I like to listen to music when I write. It sets the mood and helps me maintain a certain rhythm to my writing. Plus my new character, Dauphine Mason, is a music fan, expert, and snob. This was a fun attribute to give her, especially in a city like New Orleans. I spent the better part of my writing digging around for the kind of music, sometimes obscure, that she would listen to and love. Cassie’s story is always musically evocative for me, and this time even Matilda inspired one of my favorite writing tracks. Take a listen to this little musical preview of S.E.C.R.E.T. Shared!

Dancing On My Own—Robyn
Dauphine, a massive music lover, often finds herself in clubs, listening to the music. But she won’t admit she’s still nursing an old heartbreak, and there’s a matching defiance in this song, and a need to punch through that sadness with the line “I’m giving it my all…” It breaks me up, because I remember that feeling of pretending you’re not sad, trying to show everyone you’re alright while dancing extra buoyantly. Meanwhile, you’re fooling no one.

Mathilda—G.G. Shinn
This is the only video I could find of this so-called “blue-eyed soul singer”. This song, Mathilda, matches our Matilda’s own strut as she makes her way across Audubon Park in one scene to meet Cassie, before they 'recruit' a couple of men. Shinn still operates a blues club in Alexandria, Louisiana. Rumor has it you can’t wear sunglasses, flipflops, shorts or sleeveless shirts; it’s a fancy joint.

We’re Just Friends--Wilco
I love the lie at the center of this song; it’s almost “Me thinks you doth protest too much”. And I love this line “If love’s so easy, why’s it hard?” And of course Cassie's “just friends” with Will, right? Right? Reminds me of that line in the song, “I’ll come back to you, it’ll be brand new…” There’s much hope and sadness in this song.

Tango Esquina—Carlos Gardel
This song! This dance! These dancers! I couldn’t find a good video of a three-person tango (a little tease to the book!) but love the battle, the muscularity of this dance; it’s hard to tear your eyes off a couple in the throes of tango. And so it’s a little voyeuristic. And nobody does tango better than Carlos Gardel, a true Argentine legend.

Femmes en la Majeur
This short film by Norma Leal is hot: two women tango dancing. When you read S.E.C.R.E.T. Shared, you'll know exactly how this inspired me, from the setting to the lighting…to the incredible chemistry between them. Right down to the last giggling frames.

Reconsider Me—Margaret Lewis
God I love her and I love this song. I dare you to not to sway around your living room when it’s on. Go ahead, try it. See? Can’t be done. Now imagine you’re Dauphine, a rabid music fan, and a certain someone is singing this song right at you—at Tipitina’s! Can you imagine her resisting him? Me neither.

Willie Mae—Professor Longhair
You know that moment when you know someone’s “The One”—when you bond over a shared love of a book or movie? Yeah, THAT moment happens in Chapter Sixteen as well. "Anyone seen my Willie Mae out there? I want her."
Sexy and direct.

Use Me- Bill Withers
At the end of S.E.C.R.E.T. Shared two conflicted people sit in a darkened truck. We don’t know what they’re going to do next: f__k or fight. This is the precise song that would play over the credits of the book, if books had credits.

Here's the link to the Youtube videos....cheers!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcNo07...