What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Music Within Your Heart?
Ironically, I was out with my wife at a restaurant as I observed a middle-aged Black lady dancing and singing, and that’s when the idea struck me like a bolt of lightning. Instantaneously, I came up with The Music Within Your Heart’s storyline of racial divide, overcoming, pursuing your dreams, music, and a female character as the lead.
I wrote the synopsis while celebrating with my wife…I got in so much trouble because I wasn’t paying attention to her. I had an overwhelming urge, so I knew I had to write the synopsis right then and there. My wife is great; she knew I had to release the music within my own heart during that faithful night.
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Music Within Your Heart, what would they be?
Everything I Wanted by Billie Eilish for Sophia and I’ll Wait for You by Eillott Yamin for Sammie.
What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
My favorite genres to read are: spiritual, self-help, and philosophy.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
Don’t Call Me Crazy and Winter Iris.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
My favorite scene is when Sammie and Sophia reunite in The Midnight Forest after several decades of not seeing each other, as Sophia hopes that Sammie still loves her too.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
I like to have others read aloud excerpts from various chapters as I listen intently to see if it stirs up my emotions.
Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?
“Look at a man the way that he is and you’ll only make him worse but look at a man the way that he can be and he’ll become the way that he should be.” -Johann Geothe
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
I would like for readers to know that love covers a multitude of sins and that life can be very long without love. True love that is.
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