Friday, August 24, 2007

Never doubt, never fear


Have you met Maxwell “Mack” McKnight? Named for two favorite singers – Maxwell and Brian McKnight – he’s the leading man in Where Souls Collide. As you read the book, you’ll notice the music strewn throughout. Whether en route to work, chiming from cell phones or accompanying love scenes, tunes abound.

Not so much during the writing phase, but definitely as I revised, I surrounded myself with what I deemed the soundtrack of this story. There were songs that seemed to define each character and set the mood I wanted to maintain throughout the novel. For Maxwell and Mack, that song is “For You to Love” by Luther VanDross.

I heard the song on my way to work a few days ago. Every time I hear Luther croon, “I came here. . .through a hurricane. . .never doubt, never fear. . .honey, it’s you I love,” I think of Maxwell’s relentless pursuit of Navena and Mack’s undying love for Vee. That a man would journey across the country – even through time and space – to have the woman his soul yearns for melts my heart. And hopefully yours, too.

After all, who wouldn’t want to be loved like that?