The discussion of multitasking made us curious about whether some of our favorite regional authors include listening to music during their reading -- or writing. Here are some of their responses:

Karen Joy Fowler of Santa Cruz

Author of five novels (including "The Jane Austen Book Club") and four short-story collections. Her newest title is "Wit's End." She has a short-story collection appearing this year, and a new novel, "Rattling Their Cages," is scheduled for 2010.

For readers: "(My friends and I) are dubious about the whole concept (of multitasking). We suspect younger people can't multitask, either. It's the new name for not paying attention.

"On the plane to a remote writing retreat, I watched the movie 'Mamma Mia!' I spent three weeks with the songs of ABBA running in my head. Nightmare! My readers should listen to anything but ABBA!"

Writing: "I don't listen to music when I write because I can't do both. I spend more time trying to get songs out of my head than in."

James Rollins of Sacramento

Author of 10 thrillers and eight fantasy novels. His next book is "The Doomsday Key," to be published in June.

For readers and when he writes: "A group called Dead Can Dance is nice because the music is instrumental and doesn't distract by having lyrics. There's a lot of world music behind it, and my stories have an international scope, so it fits."

Reading: "Somebody sent me the soundtrack from 'The Bourne Identity,' and I listened to it while reading my last book. I was listening to the CD in my car with a friend, and he asked, 'What's that music?' I said, 'They turned my book into a movie and this is the soundtrack to it.' He fell for it, and I let that go for a couple of days before I finally told him the truth."

Cara Black of San Francisco

Author of the nine-book Aimee Leduc mystery series, set in Paris. Her newest title, "Murder in the Latin Quarter," will be published in March.

For readers: " 'La Vie en Rose' by Edith Piaf. The song is about life being hard, but when you're in love, life is rosy despite the hardships."

While writing and reading: "Classical music in the background."

Tess Gerritsen

Author of 23 thrillers. Her latest title is "Keepsake."

For readers: "I love movie theme music, and the one I listen to over and over is the (soundtrack) to 'Gladiator.' And the music from the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy. (Both of those) are fabulous for getting (the reader) in the mood for action."

Writing: "Silence, because I'm waiting to hear the voices of my characters."

Reading: "Rod Stewart's golden oldies. That beautiful gravelly voice sounds like a French chanteuse."

John Lescroart of Davis

Author of 19 mysteries; he is a musician of some local repute. His newest title, "A Plague of Secrets," will be published in July.

For readers: "Jimmy Buffett and Kenny Chesney, who I listen to almost exclusively. Or if you want, you can watch a Renée Zellweger movie while reading my books -- or a Jimmy Buffett book -- and listen to Chesney.

"To get that San Francisco mood, the other is 'Might as Well: The Persuasions Sing Grateful Dead.' "

Writing and reading: "I don't listen to a thing for either."

Luanne Rice

Author of nearly 30 books, including two series. Her newest title is "The Letters" (with Joseph Monninger), to be followed in April by "The Geometry of Sisters." She is also a songwriter "learning to play the guitar."

For readers: "This playlist is (part of) what I listen to when I'm editing and during the in-between times, when ideas are coming up. It fits my books, because my writing is pretty emotional."

"There Goes Mavis," Richard Shindell; "Revelator," Gillian Welch; "Out in the Rain," Buddy and Julie Miller; "The Mountain," Steve Earle; "Cabin," Maesa Pullman; "Every Now and Then," Maura Fogarty; "Blue Northern Lights," Ollabelle; "Not California," Hem; "Willow Tree," Diana Jones; "Janey, Don't You Lose Heart," Bruce Springsteen; "Speaking With the Angel," Cry Cry Cry; "Razor Love," Neil Young; and "Hey Ya," Obadiah Parker.