Playlist for "Out of Smoke and Ashes" – Triple Trouble 5.

First of all, there’s still time to enter my giveaway if you missed the original posting yesterday.

That being said, I wanted to post the playlist article I did for a feature on Siren-BookStrand’s Facebook page about Out of Smoke and Ashes – Triple Trouble 5. (Also available on Kindle and coming to other third-party retailers soon if not there already.) I’ve included some YouTube links in this one, so you can easily find the songs. Enjoy! 🙂

Triple Trouble Tunes

I have an iPod that looks like someone with multiple personalities owns it. I have everything on there from classical, New Age, and jazz, all the way up to heavy metal. And everything in between. Music is an integral part of my writing process. Sometimes indirectly as background “noise” and sometimes directly, when a certain song meshes perfectly with a certain aspect of the book. I have a few playlists that are my “go-to” background music selections because there are a lot of songs in them making them perfect for repeat play, I know them by heart, and they tend to fade into the background for me to help even out the distractions of my tinnitus. I cannot write without music, or background noise of some sort, because of the tinnitus.

But for each book, sometimes certain songs definitely stand out as highlights. And here are a few from “Out of Smoke and Ashes” (Triple Trouble 5).

“Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon (or the Jimmy Buffett version). This is just a fun, bouncy song. It’s one of my favorites. (And also, it has a little personal background I won’t go in to now. LOL) I know my shifters aren’t “werewolves,” but I always think of Brodey Lyall during the “aaaaOOOOOH” part of the chorus.

“Just Give Me a Reason” by Pink (featuring Nate Ruess). This one is an anthem for Liam and Carla. Although their backstory doesn’t match up with the song exactly, they’re both discovering “we’re not broken, just bent” and wanting to “learn to love again.” Especially the line about it being “written in the scars on our hearts.”

“Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On” by Jimmy Buffett. This one fits Elain, Lina, and Mai, all for different reasons. Mai because she’s becoming a mom to a child with special needs and worrying about the future, Lina because she’s a new mom, and Elain because she’s dealing with all of the craziness around her that keeps getting crazier by the minute. All three women are facing huge changes in their life due to their new roles not just in their families, but with their Clan as well.

“True Love” by Pink (featuring Lily Rose Cooper). This song cracks me up because it fits the totally whacked-out dynamic between Marston and Mercedes. (“At the same time I want to hug you, I want to wrap my hands around your neck. You’re an asshole, but I love you.”) I dare you to read the book, and then listen to this song, and not laugh when thinking about Marston and Mercedes. I know I can’t.

“Pacing the Cage” (Jimmy Buffett version). Elain is moving into an time in her life where she’s learning that “sometimes, the darkness is your friend.” The messages of maps being useless and not being able to see the future resonates in many ways. (There wasn’t a good video for this, but you can find the song on iTunes.)

“Beam Me Up” by Pink. This one is heartbreaking. It’s an anthem for Liam, Elain, Carla, and Maureen. If you listen to the words of the song, it’s about wanting another minute with a lost child (or loved one). This song always brings me to tears.

So there you have it. I hope these songs give you a better insight to the story and some of the feelings going through me when I wrote certain parts of it.