I can’t speak for other writers, but music inspires me so much that I’ve been known to play the same songs again and again—and again!—while I’m working on a  manuscript. The visions conjured by certain a lyric, mood, even pacing mesh with the scenes I am trying to capture. Here is an example.

In STARCROSSED HEARTS, my lengthy, soap-opera styled first installment of the StarCrossed trilogy, there is a scene between hero Dane Pierce and would-be lover Jessica Taylor. The sexual tension between them is high; they’ve had a one-night stand that she’d hung her heart on, and he’d buried in the past. He wants her back, but she’s interested in someone else.

They are on location, a tiny island in the Caribbean, filming a potential blockbuster on the beach. There is a small cantina where the cast & crew unwind in the evenings. It’s dim, smoky, tropical, with a jukebox and a tiny dancefloor. It’s also hot and humid. On this particular night, Jessica is still giving Dane the cold shoulder, and he can’t put up with it much longer. Another guy asks Jessica to dance, and she accepts, with barely a glance over her shoulder at Dane. The dance is decidedly dirty, and Dane gets up and dismisses the young man.

Jessica watched the scene unfold with irritation. She hated Dane for interfering, hated his possessive way with her. She turned from the dance floor as Dane approached, but he caught her by the wrist and pulled her back. “If you want to dance like that…” he said, grinning as the next record to drop on to the player crooned a torchy tale of lustful blues.

Dane took her into his arms, skillfully moving her around the floor in a blatantly shameless exhibition for the watching crowd; his hips moved against her, his thigh sliding between hers as he dipped her backwards in an erotic maneuver that would have challenged Patrick Swayze’s own moves. He held her there for a dizzying length of time. Jessica stared up at him, her hair wet and sticking to the perspiration on her face; she could feel her damp shirt stretched down and taut across her breasts as her chest heaved with emotion. It was a picture of perfect control, Dane’s control over Jessica.

He whipped her back up, spinning her a half turn before stopping with his lips not an inch from hers; she moved as if mesmerized, seeing only Dane, responding to his touch; programmed only for him.

The song ended, and with it, the “spell.” Jessica walked purposefully, if weakly, to the table and sat down. Dane followed, shouting his request for a drink to the bar and straddling a chair facing her.

The song? “I Put a Spell On You” by Creedence Clearwater Revival (click for 1:30 sample from MySpace). Like Dane to Jessica, it was a perfect fit.

So take a look at a sweet, sexy, youthful Edwin as he shares my favorite song. Try not to drool on the keyboard!

Sequel to StarCrossed Hearts!

Pam:     Hey, Mac! It’s great to see you!

Mac:      You know I’m glad to be here. Oh, just water is fine. Thanks.

Pam:     Let’s get right into the questions. I’ve heard you compared to TV’s “MacGyver.” Is it the name? The hair? Or something else?

Mac:      I consider it a compliment. Shows like “MacGyver” paved the way for my adventure series a few years back, “Doctor Jim.” And yeah, I do have his name. And his hair. (Grins, runs a hand through his sun-streaked locks.)

Pam:     And you must have a Swiss Army knife with you at all times.

Mac:      Got it right here.

Pam:     You later made the jump to the big screen. A film set in New Zealand?

Mac:      Yeah.  Night Horse. I was… a long way from home.

Pam:     Good film, but those were tough times. You and your wife were separated.

Mac: (nods slowly, looking down). We had some unfortunate misunderstandings. It was—

Pam:     Dane Pierce, right? Your best friend? Must’ve been difficult.

Mac: (sighs) It’s not something I like to remember. Or talk about. Dane’s… well, Dane. And yeah, he—he cares a lot for Jessie. I just had to get him to understand that… she is my whole life. (shakes it off, smiles) He did deliver my son, you know. So he’s not all bad.

Pam:     You worked with him on The Senator. Now, wasn’t there a scandal during the filming of that movie? Someone with a gun? An actress—

Mac:      Jackie Spencer. Troubled gal. She and Dane… let’s just say it didn’t work out, and she came after him with a gun.

Pam:     I heard it was Jessica Taylor she was after. Your wife. Was this because of Dane, too?

Mac: (grimaces) Jackie was…troubled, like I said.

Pam:     What’s up next for you?

Mac:      I enjoyed my part behind on the camera on The Senator. I have a rough draft of a script for a romantic comedy. Mr. Romance. About an actor who models for the cover of a romance novel as a favor, but unexpectedly wins a contest. What do you think?

Pam:     Sounds like a winner. We will definitely watch for that one. Hey, thanks for sitting down with me today. And best of luck with the new film!

Mac:      I appreciate the chat. Take care.

Mac MacKendall, Dane Pierce and Jessica Taylor are leading characters in STARCROSSED HEARTS and its sequel, A HERO’S PROMISE, by Anne Carter, both published by Wings ePress and available at Amazon. Also available for your Kindle, iPhone or other ereader at Fictionwise.

Today begins a new series of interviews with fictional heroes. First up is Dane Pierce, of Hollywood, California, mega star and romantic lead in STARCROSSED HEARTS by Anne Carter. I caught up with Dane at a virtual coffee shop in Malibu.

Pam:  Good morning, Mr. Pierce. Would you like a cup of coffee?

Dane:    Just Dane. Coffee would be great. Heavily leaded, please. Too much celebrating last night.

Pam:   Well, you are the first in our “Interview With a Hero” series here at Beacon Street. I hope you’re comfortable with that. Let’s start by having you describe yourself for our readers.

Dane:    Describe myself? Hmm. I’m just a regular guy, I guess. If you want stats, I’m 6’ tall, weigh, oh, 180 or so, I have green eyes and ash brown hair. I’m an actor, seems like I have been my whole life. I have four kids, or, wait. Five kids, last count. Three with my ex, one with my present wife and then I adopted her son. So, yeah, five. Three girls, two boys.

Pam:     Are you a good father?

Dane:    On and off. I try. I love my kids.

Pam:     You’re an actor. What is your favorite film? Of yours, that is.

Dane:    Has to be Lost Season. Filmed on location in Amande, down in the Caribbean. We won “best picture” that year.

Pam:     You directed it?

Dane: (nodding) Starred, directed, produced. Jessica Taylor, the love of my life, also starred. They don’t make films like that one anymore.

Pam:     Tell us about Jessica.

Dane: (smiles, looks to distance for a moment) She was, and still is… beautiful, strong, feisty. Unflinchingly loyal. Stubborn. A great mom. And—is this a “G” rated blog?

Pam:     Go on. I can edit.

Dane: (chuckles) She is damned sexy. We once… foolish kids that we were… we once [edited] on the beach in Amande. It was after the wrap party. I took advantage of her, actually. She was reeling from her last relationship–at the time.

Pam:     With Mac MacKendall. Who later became your best friend.

Dane.    Yes. Helluva guy. One of the good guys.

Pam:     Aside from the beach memory, can you share something about your life with Jessica that you’d like your fans to know?

Dane:    I met her on the set of a pirate flick. This was post-Errol Flynn, pre-Johnny Depp. The film was called Bellerive. She was a bit part player, I was a swashbuckler. I was having a shitty day, she offered to drive me… no, wait. I asked her to drive me off the lot to get some air. She told me about her aspirations to become a real actress, a leading lady. She was so naïve, so … fresh. I was immediately taken with her. I didn’t see her for awhile after that, but I couldn’t get her out of my mind. I ended up casting her the lead in Lost Season and never looked back.

Pam:     What would Jessica say about you today?

Dane: (laughs out loud) She still calls me a scoundrel. She can call me anything she wants. I will always love her.

Dane Pierce and Jessica Taylor are leading characters in STARCROSSED HEARTS and its sequel, A HERO’S PROMISE, by Anne Carter, both published by Wings ePress and available at Amazon. Also available for your Kindle, iPhone or other ereader at Fictionwise.