Title: Alter Ego
Author : Meredith Russell
Book 1 in the Knowles Brook Series
Publisher : Love Lane Books
Length: 52,500 words
Blurb:
Jay James is the confident, outgoing, flirtatious, lead guitarist of a 70s tribute band. But appearances can be deceiving. Jay James isn’t real. ‘Jay’ was born out of necessity and a way for James Hall to deal with life at home after coming out. James is shy and awkward, and can’t escape the shadow of his strained relationship with his mother. As ‘Jay’, James feels indestructible, like nothing can touch him, and he can have any man he wants. But is that really enough?
Danny Ashton is stuck, or at least that’s how he feels sometimes. Five years ago, he dropped out of university to look after his sick mother. He was never prepared for the hand he was dealt—a house to run, bills to pay, and a teenage brother to support.
Together, Danny and James realise ignoring their problems will solve nothing, and if they are to stand any chance of happiness and living as the men they want to be, then they need to move forward. Can the two men face their demons? Or will they end up pushing one another away?
The music
My character James Hall is a member of a band that shares its name with the title of the book, Alter Ego. They are a Seventies glam rock tribute act who have a handful of scenes throughout the book. My own love for the era of music comes mostly from my musically talented father. It was his decade of leaving his late teens and moving into his 20s and also when he formed his first band. He introduced me and my brother to British artists like Sweet, Slade, T-rex, Mott the Hoppe, Bay City Rollers, Mud, David Essex, and Status Quo to name a few from Alter Ego’s and my dad’s set lists.
Being able to give a nod to the music I was brought up on throughout the story was fun to do and it gave me a great soundtrack to listen to as I was writing. A little like my character James, it was great to lose myself in the music and inspired me in the telling of James’s and Danny’s story.
What kind of music did your parents listen to when you grew up?
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“Are you awake?”
James opened his eyes as his bedroom door opened. Lifting his head, he stared through the dim light at his mother. “Erm, yeah, I guess. What’s up?”
The mattress dipped as she sat down beside him. She pulled back the duvet, and the expression she wore at the sight of him exuded disappointment. “When did you get in?”
To lie or not to lie. “Not long. I stayed with a friend.”
“Clare?”
“No,” James said slowly.
His mother nodded knowingly and screwed up her mouth disapprovingly. “Are you okay to drive?”
James hesitated and his mother sighed. “I’ll be okay in a bit,” he said quickly. “Some water, a couple of paracetamol, and a bacon sandwich and I’ll be good to go.”
“I’ll get your father to drive you,” she said, leaving no room for him to argue. Though in all honesty, he knew it would take more than bacon to get him back below the legal limit. She got to her feet. “Be downstairs in half an hour.” And with that, she left.
James rolled onto his back. He eyed the sweeping lines of the stippled ceiling as guilt settled in his stomach. At nine last night he still remembered his duties for today, however, several pints of lager later, he had clean forgot he was supposed to be heading to the garden centre before lunch. Blowing out a breath, he sat up and rubbed at his face. Ah, there it was. The hangover had landed. It was only a two on a scale of ten, but drunkenness had still made way for a brewing headache and a queasy sting at the back of his throat. With a muted whine, he pushed the covers back and negotiated his light-headedness and the sheet tangled around his feet to stand up. God, now he felt sick. A tactical chunder might be on the cards to make him feel better, and yet, he really, really didn’t want to be sick. Throwing up had to be one of the worst feelings ever. All that heaving and straining. Groaning, he shuffled to the bathroom. He had thirty minutes to make himself look presentable—he shut the door—starting now.
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Seventies!!!
Unfortunately, my parents and I had very different musical tastes. I started listening to classic rock bands in the seventies and eighties,,,Aerosmith, Queen, AC/DC, Ozzy, Styx, Kiss, Peter Frampton, Van Halen 🙂
I do not remember my parents listening to any music. I though am a 70s fan.
Seventies!!! bands from the UK were Slade, Mud, T-Rex can’t think of anymore at the moment.
ShirleyAnn(at)speakman40(dot)freeserve(dot)co(dot)uk
Eighties!! I was born and raised with Queen!! Freddie Mercury’s voice has been with me for 34 years, now!!
I was a teen in the 80s so those are the years that resonate.
I love music from all those eras,there really isn’t one that I’d choose over the others.
My mom was a metal head. Of course, she loved Kiss and 38 Special, but her favorite band at the time was Black Sabbath. Her current favorite band is Disturbed- she’s 62 years old 🙂 This was great for my brother and I as she took us to our first show, Pantera, when I was like 12. Now my brother and I tend to prefer music heavier than my mom does, but still.. she loves Disturbed and Korn, and frankly I think that’s awesome. She is still in love with Paul Stanley however, I don’t think that will ever go away!
I grew up with my Dad listening to Elvis Presley and the Beatles but also Led Zeppelin and Three Dog Night. My bands as a teenager trended more towards Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, the Smiths, Housemartins.
Thanks for the post and giveaway!
I really love old-school glam, too (that and power-pop, though I prefer the harder-edged versions like Sloan and Redd Kross). My dad loved Hank Williams (we used to always hide his tapes if we were going to be in the car with him for any length of time), and my mom’s always loved Broadway music and the Beach Boys…
My decade covered the late ’80s and the early ’90s.
Born in the 60’s so 70’s was the music was really aware off – did see Mud live once! My Mum was a big Elvis and Beatles fan, so lots of their records – and my Dad used to play The Goon Show LPs!
I am an 80s music fan all the way.
Seventies and eighties music.
I am not really sure, as I grew around classical music, opera, jazz, blues, some classical rock, but did not pay particular attention to the pop music of the era’s I passed threw growing up. I think I enjoyed listening to certain groups, like Queen, but their music is pretty timeless?
I was born in the seventies. I love classic rock and metal…so I guess I’m a little 70’s and 80’s mixed.
MY most formative years was during the 70’s – Eagles, 38 Special, Boston, Steve Miller Band. Jackson Brown – you know…the oldies 🙂
Grew up through the 90’s and definitly like the grunge music
I was born in the 80’s. I like all type of music from all periods but from time to time I get the urge to listen to motown and stuff from the 80’s.
A like a little from each decade I guess. My grandma loved Frank Sinatra, my mum liked The Beatles and my dad was a fan of Led Zeppelin when he was young.
70’s & 80’s. My first concert in the late 70’s was Styx. Also liked the Eagles, Queen, Jackson Browne (My ringtone is Running On Empty), Little River Band, Fleetwood Mac, Chicago, Bee Gees, Billy Joel etc…
A 80’s child.. Poison
80’s – 90’s. LOL…cuz… you know, I wasn’t actually aware of the music around me until I was old enough which was well into the 90’s. being born in ’89. ;P
Blast from the past… ahh.. that’s hard… Hmm.. I think I would have to go with… probably No Doubt or… maybe even Incubus. Incubus.. I loved their earlier stuff. 😀
I’m a nineties child, but growing up I listened to fifties music. It was before my parents’ times as well, but it’s some good stuff!
I’m a late 80s and 90s kid. I grew up listening to Joan Jett, Garth Brooks and New Kids on the Block.