I'm very, very honoured to host Maire Claremont, who is currently on tour promoting her newest book, The Dark Affair, today. I'm a big fan of Maire's from her debut novel and I've just read The Dark Affair and it is stunning.
Maire is giving away a signed copy of The Dark Affair (US/CA) to one lucky commenter on this blog.
For this stop, I asked Maire to share a playlist of songs that she was listening to while writing The Dark Affair.
Here's Maire's list:
Music is a huge part of my writing process. Even before I start a story, I listen for songs that really strike an emotion with me. For each of the Mad Passions books there was a central song and some of the songs were on all the Mad Passion playlists. With the concluding book, Go Ask Alice became the uniting piece of music of the series. I listened to it again and again and again for months which doesn't make me at all crazy. Really ... I promise.
For Powers, the hero of The Dark Affair, he is so broken inside that his most important song is Behind Blue Eyes.
Margaret's song is The Wind that Shakes The Barley, an old and haunting song about Ireland's search for independence. If you haven't heard it, you must go have a listen. For me, it invokes positive chills.
The Dark Affair's song? Wicked Game by Chris Isaak. Both Powers and Margaret are truly damaged, covering their scars with wicked humor, and fast banter. Neither thinks they will ever want to be in love, but these two? Each is so full of surprises for the other, their hearts can't be safe.
The Wind That Shakes the Barley by Dead Can Dance
Behind Blue Eyes by The Who
Caramel by Suzanne Vega
Outside by Staind
Fireflies by Owl City
Go Ask Alice by Jefferson Airplane
Mad World by Michael Andrews
I Am Eve by Medieval Babes
Maiden in the Mor Lay by Medieval Babes
Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap
Sober by Pink
Figured You Out by Nickelback
Wicked Game by Chris Isaak
For Powers, the hero of The Dark Affair, he is so broken inside that his most important song is Behind Blue Eyes.
Margaret's song is The Wind that Shakes The Barley, an old and haunting song about Ireland's search for independence. If you haven't heard it, you must go have a listen. For me, it invokes positive chills.
The Dark Affair's song? Wicked Game by Chris Isaak. Both Powers and Margaret are truly damaged, covering their scars with wicked humor, and fast banter. Neither thinks they will ever want to be in love, but these two? Each is so full of surprises for the other, their hearts can't be safe.
The Wind That Shakes the Barley by Dead Can Dance
Behind Blue Eyes by The Who
Caramel by Suzanne Vega
Outside by Staind
Fireflies by Owl City
Go Ask Alice by Jefferson Airplane
Mad World by Michael Andrews
I Am Eve by Medieval Babes
Maiden in the Mor Lay by Medieval Babes
Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap
Sober by Pink
Figured You Out by Nickelback
Wicked Game by Chris Isaak
To listen to the songs (maybe while reading the book):
* * *
About The Dark Affair:
The Victorian era was full of majestic beauty and scandalous secrets -- a time when corsets were the least of a woman’s restrictions, and men could kill or be killed in the name of honour ...
Lady Margaret Cassidy left a life of nobility behind in Ireland, forsaking her grieving homeland to aid war-ravaged men in England. Still, she never expected a cruel turn of fate to lock her into an unwanted betrothal with one of her English patients -- much less one as broken and dangerous as Viscount Powers.
Wrecked by his tragic past, Powers’ opiate-addled sanity hangs precariously in the balance, leaving him poised to destroy anyone who dares to utter the names of the wife and child he still so deeply mourns. So when he is forced to marry Margaret in exchange for freedom, he is shocked by the desire to earn her trust, her body, and -- most alarming of all -- her heart ...
More About The Book: http://www.maireclaremont.com/#!the-dark-affair/cey
The Victorian era was full of majestic beauty and scandalous secrets -- a time when corsets were the least of a woman’s restrictions, and men could kill or be killed in the name of honour ...
Lady Margaret Cassidy left a life of nobility behind in Ireland, forsaking her grieving homeland to aid war-ravaged men in England. Still, she never expected a cruel turn of fate to lock her into an unwanted betrothal with one of her English patients -- much less one as broken and dangerous as Viscount Powers.
Wrecked by his tragic past, Powers’ opiate-addled sanity hangs precariously in the balance, leaving him poised to destroy anyone who dares to utter the names of the wife and child he still so deeply mourns. So when he is forced to marry Margaret in exchange for freedom, he is shocked by the desire to earn her trust, her body, and -- most alarming of all -- her heart ...
More About The Book: http://www.maireclaremont.com/#!the-dark-affair/cey
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451418018
B&N:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dark-affair-maire-claremont/1116561014
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-dark-affair/id690879462?mt=11
Books-A-Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Dark-Affair/Maire-Claremont/9780451418012?id=5756047667018
Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Dark-Affair-Maire-Claremont/9780451418012
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451418018
B&N:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dark-affair-maire-claremont/1116561014
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-dark-affair/id690879462?mt=11
Books-A-Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Dark-Affair/Maire-Claremont/9780451418012?id=5756047667018
Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Dark-Affair-Maire-Claremont/9780451418012
* * *
About Maire Claremont:
2011 Golden Heart winner Máire Claremont first fell in love with Mr. Rochester, not Mr. Darcy. Drawn to his dark snark, she longed to find a tortured hero of her own ... until she realized the ramifications of Mr. Rochester locking his first wife up in his attic. Discovering the errors of her ways, Máire now looks for a real-life Darcy and creates deliciously dark heroes on the page. Oh, and she wants everyone to know her name is pronounced Moira. Her parents just had to give her an Irish Gaelic name.
Links:
Website: http://www.maireclaremont.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MaireClaremont
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MaireClaremont
2011 Golden Heart winner Máire Claremont first fell in love with Mr. Rochester, not Mr. Darcy. Drawn to his dark snark, she longed to find a tortured hero of her own ... until she realized the ramifications of Mr. Rochester locking his first wife up in his attic. Discovering the errors of her ways, Máire now looks for a real-life Darcy and creates deliciously dark heroes on the page. Oh, and she wants everyone to know her name is pronounced Moira. Her parents just had to give her an Irish Gaelic name.
Links:
Website: http://www.maireclaremont.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MaireClaremont
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MaireClaremont
* * *
Maire is giving away a signed copy of The Dark Affair (US/CA) to one lucky commenter on this blog.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
* * *
Follow the rest of the tour:
March 3 - The Reading Reviewer
March 4 - Romancing Rakes For the Love of Romance
March 5 - TBQ Book Palace
March 6 - SOS Aloha
March 7 - Stitch Read Cook
(2nd stop) - What I’m Reading
March 8 - Buried Under Romance
March 10 - Romance Reader Girl
March 11 - Rookie Romance
March 12 - Eskimo Princess Reviews
(2nd stop) - Rakes and Rascals
March 13 - Love Saves the World
March 3 - The Reading Reviewer
March 4 - Romancing Rakes For the Love of Romance
March 5 - TBQ Book Palace
March 6 - SOS Aloha
March 7 - Stitch Read Cook
(2nd stop) - What I’m Reading
March 8 - Buried Under Romance
March 10 - Romance Reader Girl
March 11 - Rookie Romance
March 12 - Eskimo Princess Reviews
(2nd stop) - Rakes and Rascals
March 13 - Love Saves the World
I love tortured heroes, so I look forward to seeing how he redeems himself and earns her love.
ReplyDeleteThe only song I know from that playlist is Behind Blue Eyes by The Who. I heard that song in an episode from the tv series Cold Case and loved it. I would think that authors would listening to like classical music or something because they don't have lyrics so it's easier to concentrate...I am wrong
ReplyDeleteI'm not big into music, but I plan to look up 'The Wind That Shakes the Barley' by Dead Can Dance. Just the title alone is moving. I can't wait to read this book.
ReplyDeleteMarcy Shuler
bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com
Excellent playlist! I can see these songs evoking strong emotions. (Granted, I don't know all the songs, but I do know most of them.)
ReplyDeleteGreat playlist, especially Wicked Game by Chris Isaak, one of my favs. :D
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read The Dark Affair, this is such an awesome series.
Jmcgaugh! Tortured héros are my favorite! Powers really has to work for it too. I hope you try his and Margaret's story. Thanks so much for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteHi Sandy! I had so much fun with this post, so I'm really glad you stopped by. All writers are a bit different. I have a friend who has to work in COMPLETE silence. Like no one in the house silent. Some need classical. For some reason, the tone of the lyrics help me.
ReplyDeleteHi Marcy,
ReplyDeleteThe Wind That Shakes The Barley is quite old and is very sad an beautiful. It really deals with the plight of people forced to bear the shame of oppression by an invading force that stealing their culture. The woman's voice from Dead Can Dance is CHILLING. I hope you do have a listen and also try The Dark Affair. ;D
HI Barbara!
ReplyDeleteI love it too. Its had a huge influence on me. Wicked Games. . .So deliciously tragic. I'm so glad you love the series and I do hope you let me know what you think of The Dark Affair. Thanks for visiting.
Hi Glenda,
ReplyDeleteYou got it. Basically, I have to go to the right emotional place to be in these characters head and by having such a play list, its a lot easier to sit down and be grounded in that world of strong emotion. I hope you give The Dark Affair a read! Thanks for commenting.
Sounds different
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the publication of The Dark Affair! It sounds like an intriguing book. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHi, all! Thank you for your wonderful comments for Maire! I'm glad you enjoyed the playlist she prepared for us --
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading the book and, I think, Maire has redefined what a tortured hero is when she wrote Powers. (I also love how strong Maggie is!)
Good luck to everyone! This is an excellent book! ^_^
Thanks for sharing your playlist. Wicked Games is an awesome song.
ReplyDeleteThe Victorian Era plus a tortured, tormented hero....fabulous! I very much want to read this series!
ReplyDelete