Keys of Death Playlist
When I was writing The Keys of Death, here’s something that really helped me: a playlist.
Why? Because music is emotionally evocative, and when combined with lyrics that told the story of a character’s heart or fit the mood I was trying to convey, the writing went more smoothly and I was able to maintain the emotional through-line of the book. My Keys of Death playlist included:
the classic Andy Williams rendition of “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” (to get me into the yuletide spirit, since the events of the book occur at Christmastime, and it was summer when I did much of the initial draft)
instrumental Irish music (reels and jigs) by Altan, plus “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and “October” by U2 (to make me feel like a rebellious northern Irish youth caught between happy-go-lucky “Irishness” and the anger of The Troubles)
the hymns “You Raise Me Up” and “Be Still My Soul” (to express the spiritual yearning and anguish of the main characters)
Four songs in particular, though, I returned to over and over again, because each one matched up perfectly with one of the characters.
I’m Alive - Peter Furler
Caught Up - Usher
Good To Be Alive - Jason Gray
What Faith Can Do - Kutless
Can you guess which song applies to which character in The Keys of Death?