From dance lessons to writing inspiration — Michelle Miles shares her musical journey to the playlist for her upcoming book.
The Soundtrack Behind My Stories
Michelle Miles
I love music. It’s part of the foundation of who I am, and I believe it’s helped shape the writer I’ve become.
I have to go way back in the time machine to my early days. For years, I took dance lessons—classical ballet and jazz. It gave me an appreciation for not only classical music, but classic rock. To this day, I can’t hear the song Take Me I’m Yours by Squeeze without thinking about my jazz teacher.
And then I joined the marching band when I was in high school. One stand-out year sticks in my mind—the year we did an Andrew Lloyd Weber show that included Don’t Cry for Me Argentina and Phantom of the Opera. I still get chills when I think about that show and how well we performed it.
For me, music has been ingrained in my soul. It’s been part of me for so long, I’m not sure I could live without it.
When I’m writing, I like to set the mood with things that are epic. Sometimes I listen to cinematic trailer music. Some of my favorite movie soundtracks to write to are Gladiator and Captain America: Winter Soldier. Especially when I’m writing action sequences that include blowing things up. Then there are creators like Two Steps from Hell who make the most amazing instrumentals. My favorite albums to write to are Archangel and Sky World. Amazing music.
But I also love music that’s more ethereal. Loreena McKennitt comes to mind. Her album, Book of Secrets, was introduced to me by an ex. Something about that music latched onto my imagination and never let go. I love just about everything she does.
I’ve started creating Spotify playlists for many of my books, and it’s become one of my favorite parts of the writing process.
When I was writing Dark Night of the Soul, the first book in the War of the Brotherhood trilogy, I wanted music that matched the intensity of the story—songs that carried the same emotion, tension, and determination as Anna and Kincade’s journey. So I put together a Spotify playlist that became the soundtrack for the book.
Want to hear it?
Check it out here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5aBVHZ2fq82hOWC6loQVqk?si=ofWcolzJTn6unTDXE1l3ew
What music speaks to your soul? Tell me in the comments.
Michelle Miles is an award-winning author writing fantasy, paranormal, and young adult adventures where magic crackles, danger prowls, and love refuses to back down. From fairy-tale retellings to angels and demons to Fae, elves, and time travelers, she builds big-hearted worlds full of quests, curses, kisses, and chaos—often in that order. When she’s not plotting her next emotional ambush, Michelle narrates audiobooks and hosts Miles Beyond the Page, a podcast spotlighting writers’ real journeys. A proud Texan, she’s usually reading, hiking, rewatching favorite movies, or savoring a glass of wine while sharpening the blade for the next adventure.
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