As some of you know, music plays a big roll in my novels, as well as my life.  Most of the conversation that my character, Tagg Holland,from Unplugged, has with himself about music are my real feelings about music and its capacity to inspire me.  At one time,  I had literally had a song propel me to an idea that had changed my career path.  I've listened to songs that helped me get through a pained emotion.  And as well, I've had songs evoke that same pained emotion.  And I'd find myself crying all over again.  But most often it inspires me - to send my husband that warm-hearted text, or smoldering text, depending on which song I had just heard.  Music inspires me to be a better person or to understand someone else. 

 I also believe that music is the closest thing to time travel that we have right now.  How often do we hear an old song and immediately are transported to that particular time in our lives when we first heard it? Or the first time it held a special meaning to us?  That first love. Our first heartbreak.  That first time we hung out at the mall with our friends, sans parents.  When I hear an old Bon Jovi song or an old Journey song, I'm transported back in time to the Meadowlands Arena that I'd frequented almost weekly to see one of my favored 80s bands.  I can listen to Jon's Runaway, close my eyes and remember that New Year's Eve concert in 1986.  Jon prancing around onstage in his tight leather pants and long frosted hair.

And what Air Supply song doesn't send me back to my middle school years?

Everyday I have to listen to music.  And everyday it inspires me in something I am doing that day.  An old song, a new song, a rock song or a metal song.  Alternative Pop, SKA, or whatever it is that Disney's stars sing...it all plays a part in my day.  In my life.  In my heart.

Smiles,
Julie