Check out what inspired Lisa Peters to write "Motor City Love Song."
What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?
I’ve loved rock and roll for decades and started going to concerts regularly once our family moved to metro Detroit and my elder daughter wanted to see her favorite bands play live. In the 2010s, I started taking her and her younger sister to see bands I enjoyed, too. By visiting concert venues from one end of town to the other, we got to know a lot about the city and its post-Motown musical history.
That history lesson got even more entertaining the more I talked to my partner’s cousin Ward, who had been a talent booker for a bar in Ypsilanti (about 40 miles outside of Detroit) during the 1990s. That was the era when Detroit garage and indie bands were gaining steam and garnering attention, with the White Stripes becoming the most famous example. Ward had dozens of wild stories about running a club so broken down he had to make mic stands out of broomsticks, and he shared video clips and anecdotes about the musicians he befriended, many of whom still perform.
Bonding with my girls over music has been one of the joys of motherhood for me, so writing about how fandom and family come together was intriguing. Plus, the White Stripes’ rise to worldwide prominence, their break-up in 2011, and Meg White’s disappearance from the public eye, seeded my imagination. I wondered, “What would make Paloma drop out of sight just as she reached the top of her musical career, leaving her girlfriend Jace brokenhearted and broke? And what would it take for them to try again?” With that, the premise of Motor City Love Song was born.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
When my partner and I got together more than 35 years ago, we read any book that had lesbian characters. Even if the stories were two-dimensional or depressing they were validating. Those books proved there were other people out there like us and we weren’t completely on our own.
Thankfully, there are so many more books available now in a variety of genres, written by diverse authors with a wide range of experiences and perspectives. We read them with pride because these stories create understanding and empathy. They build community. They give us a path forward when life seems too hard to navigate. And they make us laugh when we need it most.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
Professor Rudine Sims Bishop of The Ohio State University wrote beautifully about how books can be windows into other worlds—windows that become sliding glass doors that allow readers to enter those worlds. And, when conditions are just right, a window becomes a mirror, reflecting others’ stories back to us and putting our own stories into the context of the human experience.
As a writer, I have a rare opportunity to introduce readers to people unlike anyone they’ve ever met, who live in places they may never go to, and yet they feel a heartfelt connection to the characters’ stories that sparks recognition and joy. Not only do I hope my books are entertaining, I also hope they’re affirming.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
"Motor City Love Song" is a second-chance romance set to a Detroit indie soundtrack. Main characters Jace and Paloma are GenX women in their fifties hoping to find love again while reconnecting to their creative passions fueled by music.
With this book, I wanted to celebrate long-term relationships of all sorts: parental figures, mentors, lovers, ex-lovers, about-damn-time lovers, and friends who become family. It’s also asks, “How can I live my life on purpose?” Throughout the story, Jace and Paloma wrestle with that question, as I continue to do. Anyone who’s lived through tough times or wonders what’s coming next will be able to relate.
What can fans expect from your book?
Their story is structured like a two-disc album, with 12 chapters (tracks) from Jace’s point of view followed by 12 from Paloma. It’s rooted in the present but looks back to the 1990s, an era of trashy bars and no-holds-barred music making.
If music occupies any part of your life, you’ll love "Motor City Love Song!" I hope reading this book will inspire you to get tickets to see that band you love — and play a Detroit indie playlist on your way to the venue.
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
I have several story ideas percolating right now that feature GenXers who continue to look for love, purpose, and connection while maintaining their fantastic musical taste. I can’t wait to share them with you. Stay tuned!
