The world of classical music comes alive with Aubrie Dionne's Playing the Maestro. Keep reading to learn more about this book through a visit from Ms. Dionne to my review. Also don't forget to sign up on the form below for your chance to win a lovely necklace to remind you of her newest release.
How Practicing an Instrument is Like Writing......
There’s a quote in music: “The more you practice, the more you want to practice. The less you practice the less you want to practice.” That is so true about writing as well.
A beginner flutist starts by practicing 10-15 minutes a day, which might be like 200-500 words a day. As you improve, you build your muscles to be able to blow longer, hold the flute longer, and play longer pieces of music. You move up to 20-30 minutes a day. Writing is the same way. Your brain is your muscle, and you have to exercise it regularly to increase your word count.
I started with just a few hundred words a day. I remember how hard it was to keep going, and how I’d just keep rereading what I previously wrote instead of coming up with new words. My first book took over 2 and a half years to write. That was over 6 years ago. I slowly increased my word count each year, so now I can sit for an hour and write a thousand words no problem. Last year my goal was 365k or 1k a day all year. I managed to get to 316. This year I’m trying for 2k a day, or as close as I can get. I can write a short novel in two months, and a long one in three.Playing the Maestro took me two.
But, I still have a long way to go if I want to be a professional author and have 4-5 releases a year. Some people can sit down and write 10k in one day! After about 3k my brain goes fuzzy and all that comes out is mush- which means I’m not quite ready for that yet. But, I’m working my way up.
What are you at with your writing? What do you want to expand your writing muscle to?
Wolf came to America to get as far away from his past as possible, and to recover some of the swagger he had as one of the world’s best maestros. He never imagined being forced to reassess the entire orchestra’s talent—and potentially fire anyone who doesn’t make his cut. Dating the attractive flutist is out of the question, but as their feelings reach a fever pitch, can they risk both their careers for a chance at love?
Two Quickie Teasers:
"Every one of the musicians she’d dated was the same as her: burned out from practicing to beat the chair ahead of him, teaching five million lessons a day to make ends meet, scrambling for gigs two hours away on the weekends, so involved in a dying art form that he didn’t even know the Bruins were an ice hockey team."
“Why would a flute prodigy from Julliard want this little Civic Symphony seat anyway? Seems to me a girl who played the Mozart G Major concerto in front of the New York Phil at age seven could get a seat in any orchestra. Age seven. When I was seven, the only thing I was playing was pretend flute on my toothbrush.”
“Why would a flute prodigy from Julliard want this little Civic Symphony seat anyway? Seems to me a girl who played the Mozart G Major concerto in front of the New York Phil at age seven could get a seat in any orchestra. Age seven. When I was seven, the only thing I was playing was pretend flute on my toothbrush.”
BUY LINKS: AMAZON | BN
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Aubrie Dionne plunges readers into the vividly cutthroat world of classical music in Playing the Maestro. For flutist Melody, she's done with dating musicians. After her recent break-up with fellow symphony worker, Blake, her job seems in jeopardy from his nefarious machinations so the last thing she wants to do is act on her growing attraction to the new conductor, Wolf. But the more she sees of him and his numerous acts of kindness the more caught up in his life she becomes and the idea of a future together takes root. It's a bumpy ride to their HEA though as a woman from his past almost destroys the trust and love forming between them. Melody is a likable character who's been burned by relationships before and is very doubtful of love's existence. She easily jumps to conclusions and assumes the worst whenever Wolf's honesty is in doubt. While these feelings of doubt are understandable they make it difficult to truly believe in this relationship at times.
Wolf has come to America to escape an ex who stole not only his heart but also his life savings. He too is cautious in wanting to start another relationship and with Melody the spitting image of his ex they definitely start off on the wrong foot. But Wolf finds it difficult to keep his true self hidden and slowly lets Melody into his life, keeping the big issue of his ex a secret until her appearance creates all sorts of unwanted chaos that he has to struggle to set right. He completely makes amends in a very masterful and vocal way at the end though, so all is easily forgiven. Wolf is exotically sexy with his occasional uses of German speech. He's caring and honorable which made him easy to fall for.
The story brings the world of classical music/symphonies alive with its vivid depictions of the struggles of musicians, the cutthroat nature to become a star, and the passions that this kind of music inspires. The story does feel a bit draggy though. The writing pace is laid back which is reflected in the romance that remains very sweet and progresses very slowly. There's sexual tension present but it never fully explodes into a hot and steamy encounter. This doesn't make the romance any less satisfying though as they're an immensely cute couple that have much in common. Add in a cast of memorable characters and you end up with a satisfying story that once again demonstrates Ms. Dionne's writing talent.
My rating for this is a B.
*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
Aubrie grew up watching the original Star Wars movies over and over until she could recite and reenact every single scene in her backyard. She also loved The Goonies, Star Trek the Next Generation--favorite character was Data by far--and Indiana Jones. But, her all time favorite movie was The Last Unicorn. She still wonders why the unicorn decided to change back to a unicorn in the end.
Aubrie wrote in her junior high yearbook that she wanted to be "a concert flutist" when she grew up. She majored in flute performance at the University of New Hampshire on a full scholarship, then secured two teaching jobs at a University and a local community music school. While playing in orchestras and teaching, stories popped into her head, and she used them to make the music come alive for her flute students. Her students said they were so good, she had to write them down! Maybe they were right, who knows? Two careers seems to keep her busy. For now.
She is represented by Dawn Dowdle and writes sweet and adventurous fantasy, science fiction, and contemporary romance.
www.authoraubrie.netShe is represented by Dawn Dowdle and writes sweet and adventurous fantasy, science fiction, and contemporary romance.
http://authoraubrie.blogspot.
@authoraubrie
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I don't write professionally, but I would like to write better and faster.
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Thank you for the review. I'm glad you liked it.
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