When I first started working on HARVEST OF RUINS, I needed chapter titles.
You see, because the book had intersecting timelines originally, I wasn’t writing it in sequence. I wasn’t writing it chronologically, and I wasn’t writing it in the order I thought it would appear in the book.
I needed the chapter titles in order to keep track of what I’d written.
I learned I really hate coming up with chapter titles.
Somewhere along the way, the titles I started sticking on sections became song titles. I love music, and music can set a mood. So often, when I’m reading (or writing) something, I wish I could have the soundtrack playing in the background. It’s probably one of the reasons I’m such a fan of Ian Rankin’s Rebus books – those musical references add to the reading experience.
With HARVEST OF RUINS, the idea of using primarily song titles stuck. For a few chapters, the titles are book titles, but for the most part, each chapter has its own theme song. I’m one of these authors that stick-it-in-your-face promotion doesn’t come naturally to, but it’s so easy for me to talk music. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how awesome it was that my chapter titles were book titles, because it gave me something easy to talk about.
Here’s the playlist for HARVEST OF RUINS. In a few cases, a video or audio link isn’t available, and I’ve selected a different video by the artist or group for the post.
A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall by Bob Dylan
Lovers in a Dangerous Time by Bruce Cockburn
Got to kick at the darkness til it bleeds daylight – famous line quoted by U2 in a song.
Murder Incorporated by Bruce Springsteen
Inventing Shadows by Dia Frampton
There’s Your Trouble by The Dixie Chicks
The Way of the Gun (movie)
In The Woods by Tana French
Weighty Ghost by Wintersleep Listen here
Well worth the click through, this was a song used in the movie One Week, the story of a young man diagnosed with a terminal illness. It’s as Canadian as a movie gets, and even the trailer above contains shots of where I grew up, in Muskoka-Parry Sound.
We Are Lost Together by Blue Rodeo
The leaves are falling through my reverie
They waltz like fire on the autumn breeze
I’m walking alone
The wind in the trees up above
Crying with the voice of the ghost of love
Ghost of Love by Rawlins Cross Listen here
Situation Critical by Platinum Blond
Past The Point of Rescue by Hal Ketchum
Casualties of War by Susan Aglukark
The Show is Free by Doc Walker
Heaven is the Last Place by Jimmy Rankin Listen here
Emotional Truth by Tom Cochrane and Red Rider Listen here
Every Breath You Take by The Police
I Saved Everything by Deric Ruttan Listen here
Kiss The Dirt by INXS
This is How You Remind Me by Nickelback
Wicked Game by Chris Isaak
Turning Tables by Adele
There Are No Roads Here by The Corb Lund Band
One Headlight by The Wallflowers
The Soul Cages by Sting
The Story of Us by Taylor Swift
If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lightfoot
If you could read my mind love
What a tale my thoughts would tell
Just like a paperback novel
The kind that drugstores sell
When you reach the part where the heartache comes
The hero would be you
Heroes often fail
How could an author not love lyrics like that? Duane Steele did a great version of this several years ago, and, if you prefer it fast…
A Place of Execution by Val McDermid Watch the movie trailer here
Video Killed The Radio Star by Buggles
It may not be my favorite song, but if you read the book you have to agree the title is perfect for this chapter.
Paparazzi by Lady Gaga
Exit Wound by Jackie Leven
If I Die Young by The Band Perry
Haunted by Taylor Swift
What The Dead Know by Laura Lippman
Strictly for the title, and how it fits the chapter. I considered The Ghosts That Haunt Me. It didn’t seem quite as fitting but gets the playlist spot here because there’s no video for WTDK.
Thinking about the music in HARVEST OF RUINS is what gave me the idea of doing a new feature here called Soundtrack Sunday. I love musical references, and writers tend to know some great bands. Sometimes, those bands are a little more obscure, a little less mainstream, but worthy of a wider audience.
And then I thought how cool it would be if authors sent me their musical recommendations every week.
And now we have Soundtrack Sunday here at Spinetingler.
Authors, email me your write up. Pick a theme song for your book, or create a whole playlist. If you want to embed videos put all the html code in a word document and include it as an attachment.
