Music has always been a big part of my life. Coming from a family of musicians, it was only natural that I would become one myself--what can you expect when you're surrounded by instruments? You literally couldn't walk through our house without stumbling across someone's "baby". Or in the case of my brother's guitar, my foot actually went through his baby--oops!  

The flute is my weapon of choice. I started playing it when I was eight and I keep my flute and music stand right beside my desk. I also play french horn, piano, organ, fife, piccolo, violin/fiddle, drums, guitar and clarinet. And yes, I even played in a rock band, many, many years ago.

Because of my love of music, when I sit down to write, I use songs to inspire me. Each book I write has it's own soundtrack and I thought it would be fun to share with you the songs that I listen to while I write.


Sherri is partially paralyzed in her right hand which makes playing instruments very difficult for her. Her favorite piece of music is Grieg's in the Hall of the Mountain King which she can't play because of her hand. Still she practices the piece every single day hoping that one day she'll browbeat her hand into cooperating. "Giving up" is not in her vocabulary.


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Factoid: Fans are often suggesting songs to Sherri for the soundtrack. And many bring their own compilations on CD's to give her at signings. If you have a song and want to share it, there's a whole section on the Message Board for it.

 

 

 

Soundtracks


The Dark-Hunter "theme" is a song that has been a favorite of mine since the early 1980's. Nemesis by Shriekback. The first time I heard it was right after I had published the first DH short-story with Acheron in it.  A friend of mine happened to hear the song and it reminded him of my vampires. From the first bar, I was captivated and as soon as I heard:

We feel like Greeks, we feel like Romans
Centaurs and monkeys just cluster round us
We drink elixirs that we refine
From the juices of the dying
We are no monsters, we're moral people
And yet we have the strength to do this
This is the splendor of our achievement
Call in the air strike with a poison kiss

I knew it was a perfect theme for my Hunters.

To read the full lyrics and hear a sample of the classic Shriekback style, click here

And if ever there was a song to truly define my dear Dark-Hunters it would have to be one of my faves from childhood. I was 7 or 8 when I first saw the movie King Creole and the instant I heard Elvis sing Trouble, I was hooked on 2 things, his killer bad attitude and New Orleans. 

For those unfamiliar with the song, here are the lyrics:

If you're looking for trouble 
You came to the right place 
If you're looking for trouble 
Just look right in my face 
I was born standing up 
And talking back 
My daddy was a green-eyed mountain jack 
Because I'm evil, my middle name is misery 
Well I'm evil, so don't you mess around with me 

I've never looked for trouble 
But I've never ran 
I don't take no orders 
From no kind of man 
I'm only made out 
Of flesh, blood and bone 
But if you're gonna start a rumble 
Don't you try it all alone 
Because I'm evil, my middle name is misery 
Well I'm evil, so don't you mess around with me 

Anyone who knows me, knows I am often found either humming or singing this (usually off key as I am tone deaf) and I want to give Nick a special thank you for finding the lyrics online for me. Merci, mon frere. 

Artemis and Acheron's song and song list

Fantasy Lover:
Take My Breath Away Berlin
She's so High Tal Bachman
I Want to Know What Love Is Foreigner
You Sang to Me Marc Anthony
Angel Aerosmith
Crazy Aerosmith
Just Like Heaven The Cure
Iris Goo Goo Dolls
Slide Goo Goo Dolls
Bed of Roses Bon Jovi


Night Pleasures:
Crash and Burn Savage Garden
The Flame Cheap Trick
Back 2 Good Matchbox 20
Push Matchbox 20
Don't Want to Close My Eyes Aerosmith
Name Goo Goo Dolls
That Smell Lynyrd Skynyrd
Can't Get Enough of You Baby Smashmouth
Comfortably Numb Pink Floyd
Blister on the Sun Violent Femmes
If You Sleep Tal Bachman
Strong Enough Tal Bachman

Night Embrace:
Crowds Bauhaus
Cajun & Zydeco various artists
If You're Gone Matchbox 20
Kiss You All Over Exile
I Don't Want the World to Change Ozzy Osbourne
Monkey Business Skid Row
Gimme 3 Steps Lynyrd Skynyrd
Fly to the Angels Slaughter
Dust in the Wind Kansas
Wayward Son Kansas
Shook Me All Night Long AC/DC
Coming Home Cinderella
Devil Inside INXS

Phantom Lover:
Dreamweaver Gary Wright
Angel  Aerosmith
Bed of Lies Matchbox 20
One Last Breath Creed
My Sacrifice Creed
Everything That Rises Must Converge Shriekback
Silent Lucidity Queensryche
Mama I'm Coming Home Ozzy
These Dreams Heart

Night Play:
Fish Below the Ice Shriekback
Midnight Special Credence Clearwater Revival
Little Red Riding Hood Sam the Sham and the Pharos
Werewolves of London Warren Zevon
Bad Moon Rising Credence Clearwater Revival
When I'm With You Sheriff
Heaven  Warrant
Sacrifice Poison
Something to Believe in  Poison
Sweet Child of Mine GNR
House of Pain Faster Pussycat
High Enough Damned Yankees
Bullets Creed

There was a small typo in Night Play. The song that Vane sings to Bride is The Story of My Life which was recorded by Neil Diamond. The words are as follows:

The story of my life is very plain to read
It starts the day you came
And ends the day you leave
The story of my life begins and ends with you
The names are still the same
And the story’s still the truth

I was alone.
You found me waiting and made me your own
I was afraid
That somehow I never could be a man that you wanted of me

You’re the story of my life, and every word is true
Each chapter sings your name
Each page begins with you
It’s the story of our times and never letting go
If I die today, I wanted you to know

Stay with me here
Share with me, care with me
Stay and be near
And when it began I’d lie awake every night
Just knowing somewhere deep inside
That our affair just might write

The story of my life is very plain to read
It starts the day you came

I
t ends the day you leave

Kiss of the NIght:
My Oh My Slade
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap AC/DC
Back in Black AC/DC
Here I Go Again Whitesnake
Nobody's Fool Cinderella
Fly to the Angels Slaughter
Objects In The Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Meatloaf
Life is a Lemon Meatloaf
Goodbye Night Ranger
Beth Kiss
The Search is Over Survivor
Immigrant Song Led Zepplin
Bring Me to Life Evanescence
Amazing Aerosmith

Fang:
Who's Got My Back? Creed
Signs Creed
One Step Over the Edge Never, Never
Burn The Cure
Big Empty Stone Temple Pilots
Dead Souls 9 inch Nails
How Soon is Now? Love Spit Love
Bed of Roses Warrant
Always Bon Jovi
Magic Man Heart

Dance with the Devil:
Hair of the Dog Nazareth
Love Hurts Nazareth
Name Goo Goo Dolls
Color Me Once Violent Femmes
How Soon is Now? Love Spit Love
Love Bites Def Lepard
When Love and Hate Collide Def Lepard
Have you Ever Needed Someone So Bad? Def Lepard
Always Bon Jovi
Black Balloon Goo Goo Dolls
After All Cher
What About Love? Heart
Hell is For Children Pat Benetar
Unwell Matchbox 20

Dragonswan:
Even Angels Fall Jessica Riddle
Amazing Aerosmith
Love Stinks J. Geils Band
Election Day Arcadia
Two Steps Behind Def Lepard
All I Wanna Do is Make Love to You Heart

Acheron:
Taking Care of Business BTO
Ball of Confusion Love and Rockets
Fortunate Son Creedence Clearwater Revival
Gypsy Road Cinderella
Melt With You Modern English
Rest Stop Matchbox 20
Leave Matchbox 20
Woke Up This Morning Nickelback
Nemesis Shriekback
Burn The Cure
I'd Do Anything For Love Meatloaf
Shine Collective Soul
Be Your Lover Prince

Dark Side of the Moon:
Kryptonite 3 Doors Down
Please, please, please let me get what I want Elefant
Never Again Nickelback
Miss You in a Hearbeat Def Lepard
Under My Thumb Rolling Stones
Paint it Black Rolling Stones
You Don't Know What It's Like Tal Bachman
High Enough Damn Yankees
Never Moving Pictures
Little Miss Can't Be Wrong Spin Doctors
Here I Go Again Whitesnake
Waiting for the Flood Love and Rockets
Downfall Matchbox 20
20th Century Boy T. Rex
We Care a Lot Faith No More
I'm a Believer Smashmouth
If There's a Heaven Above Love and Rockets
Time for Change Motley Crue
Pain and Pleasure Judas Priest
Objects in the Rearview Mirror Meatloaf
Dog End of a Day Gone By Love and Rockets
Love is a Battlefield Pat Benatar
Don't Speak No Doubt
Bad Attitude Meatloaf
This Kiss Faith Hill
No Spill Blood Oingo Boingo

Cael:
Don't Fear the Reaper Blue Oyster Cult
Burning for You Blue Oyster Cult
Bringin on a Heartbreak Def Lepard
Cherry Pie Warrant
I Saw Red Warrant
Total Eclipse of  Love Bonnie Tyler
Bad Attitude Metaloaf
Health and Knowledge and Wealth and Power Shriekback
November Rain GNR
All in My Mind Love N Rockets

Seize the Night:
Psychokiller Talking Heads
Anarchy Sex Pistols
No New Tale to Tell Love and Rockets
Bent Matchbox 20
Effigy Ministry
Open Your Eyes Lord of the New Church
Home Sweet Home Motley Crue
Without You Motley Crue
You Give Love a Bad Name Bon Jovi
Dizzy Goo Goo Dolls
Bela Lusgosi's Dead Bauhaus
Strange Fire Indigo Girls
I don't wanna know Indigo Girls
Closer to Fine Indigo Girls
So Alive Love and Rockets
Salt in my Tears Martin Briley
Until You Suffer Some (Fire & Ice)  Poison
Hand Me Down Matchbox 20

Sundown:
Blaze of Glory Bon Jovi
Ghostriders in the Sky The Outlaws
Wanted Dead or Alive Bon Jovi
Two Out of Three Ain't Bad Meatloaf
Deadringer For Love Meatloaf
I Want You To Want Me Letters To  Cleo
We All Sleep Alone Cher
I Hate Kissing You Goodbye Tuff
Gimme Hell Jesus and Mary Chain
Piece of My Heart Janis Joplin
Holding Out for a Hero Bonnie Tyler

Sins of the Night:
Breathe Faith Hill
Changes David Bowie
Take it to the Limit Eagles
Ever the Same Rob Thomas
These Dreams Heart
I'll Be Edwin McCain
I Get Weak Belinda Carlisle
Like Nobody Loves Me Tal Bachman
My Sacrifice Creed
Road to Nowhere Ozzy
Angel Sara Maclaughlin
Time After Time Ozzy

Unleash the Night:
Born to be Wild Steppenwolf
Ordinary World Duran Duran
Weakness in me Joan Armitrading
Don't Let the Sundown Go Down on Me George Michael
Someone Saved My Life Tonight Elton John
The Lions Sleep Tonight Everly Brothers
You Want it All Faith No More
Epic Faith No More
Sweet Child of Mine Guns N Roses
November Rain Guns N Roses
She's So High Tal Bachman
The Search is Over Survivor
Mad About You Belinda Carlisle
Piece of My Heart Janis Joplin

Sword of Darkness:
Don't Fear the Reaper Blue Oyster Cult
All That I am Rob Thomas
Always Bon Jovi
Bad Magick Godsmack
Bed of Lies Matchbox 20
Devil Inside INXS
Do or Die Papa Roach
Find Your Grail Spamalot
Give a Little Bit Goo Goo Dolls
I Melt With You Modern English
Holding Out for a Hero Bonnie Tyler
Knockin on Heaven's Door Guns N Roses
Leave Matchbox 20
Need You Tonight INXS
Never Enough Papa Roach
Against All Odds  Phil Collins
Real Men Joe Jackson
Scars  Papa Roach

Sweet Dreams Are Made of These - (Dream-Hunter™ )
Blaze of Glory Bon Jovi
Sweet Dreams Are Made of This Eurhythmics
And She Was Talking Heads
True Cary Brothers
Chains Judas Priest
Jungle Law Love and Rockets
FNT Semisonic
Million Miles Away Plimsouls
You Shook Me All Night Long AC/DC
Amazing Aerosmith
Ain't Even Done with the Night John Cougar
All Cried Out Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam
Awake Godsmack
Thicker Than Water Andy Gibb
So Into You Atlanta Rhythm Section
Bad Company Bad Company
Breathe Nickelback
Should I Stay or Should I Go Clash
Coming Home Cinderella
Don't Go  Allison Moyet
Dream Police Cheap Trick
Effigy Ministry
Everything About You Ugly Kid Joe
Fire Jimi Hendrix
Fooled Around and Fell in Love Elvin Bishop
Slow Ride Foghot
Got To Be Real Cheryl Lynn
Hard Luck Woman Kiss
Tragedy Bee Gees
If I can't Have You Bee Gees
Ring My Bell Anita Ward
I Will Survive Gloria Gaynor
Golden Years David Bowie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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