This post was originally sent in June 2024, back before 80% of you were subscribed to my newsletter (and back before our pup’s health took a turn for the worse), so I’m guessing most of you haven’t had a chance to hear about the music that inspired Tessa’s story. I’ve updated a few small things, but left the references to Izzi. Here you go!
’s June 2024 post about music and dogs, I started to think about the music I listen to throughout my day. (And thus, what my dog gets to hear, too.)
For example, right now, my hubby is having band practice on the other side of the house from me.1 My dog has selected to hang out in the backyard, and I have to admit, it is much quieter outside than inside right now. Maybe I should join her.
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It’s not that I don’t like the music. (I do, in fact, like band #2’s music selection better than band #1’s musical repertoire!) The tunes are jamming2—the kind that will get people up and dancing or at least tapping their feet and bopping their heads and singing along at the top of their lungs.
What songs? Um, well, I’m horrible with names. (People. Books. Movies. Songs. Though I usually remember a dog’s name. What’s that say about me?) The songs are all covers—Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, and The Velvet Underground—to name a few.3 Anyway, the point is that the songs are motivating me to type.
Music as a motivator
When it came to writing the FORGED series, a YA Dystopian novel series, I would often put on a playlist to get in the “right” mood for the scene I was crafting.
But when it came to really getting into the mindset of my main character, Tessa, I created a couple of playlists to support the mood of the words flowing out. Because the main characters are teens, I selected songs to create a "soundtrack" to evoke moments of both teen drama and the hope (and fear) of the future.
Persistent images swirled in my mind. They swelled like a flash flood and cascaded over the river’s banks to engulf me, inundate me, drown me with their intensity.
Excerpt from Shattered, book on eof the FORGED Series from Provender Press. 2025
Tessa’s feelings of teenage angst run deeper than those of most teens. She has experienced major life changes—the death of her family, moving from her rural home to an urban center, and attending a public school for the first time. While she processes the loss of her family and her way of life, she is learning to navigate the new social expectations of public high school.
Remember that one person (or group) who hated you for no reason (or teased you or otherwise made your life miserable)? Offset that with someone who thinks you can walk on water (who believes in you, who champions your existence). That’s the mood of Tessa—that push and pull of trying to figure out what the heck is worth her time and energy. And discovering (or uncovering) who she is and who she wants to be.
“Running up that Hill” is NOT the best Kate Bush song
One song that puts me in her mindset within the first four notes is “This Woman’s Work” by Kate Bush. Maybe because this song was the musical score of the tear-jerking scene in the movie “She’s Having a Baby” (1988), a movie that formed all expectations of what married life should be. (Sorry, hubby, I’m comparing you to Kevin Bacon all. the. time.)5
Just have a listen and you’ll see. Angst. With a capital A. Okay, so the words are written as a husband/father who is fearing for the life of his wife & child during childbirth. But the push and pull of wanting to be hopeful and yet so fearful.
“All the things we should've said that are never said All the things we should've done that we never did”
Tessa feels these words in her very soul. They speak to her survivor’s guilt.
Because we are onions (figuratively)
As the story progresses, Tessa finds her voice, her inner strength. The Power Mix playlist I created embodies Tessa’s moments of confidence, anger, and determination. When frustration with teen drama at school takes over, Olivia Rodrigo’s “good 4 u” becomes her anthem. The chesting-pounding drum beats, power cords, and passionate vocals of “The Hardest Button to Button” by The White Stripes and “Woman” by Kesha feat. The Dap-Kings Horns scream her emotional state.
So, yeah, music powered my mental energy. Set the mood and freed my fingers to fly across the keyboard.
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When the music is over
In Tessa’s Creative Writing class, her teacher assigns them to write their thoughts while a selection of songs plays: everything from a lone violin resonating with sharp, disconcerting cords to the quick rift of a fiddle, happy and carefree. The shifting of the songs triggers emotional responses, and words flow out of Tessa and her fellow students. At the end of the lesson, the violin ended, and the silence was deafening.
When Tessa struggled to express her emotional state during the silence, her teacher spoke these words to her.
“Close your eyes and take a deep breath in. And out. Listen to the sounds around you. Filter each out, one by one, until you only hear your breath. Then listen to the sound between your breaths.”
The silence lulled me.
“Focus on what you hear. For even in silence, we are not alone.”
Excerpt from Shattered, book one of the FORGED Series from Provender Press. 2025.
The band has left the building
As I wrap up my writing, I revel in the silence of my house. The whir of my laptop fan and the clicking of my fingers on the keyboard are the only noises. Yet the ghost of the songs being practiced still sings in my head. An inner concert of “Sweet Jane” encourages me to finish my thoughts.
Thursday, September 4, 2025, 5-7pm - I’ll be at “Mac Inspired” (Glo Spa, 1300 NW Adams St Suite A, McMinnville) with copies of Shattered and The Midnight Vault to sell and some bookish swag. Already have a copy? Bring it, and I’ll sign it! Ask me questions about the series. Talk about books we’ve read. Lament about the “end of summer…” — I’ll be there for it all!
Thursday, October 9th, 7-9pm - I’ll be at Rediscovered Books (1576 W Grove St, Boise). This will be (fingers crossed) right after Merged is launched, so a perfect time to pick up a copy and have it signed!!! More details to come.
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Point of reference—my hubby is in two bands. I briefly mentioned this last week. I think this is great. I mean, I did “make” him buy a drum set 15 (or maybe 20) years ago, so I should only expect him to be in a band, right? The second band started because the bass player in the first band broke his wrist, so my hubby had to find someone else to play music with until the bass player healed up… hence, the side project was born. And once a new band is formed, you can hardly break it up just because the other band is getting back together. Right?
For full transparency, I went into the jam room after practice and looked at the board that lists their song for this Friday’s gig to figure out the band names. Yes, I cheated.
This newsletter was edited while listening to this playlist (after band practice, because during band practice, I’d never be able to hear the music from my little Bluetooth speaker).
Just kidding about comparing my hubby to Kevin Bacon. I’m sure Kevin Bacon is a nice enough guy, but he doesn’t hold a flame to my hubby! What is a true statement is that I am only two degrees separated from Kevin Bacon. Maybe I will tell you how that is true. Remind me later, ‘kay?
THANK YOU for saying 'Running up that Hill' isn't her best song! That song gets all the attention, but Kate Bush has so much depth beyond what TikTok discovered.
The last concert I went to was AC/DC a few months back in Pasadena.
I like the idea of creating character playlists.
THANK YOU for saying 'Running up that Hill' isn't her best song! That song gets all the attention, but Kate Bush has so much depth beyond what TikTok discovered.
The last concert I went to was AC/DC a few months back in Pasadena.
Favorite concert - AC/DC 2008 NYC
Bucket-list concert?- Linkin Park 2014 NYC
Happy Thursday to you :)
My favorite concerts were each by a guy named Paul-McCartney and Simon. Too close to call.