Defy the Stars & Contest Winners

photo by Camila Schnaibel

"Where words fail, music speaks."

 ~Hans Christian Andersen

At the beginning of summer, I asked for some help curating a music playlist for a special character. Becca Hanson from LOVE AND OTHER UNKNOWN VARIABLES is getting her very own novel (summer 2016), and I was struggling to find music that fit. My blogger friend Anna at Unquenchable Reads hosted a #Songs4Becca contest for me and WOW!

As I listened to the songs suggested, it kept hitting me how right they all felt. Which is strange because Becca is a construct of my (very overactive) imagination, and yet people I've never met know her so well. I'm amazed at the way my beloved children characters evolve and become real for so many readers. It's a little like watching other people walk around in my skin, because each of my characters have a little bit of me in them (and all of them feel like a part of my soul).

The contest was a success because it gave me a way to reach out and connect with readers, but also because you all gave me a way to connect with Becca. Now when I listen to my Defy the Stars playlist on Spotify, I'm instantly in touch with Becca, which makes it easier to get in there and tough it out through all my edits.

So thank you, readers. Thank you for loving Becca. Thank you for helping me see her clearly. Thank you for taking the time to help this struggling writer.

Defy the Stars
Dear No One — Tori Kelly
Autumn Leaves — Ed Sheeran
Don't Let it Go — Beck
Sullen Girl — Fiona Apple
Believe — The Bravery
Ask — The Smiths
I Wanna Get Better — Bleachers
Do You — Spoon
Love and Memories — O.A.R.
You've Got the Love — Florence + The Machine
Tear in my Heart — Twenty-one Pilots
Ghosts — Laura Marling
Cool Kids/Riptide — Less is More, The Queen and King
Romeo & Juliet — Dire Straits
People Say (acoustic) — Portugal. The Man
Please Don't Say You Love Me — Gabrielle Aplin
Cecilia and the Satellite — Andrew McMahon
I'm a Mess — Ed Sheeran
Hide and Seek — Imogen Heap
Don't Find another Love — Tegan and Sara
Mess is Mine (live) —Vance Joy
Photograph — Ed Sheeran
Fight Song — Rachel Platten

Listen here on Spotify


Grand prize winner, Kelli L, wins naming rights to a character in Becca's upcoming novel, a LOVE AND OTHER UNKNOWN VARIABLES swag pack, and a $5 iTunes gift card. Her name was chosen at random from all the entries by Rafflecopter.

The following participants will receive swag packs for choosing a song/artist that made it onto the final playlist.
Gwen L
Emily F
Carrie T
Troy W

Honorable mention goes to the following people who sent songs that didn't make it onto the list (even though I loved the songs). I'll be sending them bookmarks and temporary tattoos.
Sabrina H
Justine E
Carrie D

While it's too late to win, I'm always open to new song titles/artists to add to my character playlists. Let me know if you've got a suggestion.

Thanks again to everyone who entered. Happy listening!