with you today!!
Links to my website, etc.:
www.facebook.com/AuthorAlannahLynne
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2888174.Alannah_Lynne
Thanks again Alannah for hanging out with us today and thank you for offering a copy of your book to one lucky commenter. From now until Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 11:00am Eastern Time anyone that leaves a comment will be entered to win the free book. Then later in the day on Thursday, I will use Random.org to choose the lucky winner and will post his/her name at that time. Good luck to everyone. Have a wonderful day!
Enjoy!
~Ariesgrl
Thanks for having me here today!!!
Thanks for being here today! You are welcome here anytime!
It’s so refreshing to see that an artist such as yourself can pinpoint where exactly tour inspiration comes from…. Even more so that it comes from music. No matter the mood (or book I’m reading) I always have my music playing in the back ground…. My friends and family ask me how I focus with all that “noise” and I just shrug my shoulders and say it just flows through me and I become one with the song… (= looking forward to getting my hands on your series. I’ve been book hooping recently and haven’t found one that grabs my attention to keep me interested. (Hard with three girls running around!) but I can’t wait to start this series (=
I always listened to music while I was doing my homework, something that drove my mom crazy, because she insisted I couldn’t possibly concentrate with that “noise.” But it helped. Now, when I’m doing the actual writing, I have to listen to music without words, but when I’m not writing, I have music going all the time.
I remember how hard it is to carve out reading time with little ones running around! “Savin’ Me” is free, so grab a copy and give it a try. Hopefully, it’ll hit the spot!! 🙂
Amazon link – http://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Lines-Heat-Wave-ebook/dp/B00B6YP24I/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1359414637&sr=8-8&keywords=alannah+lynne
Thanks for commenting!!
Tour=their … Silly iPad
Hi Kristina,
Thanks for stopping by here today. I was raised on music so I love to have it playing in the background. Funny how Alannah mentioned somebody called her a headbanger raising a headbanger, because that is pretty much Mom and I. 🙂 I hope you enjoy this series and find some you time in between raising the three little ones. Have a wonderful night!
~Ariesgrl
Alannah is an awesome author. I recommend her books to anyone who will listen .
Thank you!!! <3
Hi Becki,
Thanks for stopping by here today. I couldn’t agree with you more about Alannah. She is an amazing author! Have a good night!
~Ariesgrl
Loved the first two books and very excited to read the third!!
Hi Anzie,
Thanks for stopping by here today. This series is fabulous and I am honored to have Alannah here on the release day for Crossing Lines! Have a good night!
~Ariesgrl
Thanks Anzie!! I love hearing that!! {{hugs}}
It’s always great to learn more about the authors that you love to read. It’s so cool to find out that they are like you in so many ways. I Love all types of music, and every song I listen to inspires me in some way or another. Alannah, does your son play an instrument? What type of music does he play? Can you tell us some songs that inspired you during the Heat Wave books?
My son plays guitar, bass guitar, drums, and keyboard. He also sings. He went to school for Audio Production and Sound Design, and right now he’s working on getting some personal things worked out with the hopes of getting to LA. He had a teacher at school who is a producer in LA and he really believes in Dusty and “gets” his music. I have my fingers crossed that he’s on the right road now and will be able to make his dream come true soon.
He’s been heavily influenced by Trent Resnor of Nine Inch Nails and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. His music is a mix of theirs, probably more like Nine Inch Nails, though.
One of the biggest influencers of this book was “Over When It’s Over” by Erik Church. I was driving home from the grocery when it came on my iPod and I immediately thought, “That’s Kevin!” I don’t want to give away too much, but I listened to that song a lot while writing some of his scenes.
The title “Savin’ Me” actually came from Nickelbacks song by the same title. I was trying to figure out a title and I read the line where Erik said, “There’s no savin’ me Kat.” At the same time, Nickelback’s “Savin’ Me” came on the radio, so it all instantly clicked. If you’ve ever seen their video for “Someday” you’d think I stole Erik’s backstory directly from the video, but I didn’t. I didn’t actually see that video until almost a year after the story was finished! 😀
I’ll have to think about what some of the others are. I should keep a playlist. I’ll do that from now on! 🙂
Thank you for posting this Alannah. I love learning more about you and your family! You need to send your son this way. I love music. I sing though. I am so excited to read the book as well!
You’re welcome!! I’ve suggested Nashville a few times, but that’s not exactly his genre. 😀 He really needs to be in LA to make the kind of music that he loves most… but he could stop and visit as he’s passing by! 😀
I really enjoyed this guest appearance. Learning about someone’s process really helps you understand their writing. It gives insight to the world they are trying to show us as readers.
Thanks Dana!! My process is messy and awful and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone… but the music helps it be a little less traumatic! 😀
Great interview Alannah! I also love music and can listen to it and do anything. The first two books were so good and I got the newest one today and all I can say is WOW! Awesome job and thank you for sharing your stories with us!
Aw, thank you so much!!! Shew, I’ve been really worried about Kevin living up to the hype. Thank you for letting me know you’re enjoying it!!
I love that you reference a few different genres in your interview. I’ll admit, I haven’t read anything yet, but I am more than happy to say you will be the next author I try out 🙂
Hi Crystal!! I always joke that my iPod has an identity crisis going on because I have so many different types of music on it. “Savin’ Me” is free until the end of the month, so grab a copy and give it a try!! I’d love to hear your thoughts on it!!
Thanks for commenting!!
I will for sure do that, thanks! And I like your style, my BFF has publicly thanked me for having a music list as “bipolar” as her own, so it sounds like we have something in common. Nothing like a little metal, followed bu 90’s pop, into traditional country if you ask me. Thanks again!
Crystal – I just saw your comment and wanted to reply (don’t know if you’ll see it or not). Bipolar iPod – I love it! That’s exactly what mine is! Playlists are important, though. Nothing like cruising along on a brisk walk to “Paradise City” and then having that followed up by something New-Agey. 😀
I hope you can keep this inspiration flowing for years to come. I very much enjoyed reading “Savin’ Me” I really couldn’t put it down. I am so excited for the release of your new book and will definitely keep my eyes and ears open for more.
Thank you Jessica!! CROSSING LINES is Kevin’s story, so if you want to know what he’s been up to since rattling Erik’s chain go ahead and grab that (if you don’t win it here!). LAST CALL is #2 in the series, but there’s only one slight reference to Kevin, so it’s not a big deal to read them out of order. The characters from Book #2 are mentioned in Kevin’s book, but it’s not a big deal if you don’t know who they are ahead of time. 🙂 Thanks for commenting!!
I can’t wait to read this ! Thanks Alannah for writing such amazing storylines!
Thank you for finding us!!! {{hugs}}
Wow! All the music you mentioned was a major blast from the past! Thanks for making me feel like a kid again! I fell in love for the first time at the tender age of 16, and had to breakup with my boyfriend when he joined the Coast Guard because he was such a bad boy that he wouldn’t stay in school. His folks gave him and ultimatum-stay in school or join the service, and the CG was the only one who would accept a ne’er do well like him. That is why I think of him whenever I hear the song by Styx, “Come Sail Away”. I even wrote a (symbolic) poem about him and it was published in my high school newspaper. A teacher approached me and told me that the poem gave him the most vivid imagery in his mind that he could actually imagine touching the things I mentioned.
I didn’t end up marrying him, but you know how they say “Thank God for unanswered prayers”? Well, in 1997 he brutally murdered a guy who was purported to be dating an ex-girlfriend, and got 30 years in prison-yikes! Now that’s a real “Unhappily ever after”!
Oh my gosh!! I thought I knew who you were referring…. until you got to the whole murder part. And then I remember the other guy was in the Navy not the Coast Guard. 😀 You have a thing for those alpha types, don’t you? 🙂
What a wonderful comment by the teacher! What’s happening with your writing now? *hint hint* 🙂
I too love to write with music blasting in the background. In fact, I just did a blog post today featuring some of the songs behind one of my books. LOL. And it’s crazy, but I listened to a lot of Eric Church’s music. Anyway, congrats on your new release. Your series sounds wonderful.
I have a playlist for an upcoming book, but I haven’t tracked the songs for the past books. I need to start doing that… especially since I’d been meaning to do that all along for my street team! *facepalm*
Thanks for visiting with me and commenting!!
I can’t wait to read your new book..good luck!
Sorry I didn’t see this before now!! {{hugs}}