Uber Spies Gotta Have Music Riffs!

I have been using lots of songs in my current WIP. To make sure I know exactly what I'm doing (not referencing too many lines), I've been googling and researching about lyrics copyright and fair usage. I know one of the blog readers here who drop by at the comment area used to be an editor. Hopefully, she's still reading this: can you drop me a private email please? Would like to hear what you know about using of song lyrics (with and without permission) in articles and publication.

If you read The Protector, I referenced an entire Beatles song, and because of copyright infringement laws and because I didn't want to go through all the work to get permission from the Fab Four and their labels, I didn't quote any lyrics from that song. I introduced the song by the Fab Four and then paraphrase each line to emphasize my hero's feelings about the song. Yet what was cool was when I asked my readers, they said they were singing the song in their heads while reading it. I wanted that!

The creative process is so intriguing to me. Writers hear a piece of music and they know it's PERFECT for their characters. Do musicians read a scene and know it's PERFECT for a song? Just wondering.

Hey, is it time yet to put a big red HEADLINE on top with a countdown to how many days before Sleeping With The Agent can be found on in the bookstores?

One last note: Some brought it to attention that at least Sleeping*** isn't titled THE SHEIKH AND THE VIRGIN SECRETARY, which is out now. Gulp*. What century is this again?

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