Soundtrack Sunday – “Wonderwall”

So, obviously, I have a lot of playlists.

Series have playlists. Individual books within them have playlists. Characters have playlists. Couples have playlists. Scenes have playlists (usually 1-5 songs on repeat). Chapters have playlists (you’ll notice most of the Livi books have Epilogue titles that are also song titles; same with Demons of Oblivion. Those were the songs playing on repeat when I wrote the ends of those books). Playlists will also have “moods” that I repeat throughout the book.

Several weeks ago I was working on Blood Ties–finally, finally, I figured out how to fix the middle, and did so without throwing it at my long-suffering beta and running away screaming–and one of the songs on it twigged something, which is what led to me figuring out what the book needed.

The song in question was this cover of “Wonderwall”:

(This book has a whole host of epic covers.)

The book wanted kissing.

IT’S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A KISSING BOOK. Plus I don’t like writing first book kissing–I like slow-burn! (Exhibit A through E: Livi and West.) But Elis is not that sort of character. She is not the sort of character who doesn’t act on sexual tension, and she doesn’t care about me wanting her to get back together with her ex-girlfriend–she wants kissing in the middle of the book.

Our conversation went like this:

Me: Okay you have to leave the bar now and kill this dude.

Elis: But FIRST…kissing.

Me: No, murder.

Elis: Right but also kissing.

Me: …

Elis: K-I-S-S-I-N-G

Me:

Elis:

Me: Seriously–

Elis: Kiss. KISS.

I did manage to avoid the kissing, but she was VERY loud about it. She settled for some dancing. If Elis and Melinoe end up striking up a relationship later, the epic version of “Wonderwall” would probably be their theme song, however it obviously would not be playing on the bar’s jukebox in the story. I found two others that work instead.

It’s new love, and longing, and desire, and an edge of hope. It’s slow-dancing in a roomful of strangers but not seeing anyone else in the room but your partner.

I don't believe that anybody
Feels the way I do, about you now 
And all the roads that lead you there are winding
And all the lights that light the way are blinding
There are many things that I
Would like to say to you but I don't know how
Because maybe, you're gonna be the one that saves me 

Blood Ties is currently serializing at Patreon for all patrons and will be available everywhere June 2. There is minimum kissing, though, because I am the author and I’m driving this car. For now.