DARKER STILL... A Playlist

Shop Indie BookstoresI was asked by an awesome girl with awesome pink streaks in her hair who has an awesome name (Airaseem) at my Anderson's Bookshop signing outside Chicago what music I listened to while writing; if DARKER STILL had a playlist. It does, in fact, and I'd meant to share it publicly (I made mix CDs for the Sourcebooks staff) so thanks, Airaseem, for the reminder.

Now while I'm writing, I can't listen to music with lyrics, so I listen to 19th Century classical music and movie soundtracks. Classical music puts me in the historical mindset of the time-period and soundtracks (like Harry Potter) give a sense of movement and magic in the background. But that doesn't mean that's the only influential music.

Any writer will tell you that half the time spent writing a novel is daydreaming about said novel. I live in New York City, I daydream A LOT on the subway, with my iPod in my ears, listening to evocative music that plays like a movie trailer to scenes from my book that I play in my mind's eye and mull over. THAT process has a soundtrack, and here are the top songs I've listened to while daydreaming MAGIC MOST FOUL saga, songs that on some level have some sort of material or thematic connection to my work. Some of the tracks here are from famous bands, some not, so I hope you'll check them all out. Specifically, Over The Rhine is my favorite hometown indy band from Cincinnati, their music ranges from indy rock to blues to folk, and what I love about them is their versatility and their gorgeous songwriting. Across the spectrum is my favorite Goth / Darkwave / Electronica band, VNV Nation. (VNV = Victory Not Vengeance). I love VNV because it's killer club/dance music (I'm a Goth girl and have been since way back in the day) and the melodies and lyrics are poetic and oh-so-gorgeous. All this stuff is available on iTunes, or you can also support the bands directly from their websites. Happy listening!

Beloved - VNV Nation
Hush Now - Over The Rhine
I Will Follow You Into The Dark - Deathcab for Cutie
Jar Of Hearts - Christina Perri
I Go To Sleep - Sia
Bridge - Lucy Wainwright Roche
In This Shirt - The Irrepressibles
Rhapsodie - Over The Rhine
Illusion - VNV Nation
Standing - VNV Nation

What's your writing and reading soundtrack?

I got to tell my Hero he's an inspiration...

So last night a dynamic and stylish quartet (Marianne, Jacob, Marcos and I) set off towards "Salvation." It was the one year anniversary of the club night.

And who did they bring in to guest DJ but Ronan Harris, of my most favorite band:
VNV Nation (Victory Not Vengeance).


VNV Nation creates gorgeous, sweeping, intoxicating music with epic, poetic lyrics.













(photo by Dirk Eusterbrook for the FuturePerfect album)


Even though I was totally stage-struck, I had to walk up to Mr. Harris and tell him that he's an inspiration. Because he is, and I don't ever miss an opportunity to tell someone that their art moves me.

The beautiful song "Beloved" has been a key inspiration in the Victorian fantasy novel my agent and I are trying to sell. As soon as I get a contract, I hope to obtain permission to quote a paragraph of the lyrics on the front page to give full credit and props to beauty.

So I told him that his song inspired a book. While I simply know it to be true, I guess that's a pretty good compliment. He was so gracious. He said that it was about the best compliment ever and that he was speechless. Full of earnest smiles and wonderful energy, isn't it just thrilling when one of your heroes turns out to be the nice, gracious, approachable and kind human being that you hoped they would be? In addition to being so talented? Wow. Definately one of life's highlights.