Sidelined Afterlife: Guest Post and Giveaway

Behind the Book: The Music That Inspired SIDELINED AFTERLIFE
Thanks very much for having me on Close Encounters with the Night Kind today. What a fun place to visit!
The holidays are such a busy time of year, and it seems like we’re always running somewhere, hurrying to do something, or falling behind. So today, I’d like to share some fun music. Sidelined Afterlife, my latest book, released this week, and the playlist I used while writing different scenes in this book includes some songs and artists I had never heard of before. Each song helped me create a vision of what would happen in a particular scene.
Hope you have fun listening to the tunes!
Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain) by Gary Allan Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q3LEadIk3w  Why I used this song: There’s a thunderstorm during the first scene of Sidelined Afterlife, and I wanted to set the tone that, although things were stormy, they would eventually be okay. Kind of my theory about life, too! 

I’m Not Okay (I Promise) by My Chemical Romance Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRFhNZNu_xw  Why I used this song: This song is not my usual taste at all. But really, I didn’t pick it…heroine Veronica did. She’s pretty good at hiding her emotions, so I listened to this song a lot before/during writing a lot of her songs.
Wrap My Mind Around You by Trent Dabbs Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPyYP_z521E  Why I used this song: Hunter, the hero of Sidelined Afterlife, needs Veronica’s help. But he cannot understand her at all. Guess he’s going to need to get to know her better, right? This song helped me get in Hunter’s head…his confusion about figuring out Veronica. And his feelings for her.
Only Happy When It Rains by Garbage Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esEdC0c3YI4  Why I used this song: Ha! Another rain song. Are you sensing a theme here? LOL. Veronica is…well, for lack of a better word, pissed when the story begins. She truly believes she is happiest when she’s in pain because she’s had so many tough times. 

Come to Life by Trent Dabbs Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlzR9zUTqQQ  Why I used this song: This is Hunter’s song. He’s realizing he’s in love, and needs Veronica to see it, too. This was the perfect song to listen to while I wrote the scenes where they were fighting their feelings for each other. It literally has the words “ticking clock” in it, too. And there’s a ticking clock they’re racing against when they need to help a ghost cross over into the next world. Cool, huh? 
You Make It Real by James Morrison  Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRxccy-zcJ8  Why I used this song: This is another song I used for Hunter’s scenes. He sees that she is the woman for him, but he hasn’t convinced her yet. He wants to tell her how he feels, but can’t quite open up to her. But if you listen to this song, you’ll know how he feels.
Make It Without You by Andrew Belle Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TICJw1NEWaM  Why I used this song: Uh oh. Sad song alert!! I listened to this song over and over again to understand how Veronica and Hunter feel when they think they won’t be able to be together. The black moment when they think they’re better off without each other.
Stubborn Lover by Sugar and the Hi Lows Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8T5FM_dz6k  Why I used this song: Yay, a happy song! They’re together! They’re happy! They’re having fun and I dare you to listen to this song and not sing along to the chorus. LOL. 
Thanks very much for coming along for a tour of my playlist. Here’s hoping you enjoy reading about Veronica and Hunter in Sidelined Afterlife. Veronica Matthews hates her psychic-medium "gift" of being able to communicate with ghosts and dying people. All it's ever brought her is pain and grief. When her neighbor Hunter Anderson, an ER doctor, realizes her talent, he begs her to help get rid of the ghost that’s been haunting him for two years and endangering his job. She’s torn—her need to help the attractive man who saves peoples’ lives wars with her guilt over not being about to lead police to crime victims until they were already dead. She agrees to help Hunter. They soon find out the ghost is likely to turn dangerous if he doesn’t cross over to the next world in the coming weeks.
After losing his wife in a tragic accident, Hunter's only solace is his work. The ghost that haunts him jeopardizes the one thing he cares about. But spending time with Veronica, getting to know her passionate lips and sassy attitude, gives him something new to care about.
She can't risk her heart... he’s afraid to love and lose again. Can a ghost help them break through a barrier of mistrust and guilt?

Excerpt:

   “I am an idiot. The biggest idiot ever. If you want me to pierce something for you, to prove I’m an idiot, I have some sterilized instruments upstairs in my apartment.” 

   Her tongue poked against her cheek, signaling a laugh that wanted to erupt. Suddenly, he really wanted to be the one who could make her laugh. “Maybe I could do your lower lip?”

   Her short laugh erupted. A sweet, melodic sound that filled the small apartment.

   His gaze stayed on that full mouth and he lifted his fingers closer, compelled to touch her.      She stared at him with wide eyes as he traced the corner of her mouth lightly with his finger. 

   “I’m a liar. I could never tarnish something as beautiful as this.”

Christ. What a line. Where had those words come from? But he meant it.

   Her breath was hot against his finger as he traced the line of her lower lip. Her gaze held his. His stomach growled again, breaking the spell, and she blinked and leaned against the sofa.

   “You know what? We never had dessert,” she said.

He had room for dessert. But not the food kind. He swallowed to quell his appetite for her. “Uh…how about I make an ice cream run? Then we’ll get to work.” Enough of this temptation. He needed to get away from her, from this pull she had on his body and emotions.

Purchase links for SIDELINED AFTERLIFE:

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Author Bio: Joya Fields has had over 100 stories and articles published in local and national magazines. Her debut novel, a romantic suspense, was a NJRW GOLDEN LEAF WINNER FOR BEST FIRST BOOK OF 2012 and was nominated for RT Book Reviews 2012 Indie Press/Self-Published Contemporary Romance award. She's since released three more books.      Over the years, Joya has taught arts and crafts, worked in public relations, owned a daycare center, helped her children raise prize-winning 4-H livestock, competed in three marathons, and even spent a year as a Baltimore Colts cheerleader. Joya loves spending time with her high school sweetheart/husband of over twenty-five years, two very supportive children, and a pug who follows her everywhere. www.joyafields.com

Find Joya: Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=joya+fields  Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5395700.Joya_Fields  Twitter: @joyafields Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/JoyaFieldsAuthor 

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