Music as a source of inspiration

For me, music is a source of inspiration for my writing. As an example, when I started writing Shadows of the Stone Benders in early December 2015, I was flying home from a California business trip late one night and was texting with my 16 y.o. son. via the plane’s wifi service. I asked him if he had any new music to share and he texted me his playlist from his favorite music-sharing app. I started listening to clips of the playlist and – bam – one of the songs really “struck a chord” with me. The song, Something Better, by an artist named Audien, became the inspiration for the relationship dynamic between Anlon and Pebbles in the story. If you have You Tube access and are interested to listen to the song, I’ve included a link to Audien’s official video for the song here. Ironically, the You Tube video has a science fiction feel to it, but I didn’t see the video until I’d already completed writing the book. The song’s lyrics and the pleading tone of the voices in the song are what really sparked for me (lyrics below):

I never met you, but I know you’re out there
If I cross the oceans, would you be there?

A stranger’s eyes that somehow look familiar
I know that when it’s you, I’ll remember
Remember

So wait for me, I swear I’ll find you
Climbing every wall that hides you
I know we were meant for something better
So wait for me, the world is changing
Underneath, the ground is shaking
You and I were meant for something better
Better, oh

I swear I’ll find you

I feel the wind move, we breathe the same air
You’re like the best news that I can’t share

A stranger’s eyes that somehow look familiar (Somehow look familiar)
I know that when it’s you, I’ll remember
Remember

So wait for me, I swear I’ll find you
Climbing every wall that hides you
I know we were meant for something better
So wait for me, the world is changing
Underneath, the ground is shaking
You and I were meant for something better
Better, oh

So wait for me, the world is changing
Underneath, the ground is shaking
You and I were meant for something better
Better, oh

I swear I’ll find you
Meant for something better
Better, oh