The article below appeared in The Glen Ridge Voice on December 13, 2007. Reprinted with permission.
“People always ask me where I get the ideas for my books,” local author Nancy Herkness says. “In the case of my newly-released romantic suspense novel Music of the Night, the mystery element came from the Glen Ridge Marching Band. It just proves that inspiration is wherever you look for it.”
Herkness already had two award-winning romance novels to her credit, A Bridge to Love and Shower of Stars, when she decided to take up the challenge of combining a mystery and a love story. She had characters in mind--one of whom is a world-famous classical conductor. However, she needed something musical which would drive people to commit murder.
Fortunately, the marching band’s 2004 half-time show provided just what she required: the show was titled “Beethoven’s Tenth”, and featured familiar pieces by the famous composer performed in unusual styles, including Techno and Latin jazz.
“I didn’t know this when I started my research but rumors that Beethoven wrote at least part of a tenth symphony have circulated for a couple of centuries,” she said. “Music of the Night explores what would happen if the manuscript for the Tenth Symphony was found. Think of how very valuable it would be and the prestige involved in owning it. That would make it music literally to die for.”
Now a roadie for the marching band, Herkness first got involved with the program when her daughter Rebecca was a freshman at Glen Ridge High School, the year of “Beethoven’s Tenth”.
“We only half-jokingly call marching band ‘The Cult’,” Herkness said. “My whole family is now involved. It’s quite a commitment but working alongside these incredibly dedicated young people makes the job a pleasure. And I owe them a debt of gratitude for gifting me with the plot for Music of the Night.”
Herkness’ first foray into romantic suspense was published by Redburn Press, an independent New York-based publisher whose mission is to produce “eclectic, various, good books.” Music of the Night (ISBN 978-1-59899-102-4) is available from all major on-line booksellers and by order at local bookstores.