Book Page calls Melissa Senate’s new novel, The Breakup Club, “A delightful slice of life of the newly single trying to make it in Manhattan. A treat!” Melissa dropped by for Literary Soundtrack, to tell us what she was listening to while she wrote the novel, which was just released by Red Dress Ink.

While writing The Breakup Club, I was obsessed with a song by Gillian Welch called “Miss Ohio.” Which goes something like: “Oh me oh my oh, look at Miss Ohio, she’s a running around with the rag top down. Says she wants to do right but not right now.” (I can very much relate to that last bit!)

Melissa also provided one song title that she thinks would make a great book:

“I Am Whatever You Say I Am” (Eminem). Which then goes on to say (or snarl): “If I wasn’t, then why would you say I am?” Lately, this theme keeps popping up in my fiction.

When I (Michelle) traveled to Bowling Green, Ohio, a couple of years ago to do a stint as Visiting Writer in the MFA program there, my husband, the very muscially inclined Kevin Phelan, made a series of mixed CDs to keep us company on the long drive across the country. Welch’s “Miss Ohio” was the first song on the first CD. It’s one of those snappy numbers you can’t get out of your head, about a girl who’s kinda got it too good, but doesn’t really know it, and lasciviously squanders her youth and good looks, or something like that. I can really get behind a book that has Welch crooning in the background, because Welch, I must confess, really rocks my boat. Sadly, no San Fran dates upcoming on her tour, but she will be making stops in Nashville and Wilkesboro, NC, soon. Meanwhile, you can check out Melissa Senate’s book tour here, or read an interview with her at Literary Mama.