Welcome to my playlist for my short story,
Buy Me a Rose.
I’ve been writing erotic romance for a number of years now and I’ve
found that one of the most important parts of my writing is music. Music
inspires titles, scenes, love scenes and even my characters.
I think this is true for most writers but it’s especially true for
me. I know many writers who can’t abide lyrics when they’re writing
because it distracts them. For me, songs with lyrics help me to
reinforce my own words and the feelings behind them. I love to listen to
great songs and genre doesn’t matter. Love songs grab your heart
whether they twang, strum or anything else.
Let me give you an example, I’ve been writing about shapeshifters
since I started out and most of my stories have featured couples who are
new to each other. But I wondered what would happen with a couple who’d
shared a long relationship. Would things stay happy or could True
Mates, my version of fated soulmates among my shapeshifters, drift
apart.
After considering for a while, I realized that yes, a True Mate
relationship could get strained and just like any other relationship if a
couple didn’t nurture it, the relationship could falter. But with True
Mates, there’s no divorce option because once you’re together, you’re
mated for life. Unlike a human couple, the danger of cheating or
splitting up isn’t in the cards.
To make this story work, my couple, Nathaniel (Nat) and Jessica
(Jess) Whitewolf have allowed their relationship to grow stale, but with
help from their kids and some work together, they get the opportunity
to rediscover each other.
Nat is a dedicated doctor and Jess is involved in her landscaping
business and active in the community. They’d lost touch with one
another. My shapeshifters can communicate mind to mind and Nat and Jess
have almost forgotten how.
So here are a few tunes on my playlist for
Buy Me a Rose.
Of course the biggest influence was
Buy Me a Rose by Kenny Rogers. I remember watching an episode of
Touched by an Angel
that featured Kenny Rogers and roughly followed the storyline of his
song. That episode and that song stayed with me. When I started writing
this story, I knew that this song had to be featured so I could explore
that distance between my hero and heroine. It ended up being an
important turning point for my hero.
Another important song for my hero and heroine is “their song.”
All I Need
sung by Jack Wagner was a big hit in the mid-1980s when Nat and Jess
met. In fact, it was the very first song they ever danced to and it
expressed feelings they both had at that time in their life.
Another song that I used when I was writing and I also mention within the story
is a song that long time lovers would respond to is
Remember When by Alan Jackson. It’s sweet and it can make me cry and I know Jess would feel the same way.
Something That We Do by Clint Black is also one of those
songs that helped me while I wrote. It’s super romantic but it kept me aware of the importance of the little things – the things we do – that
show our love to one another. That was definitely something that Nat
and Jess needed to be reminded of. Live in each day. Love in each day.
Share each day.
Buy Me A Rose by Francesca Hawley
Jessica and Nathaniel Whitewolf celebrate their thirtieth anniversary
as True Mates but they’ve lost their bond. Now a hot couples’ retreat
will get it back.
Excerpt from Buy Me a Rose by Francesca Hawley
Copyright © Francesca Hawley, 2015
Chapter One
She heard his step on the stairs and dished his bacon and eggs onto
the plate. Right on schedule. Just like every morning. He walked into
the kitchen and absently kissed her cheek as he sat down at the table.
He ate neatly, as he always did.
Jessica Whitewolf watched her True Mate as he read the paper, his
forehead knotted in thought. He’d been so focused on a case lately. One
of his patients was late in a high risk pregnancy and he had been seeing
her often so that she’d have a healthy pup.
Jess knew she shouldn’t feel jealous, the wolf bitch needed Nat’s
attention. Sadly though, Jess couldn’t remember the last time her Mate
focused so keenly on her. She fought the envy down and choked it off,
wishing the best for the expectant mother.
“What are your plans today?” she asked.
Jess could almost predict what he’d say even though they rarely used
their True Mate telepathic bond anymore. He’d talk about spending the
day at the clinic and checking on his special case. Then he’d get up,
give her a quick kiss and tell her he’d see her tonight.
“It’s a clinic day. I’ll be slammed all day with office visits.”
“Any interesting cases? How is Missy Goldwolf doing?”
“Missy?”
Jess smiled. Nat was a stickler about confidentiality. “She’s
pregnant. She’s had a difficult pregnancy and everyone in the entire
valley is holding their breaths hoping she’ll carry to term. It isn’t
hard to figure out, honey.”
He rose and crossed the room. “I suppose not. She’s holding her own.
I’m just glad that Yohana approved the upgrade to the obstetrics and
neonatal units at the hospital.”
“Well, considering she’ll need it soon herself, it was a no-brainer for the council.”
“She didn’t know that at the time it was approved, but my thanks to
the council,” Nat smiled and gave her a wink since Jess was part of that
civic body. “I better go. See you tonight, right?” He kissed her cheek,
picked up his briefcase and headed for the front door. Jess followed.
“The kids sent cards.”
“Hmm?” he asked absently as she followed him.
“Anniversary cards,” she hinted. “For
us.”
“That’s nice.”
He opened the door and left without turning around
once. She watched him walk to the car and waved as he drove away. He
didn’t wave back. She wasn’t even sure he’d seen her.
Jess sighed. When had this happened? When had they become so
comfortable and…boring. She turned around and went inside to wash up in
the kitchen before she headed over to her landscaping business.
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