Friday, March 14, 2014

Guest Blog by Nico Rosso and Giveaway - March 14, 2014

Please welcome Nico Rosso to The Qwillery. Nico's most recent novel is Slam Dance with the Devil (Demon Rock 2).


Thanks so much to the Qwillery for having me!

Let’s bring it down, slow the pace, and get up close and personal. We can have the massively distorted guitars and thundering drums later. Right now, let’s get low and talk about the rock ballad.

These radio friendly tracks are meant for driving winding roads, late at night. Thinking about a lover, or the one who got away. All the fury and drama of a rock song is stripped away, revealing some of the artist through the lyrics. And we get a different perspective on the musicians as they play with more finesse.

Styx – Lady
This is one of my all-time favorites. Starts out sweet, then gets to rocking.



Kiss – Beth
A classic. Sung by the drummer, who you can tell isn’t a singer, but he captures the emotions well.



Jimi Hendrix – Little Wing
One of the legends of rock showing that clean and simple can still be complex and moving.



Mötley Crüe – Home Sweet Home
A little bit of heart from the bad boys of ‘80s rock.



In my second paranormal Demon Rock book, Slam Dance with the Devil, the hero Kent Gaol isn’t much for slow songs. A deep hurt from his past has pushed him close to the edge of destruction. His songs inspire wild abandon from his audiences and their energy literally keeps him and the other demon rockers alive. It isn’t until he meets the heroine, private investigator Nona Harris, that he starts to find himself again. It helps that she’s his fated Muse, the one woman who can feed him like the audience does. There’s one scene where we get to see an inspired Kent writing a rock ballad, but I wouldn’t want to spoil any more here…

But I can link to one more video, the trailer for Slam Dance with the Devil:



So what are some of the rock ballads that speak to you? Post your comments and one random person will be selected to win a PDF of Slam Dance with the Devil. Can’t wait to hear what you come up with.

If you want to keep the conversation going, I can be found here:

Twitter
Facebook
NicoRosso.com



Slam Dance with the Devil
Demon Rock 2
Carina Press, March 10, 2014
eBook


All those wild rock stars you hear about? Some of them really are demons, sustained by the energy pouring off the audience...

Wild, destructive and immortal, rocker Kent Gaol has given up the search for his Muse--a demon's one true source of inspiration, his forever partner. After losing the one woman he thought might be his, he's convinced she doesn't exist.

Hard-as-nails private investigator Nona Harris has been hired by a mysterious client to track Kent. She knows nothing of his truths, until one night when Kent tricks her on stage during one of his concerts. Amazingly, she not only senses the energy around the demons, she feeds from it...and it turns her on.

Kent never expected Nona's response to be so intense, nor that she could enter his world and so thoroughly rock it. This is beyond a tumultuous love affair--this is a sexual and emotional bond that will change them both forever. A bond strong enough that now Nona's shady client wants them both dead...



The Giveaway

What:  One entrant will win a PDF of  copy of Slam Dance with the Devil from Nico Rosso.

How:  Log into and follow the directions in the Rafflecopter below.

Who and When:  The giveaway is open to all humans on the planet earth with an emailing address. Giveaway ends at 11:59PM US Eastern Time on March 24, 2014. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter.

*Giveaway rules and duration are subject to change without any notice.*


a Rafflecopter giveaway



10 comments:

  1. It would be the music from Queen. My favorite is the Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, and The Show Must Go On.

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    1. I feel that, Kai. Queen were the masters of the epic ballad. Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. Oh, Return´s Sing me a song is a favorite https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAA17QFc6pU or Iron Maiden´s No Prayer for the Dying *happy sigh*
    Didn´t think about the lyrics back then, =)
    Thanks for the giveaway & Happy Friday!
    //Linda

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    1. Happy Friday to you too, Linda! I hadn't heard of Return, so thanks for turning me on to them. That Iron Maiden song really captures the essence of the bad boy reflecting back on his wild life. Thanks for sharing it!

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  3. In the End by Linkin Park. Well, really anything by Linkin Park. I just love the lyrics and the rock arrangement :) Congrats Nico on the new release!

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    1. Thanks, Erin! Yeah, they do a good job of not losing the lyrics within the music, like some other acts.

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    1. Thanks for coming by, bn100. Hopefully between the videos I shared and the everyone else's suggestions you'll find a ballad that speaks to you.

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  5. Growing up during the 80's I could never resist a good rock ballad. One of my faves is still "Something to Believe In" by Poison but for something a little closer to being contemporary you can't go wrong with Incubus' "Wish You Were Here". Good stuff. :)

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    1. I'm a child of the '80s too, Rhianna, and totally get what you're talking about. The music from that era was definitely an influence on my Demon Rock books and I hope I captured that nasty-yet-soulful feel of that rock.

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