Black, White and Read Presents: Music to Write by, My Soundtrack for The Red Road by Jenni Wiltz
Music to Write By: My Soundtrack for The Red Road
If your life had a soundtrack, what song would it start with? What song captures your first kiss, the day realized your parents were only human, or the day someone close to you almost lost their life?
For my latest book, The Red Road, I spent a lot of time picking the songs for its playlist. I knew the story would go to some dark places that, in real life, I’d never want to think about. I figured that if I listened to a song that captured the feeling I wanted, I’d have an easier time writing those emotional scenes. As I wrote, my playlist grew to 64 songs. Check it out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDm6j4gpJDvpqjLMCpdP-CDKTR8YDw2R7.
Breaking the Law
In the book, 16-year-old Emma’s family is devastated by an act of gang violence. Her gentle dad has never done anything but try to support them. When he’s almost killed by a gang member, Emma’s instinct tells her she has to do something. That’s why I chose “Breaking the Law” by Emeli Sandé as the lead-off track for the playlist.
Sandé is a British R&B singer, and in this song, she tells someone she loves that even if she has to steal something to make him smile again, she’ll do it. That’s how Emma feels about her dad. She can’t stand to see him hurt, and she’s willing to do anything – even hunt down the gang member responsible – if that’s what it takes to make him feel whole again.
Take Me Home, Country Roads
If you check out the playlist, it’s a pretty weird mix of genres. I grew up on country music (outlaws rule!), veered into pop music as a teen, and now listen to a lot of alternative and indie rock. To acknowledge those country roots, I included Sugarland’s “Baby Girl” and Montgomery Gentry’s “Something to Be Proud Of.”
“Baby Girl” is a song about making your parents proud. It’s about a daughter whose parents support her while she chases her dream – and when she makes it big, she pays them back for all the love and care they gave her. That song fits Emma’s mentality and mine. Someday, I hope I can give my parents as much as they’ve given me! “Something to Be Proud Of” talks about the pride and honor you can take in doing something as simple as keeping food on your family’s table. That’s exactly what Emma’s dad tries to do when he takes a job as a census worker—and gets sent into East Malo Verde, the most dangerous part of town. He doesn’t back down from a challenge, and I imagined him listening to this song every day on the way to work.
If country isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry! I’ve also got plenty of rock songs from Kings of Leon, The Joy Formidable, Wolf Parade, Band of Horses, and Arcade Fire. For those who like pop music, I’ve got tracks from Adele, Sheryl Crow, Kelly Clarkson, and Lana Del Rey. There’s a little something for everyone, and each song conveys a mood that fits a part of the story. I hope you check out the playlist and the book, and if you’re curious about any of the songs, just ask and I’ll be happy to tell you more!
JARR SAYS: I have some rather widely eclectic music tastes myself. I love the variety of the list! And that Sugar Land song is one of my favorites!
About the Author:
Jenni Wiltz writes literary and historical fiction, thrillers, romance, and creative nonfiction. Both her fiction and creative nonfiction have won national writing awards. She holds undergraduate degrees in English and history and an MA in creative writing. Her work has appeared in Gargoyle, The Portland Review, the Sacramento News & Review, and several small-press anthologies. When she’s not writing, she enjoys sewing, running, and genealogical research. She lives in Pilot Hill, California.
Visit her at her website, JenniWiltz.com.
About the Book:
Honor student Emma knows more about galvanic cell diagrams than guns. College is the only way out of her gang-ridden hometown, but her parents can’t afford it.
When her unemployed dad lands a job as a census taker, things start looking up. But he’s sent deep into East Malo Verde, where gang members rule the streets and fear anyone with a badge who knocks on doors. One night, a gang member mistakes him for a cop and beats him savagely, leaving him for dead.
Her best friends, her mom, and the detective assigned to the case try to convince her to focus on school. But school won’t prepare her for a world that ignores a crime against a good man. Emma must decide what’s more important: doing what’s expected, or doing what she feels is right, even if it leads her down a dark and dangerous path of revenge. Even if it plunges her into the heart of the gang violence threatening to tear her family apart. (356pp, ISBN #9781942348009)
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