Character Songs - My Musical Inspiration

I’ve talked a lot on my Facebook page about how important music is to my creative process. Personally, I enjoy listening to music with lyrics when I write.

Have you ever listened to a song and just think “yeah, that’s exactly how I feel right now?” Well I have done that too . . . but with my characters. Below are some of the songs that hit me as being just right for some of the imaginary folks from the Life After series.

AUDREY

• Hillsong UNITED – Oceans
  This song is hauntingly beautiful! It reminds me of what Audrey’s been asked to do, and the ways in which she succeeds and fails along the way. It’s oh so good!
• Kelly Clarkson – Since U Been Gone
  Kelly is my hands down favorite artist for break-up songs. This is the song Audrey is singing in her head at the end of Huntress, but the one her heart isn’t getting on board with.
• Kelly Clarkson – Stronger
  This is SO Audrey!
• Timbaland feat. One Republic – Apologize
  Sorry peeps, this is where I left you hanging at the end of Huntress. But . . . I promise to tie some ends up for you in Warfare.

LOGAN

• Imagine Dragons – Demons
  In case you haven’t realized it, Logan has “issues.” He has some demons (you’ll have to read the books to know if I mean literally or figuratively ;-) of his own to deal with. I would listen to this song on repeat sometimes when I was writing about Logan. Don’t worry Logan, you poor tortured soul, healing is coming!
• One Republic – Secrets
  What can I say? The guy has secrets he needs to get off his chest.

ROMONA

• MIKESCHAIR – Let the Waters Rise
  Romona is such a faithful and steadfast character. She’s my role model of what I want my faith to look like someday. I can just imagine this song being her anthem.

KAITLIN

• Meghan Trainor – Me Too
  Kaitlin is such a fun character for me to write! She’s not as . . . shall I say self obsessed as this song would suggest, but I can imagine her getting her bad self down to this song in a completely jokingly manner. I think we all need to look in the mirror every now and then and remind ourselves how awesome we are!

KEVIN

• Pharrell Williams - Happy
  Kevin’s the guy you want to go to when you need help putting a smile on your face. He’s goofy, fun-loving, and somewhat ridiculous. And incidentally so is this song and it’s music video. Kevin is deeper than what this song would suggest, but he hasn’t gotten much page time in the series yet. You can look forward to Kevin’s character developing futher as the series continues.

MORGAN

Here’s a new character you won’t meet until Life After: Warfare is released! You can listen to these songs to get a taste of what Morgan is like!

• Daughtry – Supernatural
• Fall Out Boys - Centuries

ME!!!

Here are some songs I turned to while writing Life After.

• Plumb – Need You Now
  This song especially helped me when I was writing Huntress because I was sick sick sick with a chronic illness while writing most of the novel.
• DJ Khaled – All I Do Is Win
  I can’t help but smile when I hear this song, so I listened to it when I needed a fun pick-me-up . . . also the song drives my hubby crazy, so sometimes I’d just play it on repeat to mess with his head. Hehe. Anyone catch Emma Stone’s lip sync battle with Jimmy Fallon to this song? EPIC! Watch it, you’ll thank me later! 
• Walk the Moon – Shut Up and Dance
  This is my break/stress reliever song. Sometimes we all just need to shut up and dance.
• Meredith Andrews – You’re Not Alone
  This song helped me remember that I’m not alone, ever.
• Lauren Daigle – Trust In You
  This song helped me remember what it was all about.
• Imagine Dragons – Radioactive
  This is the perfect song for Life After: Book 3. I don’t want to give any more away about Book 3, the final book in Audrey’s story, but this song was a good reminder of where the series was headed.