In my memoir, Eleven Stories High: Growing Up in Stuyvesant Town, 1948—1968, there’s a whole chapter called “Music,” and music is a theme in a number of my short stories in both my collections. “Lifelines” in Daffodils, Or, the Death of Love is about a woman who takes up the violin as an adult. “Ears” in What We Save for Last, is about a woman who is a page-turner, and travels with her violinist lover, turning pages for his accompanist when they are on stage. “Memorial Day,” in the same collection, is about a divorced couple who are together when their daughter plays her trumpet with her school band.

In my picture book The Boy Who Was Generous With Salt the characters sing sea shanties (the music for “Cape Cod Girls” is in the back of the book). The Title of my YA novel If Ever I Return Again comes from the refrain of a sea shanty that is sung during the story. In "Hurricane!" the Daddy in the story plays his harmonica to comfort the little girl during the storm.

Do you listen music while writing? If yes, what is your favorite 'writing' music? Any composers or pieces that you find particularly inspirational?

I don’t listen while I’m working at my desk, but I do listen while I swim laps at the pool and work on ideas in my head. My son gave me an amazing little player that works under water. I’m currently doing the crawl and the backstroke to Beethoven symphonies.

I understand Nina's Waltz includes violin music which was played by your daughter. How did this come about? Was it your idea or your publisher's?

The tune was composed for the book by my cousin, Alex Demas, a fiddler, and the editor decided to include the music is in the front of the book, so anyone can play it. I wanted everyone who read the book to be able to hear the tune, even if they couldn’t read music, so I had the idea of making it available on my website. My daughter, who was around the same age as Nina in the story at the time, plays the waltz.

Where is the book available?

Unfortunately the publisher let it go out of print, so people have to find it on the internet. I’ve bought some copies there myself!

Do you enjoy reading violin-related fiction? Any title you'd recommend?

Tolstoy’s “The Kreutzer Sonata.”

Do you have a website where readers may learn more about you and your work?

Yes! corinnedemas.com

Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

Wishes for a music-filled holiday season!