Greetings, readers!
Writers use any number of tools for inspiration while creating their stories. I oscillate between both visual and auditory symbolism while working within the fantasy realms of Ash Bennett and other projects.
Today, I thought I’d share with you the bits and pieces that brought book one of the Ash Bennett series, Old Souls, to life. Consider it insight into my writing process.
First, I’ll share one of the mood boards I kept for book one. Mood boards are a composite of images and ideas that, when put together, tell a story and/or inspire creativity. If you’ve read Old Souls, you’ll recognize familiar themes that translate from the image into the book.
Second, here’s a snippet of the lengthy playlist I kept for the first book in the series. Each song conveys a different part of Ash’s journey through book one of the series.
Thank God I’m a Country Boy – John Denver
Wake Me Up – DJ Avicii
Waving Through a Window – Dear Evan Hanson
Wanted (Dead or Alive) – Bon Jovi
Didn’t Leave Nobody but the Baby – Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, & Gillian Welch
All the Magic – Natalie Imbruglia
Honesty – Billy Joel
Not All Heroes Wear Capes – Owl City
Home Again – Michael Kiwanuka
Book two, The Nothing Place, has a mood board and a playlist as well. Both are a fun and helpful way to immerse myself into the mood of the story and embrace the overall themes of the fictional universe. Hope you enjoy this bit of insider information!
Love and light!
L.A. Goodman
PS: If you’ve read and enjoyed Old Souls or The Nothing Place, the first two books in the Ash Bennett series, please consider leaving a review for both on Amazon. Each review helps. Thank you!
I loved seeing these inspirations!