Playlist
Note to Readers: I wrote most of Killmaiden’s a few years ago, so some of this music is dated because of it. Of course, some of this music is a bit old just because I like old music. Listening to music helps me write. I think it’s the interplay of different creative media that helps me, or maybe it’s just because great music stirs the soul. Whatever it is, when I was writing Killmaiden’s I often listened to music, including the songs below. You should check them out.

1. The Adventure by Angels & Airwaves
This is a great song for the beginning of an adventure. The music quietly leads you in, but before you know it, you’re on your way into something exciting and real.

2. Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet
When I picture Alex and his companions running away from Tarkanian and his men, this song could be playing in the background.

3. Sugar, We’re Goin Down by Fall Out Boy
If they have to go down, heroes will always go down swinging.

4. Little Black Backpack by Stroke 9
It’s simple. It’s stripped down. It’s what sometimes plays in my head when Alex is in a fight.

5. Pepper by Butthole Surfers
This song gave me the idea for the kids to ski and sled through an avalanche. Not that this was the first avalanche in the history of adventure stories—obviously, far from it—but Alex’s trip down the Klammerhorn was inspired by music rather than books or movies.

6. Snow (Hey Oh) by Red Hot Chili Peppers
This song manages to be both Zen and exciting at the same time. It’s ideal for an adventure montage even though I can’t imagine how you’d do a montage in a book. Maybe for the movie…

7. Tangerine by Led Zeppelin
It’s quiet, it’s beautiful, and you should try listening to it while reading the scene where Victoria and Alex talk as they cross the Saracen Sea in a speedboat.

8. Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance
This is martial music for great battle scenes.

9. Am I Wrong by Love Spit Love
This is dreamy music that goes well with sad goodbyes. It makes me think about the goodbyes Alex says in Serenissima, but you may have your own it makes you think of.

10. Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve
The string part of this music gave me a great idea for a scene, but it’s not in Killmaiden’s. I think it’ll be in the sequel, so for now it’s a secret.

11. New Soul by Yael Naïm
This little song is loveable in every way. It’s Charlotte’s song.

12. Fix You by Coldplay
This song has one of the best builds I’ve ever heard. Say what you will about Coldplay, they know how to compose a song. It’s similar to a great book where the pace and emotion just build and build like the rumble of thunder before the breaking storm. When I’m jogging with it on my iPod, I feel like I could run up a mountain.