New Release - If I Fall by Anna Cruise

It is very cool to have Anna Cruise visiting us today. I am so super excited about her books! Just the cover of If I Fall is enough to get me interested.

Today she's here to tell us about her musical inspiration for this book.

Welcome to YAlicious, Anna!

I love music. Almost as much as books.

What do I not love? Listening to music while writing books.

I know, I know. Tons of writers have playlists that they write to, songs that propel their stories forward, that help mold and shape their characters. Yeah, not me.

Here's what would happen if I listened to music while I was writing.

Now, with that being said, I do have songs that inspire me to write my stories. Um, I just can't listen to them while I'm writing.

For IF I FALL, my new YA book, I had a slew of songs I would listen to...when I wasn't writing. When I was thinking about Meg, my main character, and the monumental mess she'd made of her life. When I was thinking about Aidan, the gorgeous bad boy who helped her make that mess. And when I was thinking about Case, the friend she didn't even know she had, championing her cause.

Instead of writing a guest post about the story, I thought I'd share some of the songs I listened to while I was thinking about Meg and Aidan and IF I FALL.

Nobody's Home – Avril Lavigne

This song pretty much sums up Meg's life. She wants to go home—but nobody's there. Nobody she can connect with, anyway, and certainly no one who can help her navigate everything that's going on in her life.

Le Pony – Italian Japanese

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6J85cC8XFM

(Sorry - I am having trouble uploading this clip, so follow the link...it's worth it. Melissa)

This is an obscure, brilliant band from Southern California. Listen beyond the instrumental opening and you'll hear a sweetly haunting song about saying “your last goodbye”—just like Meg did when her father drives away in the opening scene.

Free Falling – Tom Petty

One of my most favorite songs in the Universe. The first four words of the song pretty much sum up Meg: “She's a good girl...” and these words, “And I'm a bad boy 'cuz I don't even miss her...” have Aidan written all over them.

Just The Way You Are – Bruno Mars

I'm not a big Bruno Mars fan, but this song—for me, anyway—speaks exactly to how Case feels about Meg. He's not trying to change her, he's not trying to make her into someone she's not and he's not trying to make her feel bad about who she's become. He doesn't care about any of that. He likes her for who she is, flaws and all. Just the way she is.

I could list more, but I think those four tell the story pretty well. But you won't hear them playing while I'm working. My words and their lyrics have to keep their distance from one another.

You might, however, hear me singing them while I'm in the shower...

Wow - I have to say that I LOVE your taste in music. Thanks so much for sharing, Anna :)

*****

Anna Cruise has been writing and drooling over boys since middle school. Lots of years have passed but some things never change...

IF I FALL is her second book but her first YA title, IT WAS YOU, a New Adult title, was released February 2013. She is currently at work on two additional NA books (including Tana's story from IT WAS YOU) and another YA title.

Anna loves to hear from readers and authors. Email her at authorannacruise@gmail.com. You can also like her Facebook page, find her on Twitter @AnnaCruiseBooks, friend her on Goodreads or check out her blog: http://annacruisebooks.blogspot.com