Finding the Melody in My Story

Music has always been a huge part of my life. I’ve been a professional singer since high school – and I’m still going strong. Writing romance novels infused with anything music-related or about life on the road comes easy to me because of my experience.

When I was a newlywed (way back when), my new musician husband and I threw caution to the wind and moved to Nashville to try and break into the country music world. This was during our first year of marriage – yikes!

Looking back, I can honestly say it was one of the scariest times of my life, but also one of the most rewarding. We were a duo, not only in our new marriage, but in our career in the Music City. We played all the seedy bars, honkytonks, and hotels. I hated those places, but was rewarded when we were chosen to play at the famous Bluebird Café more than once showcasing our original music. There were highs and lows as we navigated the music business, independent labels, and the institution of marriage.

We were signed to an indie label. We recorded songs with Garth Brook’s band in a famous music studio.  We heard one of our songs on AM radio. Talk about a thrill! We were decked out in hats and silver, black denim and boots. We won an award. We wrote many, many songs together. We went on the road touring for five years. Yes, five years on the road. We gained a following. People threw napkins up on stage with requests for our songs!

But it didn’t happen for us.

Fast forward to three grown sons, a mortgage, and many boring day jobs later, and I feel like we’ve come full circle. You see, my latest novel is about a Nashville songwriter named Georgia Clay. Of course, I had to have an original song in the story that Clay sings to his love interest, Katie Parker! I had the lyrics, but I couldn’t find the melody.

But I knew a guy.

I asked my husband of twenty-seven years to help me out with a melody to my song. We hadn’t played original music together in a very long time. He dusted off his worn acoustic guitar and enthusiastically went to work. It felt like we had gone back in time creating this song together, just like the old days. I was Bernie Taupin to his Elton John.
 
It was magical and I was blown away by his enthusiasm and his support – not to mention, his incredible talent! Writing this song with him has been a cathartic and healing experience after all the years of just trying to get by in this thing called, life.

We became a duo again – I had reunited with my melody.

This song started out as part of a romance novel and has turned into a much bigger romance in my personal life. And for that, I am grateful.

I’m truly blessed to have a duo partner who supports me, and believes in what I’m doing. Our song might not mean that much to you, (other than it being a part of my latest book) and you may loathe country music. But that’s okay. Now you know what is behind the music and what it means to me.  To us.

Thank you for the music.

KG
xoxo

Link to original song,
“What Would Happen If” - http://www.kgfletcherauthor.com/songs--cabaret.html

From the new series,
Georgia Clay ~ Southern Promises ~ Book One - https://goo.gl/WM3MmH
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