When I wrote THE MAKING OF MIA, I listened to nothing but Veruca Salt, Hole, and Nirvana. Certain songs – like Somebody by Veruca Salt – remind me so much of trying very hard to finish my first manuscript.

Since then technology – and the internet – has come on a bit (and it’s only been a couple of years!). This time around I created several playlists on Spotify, mainly featuring Lady GaGa, Britney Spears, Leona Lewis, and Girls Aloud. They provided the perfect backdrop to what SPOTLIGHT‘s all about; a great singer who wins a TV talent show and becomes America’s Sweetheart. Until it all goes wrong.

Certain other tracks in my playlists take me back to specific days. When I was writing a wedding scene I played ‘Meditations from Thais’ by Massenet over and over until it was finished – and it was still playing when my boyfriend popped round to my flat and I was knee-deep in writing a bittersweet wedding ceremony. Whenever I hear that song now I can remember that evening so clearly.

I’m a half-pop / half-indie girl, so there’s some other favourites in there. I love KISS. I can’t wait to see them play in London next month! Beau Silverman from SPOTLIGHT loves KISS too – imagine that! He’s my dream man! – and his favourite song is Forever by KISS. Awesome. It’s also one of my favourites too.

Anyway, authors – let me know what music you write to, and readers, tell me what your favourite songs are, and what you listen to when you’re reading. I’m creating a new playlist as I write NO PRINCE CHARMING – you never know, your song choices may end up being featured in the novel.

LINKS YOU NEED!

My SPOTLIGHT ON CHICK LIST Spotify playlist (you need Spotify to play this)

SPOTLIGHT on Amazon (it’s out April 29th 2010 – available for pre-order).

The MAKING OF MIA on Amazon

And if you think I have the BEST music taste in the world (I’ve yet to meet a person who shares my tastes completely), take a look at my LAST.FM PROFILE to see what I’ve been listening to for the last three years.

SPOTLIGHT ON CHICK LIT PLAYLIST

Jennifer Hudson – Spotlight
Tinchy Stryder feat. Tanya Lacey, Tanya Lacey – Spotlight
Madonna – Spotlight
Rainbow – Spotlight Kid
Rod Stewart – It’s Not The Spotlight
Beth Orton – It’s Not The Spotlight
Thais – Massenet – Thais – Meditation
Lily Allen – The Fear (The People vs Lily Allen) Remake
Kings Of Leon – Sex On Fire
Aqualung – Brighter Than Sunshine
Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes – (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life
Billy Joel – Just The Way You Are
Elton John – Your Song
Des’ree – I’m Kissing You
Girls Aloud – The Loving Kind
Take That – Greatest Day
Veruca Salt – Benjamin
Hole – Celebrity Skin
Goldfrapp – A&E
Goldfrapp – Happiness
Abba – Honey, Honey
Roxette – It Must Have Been Love
Buffalo Tom – Late At Night
Shola Ama – You Might Need Somebody
The Lemonheads – Into Your Arms
The Darkness – Love Is Only A Feeling
The Darkness – Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time
Irene Cara – Out Here On My Own
Britney Spears – Womanizer – Main Version
Britney Spears – Circus – Main Version
Britney Spears – I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll
Leona Lewis – Bleeding Love
Leona Lewis – A Moment Like This
Lady Gaga, Colby O’Donis – Just Dance
Lady Gaga, Beyoncé – Telephone
Lady Gaga – Brown Eyes
Lady Gaga – Disco Heaven
Florence + The Machine – Kiss With A Fist
Lily Allen – He Wasn’t There
Embrace – Come Back To What You Know
Irene Cara – Fame
Kiss – I Was Made For Lovin’ You
Kiss – Forever
Echo And The Bunnymen – The Killing Moon
Bonnie Tyler – Holding Out For A Hero
Roxy Music – More Than This
Tiffany – Could’ve Been
Transvision Vamp – Baby I Don’t Care
Veruca Salt – Somebody
Adele – Crazy For You (album)
Adele – Make You Feel My Love (album)
Muse – Resistance
Muse – Starlight
Muse – Sing For Absolution
The Buggles – Video Killed The Radio Star
Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’
Jay-Z – Empire State Of Mind [Jay-Z + Alicia Keys] – Explicit Album Version
Moby – We Are All Made Of Stars
Madonna – Lucky Star – “New” Mix
Madonna – Live To Tell
Voxtrot – Firecracker
Patti Smith Group – Because The Night
White Lies – Farewell To The Fairground
Whitesnake – Here I Go Again
Extreme – More Than Words
Extreme – Hole Hearted
Lily Allen – Womanizer (Acoustic)
Of Montreal – Suffer For Fashion
Abba – The Winner Takes It All
Lady Gaga – Paparazzi – Filthy Dukes Remix
Britney Spears, Guy Sigsworth – Everytime
Evan Dando – The Ballad Of El Goodo
Syd Straw, Evan Dando – For Shame Of Doing Wrong
Rihanna – Unfaithful
Girls Aloud – Untouchable
Girls Aloud – Black Jacks
Girls Aloud – We Wanna Party
Hoku – Perfect Day – Chris Lord Alge Mix
Joanna Pacitti – Watch Me Shine
Various Artists – LeAnn Rimes Tribute – Can’t Fight The Moonlight (Cover Version)