PLAYLISTS – Meg Macy
Did I listen to the Beatles a lot in my playlists while writing P.S. I Love You? You bet I did.
Over the winter, during the brutal cold and snow, I caught Heated Rivalry fever. I loved the books as well as the Netflix episodes, reading and watching in the evenings after my daily “output” during writing time. So absolutely, several of HR’s soundtrack songs landed on my playlist. “All The Things She Said” by t.A.T.u. and “It’s You” by Peter Peter. Conan Gray’s “Maniac” which applies to Kyle Kingston, Jack Riley’s ex-lover. Sombr’s “back to friends” for Jules Baxter and Chris Bouchard, along with Doechii’s “Anxiety” which fits for Reese, Jack’s main squeeze.
Many of the songs on my playlist often end up to reflect what’s happening in the plots. For book one of the Love Is Love Series, All You Need Is Love, I relied on listening to Sia’s “Unstoppable” and Teddy Swims’s “Lose Control,” Khalid’s “Heatstroke,” Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” For book 2, Love Me Do, Alex Warren’s “Troubled Waters” came in handy along with “Angel Baby” by Troye Sivan, the Beatles’ “Help“ and Taylor Swift’s “Karma.”
It’s pretty obvious that the titles for the Love Is Love series are “borrowed” (heh, not covered by copyright) from the Beatles. I love listening to their songs, being an early fan (an innocent young child) watching them on the Ed Sullivan Show. My teen sisters were going haywire, although not screaming (Dad must’ve put his foot down on that). All those great love songs by Lennon and McCartney, with great harmonies? I was obsessed. It didn’t take long for me to realize (by the time the Sergeant Pepper’s album came out) that I had a serious crush on Paul McCartney (the cutest, great tenor, a leftie!) That sky-blue uniform! That adorable mustache! I even used the sky-blue and chartreuse green uniforms as costumes in book 2, Love Me Do.
Sad to say Paul married Linda Eastman and grew a beard. Fiiiine, although I’ve never been fond of beards. I also loved Georger Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun” and other songs, of course, but I tended to listen to a wide variety of music. My first concert was *not* the Beatles (they broke up in 1970) but Elton John in 1974. I saw plenty more at Pine Knob when you could sit on the lawn for fifteen bucks, take a picnic basket, jump and dance to the music, etc. I listened to Motown, pop, rock, blues, even gospel — but not country. Sorry, not for me. Jazz, meh. Hard rock? Nah. Too much bubble gum style pop is also not my thing, I prefer lyrics with more than one stanza — although “Wild Thing” and “Louie Louie” are a riot.
So yeah, the Beatles fit the bill and still do. While writing earlier books, I listened to movie soundtracks or classical music until beginning the Love Is Love series. I need pop music that my characters listen to, like Jack’s favorite group Imagine Dragons. My oldest sister loved suns on her mirrors, earrings, garden stakes, etc., so I probably hit on using “Here Comes the Sun” when naming the breakfast café in all the books.
“All You Need Is Love” and “Love Me Do” also worked with the theme of the first two books. When it came time to write book 3, I paused. When I realized my characters would be separated for a while, I decided to use “P.S. I Love You” — and that definitely fit. Jack and Reese exchange memes and GIFs from a distance, so that was fun to set up and describe. I wish I could have used the actual images, but that might have “tested the copyright” waters and I chose not to do that.
I am using the Beatles’ song “All My Loving” for book 4, hopefully coming out late this year or in 2027. I’ve added a few new pop songs to my playlist already, too. But I have to thank Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr for influencing me so heavily in getting this series started. Thanks much, guys!
“With A Little Help From My Friends” indeed.
Meg Macy has a new MM contemporary book out, Love is Love book three: P.S. I Love You.
Jackson Riley and Juliette (aka Jules) Baxter are enmeshed in new situations. Jack fled his latest trauma to act in a rom-com film, taking a break from his relationship with Reese, but now regrets his impulsiveness. His ex-lover Kyle is the least of his problems when odd things happen on set and off.
Jules and Chris are committed to their new love affair and in charge of the breakfast café and a new bakery, but keeping on top of employees and finances is not yet a “piece of cake.” Family problems also plague Jules and Reese, while Jack discovers that acting in a film is totally different than acting on the stage.
Will he ever answer Reese’s barrage of texts and voicemails? Will Reese solve the mystery of Jack’s mysterious past?
Warnings: Past trauma.
About the Series:
In the Love Is Love series, these LGBTQA+ contemporary romance novels explore past hurts, healing, and the vulnerability of gay love and acceptance. Friendship, trust, courage, and resilience unite to combat fear and homophobia in reshaping lives and communities.
Amazon
Life sometimes throws you a curveball out of nowhere. You either react fast and catch it, or you’re blindsided when it smacks you in the head. The latter applies to Jack Riley’s man, for sure. Reese Baxter missed the worst signs of trouble in their relationship.
Jack knows all about those curveballs, too, after surviving on the streets. He shivers after stepping out of the shower and checks the new tattoo on his upper arm. It’s healed, for the most part, but his skin has raised goosebumps. Michigan ain’t that far from Ontario, but damn. It’s fucking cold in Canada. When he first woke, he caught a glimpse of fat snowflakes outside the window against the darkness. Back in Ann Arbor, he wore shorts and a tee in a string of days with upper sixties temperatures. No need for a coat or a hoodie.
“Jesus. I’m gettin’ to be an old man bitchin’ about the damned weather.”
The patio installation at the café must be almost finished for the one year celebration. Jack wouldn’t blame his bestie and co-owner, Jules Baxter, for going ahead without him. Not that he knows what’s happening, since he ain’t answered any anyone’s texts. After packing a suitcase, donning a sweatshirt he stole from Reese, Jack rode with Kyle Kingston to this town in Canada to share an old house with his ex-lover’s friends. At least until they find out where they’re gonna be sent for the film production.
After toweling dry, Jack dons boxer briefs, jeans, a tee shirt, plus a wool and cashmere ice blue hoodie sweater he bought in Vegas. Takes out his makeup kit, adds moisturizer and bronzer. When his phone on the counter buzzes with a text, his hand slips. Cursing under his breath, he ignores the phone and wipes off his ruined eyeliner. Decides to go femboy with shimmery lavender shadow on his eyelids, contour and blush, then uses setting spray. He brushes and styles his hair, applies lip oil. At a loud crash, Jack rushes out of the bathroom.
“What the hell, King! You okay?”
Muffled mumbling reaches his ears. Kyle rises from the floor, hands blindly groping, and slides back under the covers. “Do I look okay? Goddammit,” he grumbles. “You didn’t have to insist on twin beds, Tink.”
“Fuck off. You’re gonna be late if you ain’t got an alarm set.”
He throws a pillow at Jack. “Go fuck yourself. I need more sleep.”
“’Cause you got drunk last night.”
Kyle pulls the covers over his head. Jack chose to ignore everyone last night, since the table read today is stressful enough. Jack kept waking up, the party keeping him from much needed sleep. Deep snores from the other bedrooms reach his ears now. He failed to memorize his dialogue due to the noise. Hope he don’t bomb today. Reese always helped him relax, rubbing his back, huggin’ or kissin’ him. Jack misses seeing his man’s deep blue eyes, dark hair, scruffy jaw, that broad smile. He inserts his earbuds and chooses a playlist.
After tossing his kit on the flimsy bed, Jack heads to the kitchen. Good thing he set the machine up last night to brew at five a.m. Yawning, he fills two paper cups with black coffee. Adds lids to each… Until their production assistant can find a better place, he’s stuck here with actor friends of Kyle’s. Decent guys but total slobs.
Having to share a room is another bone of contention. No way is Jack gonna film all day for two or three months with his ex-lover and deal with him all night, too. He wants privacy to chill on his own. That better happen, or he’s gonna pitch a fuckin’ fit.
But Jack smiles to hear Conan Gray’s song, “Maniac.” Perfect choice, given how he ended up here with Kyle. His ex abandoned him, then turned up again outta the blue. Wantin’ him back, despite Jack bein’ with Reese now. He shoulda never let him get under his skin.
Donning his boots, heavy parka, and gloves, Jack slings his backpack on one shoulder and carries the coffee cups into the cold. His breath steams in the air. He curses when a sip of coffee burns his tongue. It’s a ten minute walk to the table read location, but he ain’t in the mood to wait for Kyle. Too restless, Jack figures the fresh air will help clear his head. And bein’ early might make a good impression on the director.
Whatever that’s worth.
His homesickness keeps getting worse, his misery deep. Jack tramps on. Every step fails to ease his jumpy nerves. Why did he agree to do this film? For the money, of course, helping the café survive. They got so far in the red, Jack worried they’d lose everything. Until Reese stepped up and took over without telling him, renovating a building on the other side of the café’s parking lot into the Sunshine Bakery. That was a smart move. Less than a month after it opened, profits are paying off some of the debt.
But his man stepped over the line, not telling him he paid half the new patio’s cost with Jules. “Too fuckin’ late to quit this rom-com,” Jack says aloud. “I’m an asshole, lettin’ Kyle talk me into it. I should be at the café, not a stupid table read.”
Jack wished he listened to Stevie’s advice before running off. Regret hits him now. He misses Reese, bad. Seeing his man, sharing meals, cuddling after sex and playing with his chest hair, waking early to see him, his cheeks flushed, hair mussed, naked under a sheet. Or without anything covering his muscular shoulders, arms, and ass. Jack loved to watch Reese sleep or wake up, grumpy and silent, until he drinks coffee.
“Dammit. Stop being so fucking stubborn and text him…”
National bestselling author Meg Macy first dreamed of seeing a book with her name on it in the school library. She’s always found comfort, adventure, and connection in books—which might explain why she now writes stories that offer all three.
Meg writes LGBTQIA+ romance with a touch of spice, intrigue, and plenty of emotional payoff in the LOVE IS LOVE series. M/M romance and M/F polyamory, her stories are comfort reads with a twist. She’s also written cozy mysteries for Kensington, the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear series, and is one half of the D.E. Ireland team for the Agatha-Award nominated historical mysteries featuring Eliza Doolittle & Henry Higgins.
She lives with her writing companion, Mr. Whiskers the cat, and prefers pages to parties.
Author Website: http://www.megmacy.com
Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/authormegmacy/
Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/MegMacyAuthor
Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meg.macy.author/
Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15751255.Meg_Macy
Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/meg-macy/
Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Meg-Macy/author/B01N3KTK1N
