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    Musical Monday and the theme is family

    December 27, 2019

    10/13/2013

    Building Attraction - Monique McDonell - CoverMy soon to be released novel Building Attraction looks a lot at the role family plays in life for better or worse. What will people do for their family or what won’t they do? Everyone’s different in this regard.

    That’s not even dealing with the issues of crazy extended families or difficult in-laws or unresolved family issues.

    (Sidebar -Yes I know it’s late – I’ve been a bit unwell for the past few weeks and then I got a big client at work that has required me working lots of hours so something had to give. I’m sure my editor is pulling her hair out right now as am I…but we’re nearly there).

    Anyway I thought I’d choose some songs about family as a result,

    Here are a couple of songs to set your toes tapping this Monday.

    Here we have Sister Sledge with a 1970’s classic We Are Family. If there’s a person on the planet who doesn’t know this song I’d be surprised.
    I love this version of Hey Ho. I really like the original version but these girls are amazing and the fact they’re sisters, just adds another layer. (Oh yeah and if someone can find me a hairdresser that makes my hair look like Connie Britton
    Happy Monday.

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    Musical Monday – redemptive love

    December 27, 2019

    8/25/2013

    Alphabet Dating CoverHappy Monday all. it’s a gloriously sunny day in Sydney. I started my day writing which is always a lovely thing.

    I was listening to the radio yesterday as I drove along and it got me thinking about Musical Monday for this week and what the theme would be.

    Then I heard a song that had my mind wandering to when love is redemptive.

    I hope somewhere the knowledge that you can’t change someone by loving them has filtered through to the women of the world – I’m sure Dolly, Cleo, Cosmo and Redbook have all done more than enough articles on the topic to last a lifetime.

    That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about when someone decides for themselves that they need to change or they will lose the girl or guy of their dreams.

    One is “If I love him enough maybe he will give up heroin/drag-racing/karaoke.”
    The other is. “This heroin/drag-racing/karaoke is killing me and that lady is going to leave me because I’m ruining both our lives…time to stop. Maybe when I stop she’ll reconsider me.”

    So here are a couple of songs to get you pondering that theme as well.

    First up we have this one from M People – I just adore this woman’s voice.
    Hoobastank’s The Reason…this is a great one on the topic. Let the lyrics speak for themselves.

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    Musical Monday – Lasting Love

    December 27, 2019

    7/28/2013

    Mr Right and Other MongrelsToday on this find Musical Monday I’m pondering the nature of making love last.

    Lots of fiction, especially romance, focuses on the first bloom of romance. It’s fun to watch things begin and as a writer it’s nice to help bring two characters together. I quite like living a bit vicariously through my characters as they head off on dates and other romantic escapades.

    However, anyone who has ever been in a lasting romance can tell you that lovely phase where every dinner is a date night and every new day is ripe with promise doesn’t last forever. Real life seems to intervene all too quickly. Jobs, family commitments, friendships and finances seem to conspire one way or another to take the sine off things. Then of course familiarity sets in.

    Sustaining romance through life – or through a sequel – takes quite a bit of effort.

    So today here are a couple of songs that speak to that.

    First some old school Shania Twain (who of course is no longer married to the guy she sang this to back in the day!)
    And for something more current how about some Paramore – Still Into You! Because really it is all about that in the end.

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    Musical Monday…unrequited love?

    December 27, 2019

    7/21/2013

    Heart BalloonIs there any love more painful or more tragic than an unrequited love?
    I doubt it.
    Most of us have experienced it from one side or the other at some point in our lives. The maddening reality that someone we know, and probably like, adores us and sadly we don’t feel the same way about them is very hard to deal with and often not dealt with well.

    Still that’s nothing compared to the ache of being the person who is in love and not loved back. Oh the agony!

    So on this musical Monday a couple of songs about unrequited love as I ponder this topic for one of my characters in an upcoming novel.

    This is a great one from Gabrielle and was featured in the wonderful Bridget Jones Diary so that makes it a chick lit winner for me.
    Above this heartbreaker from Lady Antebellum…(I really need to Google the word antebellum…I think I know what it means but I might have the wrong thing in my head…it happens!)

    And…Paramore…The Only Exception. I kind of hope it works out for her…the song leaves it up in the air.

    Still as horrible as unrequited love is it’s worth the risk…because what if, just maybe, it leads to requited love?

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    Musical Monday – songs about friendship

    December 27, 2019

    7/14/2013

    Alphabet Dating CoverAlphabet Dating is available on Amazon.

    One of the things I like about chick lit as opposed to writing romance, which I also enjoy writing by the way, is that to my way of seeing things it’s more about the character’s whole life and not just about their romantic journey.

    In Alphabet Dating, for example Serena’s story is as much about her friends’ wanting to see her happy – hence setting her up on 26 dates in a month (OK they have a weird way of showing their love) as her quest to meet someone new. Really she isn’t interested in love, she goes on the dates to make her friends happy. To me it’s a book about friendship.

    So this Musical Monday I thought I would play you some songs about friendship.
    Lot’s of songs about friendship are kind of schmaltzy. That’s not really a problem for me because I love a bit of schmaltz. I love a song that brings a tear to my eye and really there are thousands of them (I’m the girl who cries at everything!)

    So here are a couple of friendship songs. Maybe they might make you phone or text a friend…yeah somehow I don’t think my blog has that kind of power either…but it’s a nice thought.

    Maybe Bruno Mars will inspire.
    This one is my all-time favourite! James Taylor baby!
    This one is the queen of schmaltz…but I love this because it reminds me of some old friends…(sniff, sniff!) And it does have Stevie Wonder so it must be a little bit cool right? Plus look how beautiful Gladys Knight is…and Elton still had that voice…

    Do you have a favourite friendship song? If so let me know what it is.

    This is my all time favourite….

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    Airplanes, LA and musical Monday

    December 27, 2019

    6/16/2013

    I’m off tomorrow on my research trip for the sequel to Mr Right and Other Mongrels so this Musical Monday had an L.A and an airport theme. Here first of all a very retro classic.
    I love this Michelle Shocked song but I couldn’t find the original…this will have to suffice.

    I suspect my blogging might be hit and miss over the next few weeks…I’ll try and pop in whenever I can. Happy reading!

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    Musical Monday – Queen for the Queen’s Birthday

    December 27, 2019

    6/9/2013

    It’s musical Monday again and here in Australia it’s a public holiday to celebrate the Queen’s Birthday. It’s not really her birthday of course, but we’re very happy to have a long weekend for any reason at all. Even the die-hard Republicans like me will take it. (In Australia a Republican is a person who wishes the country was a republic and not part of the Commonwealth it is not a person who votes for the US Republican party. Don’t say I never teach you anything on this blog!)

    In honour of the occasion I have chosen two songs by the band Queen. They certainly did love a rock ballad.

    The first Give me Somebody to Love, seems an apt choice for this blog. The second is a classic piece of modern rock and storytelling. Have a great day.

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    Musical Monday – sharing my ear worm

    December 27, 2019

    6/2/2013

    Don’t you hate it when you get a song stuck in your head…even a song you like?
    This happens to me a lot. This year this song was used to promote the Australian version of show The Voice for months.
    Months.

    This song has played in my head on a loop since February. I wake up and it’s there. I go to sleep it’s there. I do the laundry…take a shower…you get the idea.

    Now I actually think it’s a good song and these artists can sing but….enough…
    And then because I said that – because one word ‘enough’ is all takes to trigger another of my earworm songs…so you can have it too..an old favourite from Dido and the Love Actually Soundtrack.

    If you have your own ear worm let me know what it is.

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    Musical Monday – California Dreamin’

    December 27, 2019

    5/19/2013

    Mr Right and Other MongrelsThe weather has turned rather autumnal this weekend in Sydney.

    My backyard is a sea of brown, orange and yellow leaves that make an inviting crunch when I walk to the clothesline. The wind has picked up and there is a definite chill in the air.

    I’m not really an autumn and winter girl. I should be I suppose with my Celtic colouring but the truth is I prefer to feel the warm sunshine on my back than just about anything else. I seem to have cold toes from May to September and when I sit and type my hands get icy cold.

    Lucky for me in just on a month I’m heading to LA on a research trip for the sequel to Mr Right and Other Mongrels.

    Lots of readers want to know what happens to Teddy and Allegra next and so I’m going to write their story. I never intended to write a sequel but now that I am I’m excited about it.

    So, because that’s what I’m doing today, in here’s a little California Dreamin’.
    1 Comment
    MaryK
    5/19/2013 12:36:38 pm

    California is dreaming of you, too, Monique!! Just a month to go!!

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    Musical Monday – An Ode to Fire for Hearts Afire

    December 27, 2019

    5/12/2013

    Hearts AfireToday in honour of Hearts Afire my second novel I thought I’d focus on songs with a fiery theme.

    Of course the book features a sexy and rather fabulous fireman. (It’s a pity the main fireman featured on youtube is Fireman Sam who neither sexy or fabulous…isn’t he just Postman Pat in suspenders?)

    So here are a couple of fire-themed songs that don’t feature too many firemen.

    First up the fabulous Alicia Keys – Girl on Fire!
    And next up an Australian Classic – Flame Trees by Cold Chisel. More a song about a broken heart than a new love…

    Have a great Monday!

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