Music is its own character in Rhonda Helms' 'Scratch'

Rhonda Helms, author of Scratch, shares how music plays a huge role in her new release.

Rhonda: Thank you for hosting me on your site today! I'm super excited to be here.

So, Scratch is the story of a college-age DJ, Casey, who's passionate about music. It's her escape, her lifeline, her only method of release in a world that sometimes scares her. Music plays a part in her moving beyond her traumatic past throughout the course of the book and in making amends to Daniel, the guy she's fallen in love with but has kept at arm's length for far too long.

The selections in the Scratch playlist reflect Casey's personal arc, romantic arc, plus her daily life. As you'll see in the back of the book, the playlist lists different songs and has added commentary on where/how they fit into the book — some are upbeat techno songs that Casey would play in the club when people want to get their groove on. Some pieces would be on her personal playlist, saved for times of stress or boredom or romance … a song for every emotion, really. And some pieces would be ones the hero or heroine would play for each other, a reflection of where their hearts are in that moment.

I mean, is there anything more romantic than a mix tape made just for you? OK, I totally aged myself, but I have fond memories of being on the receiving end of mix tapes from people I cared about. Each song was a private message just for me. How romantic. ;-)

Anyway, to get back on topic. Lol. My editor Peter and I came up with the Scratch playlist together. He's a big lover of electronic music, and he helped open my eyes to the broad selection out there! My daughter got me into dubstep a few years ago, as well, so she aided me in finding just the right pieces in that music genre. Not gonna lie, there's something about the way the bass drops in that sick beat that makes me wanna shake it all night.

Casey not only DJs at a club, she also makes her own music. As someone who has performed music myself (I started at age 9 with clarinet, then moved to trumpet in high school, to percussion in college, and even participated as a singer in a college jazz ensemble), I understand the power and potency of music. I've also done a touch of digital composition myself, though nothing I'd want to show the public. ;-)

Anyone who loves music knows it has a powerful healing mechanism that words can't capture. Ever listen to a song and get transported right back to a particular moment in time? Sensory details and all? Our brain attaches memories and emotions to songs, which I think is one of the reasons music strikes so many of us so deeply. Casey is no different. Through DJing, through her compositions, she reaches out to the world in the best way she knows how. She lets those songs become her voice, saying the things she's too afraid to articulate. DJing is her method of connecting, and as she learns to trust others and let people in to her heart, her music is all the more enriched for it.

Writing Scratch helped me reconnect with music, helped me discover new music. And I hope it does the same for you. Here's where you can check out the Scratch playlist on Spotify.

Have you ever done a romantic mix tape/CD/playlist? Or had one created for you? I'd love to hear about it!

Find out more about Rhonda and her books at www.rhondahelmsbooks.com.