Today I am so pleased to welcome Annabeth Albert to Joyfully Jay. Annabeth has come to talk to us about her latest release, Connection Error (which I reviewed here and loved). She has also brought along…. Please join me in giving her a big welcome!

Connection Error Blog Tour Banner

Finding the Theme Song

Thanks so much for having me! I’m so excited to celebrate the release of CONNECTION ERROR, which stars a computer game programmer and an injured Navy SEAL. Writing and selling books is a weird business. I plotted Connection Error almost a year before I was able to start drafting it, but as I worked on other books, snippets of this book kept creeping in. Josiah and Ryan couldn’t wait to be written. And I dealt with my impatience by working on their playlist.

Connection Error Promo GraphicFinding the right music for a book is a huge part of my writing process, and every book has one or two “touchstone” songs that can immediately take me into that universe and connect me to the story. The journey to finding the Connection Error theme song was a bit more circuitous than some, partly because these heroes kept surprising me with their depth and complexity.

I started the plotting process with Pink’s “Beam Me Up” on repeat, and it seemed to speak to Ryan’s journey of moving on after a loss, something he has suffered on multiple levels. But while this song stayed firmly on the playlist, I kept feeling a bit “off,” like the theme song wasn’t a perfect fit yet. I spent a lot of time with Coldplay’s “Fix You,” which speaks to how both heroes need someone in their life who they can count on. Then as I got deeper into the story, Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” seemed to fit the future I envisioned for the pair. Jason Myles Goss’s “Hospital Shirt” spoke to the darker parts of Ryan’s physical journey, and I listened to it a lot during his harder moments, but I was still searching for THE song, the one that would be forever linked with this story for me.

Enter Charlie Puth’s “One Call Away.” BOOM. Theme song. This song speaks to what Ryan wants to be for Josiah, what their calls and emails come to mean to each other, and who, ultimately, Josiah gets to be for Ryan too. Ryan’s tried so hard to be Superman that he’s forgotten that it’s okay to be the one who needs help too. Even now, I can’t hear the song without thinking of the two of them.

If you’d like to hear the full playlist, be sure to check out my spotify account which is full of playlists for all my books, including my works-in-progress! And I hope you enjoy Connection Error! What’s your personal theme song?


Blurb

Connection ErrorIt’s typical of video game programmer Josiah Simmons to be the last one on the plane on the way to the biggest meeting of his career. Though he’s (mostly) coping with his ADHD, he can’t handle another distraction. But he also can’t ignore his rugged seatmate—especially once he learns the military man’s a fan of his game.

Ryan Orson refuses to let his severe injuries pause his career as a navy SEAL. He’s got hours of grueling physical therapy ahead of him, and no time for anything that might get in the way of his return to active duty. But that doesn’t mean he’s above a little first-class flirtation with geeky-cute Josiah.

When a delay strands the pair in St. Louis, they agree to share a hotel room and a night of gaming. Neither expects their new connection to move to the next level in the light of day. Opposites may attract, but is this game over before it’s even begun?

Book Three of the #gaymers series


Bio

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter.  In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two children.

Represented by Saritza Hernandez of the Corvisiero Literary Agency


Giveaway

Annabeth has brought a $20 Amazon gift card to give away to one lucky reader on her tour. Just follow the Rafflecopter below to enter. 

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