Last week I told you about
Destruction by Sharon Bayliss. Today you’re in for a treat because Sharon is here to talk about one of my favorite things: music! When I write, I love listening to the playlists I created for my
18 Things trilogy on Spotify, and you can check them out
here if you’d life. But enough about me, take it away, Sharon!
Music is an important part of my writing process. I don’t listen to music while I actually write, but I’m most creative when I listen to music while I jog. Something about the music and exercise combination really makes my creative juices flow. I “write” most of my best scenes while jogging. I compiled some of the songs that I remember listening to while writing the original draft of
Destruction in 2011 and 2012.Here are some of the lyrics that stood out to me:”Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I’ll be right beside you dear”
–Run by Snow Patrol
“And I am done with my graceless heart
So tonight I’m gonna cut it out and then restart
‘Cause I like to keep my issues drawn
It’s always darkest before the dawn”
–Shake It Out by Florence + The Machine
“All the black inside me is slowly seeping from the bone
Everything I cherish is slowly dying or it’s gone”
–Pyro by Kings of Leon
“Love; it will not betray you
Dismay or enslave you, it will set you free
Be more like the man you were made to be”
–Sigh No More by Mumford and Sons
“We’re all weeping now, weeping because
There ain’t nothing we can do to protect you
O children
Lift up your voice, lift up your voice”
–O Children by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
“If Heaven and Hell decideThat they both are satisfied
Illuminate the “No”‘s on their vacancy signs
If there’s no one beside you
When your soul embarks
Then I’ll follow you into the dark”
–
I Will Follow You Into The Dark by Death Cab for Cutie
—
Learn more about Destruction…
Introducing a new dark wizard family drama, Destruction by Sharon Bayliss, Book One in The December People Series.
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David Vandergraff wants to be a good man. He goes to church every Sunday, keeps his lawn trim and green, and loves his wife and kids more than anything. Unfortunately, being a dark wizard isn’t a choice.
Eleven years ago, David’s secret second family went missing. When his two lost children are finally found, he learns they suffered years of unthinkable abuse. Ready to make things right, David brings the kids home even though it could mean losing the wife he can’t imagine living without.
Keeping his life together becomes harder when the new children claim to be dark wizards. David believes they use this fantasy to cope with their trauma. Until, David’s wife admits a secret of her own—she is a dark wizard too, as is David, and all of their children.
Now, David must parent two hurting children from a dark world he doesn’t understand and keep his family from falling apart. All while dealing with the realization that everyone he loves, including himself, may be evil.
The Author
Sharon Bayliss is the author of The December People Series and The Charge. When she’s not writing, she enjoys living happily-ever-after with her husband and two young sons. She can be found eating Tex-Mex on patios, wearing flip-flops, and playing in the mud (which she calls gardening). She only practices magic in emergencies.
What about you? Do you create playlists for your books? See any of your favorite songs on Sharon’s playlist? Do you listen to music while you write?
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Lyrics can be so inspiring and really helps get me in the mood for writing 🙂
I used to need total silence to write . . . somehow that changed with my last book. I always had my headphones in while writing!
I can’t listen to music when writing — but there’s so many people that can. It amazes me. I think about the music and the poetry in the words rather than what I’m writing.
There were plenty of times I had to take a dance break 🙂
Okay … Sharon and Jamie … our age differences are showing up like the Grand Canyon. I am certain that my twin-teen-age grandchildren are up to date … but this old fool didn’t know one.
It does not matter. Music inspires us in every genre and for all generations. It is the backdrop we use to set tone and character and it is like the strains of a harp, the sounds of our heart … great that you capture that essence 🙂
I recently went on the internet to look up the music used for a TV show. Bones. There was an episode a couple of years back about two foster children: Bring on the Wonder, by Susan Ian. I am sure you will both love is:
Ha ha, Ramblings. 🙂 Don’t worry, I seriously doubt my taste in music is “cool”. I listen to whatever I feel like. Some of it very mainstream, some of it very indie, just whatever strikes my fancy.
LOL Florence! Thanks for the song . . . beautiful!
Nice list! It really seems to fit your book well. And I LOVE that “Oh Children”song, ever since the first time I heard it during Harry Potter 🙂
No surprise Destruction and HP share a song . . . love the wizard connection!
I know the last one!
My playlist would scare Sharon…
Ha ha! What about the Requiem for a Dream Soundtrack? Do you like that?
I was impressed I knew 5 out of 8 of Sharon’s songs, and now I want to see your playlist, Alex 🙂
Yeah, me too, Alex!
I do love myself a good story playlist, and enjoy taking a peek at others. Thank you for sharing the lyrics that inspired you! It’s cool to see how all the lyrics have spun themselves into a story.
While I need music to write, a majority of what I listen to ends up being instrumental, unless the words are so ingrained in my subconscious they’ve become background. Once in a while some words will grab me (or my Muse 😉 ) and end up turning up some cool story fodder.
The cover for Destruction has to be one of the most beautiful book covers I’ve seen in a while! 🙂
I agree . . . her cover is stunning, paired with the idea of wizards in the story . . . what more could you want in a book?!
A song can inspire a whole story. Music is amazing stuff!
So true! I’ve always wished I knew a famous musician where we could write pair our stuff together and package it as one with the CD inside . . . even though nobody listens to those anymore, lol 🙂
I always write to music and love discovering new tunes to add to my playlists… awesome post.
I seem to get into the flow of writing better when I can put my headphones in and listen to music. My favorite groups are Evanescence and Red.
Hi Jamie! Thanks to Alex for showing me the way over here 🙂 Nice to meet you!
I love creating playlists for my stories. Most of my Spotify playlists are for stories I’m working on or have ideas for.
Great to meet you and Sharon! Her story sounds intriguing and very unique!
Cheers,
Jen
There is something about Florence and the Machine that rivets me. That rich voice and emotion-laden tone. Huge fan!
Nice playlist! I love a lot of those songs and bands. I can’t listen while writing, either, but I do like to make playlists and sometimes hear a certain song in my head during a scene in the book.
And hi, Jamie!