Guest Blog by Laura Kaye - Never Let Me Go – Musical Inspiration behind West of Want!

Please welcome Laura Kaye to The Qwillery. Laura's most recent novel is West of Want, the 2nd book in the Hearts of the Anemoi.

Never Let Me Go – Musical Inspiration behind West of Want!

It’s always great to get to stop back by The Qwillery! And I’m especially excited to return to celebrate the release of my contemporary fantasy romance, West of Want, book 2 in my Hearts of the Anemoi series. About eight months ago, I debuted the cover of this book right here at The Qwillery, and now I’m pleased to share some behind-the-book inspiration with you.

People often ask me how I come up with my stories, and it’s a hard question to answer. I don’t feel like I “come up” with them. I feel like they come through me, usually led by a character who tells me more and more of the story until I know enough to start writing. But there’s no question that music helps that process. Sometimes it’s a single line of lyrics. Sometimes it’s the tone of the song that sets the atmosphere. Sometimes a song reflects a scene just perfectly. And that’s the case with the song I’d like to share with you today.

This song is the perfect soundtrack for two different scenes in the book—one from Ella’s point of view, and one from Zeph’s. I had already written Ella’s scene, which is right at the beginning of the book when I first heard this song, and then when I got to Zeph’s moment, I could not get it out of my head. And that was kind of fitting, that echoing of theme and tone and emotion between these two key times for the characters. So, without further ado, I’d like to share the song and the lyrics, and show you how they relate to snippets from these scenes:


Go ahead and play the song, then, as you read through the lyrics and the excerpts below, see if you can get a feel for the resonance in themes, emotion, and tone. These excerpts are intentionally short so we don’t spoil anything for those who haven’t read yet!

Lyrics are in italics:
Looking out from underneath,
Fractured moonlight on the sea
Reflections still look the same to me,
As before I went under.

And it's peaceful in the deep,
Cathedral, where you cannot breathe,
No need to pray, no need to speak
Now I am under, Oh.

And it's breaking over me,
A thousand miles onto the sea bed,
Found the place to rest my head.

Never let me go, never let me go.
Never let me go, never let me go.

Excerpts are in plain font:
A wave swamped Ella. And another. She choked and gagged. The next slammed her head against the fiberglass transom.

Her hands flew open from the impact. She plunged into the storm-tortured water, sucked down nauseating mouthfuls. Her body whipped feet over head, side to side. Impossible to determine which way was up. The violent churning of the sea ripped the lifejacket off one arm, but the orange padding held just enough to finally guide her head to the surface.

And the arms of the ocean are carrying me,
And all this devotion was rushing out of me,
And the crashes are heaven, for a sinner like me,
The arms of the ocean deliver me.

Though the pressure's hard to take,
It's the only way I can escape,
It seems a heavy choice to make,
But now I am under, Oh.

And it's breaking over me,
A thousand miles down to the sea bed,
Found the place to rest my head.

Never let me go, never let me go.
Never let me go, never let me go.

A wave smacked Ella in the face. She gagged. Coughed. Laughed until sobs took over.

Exhaustion. Pure and utter. Like she’d lived a thousand lives.

Debris thudded against her ear. She howled as the jarring hit rang through her head.

Please don’t let it be pieces of True Blue.

Her eyes focused on the sea next to her. Nothing. She propelled herself around. The urn. Ella gasped and irrational joy filled her chest.

She half-swam—a nearly impossible feat against the thrashing waves with one useless arm. Each leaden stroke sapped what little energy she had left. She grabbed the urn. Held it in her numb hands. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me,” she whispered against the brass, all she could manage. “We’re true blue.”

And the arms of the ocean are carrying me,
And all this devotion was rushing out of me,
And the crashes are heaven, for a sinner like me,
The arms of the ocean deliver me.

And it's over,
And I'm going under,
But I'm not giving up!
I'm just giving in.

Oh, slipping underneath.
Oh, so cold, but so sweet.

In the arms of the ocean, so sweet and so cold,
And all this devotion I never knew at all,
And the crashes are Heaven, for a sinner released,
And the arms of the ocean,
Deliver me.

Zephyros stepped around the wheel and down onto the swimming platform. The clothing would just be a drag, so he disappeared it and jumped. The cold water sucker-punched him. He gasped and willed his muscles to cooperate. How long had the woman suffered with the freezing waves battering her damaged body? He bit down on his tongue to keep from roaring out. The pain focused him.

Arms extended beside him, he closed his eyes and called the current. As a wind god, Zephyros was most at home in the sky, but marshaling sea currents worked on the same principle.

The rush of water pushed behind him, just as he directed, and scooped up the boat’s hull in the grip of its gentle forward motion. One hand on the platform, he floated behind the boat, guiding its heading, adjusting as necessary, shivering until he thought his bones might snap.

Never let me go, never let me go.
Never let me go, never let me go.

Deliver me.

Never let me go, never let me go.
Never let me go, never let me go.

Deliver me.

There was nothing but devastatingly dead, white silence. The loudest thing Zeph had ever heard, it shattered his ears and his heart.

Grief and rage flashed out of Zephyros, manifested in an instantaneous killer storm over the bay. Winds tore at the sky, rain and hail pummeled the earth. Waterspouts spiraled up from the surface, dancing, stalking, sucking up everything in their paths.

Never let me go, never let me go.
Never let me go, never let me go.

Never let me go, never let me go.
Never let me go, never let me go.

And it's over,
And I'm goin' under,
But I'm not givin' up!
I'm just givin' in.

Oh, slipping underneath.
Oh, so cold, but so sweet

Head to the heavens, Zephyros screamed and screamed.
_____

So, what do you think? Can you get a feel for how this song reflects this story? What does it make you feel? And, if you’ve read the book, I’d be really curious to know if you think they fit together!


GIVEAWAY!: One commenter who leaves their email address will win an ebook of West of Want and a West of Want t-shirt (sizes L and XL available). Open to international! Good luck! [See The Giveaway below.]

Don’t miss the West of Want in the Wild (thru 8/24) giveaway events, too!

Thanks for reading!
Laura Kaye



Hearts of the Anemoi

West of Want

Hearts of the Anemoi 2
Entangled Publishing, July 17, 2012
Trade Paperback and eBook, 326 pages

Betrayal is all he's ever known, but in her, he'll find a love strong enough to be trusted...

When Marcella Raines' twin brother dies, she honors his request to be buried at sea, never expecting the violent storm that swamps her boat. Though she's gravely injured--and still emotionally damaged from her recent divorce--Ella fights to survive.

Zephyros Martius is the Supreme God of the West Wind and Spring, but being the strongest Anemoi hasn't protected him from betrayal and loss. Worse, he's sure his brother Eurus is behind it. When Zeph's heartbreak whips up a storm that shipwrecks a human, his guilt forces him to save her.

Ella is drawn to the vulnerability Zeph hides beneath his otherworldly masculinity and ancient blue eyes. And her honesty, empathy, and unique, calming influence leave Zeph wanting...everything. When Eurus threatens Ella, she and Zeph struggle to let go of the past, defend their future, and embrace what they most want--a love that can be trusted.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

North of Need

Hearts of the Anemoi 1
Entangled Publishing, May 12, 2012
Trade Paperback and eBook, 326 pages

Her tears called a powerful snow god to life, but only her love can grant the humanity he craves…

Desperate to escape agonizing memories of Christmas past, twenty-nine-year-old widow Megan Snow builds a snow family outside the mountain cabin she once shared with her husband, realizing too late that she’s recreated the very thing she’ll never have.

Called to life by Megan’s tears, snow god Owen Winters appears unconscious on her doorstep in the midst of a raging blizzard. As she nurses him to health, Owen finds unexpected solace in her company and unimagined pleasure in the warmth of her body, and vows to win her heart for a chance at humanity.

Megan is drawn to Owen’s mismatched eyes, otherworldly masculinity, and enthusiasm for the littlest things. But this Christmas miracle comes with an expiration—before the snow melts and the temperature rises, Megan must let go of her widow’s grief and learn to trust love again, or she’ll lose Owen forever.

Amazon : Barnes and Noble : Book Depository : Books-A-Million : IndieBound

About Laura

Voted Breakout Author of the Year in the 2011 GraveTells Readers’ Choice Awards, Laura is the bestselling and award-winning author of over a half-dozen books in paranormal, contemporary and erotic romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with all things paranormal. A published non-fiction author, Laura’s work as an historian and training as an archaeologist help her create vivid and accurate portrayals of other times and places. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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The Giveaway

What:  One commenter will win an ebook of West of Want and a West of Want t-shirt (sizes L and XL available).

The T-Shirt

How:  Leave a comment answering one of Laura's question:

Can you get a feel for how this song reflects this story? 

What does it make you feel? 

And, if you’ve read the book, I’d be really curious to know if you think they fit together!

Please remember - if you don't answer one of Laura's questions your entry will not be counted.  You must also leave a way to contact you. Entries without contact information will not be counted.

Who and When:  The contest is open to all humans on the planet earth with a mailing address. Contest ends at 11:59pm US Eastern Time on Sunday, August 12, 2012. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules are subject to change.*