I began building stories around song lyrics as far back as the fourth grade. A particular lyric or phrase would stand out, and the next thing I knew, I had built an entire scene around that phrase. The song would get stuck in my head and the next day I would have a few chapters scribbled in my notebook based on the theme. In the fourth grade, I wondered if I was the only one who did this. As an adult, I know I’m not.
A lot of authors write to specific playlists – a set of songs that inspire them. Some even have playlists set to a particular book they’re working on – songs that help them get into the right mood and focus on the characters. I’m one of those writers. Possessing a deep love of music, I can’t NOT have a playlist of songs that capture the feeling of the book and the characters I’m working on.
Music plays an essential role in AFTER MIDNIGHT. Based on a rock musician and a piano phenom, how could it not? Surprisingly, of all the stories I’ve written, all the songs I’ve listened to across the genres, there was no set playlist for the book. That is, not until I already had the words on the page – only then did I realize that the songs I kept playing over and over on my mp3 player, truly captured Isabeau and Noah.
So here it is, the soundtrack to After Midnight:
Dark Night of the Soul - Philip Wesley
Breathing – Lifehouse
My Immortal – Evanescence
Left Out – Shinedown
Eyes – Bobby Friss
Hysteria – Def Leppard
So Far Away – Staind
Follow You, Follow Me – Genesis
In the Middle – Theory of a Deadman
Do you have a soundtrack that you use? How about for washing the car or cleaning the house or, Ahem...other activities? Leave a comment and tell me what you like to listen to. What is the soundtrack of your life?
1 comments:
Super, and yes indeed, all of my books are written to various musical selections and soundtracks. In my own life at the moment I'm hearing the Darth Vader theme from Star Wars going through my mind. One of those days...
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