Anabel Martin thought that the resolution of her father’s murder would bring a resolution to her problems. After all, she was starting life over in a new place, with new friends, and new adventures, focusing on attending college and raising her daughter free from the distractions of Washington, DC. She was ready to move on.
But a trip back to the District for Meghan’s wedding stirs up old feelings and brings new life to old relationships. Matt is cold and distant, while Jared is caring and attentive. A woman from Matt’s past, a bold public flirtation, and Anabel’s desire to be truly loved lead her to a crossroads…and her final decision leaves her with more questions than answers.
Amanda Romine Lynch is a writer, editor, and blogger who grew up in Florida knowing she belonged somewhere else. She now lives in the DC Metro Area with her husband and three amazing little boys. She is the Eco-Friendly/Green Living Contributor over at the Prime Parents’ Club and strives to live earth friendly in a world of disposable diapers. When not writing about Anabel and Jared or chasing around a curly-haired boy, she cheers for the Gators (in all kinds of weather) and occasionally remembers to sleep.
First off, thank you so much Ruth for hosting me today! I truly appreciate the opportunity to be featured on your blog.
Music is a huge part of my writing. Music frequently leads me to scenes in my novels, and helps me to reframe my characters’ interactions. This may sound funny, but I get a great deal of plot planning done while I am washing the floor, blasting my iPad. The repetitive work of mopping allows my mind to wander to my characters’ world.
I often say that Maroon 5’s album It Won’t Be Soon Before Long was the inspiration for Anabel Unraveled, but when it came time to write the second one, I found myself delving into some new tunes—as well as turning to reader suggestions. One of my favorite things to find in my inbox has been songs that remind people of Anabel, Jared, Meghan, and my other characters.
So, without further ado, here are the Top Ten Songs that Inspired Anabel Divided:
10. “Your Mistake” by Sister Hazel.
Anabel Divided largely takes place in Gainesville, Florida (GO GATORS!) , so clearly I had to reach into the town’s musical scene. Although Sister Hazel is more widely known for “All For You,” I have always thought that “Your Mistake” was their best song. And it pretty accurately sums up Anabel’s feelings about her crumbling relationship with her boyfriend, Matt:
I’m not right
And I’m not fine
I wanna be rain that tastes like wine
I wanna be good
I wanna be great
I wanna be everything except for your mistake
9. “Undisclosed Desires” by Muse
When you write a love triangle, especially one as complicated as the one that Anabel, her boyfriend, and Jared, her daughter’s father are in, sometimes it’s difficult to put into words the feelings between characters who should not be attracted to each other, but are (against my wishes, but my characters don’t ever do what I tell them to). This song was suggested to me by one of my dearest friends and the lyrics are classic Anabel and Jared:
I want to reconcile the violence in your heart
I want to recognise your beauty’s not just a mask
I want to exorcise the demons from your past
I want to satisfy the undisclosed desires in your heart
8. “One More Night” by Maroon 5
The first time I heard this song, I was driving back from Trader Joe’s with my kids and I remember stopping at a red light and thinking, YES. I had been toying with Anabel’s second novel for awhile but I was stuck at around 20K words and I wasn’t sure exactly where the story was going…but after I heard that song the story fell into place—and I knew that her relationship with Jared was going to be tested.
Yeah, but baby there you go again, there you go again, making me love you.
Yeah, I stopped using my head, using my head, let it all go.
Got you stuck on my body, on my body, like a tattoo.
And now I’m feeling stupid, feeling stupid, crawling back to you.
7. “The Guy That Says Goodbye to You is Out of His Mind” by Griffin House
This song was brought to my attention by my friend who actually created an “Anabel and Jared” playlist. I had never heard it before but it crawled under my skin and stayed there and reminded me why Jared has thus far been unable to get Anabel out of his system.
You don’t need to change
A thing about you, babe
I’m telling you from where I sit
You’re one of a kind
Relationships I don’t know why
They never work out and they make you cry
But the guy that says goodbye to you
Is out of his mind
6. “Word Crimes” by Weird Al Yankovic
Because Anabel is a grammar nazi. And she’s really snarky.
I hate these word crimes
Like I could care less
That means you do care
At least a little
Don’t be a moron
You’d better slow down
And use the right pronoun
Show the world you’re no clown
Everybody wise up!
5. “Cough Syrup” by Young the Giant
Anabel spends a great deal of this book soul-searching, and trying to figure out what she wants. She grapples with the way she thinks things should be versus reality, and the pain she finds sends her searching for ways to dull it.
If I could find a way to see this straight
I’d run away
To some fortune that I, I should have found by now
And so I run now to the things they said could restore me
Restore life the way it should be
I’m waiting for this cough syrup to come down
4. “Counting Stars” by One Republic
I was driving home from seeing Catching Fire late one evening when I heard this song for the first time. I immediately came home and knocked out 1000 words because the lyrics screamed Anabel and Jared, as in this book they take a good hard look at what a relationship together could entail.
Lately I been, I been losing sleep
Dreaming about the things that we could be
3. “Clarity” by Zedd
Since Anabel and Jared are so good at making a mess out of things, I found this song apt.
If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love’s insanity, why are you my clarity?
2. “Love and Memories” by O.A.R.
Anabel’s relationship with Matt takes a serious toll during this novel, and she questions what it really was…which took me to this song.
Now I am stuck inside a memory
You forgot about our destiny
You buried me
Didn’t you?
Didn’t you?
1. “Not Falling Apart” by Maroon 5
I mentioned before this song heavily influenced me in my first novel, but it took on a new meaning in Anabel Divided as Anabel experiences intense heartbreak and has to persevere and keep on a good face for her daughter, and hold herself together even as her world seems like it’s crumbing around her.
Now I can’t walk, I can’t talk anymore
Since you walked out the door
And now I’m stuck living out that night again
I’m not falling apart
Spread the love
