Me:
I’m super excited that Stacey Kade has stopped by Magical Urban Fantasy Reads during her The Rules tour and I’m thrilled for this guest post! So let me introduce you to Stacey Kade!
Stacey:
I love making playlists! There’s nothing like the shiver of delight I get when I hear a song that has a phrase or just a sound that perfectly matches a scene I’m working on or an emotion I’m trying to convey.
The songs below are some of the songs that were on my playlist for writing The Rules. Some of them spoke to me because of the lyrics; others were added because of the general idea or emotion they evoked.
Often they make me think of a specific chapter or scene in the book. So, I’m going to try to share that with you…without spoilers! If you haven’t read the book yet, you’ll probably be a little like, “Huh?” But then when you read it, it’ll all make sense! :D
Homecoming by Hey Monday
Chapter 1, scene 2
Explanation: You may have heard the phrase “trouble comes home to roost.” That’s what this song makes me think of. In this scene, we see Ariane confronting Rachel Jacobs, the granddaughter of her creator (Dr. Jacobs at GTX). GTX made Ariane to be a weapon and we see those abilities actually jeopardizing Jacobs’s granddaughter (not that she realizes the true source or nature of the threat.) Trouble always comes home to roost. :)
I Feel Like Dancin’ by All Time Low
Chapter 2
Explanation: This scene with Zane at Rachel’s pool is the first one that popped into my head for this story. And even though Zane is not dancing in that scene, he is rebelling in his own small way already by enjoying the fact that Ariane managed to throw Rachel off her game.
King Of Anything by Sara Bareilles
“You’re so busy making maps, with my name on them in all caps. You’ve got the talking down, just not the listening.”
Chapters 3 and 4
Explanation: Ariane and Zane are, in many ways, trapped by expectations and rules that are not of their own making.
Perfect by Marianas Trench
“What you want, what you need has been killing me.
Try to be everything that you want me to be.
I’ll say yes, I’ll undress, I’ve done more for less.
Now I’ll change everything till it’s perfect again.”
Chapter 4, scene 1
Explanation: Zane will never be good enough for his dad. And yet, he can’t seem to stop trying or stop being bothered by the fact that his father has this opinion.
About the Book
1. Never trust anyone.
2. Remember they are always searching.
3. Don’t get involved.
4. Keep your head down.
5. Don’t fall in love.
Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans, to hide in plain sight from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.” But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules.
About the Author
As a former award-winning corporate copywriter, Stacey Kade has written about everything from backhoe loaders to breast pumps. But she prefers to make things up instead. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, Greg, and their two retired racing greyhounds, Tall Walker (Walker) and SheWearsThePants (Pansy). More information about The Rules and Stacey can be found online at StaceyKade.com. She is also on Twitter @StaceyKade and on Facebook.
