Maggie Blackbird

Pop Muzik

Maggie Blackbird

November 2, 2011

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

One perk I love about drafting a novel is figuring out what interests my characters, such as movies, music, clothes, etc. For NaNoWriMo, I’m drafting Always (working title for now). Taking place in the 80s, Lisa is a spunky chickie who is loyal to her girlfriends and all about showing some skin. Her philosophy is: If you got it, flaunt it. When she slips a cassette into her boom box, her preference is arena rock, adult contemporary and pop. I’m glad I familiarised myself with the last two when I wrote Real, because Isabetta also enjoys the same genres.

Mind you, because I love music so much and don’t limit myself to just heavy metal and hard rock, digging into the tunes my characters love has been nothing but a joy. I love discovering new artists—such as the sixties kick I’m on, thanks to a character in my YA romance.

So I thought I’d do a playlist of what’s on Lisa’s mixed tape. Remember those?

Not another teen movie…

Maggie Blackbird

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October 30, 2011

In my YA romance (WIP) that takes place in the 80s, three female friends enjoy gathering at one another’s apartments (they all live in the same complex) to scarf down popcorn, gossip, and fight over which movie to slip into the VCR. Each has their faves. During one scene in the WIP, the girls are curled up on the sofa watching Valley Girl when their very-angry boyfriends show up. So I thought I’d do a post in honour of my female characters. Instead of me listing my fave movies as a teenager, I am going to list theirs.

Do you wanna sleep over?

Maureen Jennings – Poor Tom is Cold

Maggie Blackbird

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October 29, 2011

Poor Tom is Cold

Maureen Jennings, Canadian mystery writer, is at the top of my fave authors’ list. She’s best known for her Murdoch Mysteries series that occur in Toronto, Canada during the Victorian period. Detective William Murdoch is employed by the Toronto Police Constabulary at Station House 4. While Murdoch prefers modern policing methods over conventional forms, his boss, Inspector Brackenreid, looks down his nose at the former. The two sometimes clash, since Brackenreid, a former detective for Scotland Yard, is old-school in his approach. Brackenreid also takes into serious consideration the politics that go with the job. Murdoch, though, prefers to search for truth. Their diplomatic and idealistic views during cases tend to frustrate Murdoch, who does not approve of having his hands tied.

Poor Tom is Cold is the third book in the series.

Movies that go bump in the night

Maggie Blackbird

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October 28, 2011

Boo!

Since Halloween is just around the corner, I thought I’d do a post on scary movies I enjoyed. Er, okay, my list won’t be long, and the movies hardly scary. Unfortunately, I’m terrified of movies that make your skin crawl, especially the paranormal kind. I can maybe handle slasher, gore, and some suspense, but nothing else.

Lemme put it this way: As a teen, I humoured my friend who was babysitting by tolerating Michael Meyers terrorising Jamie Lee Curtis on the TV screen. When I had to meet Mom two blocks away, my thirteen-year-old legs could have won the one hundred metre dash.

Love songs

Maggie Blackbird

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October 26, 2011

It’s been awhile since I did a music post. So far I covered songs about unrequited love, break-ups, triangles, and cheating. Today, I’ll focus on something more positive. The title says it all.

Friends Forever

As I did in my previous posts, I won’t go for the obvious. There’ll be no Endless Love, Unchained Melody or anything else along those lines.

Pamela Des Barres – I’m with the Band

Maggie Blackbird

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October 7, 2011

I’m with the Band by Pamela Des Barres

This is an autobiography, but I’m recommending this book because Pamela Des Barres’ early life, in so many ways, plays out like a romance novel. Ms. Des Barres is more than clear she’s in search of her rock ‘n’ roll prince charming who’ll sweep her off her feet and take her to his Beverly Hills mansion. Or perhaps her tale leans towards women’s fiction? Whatever category, this is a must-read for those who love music and enjoy stories about the ladies who coveted the men plastered on our teenaged walls.

First off, I love her voice. There’s no, “I did this and went there.” Ms. Des Barres address the readers as if we’re sitting in a circle listening to what she has to say, and as she speaks, is reliving the tale minute by minute.

Warning, there be spoilers for those who haven’t read the book.

Unrequited Love

Maggie Blackbird

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October 6, 2011

Some of my fave romances fall into this category. He loves her, but she’s with him, but that certain him isn’t very good for her. The Last American Virgin comes to mind when I think of unrequited love. It was a cheesy eighties movie I can recall watching. The ending threw me for a loop. Boy, I didn’t see that coming. I won’t elaborate or I’ll spoil the plot for you if you’re bored enough to rent it.

“If only he wanted me…”

Rosanne Bittner – Oregon Bride

Maggie Blackbird

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October 6, 2011

Oregon Bride by Rosanne Bittner

Published in the early nineties, the book’s narration has an old-school feel since Ms. Bittner refrains from using third person limited, and does a wee bit of telling instead of showing. Still, her writing holds up, along with the story and characters, otherwise I wouldn’t recommend this novel, or bother re-reading it for the bazillionth time. As a matter of fact, I love this story so much that I purchased two copies (my dog ate the first one and the second I bought right from the author, which she kindly autographed).

The widow Marybeth MacKinder has no choice but to travel from New York to Oregon with her in-laws. A single mother, she has nobody to look after her child if she decides to stay behind, because she’ll have to work in order to support herself and baby Danny. Plus, there isn’t a chance in hell her abusive in-laws will allow a mere woman to dare leave their family.

Warning: There be spoilers below.

The hero’s theme song

Maggie Blackbird

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September 22, 2011

Mad Max

Heroes, they come in all shapes and forms. Max Rockatansky from the Mad Max trilogy doesn’t want to be anyone’s saviour. A simple man, he desires to survive in a wasteland world and nothing more. Hero? Companionship? No thanks. His blue heeler is sufficient company.

Then there’s Kyle Reese, a brave, intelligent, and dedicated fighter who battles machines with John Conner in a violent world in The Terminator. Reese risks his life by journeying to the past to save Sarah Conner.

What about Chandos from Johanna Lindsey’s a Heart So Wild? He’s hell-bent on vengeance when a group of men murder and rape his mother, sister, and the other women in his peaceful Comanche village. Reluctantly, he agrees to help a young woman travel to Waco, Texas.

Whose bed have your boots been under?

Maggie Blackbird

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September 16, 2011

As a fellow Canuck, I must say Shania didn’t mess around when she asked this question. In some romances, not all, but some, the protagonist either cheats, is cheated on, or finds him or herself in a love triangle.

As I did before, I’m not trying for the obvious and will provide a YouTube link—if one is available. To start, here’s a list of songs that deal with cheating.

Three’s a Crowd

Break-up Songs

Maggie Blackbird

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September 15, 2011

Broken Heart

Music. It moves our feet, makes us reflect, causes us to exercise like crazy, gets us on the dance floor, and a host of other actions and feelings. As writers, we use music to inspire us. While I write this entry, I’m listening to a cover of Boom Boom done by The Animals.

I’ve come across many topics on “novel soundtracks”—writers who make up playlists for the main characters. I do this, too.