All my stories have theme songs that go with them. I’ve never had a song in mind at the time I start writing but at some point I’ll hear something on the radio or my phone that will resonate with the plot or characters and that’ll be the song for that book.
Once I’ve got the song in my head it’s a useful way of getting into the mood for writing after a break (the curse of the part time writer) or getting out of the occasional block. I can put it on, sing along and remind myself what grabbed me about it. I can also amuse myself by imagining the film trailer using them when Hollywood comes calling.
I’ve mentioned what the song is in the author’s note for each book and way back when I started writing I posted the song for my first book but I thought it would be fun to put them all in one place.
Falling for Her Captor
Something rocky to start with. A hero who has buried himself inside the job he has to do for the man he hates to serve. I love the opening chords on the organ, it sounds very Medieval.
‘You take what they give you
And you keep it inside
Every spark of friendship and love will die without a home
Hear the soldier groan we’ll got it at alone
I can taste the fear
Lift me up and take me out of here
Don’t want to fight, don’t want to die
Just want to hear you cry’
A Wager for the Widow
A bit of The Boss. If I had to choose an all time favourite song this would probably be it.
‘Don’t turn me home again, I just can’t face myself alone again
Don’t run back inside, darling, you know just what I’m here for
So you’re scared and you’re thinking that maybe we ain’t that young anymore
Show a little faith, there’s magic in the night
You ain’t a beauty but, hey, you’re alright
Oh, and that’s alright with me 
You can hide ‘neath your covers and study your pain
Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain
For a savior to rise from these streets.’
The Blacksmith’s Wife
A marriage of convenience deserves a song of repressed and unrequited love. This one is sung by the highly distinctive voice of Stevie Nicks.
‘Don’t keep me hangin’ on a string
Tell me what I feel is no big thing
Don’t turn away I’m listening
Over and over again
Don’t give me visions to explain
There are no doubts I feel the strain
Of all my senses yearning
Over and over again
Every day I see you
Every day I need you
Every way I breathe you
On and on and on and on again… again.‘
The Saxon Outlaw’s Revenge
‘I finished crying in the instant that you left
But I can’t remember where or when or how
And I banished every memory you and I had ever made!
But when you touch me like this
And you hold me like that
I just have to admit
That it’s all coming back to me.
When I touch you like this
And I hold you like that
It’s so hard to believe but
It’s all coming back to me now.‘
Redeeming the Rogue Knight
After a while you’ll forget everything
Just a brief interlude, and a mid-summer night’s fling
Then you’ll see that it’s time to move on
I won’t do that
I won’t do that
I know the territory – I’ve been around
It’ll all turn to dust and we’ll all fall down
Sooner or later you’ll be screwing around
I won’t do that!
No I won’t do that!
