We’re just over a week until the release of The Killing Beach. It’s only taken…well, almost six years since the first vague idea.

I’ve done everything I can, short of spending thousands of dollars I don’t have to advertise, to give it the best chance it can have. The reality, though, is that this is a huge upward climb and it’ll probably be years before I have any idea if these books go anywhere.

It’s hard for me to just let go, but that’s where I am–which is where Waverly Jones finds herself.

So prior to the full soundtrack going up in a couple of weeks, I give you the epilogue song from The Killing Beach.

Most of my books, I know the endings well ahead of time (often years in advance). It gives me direction while I’m writing, and even if I tweak them a little–Emperor’s Tomb was supposed to end with Livi at the funeral in Texas, until I finished the book and found all those threads I still had to bundle–it’s the glowing lighthouse I’m always reaching for.

TKB’s ending is one of the things that kept me coming back to the series again and again, no matter how many times I hit brick walls while writing it. It was crystal clear in my head and for whatever reason I heard Anna Nalick’s “Breathe (2AM)” on repeat for the scene–probably because I also heard Waverly repeating over and over, “Breathe. Just breathe.”

Waverly both starts and ends the book on the beach.

The beach that drew her home again, hoping to find the impossible.

The beach that ends up changing her whole world.

But you can’t jump the track, we’re like cars on a cable
And life’s like an hourglass glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button now

“Breathe” is a song about not being able to go back in time, and I think that’s why it stuck out to my subconscious. An ongoing theme of the series is that loss of time, knowing that it’s moving and you’re caught by the current. That hourglass it touched on again in an important scene in the seventh book (I can’t wait to talk about “Out of Sand” for that scene and its lyrics)

So I had both the original and the acoustic version of this on repeat, alternating as I finally, finally got to write the end of this book that I’d been excited about for so long, four years after I first started it.

The Killing Beach, Waverly Jones 1, releases officially on Tuesday May 30. There is one final week to claim your thank you gift.

Kindle – Kobo – iBooks – Nook – Payhip – Paperback – Hardcover

Signed paperback on Etsy – Hardcover Gift Box

Bishop Briggs – “White Flag“
More on that one here. Livi doesn’t have a white flag.

NerdOut feat. Divide & Halocene – “No Fear” (Shadow of the Tomb Raider)
NerdOut has a bunch of fun songs, and this TR one fit Livi’s journey here.
“On this road of mine I have walked alone//Left my soul behind, to dive into unknown//The blood is on my hands, but I can’t let it control//The choice to rise and to stand is all that I know//I’ve come so far//I’m not turning back//After all I’ve sacrificed//I have to wonder//What will I become//With no fear left in my eyes”

Ruelle – “Game of Survival“
This is basically Livi v Nostoi
“There’s no surrender//And there’s no escape//Are we the hunters?//Or are we the prey?”

Starset – “My Demons“

Ashes Remain – “On My Own“
“Bring me out//Come and find me in the dark now//Every day by myself I’m breaking down//I don’t wanna fight alone anymore”

Ursine Vulpine feat Annaca – “Wicked Game“
More on that one here. Liv and Iluka.

RIYAYA feat John Mark McMillan – “Hunter“
More on that one here.
This was on repeat for me when Livi runs the final way toward Pluto’s Gate (I wish I could share the scene in my head, it’s very dramatic with some epic shots and slow-mo)

Tommee Profitt – “With You ‘Til the End“
When Livi reaches the underworld and discovers she’s not alone. Pretty much the whole thing lyrically.

NEONI – “Giants“
I’ll let you guess about this one but it is both metaphorical and literal for Liv.
“Heaven and hell are waiting//Don’t need more motivation”

J2 feat Lola – “Somewhere Under the Rainbow“
The underworld.

Ruelle – “Madness“
Livi in the underworld, questioning her sanity.
“Feel the fury closing in//All resistance wearing thin//Nowhere to run from all of this havoc//Nowhere to hide//From all of this madness”

Lauren Daigle – “Rescue“
More on that one here.

Ursine Vulpine feat Annaca – “Without You“
Livi leaves someone behind in the underworld.
“You don’t have to be the brave one every time//I know you wanna make it right” and “We need a bit more time”

Sarah McLachlan – “Full of Grace“
Livi reaches the surface/heads home and speaks with Em.
Pretty much the whole thing lyrically.

Charon’s Gold is now available.

Kindle | Kobo | iBooks | Nook | Smashwords | Payhip | Paperback

The complete list of Soundtrack Sunday posts are here.