2015 A to Z Challenge: Pianissimo - Day 14 (N)

For the third consecutive year, I am participating in the A to Z blog challenge.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

This year, we're going to go through my latest full-length novel, Pianissimo.

Two weeks in, and we are up to the letter N. N is for night. I'm actually going to talk about how time of day or night plays an important role in the story.

There are a few really good - and very important - nocturnal scenes.  

In one such scene, we are introduced to Agnes as just the vision of a woman's silhouette in the darkness of night. This scene originates as one of Corinne's dreams, but we revisit and relive it later on in the story.

In another, we see the story take a tremendous turn the night of the school's holiday party. Agnes and Margaret walk out one evening to make an appearance at the holiday party. Still seen as an unusual pair of single friends, Agnes feels the need to go to keep in the good graces of the powers that be in their school district. They plan it being a short visit, and it is exactly that when Clarence decides to speak to Margaret. In this scene, not only are we introduced to Clarence, we see the story take a sudden, dark turn.

There's also the very powerful scene of Agnes and Margaret leaving the movie theatre hand-in-hand, when they are confronted by an unknown man. With all of Agnes's strength and wit, she cuts him down to size by telling him that she has poor night vision, and that is why she is holding Margaret's hand. What's interesting is that this scene is the only time when Agnes' vision is discussed. Does she truly have poor night vision, or was that simply a lie to get that man away from them? What do you think?

Just as we deeply ponder the meanings of the people and events in our lives in the darkness of night, I will leave you to contemplate those thoughts and questions.

Indeed, N is for night.

http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420832795&sr=8-2&keywords=lauren+shiro

It's Official!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good morning, dear readers!



Today, I have some VERY big news.

You want to hear what it is?


You do?!


Awesome!



Here it is...

Pianissimo is officially released!!!!!

That's right! My new paranormal story is out!!!! 

Want it in an e-book? You got it!
http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro-ebook/dp/B00OEOTZMC/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1413507406

Want it in print? No problem!
http://www.amazon.com/Pianissimo-Lauren-Shiro/dp/0692310819/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413507406&sr=8-1&keywords=lauren+shiro

Darryl and Corinne Richards purchase their first house. With Darryl’s army career coming to a close, they feel ready to settle down in Louisville, Kentucky. With impeccable timing, Darryl is sent on one final tour, leaving Corinne to live in this new house and new city alone.

Overwhelmed, Corinne becomes reclusive, living a quiet, boring life with her cats as she adjusts to her new surroundings. The problem is: someone or some thing does not want her life to be either quiet or boring. And then there’s the creepy piano in the basement…

There is more to that creepy, dilapidated piano and her new home than Corinne could ever imagine. Through highs and lows, twists and turns, she begins to understand that even the most softly played music is powerful – and that even soft realizations and quietly subtle changes can have a profound effect.

Get your copy today!

Happy reading!

My Dark Side

There are a few people and things (movies, music, etc.) that I adore. I typically like books, people, music, things, etc. However, there are a few to which I am absolutely attached.

In no particular order:
-Alfred Hitchcock
-Edgar Allen Poe
-Rammstein
-Seven Pounds

#1 - Alfred Hitchcock.

I love Alfred Hitchcock. I grew up watching his movies and his show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Why do I love him? His originality and creativity. It takes an amazing mind to come up with a story of a woman killing her husband with a frozen leg of lamb, and then cooking it and feeding it to the police officers who have come to investigate her house. All of his movies and shows were really quite unique. Dark? Absolutely! But clever and original. It is because of that originality that I am the fan that I am.


#2 - Edgar Allen Poe.

Loved for the same reasons as Hitchcock. Originality and creativity. The Tell Tale Heart is one of my all time favorites. The emotions are so potent and even palpable. I can easily experience the stress and fear of the main character. My heart rate jumps up with his. I can hear the voices that he hears in his head. Again, very dark. But his creativity and originality has never been duplicated.


#3 - Rammstein.

Rammstein is a German heavy metal/industrial band. I have been listening to them since 1998. I adore their music. I have watched them grow in their music and talent. It really is quite impressive. Just as Alfred Hitchcock could be spotted at any point in any of his movies, Rammstein always makes an appearance somehow/someway in all of my stories. Why? Because of what their music represents. They can be dark and possibly inspire "badness" as they do with Tony in Unbreakable Hostage. Or, their music can reflect your feelings as they do with Carol in Impeccable. Or, they can be a release and even a creative inspiration as they are for Liz in Loving Her. Their original sound and amazing stories in their music are unmatched. And for that, I love them.


#4 - Seven Pounds.

Undoubtedly one of the best movies ever. The story is nothing short of amazing. It is beautiful. I own the DVD. One of the features is, of course, interviews with the writer, producer, etc. The writer speaks of meeting a man who accidentally killed several people. He says that the man was "the saddest person" he had ever met. And he used that to write one of the most incredible stories. I don't watch movies for their writing. Like most people, I can easily pick up on bad writing. But this movie caught my attention for the exact opposite reason. This was one the best written movies I have ever seen. I would LOVE to meet the man who wrote it. His level is one that I aspire to. I may never get there, but he is a tremendous source of inspiration for me.


Yes, these are all dark sources of inspiration. Which is actually quite comical, because if you've ever met me, you would know that I am anything but dark. The originality of all of them is really what keeps me going. In a world of constant remakes and poorly written "reality" shows, these people stand out. They are creative and they are true to themselves. I applaud them, I envy them and I use them as guides. Their inspiration and creativity is my inspiration and creativity.


Everyone has a dark side. This is mine. But at least I'm using it to write my own original, unique stories. What does your dark side say about you? ;)