Letters From War and Paper Angels weren’t the first books I wrote that were inspired by songs.
Actually, the first one was the very first novel I had published, The Promise Remains.
At the end of 1997, I saw Titanic along with the rest of the world. I was very moved by it, to be honest. I’m a sucker for a love story set to an amazing soundtrack (and yeah, amazing special effects too).
I bought the soundtrack by James Horner. On it is a crucial track that plays during a very crucial moment.
That track: “A Promise Kept”.
In January, 1998, I began writing a love story I’d been wanting to write for a while. But I discovered my hook through this song.
This story was very straightforward and simple. As I wrote it, I knew I was going to pitch it to the publisher I worked for. I also knew they had a well-selling title called A Promise Kept, so I decided to change the name of my novel to The Promise Remains.
I didn’t have a clue that the eighth novel I’d write and finish would actually be my first one published. I hoped, just like I hope for twenty more. But I didn’t expect it to really happen.
I’ve come to realize that music and movies have impacted my writing in major ways. And I write this as I near the finish line on a very important novelization for a very important movie coming this fall called Home Run.
Pretty cool.
This is one of your books on my list of "must reads". Titanic has one of my favorite soundtracks…EVER. Now, when I am finally able to read this book, I will be reading it while listening to Titanic's soundtrack.
I reckon I must be otherworldly because I have not seen the movie, but I am curious about songs bringing forth entire novels.
An author friend (Glynn Young ~ "Dancing Priests") mentioned once that you have a collection of songs that have inspired your works. Have you already shared this list? And when a book is song-inspired, does the novel come to life all at once for you?
Thinking aloud here.
Blessings.
Thanks Candice!
Darlene–I don't think I've posted those songs. I've shared many songs that have impacted specific works. Some just happen. SKY BLUE by Peter Gabriel felt like the perfect song for that story. Then I ended up calling it SKY BLUE because that can mean anything. THE WATERMARK by Enya felt like the novel I wrote. A watermark really represented the theme behind that story. So not every story has ONE single song that inspired it, but many have a playlist of songs.
Great book Travis! And who didn't cry like a baby in Titanic, for the real people not Jack and Rose.