Music inspires me.
One beat or pulsing rhythm or lyric that catches on my heart strings, and I’m hooked on a song. My sister Katie (follow her blog Books and Wonderful Things!) brought a random song from Florence and the Machine to my attention while I was writing Chasing Shadows, and the chorus and a single line in the bridge of “Heavy in Your Arms” inspired the waterfall scene between Jade and Will (“The one who creeps in corridors and doesn’t make a sound.” Come on, people!). Sometimes when I get blocked, I take a break, close my eyes and just nap in the sunshine and listen to music. I’ve overcome many a writing stump by absorbing the tone and lyrics of random songs.
My writing playlist consists of about 150 inspiring songs in all sorts of genres so that there is something to fit any scene (romantic, intense, moody, tragic). But there is always one lyric or beat or chorus that so perfectly encompasses the entire mood of a chapter that, before I realize it, the repeat button has been pressed, and I listen to nothing but that song as it inspires the setting and the way I write, even how the characters respond to one another. Some music causes me to pound away at the keyboard as swords clash and arrows fly, while sweeter melodies make me slow down and smile as I pen a romantic interlude (ooh, interludes! ^_~). Music is, essentially, the backbone behind life and every story, if you listen close enough to the birds, the wind, and “every breaking wave” (*cough* U2 reference *cough*).
Since there is one specific song that really stuck out to me as being the lifeblood behind each chapter, I had to share with you the melodies that inspired Defying Shadows. If you’ve read the book, then you’re probably freaking out because you’re reliving every laugh and tear and emotional tidal wave that you experienced while reading the book. If you haven’t started Defying Shadows yet, then find it here so you know why this playlist is perfect.
I hope you enjoy the sounds of Serimone!
Prologue:
“Drop of Smoke”—Hudson Taylor
Chapter 1:
“I Will Be Back One Day”—Lord Huron
Chapter 2:
“Best Friend”—Jason Mraz
Chapter 3:
“Into the Wild”—Lewis Walton
Chapter 4:
“Sing Loud”—Alpha Rev
Chapter 5:
“Surrender”—Natalie Taylor
Chapter 6:
“Surround You”—Echosmith
Chapter 7:
“Another Story”—The Head and the Heart
Chapter 8:
“History’s Door”—Husky
Chapter 9:
“Big Bad World”—Kodaline
Chapter 10:
“Can’t Pretend”—Tom Odell
Chapter 11:
“The Lion’s Den”—Twin Oaks
Chapter 12:
“Let it Go”—James Bay
Chapter 13:
“I Have Made Mistakes”—The Oh Hellos
Chapter 14:
“Moon Shines Red”—Jamie McDell
Chapter 15:
“Running for You”—Kip Moore
Chapter 16:
“Searchlight”—Phillip Phillips
Chapter 17:
“Run”—Jasmine Thompson
Chapter 18:
“All I Want”—Dawn Golden
Chapter 19:
“Unclear”—Kodaline
Chapter 20:
“Stay Alive”—Jose Gonzalez
Chapter 21:
“Daniel in the Den”—Bastille
Chapter 22:
“Fire”—Barnes Courtney
“Volcano”—Emily Hearn
Chapter 23:
“I Found Love”—Amber Run
Chapter 24:
“Hollow”—Tori Kelley
Chapter 25:
“Pieces”—Andrew Belle
Chapter 26:
“Prince of Peace”—Hillsong
Chapter 27:
“Way Down We Go”—Kaleo
Chapter 28:
“Song for Someone”—U2
Chapter 29:
“Knocking on Heaven’s Door”—Raign
Chapter 30:
“Charlie Boy”—The Lumineers
Chapter 31:
“All I Ever Wanted (Was Time)”—Vance Joy
Chapter 32:
“On My Way Back Home”—Band of Horses
Chapter 33:
“Light”—Sleeping at Last
Chapter 34:
“Other Side”—Parachute
Chapter 35:
“Hanging by a Thread”—Aaron Espe
Chapter 36:
“All This Time”—One Republic
Chapter 37:
“Home”—Gabrielle Aplin
Chapter 38:
“Our Last Days”—The Fray
Epilogue:
“Photograph”—Ed Sheeran
