YA Author Rendezvous

Written by T.D. Shields

There’s a moment in my book Into Light that is really personal to me. I won’t give any spoilers, but at one point the characters are singing a song and I quote the lyrics in the book. The song is “Silver Wings” as sung by Merle Haggard. You can listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w99UIu9N44w

I’m lucky enough to come from a very musical family, and my father and his brothers all play guitar and sing beautifully. Whenever my family gets together, the guitars come out and we are treated to a concert from these talented men.

“Silver Wings” was one of my grandmother’s favorite songs and she always requested it once the singing began. I have so many memories of my dad and uncles playing guitar and singing that song. So when I started writing a scene with guitar and singing in my book, I immediately thought of “Silver Wings” as a song they might have sung… it’s a REAL oldie by the time Poppy is singing it, but it’s certainly not out of the question that a song might hang around for that long.

The spot where I’d originally used the song eventually changed a little, but I was glad to still have it in there. It’s just a subtle little tribute to my dad and grandma hiding in Chapter 22.