Hey everyone! I know, it’s been a while – sadly, in the somewhat frenetic kaleidoscope that masquerades as My Life (fraught as it has been with losing work, finding work, moving offices, home and zoo, as well as major health issues) I’m afraid this old “bloghogger” had to step down a little and focus on the “have to do’s” rather than the “love to do’s”…

Anyway, this is hopefully the start of a long and prolific bloghogger indulgence, and I’m kicking off with a wonderful topic – MUSIC. Not just any music, and not just any musician either. To be precise: BLUES (yep, that stuff that makes my toes curl and brings out the best in me…) Best of all: My old friend Papasean Johnson has just released his new CD! Yayy!!

For those who follow this little blog, you’ll recall about a year ago I posted on his first CD, The Colours of Blues. Click here if you’d like to read that post again. At the time, I promised I’d do a follow up when his second album (he was working on it at the time) was released, so here we are – we being me and my special guest today, Papasean Johnson himself.

Judah: Welcome here! It’s good to have you back and I can’t wait to hear about your new CD. I love the cover by the way – makes me want to explore…

Papasean: Its great to be talking with you Jude, thanks for inviting me.

Jude: So tell us – when exactly was your newest “baby” released?

Papasean: Well the CD was released November 17th 2009 and was Recorded at NAL Sound in North Vancouver.. we booked the studio for a few days.

Jude: Sounds like a lot of fun! Now for the title (you’re in “romance author territory” here, so “movin’ on” is a theme that we’re definitely all familiar with!) – it’s an interesting and eloquent choice. Want to fill us in on the “why” and “how” of it – without letting out any secrets, that is…

Papasean: I chose the title Movin’ On because I’m basically doing just that. Taking the next step forward from the first album and writing 11 new songs based on my life now. This CD is a lot more up tempo and fun and reflects my life at the moment. I really enjoyed writing these songs and recording them with two new, great players , on Bass Louise Prevost and Drums Walter Ray. They brought some great ideas to the CD.

Jude: Okay, I’m going to pick a few titles from the CD – maybe you could share a little background, or the inspiration for each… First, seeing as we’re in “romance land”, how about “Still Love that Girl”?

Papasean: The Song “Still Love that Girl” is inspired from my long time partner in life, Erin. After all these years I still love her more than ever and as it says in the song “her favourite car is a chevy impala two door”.

Jude: It’s those little snippets that add layers to music, just as they do to writing, the personal details that add life… Next on my list is “Young and Restless”.

Papasean: “Young and Restless” is about young love and that it didn’t matter what you were doing as long as you were together.

Jude: Ah, young love! You’ve summed it up rather nicely there. Okay, “Ain’t No Friend of Mine”?

Papasean: “Ain’t No Friend of Mine” is almost self explanatory from the title, getting burnt by a friend more than once isn’t a nice thing. I’m sure we all had that happen to us before….

Jude: And how – definitely a “real life” thing we can all identify with! Finally, one that really intrigues me… “Me and Two”

Papasean: “Me and Two” is about a friend of mine who is going through a bad divorce and he has two children involved, hence the the chorus “taking care of me and two”. When I told Rick, my friend, that he inspired the song He was pretty stoked.

Jude: What emerges here is that you still have the “real life” touch that I believe makes your lyrics and your music. It also adds dimension to the CD – or maybe I should say “diversity”, with multiple themes and experiences that capture life… But I’ve heard a rumor, that there’s a couple of exciting things on the cards for Papasean…

First, he is in the process of shooting a video for the first single “Listen To Me Girl” with Norman Fournier of Rogue Agent and it should be released by the end of January. Then, Papasean Johnson’s next show is in Vancouver at the Cottage Bistro on January 7th, start time is 9. All ages are welcome so go early and enjoy some great cuisine. If you’re a blues fanatic (sadly I’m in SA, so it’s not an option…) it’s the place to go. If you’re not yet a fanatic, it’s also the place to go – check it out, love it and become a fanatic….

A huge thanks to Papasean for joining us today! You can check out his music, bio, anything else you need at his great website: http://papaseanjohnson.com/home.html

To buy his music (and read some great writeup) visit: http://www.cdbaby.com/artist/papaseanjohnson

And now for a little taste of what you can expect…

Hope you enjoy it – have fun everyone!
Jude

Judah Raine
Still Running, The Look and A Thick Black Line

http://www.judahraine.com

I’m doing a follow-up post today on romance author LK Hunsaker, featuring her wonderful new book Off the Moon. If you’re looking for romance with depth and multi-layered characters, writing that delivers “romance with an artsy twist” and an intriguing exploration of relationships and human interaction, look no further…

I recently had the privilege (as part of Classic Promotions) of assisting LK with the promotion of Off The Moon by setting up a blog tour. It afforded me the opportunity to explore her work, her inspiration and her writing ability “up front” through the different blog posts, and I enjoyed every minute of it. So much so that I’m thrilled to be able to share an excerpt with you, and to encourage you to explore this wonderful book – and the other books – from a remarkable author.

Here’s a taste of what you can expect from Off the Moon

“Do you want to shower before bed? It might help you unwind.”

She shook her head against him.

“Katie…” Ryan stopped, with no idea what he planned to say.

After a few minutes of quiet while she stood and held him, she met his eyes. “I’m sorry I scared you. I … seeing him … I’ve tried to forget…”

“That’s understandable. And I should have told you what we were doing. But I didn’t want your hopes up if…”

“You didn’t want to find him.”

Choking on his guilt, Ryan wished to hell he had never admitted that. “I uh … I only meant … I know, I’m a selfish ass. I always have been. But I can’t….” With a deep breath, he figured he might as well say it all and quit trying to pretend he was more than he was. “I don’t want him to take you away from me. I don’t want anyone to take you away from me. I … I have never felt as alive as I have since I met you and … I feel more for you than I wanted, than I should, and I’m trying very hard not to. I know I’m not … you need something better than this. I can’t….”

Her hands slid around from his lower back to his stomach, up, nearly to his chest. Her eyes were on his. “It’s okay.”

Okay. Ryan wanted to ask her exactly what was okay. That he felt the way he did or that he could kiss her the way he wanted to kiss her? Which did she mean? Why was so much of what she said in code?

When he didn’t answer or react, Katie pulled away.

He caught her hand. She didn’t look at him when he moved back in front of her, when he raised the other hand to her hair, again brushed it out of his way. And she didn’t stop him when he found her lips.

It was a soft kiss, wary, questioning, all on his part. Until she returned her hands to his waist, sliding them around to his back, pulling herself in closer. And he let go of shoulds, of Daws’s voice in his mind telling him to be careful, she was too young, it was too dangerous for his career, of Will referring to him as a big brother, of his mom accepting her as family, as a daughter, of his own misgivings. His hand wrapped around the back of her head, holding her into him, kissing her more deeply, watching for signs she wanted him to stop. He didn’t get any. No hesitation, no drawing back, no pushing away. She allowed him as close as he wanted to get.

Realizing he was starting to want way too much, he broke off the kiss and moved his lips to the side of her head, to just above her ear, to her ear lobe that she’d kept hidden from him for so long. Her head tilted back, fingers digging deeper into his skin, her breath becoming more rapid, raising her chest against his at regular, quick intervals. Her eyes were closed, trusting him. Wanting him.

Ryan studied her face while he moved his fingers against it, touched her closed eyelids, her cheek, her lips. And he realized how blind he’d been. She wanted him. Possibly more than any girl he’d ever known, Katie wanted him honestly.

To buy the book, pop across to Elucidate Publishing

Or read the hot off the press Classic Romance Revival Review here