A warm welcome to author F.E Feeley Jr. joining us today to talk about the re elease of his novel ”
F.E talks about music and he brought a giveaway for our readers to enter!
Welcome F.E 🙂
Left a good job in the city….
Workin’ for the man every night and day…
And I never lost one minute of sleepin’…
Worryin’ bout the way things might have been..
Big wheel keep on turnin’
Proud Mary keep on burnin’
Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’ on a river!
Music, to my life, my being, is like oxygen. I constantly have music playing around me. Or, I am singing in my head or – hahaha- in the shower. Whether it’s Tina Turner (whom I adore), Elton John, George Michael, Bon Jovi, Heart, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles….
Kathy Mattea once sang, “When you don’t have a friend, listen to the radio….”
And there the music always is.
It’s the same in my writing. I always have music on. Not to drown out the voice in my head – but to put creativity in motion.
To inspire.
If there is a certain era that I am writing about – I’ll seek that music out as well.
I was very fortunate growing up to have two sisters, Dee and Sam, who had varying music tastes and I was exposed to the best.
From Prince to The Judds, my early life was soaked in music and I’ve taken that music forward with me through my life.
As a writer, I find lyrics to be essential to a good song. Above a great guitar riff, a great beat, there must be – at least for me – a great message. A story.
One of the greatest musical storytellers is Reba. I mean, The Night the lights went out in Georgia? Come on.
Another great Storyteller is Meatloaf whose song Objects in the Rearview Mirror inspired my second book.
Great art has the gift of transporting us out of ourselves and into the art itself and those I’ve listed have always managed to do that.
They also have a way of generating a feeling or triggering a memory.
Trisha Yearwood – another of Country Music’s greats, sang “When the world has forgotten all about us, the song remembers when.”
Art remembers.
It knows.
Art is also called ‘The Humanities’.
And sometimes we need art and artists to remind us who and what we are. And sometimes we need the artist to jump in and remind us what our truth is, like Meryl Streep did the other night at The Golden Globes.
In this season of tilting and tumbling book publishers, scam artists, rip off sales, piracy, and so forth – its important now more than ever to grab onto the truth of who we are and hang on. Without art- without music – without the written word, we’d be lost.
So, should you find yourself a little morose, maybe a little sad, maybe a little hopeless. Turn on the radio. After all, who can be sad when Tina Turner sings Proud Mary?
Who is your favorite artist? Answer for a chance to win a free eBook from my back catalogue.
Release Date: Jan 9, 2017
Blurb:
2nd Edition
Memoirs of the Human Wraiths
While recovering from the recent loss of his parents, Daniel Donnelly receives a phone call from his estranged aunt, who turns over control of the family fortune and estate, Timber Manor. Though his father had seemed guarded about the past, Daniel’s curiosity and need for family compel him to visit.
Located in a secluded area of the Northwest, Timber Manor has grown silent over the years. Her halls sit empty and a thin layer of dust adorns the sheet-covered furniture. When Daniel arrives to begin repairs, strange things happen. Nightmares haunt his dreams. Memories not his own disturb his waking hours. Alive with the tragedies of the past, Timber Manor threatens to tear Daniel apart.
Sheriff Hale Davis grew up working on the manor grounds. Seeing Daniel struggle, he vows to protect the young man who has captured his heart, and help him solve the mystery behind the haunting and confront the past—not only to save Daniel’s life, but to save his family, whose very souls hang in the balance.
First Edition published by Dreamspinner Press, 2012.
Buy Links:
F.E. Feeley Jr was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and lived there for twenty years before joining the military. He is a veteran of the US Armed Services; having done a tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2002-2003, he turned college student, pursuing a degree in political science. He now lives in Southeast Texas where he is married to the love of his life, John, and where they live with their five-year-old German Shepherd, Kaiser.
As a young man, reading took center stage in his life, especially those novels about ghosts, witches, goblins, and all the other things that went bump in the night. His favorite authors include such writers as Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Anne Rice, whose work allowed him to travel to far off places and meet fascinating and scary characters. As a gay man, he wishes to be able to write good fictional literature for those who love the genre and to write characters that readers can relate to. All in all, he is a cigarette smokin’, whiskey drinkin’, rock and roll lovin’, tattoo wearin’ dreamer of a man with a wonderful husband who puts up with his crap and lets him write his stories.
I have many artists I like to listen to. But among your favorites Meatloaf is one of them. If only to bring back memories of my younger days. Paradise by the Dashboard Light was The #1 hit in the days.
Well, I remember every little thing as if it happened only yesterday! PArkin by the lake and there was not another car in sight…and I never had a girl lookin’ any better than you did! and All the kids at school they were wishin’ they were me that night!!!
Great SONG!
Art encompasses many things. I think my favorite are writers who can bring to life so many things in my head. I have many favorites but every time I make a list, I forget someone and I feel bad.
LOL!!! I FEEL YA! Naming names sometimes backfires lol lol
Favorite artist? Hmm, I always have trouble when asked about favorites of mine. Other than authors, I love comedian and musicians; their work bring and fill me with mixed of emotions and coud have laugh, sing along or even cry.
Amen. Art touches us all in many ways. I remember watching Brothers and Sisters and it was the episode where the youngest child remembers his decision to go into the Army. It was a 9/11 episode. And as soon as the credits rolled – I sobbed. I wept, hard, because I related so much to that moment in time.
Admittedly I’m not very knowledgeable about the arts. The only two artists that I’m familiar with at all are Norman Rockwell and Thomas Kinkade. I love their work though!
bealarocks67@gmail.com
They both were very beautiful artists. My sister sam actually took a trip to Gatlinburg to go and purchase one of his works.
I can’t really pick a favorite, but for real comfort I turn to Jane Austen or EM Forster – either reading their books or watching movies made from their books.
jen(dot)f(at)mac(dot)com
My husband LOVES Jane Austin. LOVES HER. As a matter of fact, if a work is not serendipitous he doesn’t like it. He’s a huge fan.
I loved that Robert Rauschenberg worked in dance as well as fine art, and his mixed-media work was so cool!
I just had to google who that was. Thanks for commenting. Now I have someone to research! Very cool. I love that.
I’m a huge fan of Kyle Landry and have been for a while. I think the way he plays the piano is unique. Even if I hear the same piece by another artist I can always discern the difference. In general I found a few good people on YT and Twitch and I’m always happy to support them, when they are releasing a new album and I can afford it. To me art means that whatever it is touches me on some level.
I love this! This is the second person I had to look up! LOL. That’s awesome.
Jim Brickman and Jim Steinman are a lot like what you described. Their style speaks so loudly that you know immediately who they are. There’s something comforting in the familiarity of it, isn’t there?
And supporting up and coming artists says to me, you are the future.
I love Meatloaf as well, I think he’s a great storyteller. Do you remember I Would Do Anything for Love? The stories I created in my mind when listening to that song… I think I’m going to listen to it again now 😉
Bat out of Hell 2: Back into hell was my very first CD that I owned as a kid. Meat has a very special place in my heart. I named my second book after Objects in the Rearview Mirror so I totally understand the images he provokes.
Favourites depend on mood and time – at the moment Imagine Dragons are high on our play list, but ones that used to get me on the dance floor were Roxy Music/Bryan Ferry, Eddy Grant, Amy Grant. And I grew up listening to Elvis and the Beatles!!
My tastes fluctuate as well. You know what’s even funnier. They’re seasonal. For instance, Spring and summer- I love more pop style songs or stuff that makes you want to just take a long trip. Like, Road trip.
In the fall, my music tends toward Rock and Roll. Fleetwood mac, the eagles, Imagine Dragons, Matchbox 20, Foreigner, Journey, Bad Company, and so on.
In the winter, I get really kind of reflective. So it slows down to things like Sarah Mclachlan, Justin Jones, of course Christmas Music, some country, anything that feels like I am gazing back on the year before.
So. I totally feel ya on Elvis and The beatles.
I wouldn’t say I have a favorite artist since I have a tendency to get tired of songs so quickly. The song I’m listening to and like currently is Life goes on by Fergie.
Right on. I’m listening to this now. I like the mild tempo. She’s got a great voice. it reminds me of summertime. A great summertime jam for me is this:
Congrats and thanks for the post. I have a number of favorites, but since you brought up my fav actress of all time, I’ll take the easy out and say Meryl. Not only was her lifetime achievement award well deserved, but even tho I don’t cotton to political acceptance speeches, hers has to be one of the best I’ve heard.
My favorite would depend on the time & the mood. Sometimes I’m in the mood for classical, sometimes rock, or country. I’ve always enjoyed listening to George Winston. Similar in style I think to maybe Jim Brickman.