Music played a really important part in the writing of my debut novel, JAKE HOWARD: MULTIVERSE 101. Once I settled on the year, 1997, I started building a playlist to write to; something to put me in the mindset of my teen-to-early twenties. As I started building the playlist I realized how much the music of the 90's (and 80's) really shaped who I am and it built into the "soundtrack" to my book.
That mentality transferred over to Jake. Every now and then Jake will specifically name check songs that either he is listening to or if a moment makes him think of a song. One of the first songs Jake mentions in the book (spoiler alert) is Touch, Peel and Stand from Days of the New.
I'll be honest, this is one of those songs that just fell out of my head. I had forgotten all about it but the second I heard that opening guitar riff it all came back to me.
I listened to this song ALL THE TIME. I had already moved out of my hometown by this point and was living near the Jersey Shore. I had the luxury of being "the new guy from New York" in my new town and it was kind of like I was able to become a new person. No one knew me around here, I didn't have any residual high school drama to deal with (like what my kids deal with now) and I was able to be the "real" me. The problem was, I didn't know who the real me was.
Still kind of don't, but whatever.
Truth be told, I didn't know the words. Still don't. But it was angsty as fuck and I was feeling it.
In coming weeks I will be talking about some more songs from the playlist (which is right on my homepage) and what they mean to me or what significance they have in the book. Until then enjoy the music and spread the word of my upcoming novel!
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