He Would Do Anything To Save Her
Music, it stirs the plot bunnies and muse of the writer's very soul. It speaks to the deep emotions of our characters and drives our story forward. I, like many authors, have used music to help in my writing. My book, Calico, was written with inspiration from three songs. My blog posting this week will only focus on two of those songs.
After the death of his father, Little Owl begins to realize his feelings for Calico, eleven years his junior, have been displaced. He doesn't hate her. He loves her and he would do anything to save her. The song, No Matter Where You Are from the movie, Last of the Mohicans, really inspired me with the struggles Calico and Little Owl faced. Calico has a hard time trusting Little Owl because in the past she feared Little Owl would one day kill her. Although he is her husband, it is that lack of trust that threatens to tear them apart. While the evil man continues to beat and rape Calico, she won't reveal the name of her assailant to Little Owl. Most men would have walked away. Little Owl holds his ground and preservers. No Matter Where You Are, helped inspire the determination Little Owl felt to save the women he loves. Toward the end of the book, when Calico is captured by the British, it was that song that played while I wrote about Little Owl hunting down the people who had kidnapped his wife. I could see him running through the woods, desperate to find her. I could see him confronting the soldiers. I could see him locking eyes with his beloved, the look of war on his face, killing anyone who stood in his way.
After the death of his father, Little Owl begins to realize his feelings for Calico, eleven years his junior, have been displaced. He doesn't hate her. He loves her and he would do anything to save her. The song, No Matter Where You Are from the movie, Last of the Mohicans, really inspired me with the struggles Calico and Little Owl faced. Calico has a hard time trusting Little Owl because in the past she feared Little Owl would one day kill her. Although he is her husband, it is that lack of trust that threatens to tear them apart. While the evil man continues to beat and rape Calico, she won't reveal the name of her assailant to Little Owl. Most men would have walked away. Little Owl holds his ground and preservers. No Matter Where You Are, helped inspire the determination Little Owl felt to save the women he loves. Toward the end of the book, when Calico is captured by the British, it was that song that played while I wrote about Little Owl hunting down the people who had kidnapped his wife. I could see him running through the woods, desperate to find her. I could see him confronting the soldiers. I could see him locking eyes with his beloved, the look of war on his face, killing anyone who stood in his way.
The other song that inspired was from the movie Eragon. Sung by Avril Lavigne, Keep Holding On spoke more about Calico and not Little Owl. Let's face it, Calico is young and naive in this story. While she struggles to understand how a man who has hated her all her life and now declares his love for her, she is also facing another man she has trusted her entire life only for him to abuse her. A long-term abusive relationship can wear down a person's spirit. Eventually Calico becomes suicidal. She's ready to give up even if it means she'll go to hell for it. But there are several people in her life that are working behind the scenes to save her. Her spirit guide, Little Owl, both her uncles, the Shawnee and her adopted mother all try to encourage her. This song spoke to the strong support system Calico has in place. Without that support system, all hope would have been lost for Calico.
The first book of my series is filled with plot twists, suspense, romance, and the paranormal. While music wasn't the only source I had received inspiration from, it was an important one. The music I listened to drove many a scene in Calico. My book wouldn't have become what it did without them.
The Executive Director of the Kentucky Young Writers Connection, a non-profit agency of writers who promote young authors throughout the state of Kentucky. Allison originally hails from Marion, Ohio. Her father, Roland Irving Bruning, was the son of German immigrants who came to the United States at the turn of the 20th century. Her mother's family had been in the United States since the 17th century. Allison is a member of the Peter Foree Chapter of the Daughters of American Revolution. Her linage traces to Private Reuben Messenger of Connecticut. Her educational background includes a BA in Theater Arts with a minor in Anthropology and a Texas Elementary Teaching certificate. Both acquired at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Allison received National Honor Society memberships in both Theater Arts and Communication. Allison was also honored her sophomore year with admission into the All American Scholars register. She holds graduate hours in Cultural Anthropology and Education. In 2007 she was named Who's Who Among America's Educators. She is also the recipient of the Girl Scout Silver and Gold Awards.
Allison lives with her husband in Kentucky. Calico is book one from the series, Children of the Shawnee. It is available at http://amzn.to/JSNRpm. She is currently working on the sequel, Rose. She is also working on another series, The Secret Heritage, which traces the life of her great great grandmother at the turn of the 20th century in Ohio. Allison's interest includes Ohio Valley history, anthropology, travel, culture, history, camping, hiking, backpacking, spending time with her family and genealogy. Her genres include historical fiction, paranormal, romance, and suspense.
You can reach her at:
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/xxJ249
Facebook Fan Page http://on.fb.me/plvkxJ
Twitter: @emeraldkell
Blog: http://bit.ly/whteQI
Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5164664.Allison_Bruning
Allison lives with her husband in Kentucky. Calico is book one from the series, Children of the Shawnee. It is available at http://amzn.to/JSNRpm. She is currently working on the sequel, Rose. She is also working on another series, The Secret Heritage, which traces the life of her great great grandmother at the turn of the 20th century in Ohio. Allison's interest includes Ohio Valley history, anthropology, travel, culture, history, camping, hiking, backpacking, spending time with her family and genealogy. Her genres include historical fiction, paranormal, romance, and suspense.
You can reach her at:
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/xxJ249
Facebook Fan Page http://on.fb.me/plvkxJ
Twitter: @emeraldkell
Blog: http://bit.ly/whteQI
Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5164664.Allison_Bruning
YouTube video links
Clannad, I Will Find You, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv6VW4tMZbE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgD3JDgVxYk&feature=related
Hello! I have seen the movie first but now I'm almost halfway through Inheritance. I have to say that the movie did not do the book justice, especially with my two favorite characters, Solombum and Angela. There parts we really destroyed which is disappointing. However, I do agree with how some of the characters look, like Eragon, Roran, and Saphira. Other than that, the movie was pretty unrelated to the books.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, brennen.
ReplyDeletepersonally, I. Thought both the movie and the book were terrible, although for different reasons.