When Inspiration Strikes – The Power of Music

Sometimes, I find inspiration in the simplest things. It can be subtle, like a stirring in the back of my mind that I don’t really notice at first, and it can be a thunderbolt. It can strike me hard, right down to my soul.

Today, I was looking around on iTunes for new music, something that seems to happen with alarming regularity… I’m a music whore. Honestly, I can buy albums and listen to them non-stop, well beyond the point where most people would be sick of hearing the same tunes. But, I find myself quickly aching for something new, something fresh. I have so much music, I could probably find that fresh, new feel among the albums and bands I haven’t listened to for a while.

I digress. Let’s get back to why I suddenly felt the need to blog.

So, I’m looking on iTunes, scoping out all my favourite bands (Seether, 30 Seconds to Mars, Red, The Starting Line, Tupelo Honey, 3 Doors Down, Lifehouse and the list goes on) and I’m finding nothing new… so I’m going to give up.

And then I see in the list of similar bands to one of my favourites that an OLD favourite, Breaking Benjamin, has a new ablum out after forever and ever and ever (yeah, it’s been a while, I’m not forgiving them for that). So I check out the new album, and…

OH. MY. GODS!

It’s like a thunderbolt, and it hits me hard in my soul.

As you know, I’m writing UNCHAINED BY A FORBIDDEN LOVE right now, and I’m halfway through the first draft. Now, the hero, Fuery, is a tough cookie to crack and get just right. He’s dark. Very dark. He’s on the finest knife’s edge, balanced between being a dangerous beast and becoming a monster. I’ve been trying to capture him, boil down his essence and get him just right, because he’s one of my favourite characters in the Eternal Mates series. I think I’ve been doing well with him, and the book, but there’s that niggling, nagging voice in the back of my mind that always tells me I could be doing better.

I’ve been struggling to find the right soundtrack to write this book to, and I always write to music. I use it to stir my soul, and my emotions, picking music that matches scenes, or the overall feel of a book or character.

Well, this album, Dark Before Dawn by Breaking Benjamin, has almost EVERY SINGLE SONG speaking to me about Fuery, and his story with Shaia, and his battle against the darkness. It’s incredible.

It’s like someone wrote Fuery a damned soundtrack!

Kudos to Breaking Benjamin. My gods, it is perfect!

Here’s a little sample from some of the lyrics…

Pain come alive, I try to breathe, shade my eyes
Follow the damned, I have lost the way again

Stay, trust in life, carried beneath, dead arise
Sorrow avenged, I will face the weak within

So I’ll stay unforgiven
And I’ll keep love together
And I’ll be yours forever
I’ll sleep close to Heaven

Hate lost inside, I dare to dream, faithless lies
Caught in the web, I will face the weak within

So I’ll stay unforgiven
And I’ll keep love together
And I’ll be yours forever
I’ll sleep close to Heaven

— Close to Heaven

and then there’s this one too…

I tried to face the fight within
But it’s over
I’m ready for the riot to begin and surrender
I walked the path, it led me to the end, remember
I’m caught beneath with nothing left to give, forever

When angels fall with broken wings
I can’t give up, I can’t give in
When all is lost and daylight ends
I’ll carry you and we will live forever, for ever

Grey skies will chase the light away, no longer
I fought the fight, now only dark remains forever

Divided I will stand
And I will let this end

— Angels Fall

Mix them together with some other songs by other bands that I love (Blood on my Hands by The Used, Make Me Believe by Tupelo Honey, Save Me by Unwritten Law…) and I so have a good soundtrack to really make Fuery’s book, and his character, hit home.

I’m thrilled.

Of course, now I have to go back and read over what I’ve written for his book so I can get this dark, tormented, vibe into him…

Do I like torturing my heroes? No, but sometimes it’s necessary. Sometimes, it makes them shine, makes them real, and makes you love them that little bit more.

Admit it 🙂

 

As always, my comments are open, and I’d love to hear from you!

Felicity Heaton

About Felicity Heaton

I'm a NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books as Felicity Heaton and F E Heaton. In my books I create detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you're a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, Larissa Ione, Kresley Cole, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will love my books too.

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