This is one of my absolute favorite blog posts to write!
Music greatly inspires my writing and, with the release of As Strong As Death so close now (August 15!), I am thrilled to give you a musical glimpse into the plot!
I have songs for every major moment of the novel. In order not to give away any spoilers, I’m just going to share a few lines of lyrics from each song that most reflect what is happening within our novel.
“Lovely” by Billie Eilish (featuring Khalid)
Oh, I hope some day I’ll make it out of here
Even if it takes all night or a hundred years
Need a place to hide, but I can’t find one near
Wanna feel alive, outside I can’t fight my fear
“Find My Way Back” by Eric Arjes
I’ll find my way back
Into the dark to chase your heart
No distance could ever tear us apart
There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do
I’ll find my way back to you
“Walking the Wire” by Imagine Dragons
Oh, I’ll take your hand when thunder roars
And I’ll hold you close, I’ll stay the course
I promise you from up above
That we’ll take what comes, take what comes, love
“Time” by Hans Zimmer
This is instrumental, so I have no lyrics to pinpoint. But I will share that I listened to this song on repeat when writing Barrett’s scenes.
“Pieces” by RED
[I love how the song begins so somber with the stringed instruments and there is such a heaviness to it. But then, at about the 4 minute mark, the whole song shifts and changes to such a feeling of hope and joy.]
Then I see your face
I know I’m finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole
“Silence” by Jars of Clay
Deeper I wanna scream
I want you to hear me
I want you to find me
‘Cause I, I want to believe
But all I pray is wrong
And all I claim is gone
And I
I got a question …
Where are you?
“Rhythm of the East” by The Gray Havens
[If As Strong As Death were a motion picture, this song would play during the closing scene!]
I was going down by the river
Found I was cold and couldn’t speak
I started hearing something in the silence next to me
I remember now in December how like a split-second dream
I heard a summer song, if I get it wrong you can find it in the east
…
Don’t let me go
Don’t leave me behind
I want you so bad to stay this time
Coming August 15, 2023!
Add these songs to your playlist and get ready for the release of the final book in The Shadows of Freedom series!
And if you need a refresher, check out this and this blog post for songs that inspired the previous two books in the series!
