by R.K. Harrington
A playlist can help a writer get in the zone and feel inspired; not to mention, playlists are just downright fun! When I was putting this list together for my debut novel Kindred Schemes, I could not settle on if I should provide a playlist that helped me write the book, or one about the book. So, I did a little of both. The first part of the playlist will include songs I often listen to as a write (instrumentals only, or I end up writing down the lyrics of whatever song I am listening to). The second part of the playlist are a few songs that remind me of some key parts of the book. Enjoy!
What songs helped me write Kindred Schemes?
Song #1: “Dawn” by Dario Marianelli (2005), Pride & Prejudice
Reason: Nothing gets me in the mood for the regency era and its unique vibe like the 2005 movie adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, so it would only be fitting to start out with the opening song to the movie.
Song #2: “Light of the Seven” by Ramin Djawadi (2016), Game of Thrones
Reason: Kindred Schemes has a fair of mystery and suspense, so I need to switch into that mode with music. This song is an ultimate orchestral piece, with soft piano in a minor key to start, cello for melancholy and mystery, and a crescendo that is unmatched; it is the perfect piece for conniving cousins.
Song #3: “Test Drive” by John Powell (2010), How to Train Your Dragon
Reason: An epic flight on the back of a deadly night fury (a fearsome dragon)? Perfect for writing fast-paced scenes, where good triumphs over evil and happiness reigns.
What songs represent key story moments in Kindred Schemes?
Song #1 (First Meeting): “Enemy” by Charlie XCX (2020)
Reason: Not to be too obvious, but in an enemies to lovers story, there has to be a fair amount of tension; a claim to abhor the person of your greatest affections, yes, please! This song captures the feelings of the inciting event and the first act of Kindred Schemes.
Song #2 (Love Triangle Dynamic): “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield (1981)
Reason: A quintessential love triangle song, this song is through the eyes of the marquess, whose feelings for Lady Alaina are only growing stronger as the second act takes shape.
Song #3 (Overwhelming Love): “Lose Control” by Teddy Swims (2023)
Reason: This song captures the growing attraction (bordering on obsession) and inability to deny feelings no longer below the surface that Kindred Schemes has in the latter part of its second act.
Song #4 (Finally Together): “Pillowtalk” by Zayn (2016)
Reason: The climax of any romance novel needs the appropriate level of attraction, and this song delivers; tension, pleasure, and bliss are all there, and it matches the culmination of the book long romance in Kindred Schemes perfectly.
Author Bio:
R. K. Harrington is a debut historical romance author, combining swoon-worthy romance with a bit of mystery. Her first novel, Kindred Schemes, is scheduled to be released February 2026.
In 2021, R. K. Harrington found that her daydreams were yearning to spill over to the written page, and, ever since, has been writing historical romance with a dash of mystery in hopes of publishing her work one day. After much editing, and long hours designing, she is gearing up to release her first novel, with many more to come!
R. K. Harrington grew up reading romance novels at a (maybe too) young age, and the stories entranced her. Give her a Happily Ever After (HEA) and there is no better book in the world. While romance books (namely historical romances) are her first love, R. K. Harrington is an avid reader of all genres. She has gone through many phases: medical mysteries, crime dramas, science fiction, romantasy, and is currently in a fantasy phase (she does do the occasional non-fiction book as well, namely history). Through every season of reading, romance books of all kinds are sprinkled liberally.
When R. K. Harrington is not writing or reading (or working her day job as an engineer), she is having fun with her husband, their kids, and her very cute dog, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Maximus. They all live in the DMV area, where the summers are hot, the winters are cold, and the two days of Spring and Fall are beautiful enough to open the windows!
Information on Kindred Schemes:
One bookish debutante. Two dashing suitors. And a season full of scandal.
Lady Alaina Sinclair never expected London society to be so treacherous—or so tempting. She has always preferred books to ballrooms, but with a disastrous start to her first season, she’s determined to rewrite her fate. With her heart set on the respectable—and very eligible—Duke of Ashford, Alaina is ready to embrace society’s expectations… even if it means silencing her true desires.
Alaina’s world is set awry by Christopher Kendall, the Marquess of Rochester—sharp-tongued, maddeningly handsome, and inconveniently, the duke’s closest friend. Their first encounter is a disaster. Their next, a temptation. And every moment together after that, increasingly impossible to ignore. But with a web of secrets, jealous relatives, and mysterious threats unraveling around her, it soon becomes clear: this is no ordinary season.
Kindred Schemes is a modern take on a regency romance with glamour, a steamy love triangle, and enough mystery to keep readers turning the page. Currently available in e-Book, paperback, hardcover, and large print, Kindred Schemes can be purchased here on Amazon. Stay tuned for the audiobook version, planned for release in August 2026.
