GUEST POST: Tripped Up Love by Julie Farley

Welcome to the IFB stop on the Julie Farley Tripped Up Love Blog Tour, hosted by Irresistible Reads Tours. Check out Julie's guest post & playlist below:

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Heather Meadows lost the only love she’s ever known. Her perfect, yet ordinary life was turned upside down the day her 38-year-old husband died. Her happily ever after was gone in the blink of an eye. Heather’s life becomes the subject of scrutiny and pity as she tries to pick up the pieces of her shattered world and raise her three children on her own. In the midst of suburbia and gossipy neighbors, Heather tries to re-build a normal life. Little does she know she’s about to trip into a new adventure. An adventure she could never have imagined. Where will her misstep take her and how will Heather handle the prying eyes of those around her?

Released: May 8th 2013
Purchase: Amazon

Inspiration + Soundtrack

Last summer, I devoured romance novels.  I would get all four of my kids to sleep and stay up to all hours reading a book that I had downloaded onto my iPad.  I was obsessed and it was a vicious cycle, I would buy a book, stay up late and read it and then wake up with the kids much too early and have to power through my days with Starbucks.  I discovered so many great books and authors; Colleen Hoover, Jennifer Probst, Tammara Webber, Jamie McGuire, Tara Sivec, Jessica Park….and the list goes on and on.

After reading all of them I wanted to try my hand at writing a romance for people my age…40-year-old moms.  I’m a blogger and had written a novel that I was still working on and I decided to tuck it away and try writing a book with a little bit of steam.

My male lead was inspired by my obsession with Adam Levine.  I tried to imagine him a little bit older and falling for someone my age. I knew I wanted to write about a mom with kids.  Heather, my main character, is a widow and has 3 school aged children. The book talks a lot about her life as a mom and all the things she has to deal with without a husband to help her. Enter a handsome Adam Levine look alike!  It was pretty easy to imagine falling in love with him. In fact, it was downright dreamy to think about! I liked the little fantasy world I got to live in.

As stories and characters do, it took on a life of its own.  I am working on the second book now, The New Ever After, because I knew there was more to the story. 

While I was writing Tripped Up Love, I faithfully listened to a playlist that I created.  It’s made up of songs that spark some kind of emotion in me. Some of them I have a history with or it reminds me of a significant point in my life. 

Mr. Jones by the Counting Crows - My favorite college song.  This song instantly brings me back to senior year at Notre Dame. It's the perfect start for my writing playlist.

Mr. Brightside by the Killers - I listen to this song when I run at night by myself.  I love the images it conjures up. It's angry and it's fast.  And yes, I do think about certain people when I hear this song...but I'm too chicken to tell anymore of that story.

Payphone by Maroon 5 - Duh!  It makes me think of my Adam.  And really, nothing could be better than that.  It is the anthem for my book.  The idea that happy ever afters don't exist is my central theme.  Heather, the main character, lives the words of the song.

Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel- This song reminds me of one of my first weekends on the campus of Notre Dame.  I remember hearing it coming from multiple dorm rooms as my new friend and I walked along the quad to hang out with our new guy friends. And, yes, I can even remember what I was wearing...

Tempted  by Squeeze- This one's a little sketchy.  I remember going to the Squeeze concert at Jones Beach weeks before I went to college. Google tells me the concert was on August 2, 1990.  I remember them playing Black Coffee in Bed and it kills me not to remember any other details.  But the song makes me remember that summer, the summer that stretched all the ties I had.  It takes me back to the picture I have at my mom's dining room table. We're all standing behind our friend who was leaving for the Air Force Academy as he signs our yearbooks.  Our lives were about to change in so many ways.

Hey Soul Sister by Train - This is a new love.  It makes me think about my kids and driving up and down Robious Road over and over and over again.  Each time we stepped in the car for months, Hey Soul Sister would come on and my girls would sing it with all their might.

Party Girl by U2 - We used to listen to this song in my friend’s driveway while he fixed up his old car. There are so many memories that flood my mind when I think about my hometown. I cannot do it justice in this little blurb but this song, these songs, bring me right back to my friends that were there from the time we were babies until I deserted and left the state. 

Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie - I'll never forget watching Princes Di's tenth anniversary concert and hearing Fergie sing this song.  When I hear this song, I think about loss and how people go on...another central theme in my book.

Empire State of Mind by Jay Z - No explanation necessary...obviously I think about my New York, the city that lives in my heart and has a very minor role in my book.

Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars - How many 40 year old moms imagine someone singing this song to them?  This 40 year old thinks it is the ultimate love song. 

The Old Apartment by BareNaked Ladies - This song reminds me of our last apartment in Chicago. I didn't know the song then, not even sure if is that old. We had a crooked landing, landlord and an alleyway filled with crooks or just homeless guys. It makes me think about all the fun we had in our city.  I would love to 'break into' some of my old apartments. 

Hope you enjoy some of the inspiration for Tripped Up Love!

Best,

Julie

About the Author

Julie Farley was born and raised on Long Island. Even though she now lives in Virginia, a piece of her heart still lives in New York. And there's one in Chicago and South Bend, IN home of her alma mater Notre Dame. When Julie's not writing she's teaching preschool or taking care of her own four children. Julie grew up with her nose in a book and her love of books turned into a love of writing as well. Julie published her first book, Tripped Up Love, in May of 2013. The sequel, The New Ever After, will be released in July of 2013.

www.juliefarley.com | twitter.com/juliefarley1

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