The song list - Inspiration and Motivation

I decided to include a list of songs at the beginning of each of the three tales that comprise The Hive. The list, in full, includes songs that not only inspired and motivated me while writing that part of the book (and still do during revisions), but also set a tone.
That tone lends itself to various aspects of the story that is unfolding. Some of it may be directed towards an event, while others may revolve around a certain character. Still others just create an atmosphere and feel for the entire three tales.
Like may people, my creativity has always been stimulated heavily by music. Often, when I hear a song, a video will come to life and play out in my head. My imagination goes into overload. Scenes are created.
Other songs greatly affect my mood or emotional state. This allows me to reach a place I need to within myself in order to properly understand, and thus convey, what I need to about a character I am creating and their motives. The attempt to try to be in the 'right brain space' to make the character come to life.
Sharing the song list extends outside of sharing myself, though. It just felt right for The Hive. You won't find the same occurring in in the tales for Space Cowboy or Dragon Dilemma. For The Hive, it just fit - and was appropriate.
Perhaps part of it is because the tales lean heavily into the local burlesque culture. For, what is a burlesque show without great music. The stories called out for it.
In many ways, at least to me, sharing them felt as important as the words I was putting down on.