When you write a book, you look for inspiration everywhere. You may hang up pictures of people who look like your characters, or you may have even chosen a specific ‘model’. You research, and fill up pages with notes or trivia about the characters and their lives that may not even make any kind of appearance in the story whatsoever. And then there’s the soundtrack.

Music plays such an important part in the creation of a story. The songs may represent the characters themselves, or a certain event in the book, or even just a few lines of one song may be so perfect in summing up something about them. You’ll find yourself making a playlist, and it will get played countless times as you pound away at the keys.

I recently made a copy of the Tigers and Devils ’soundtrack’ to give a friend along with a copy of the book, and I’ve decided to share some of the songs here. I couldn’t share them all, otherwise this post would be way too long and I’ll rapidly make you lose any interest or curiosity you may have had in knowing what would be on it.

The most important song, that sets up some of the themes of the book, is “Leaps and Bounds” by Paul Kelly. This song is a love letter to Melbourne, and I often think that Tigers and Devils is a love letter to Melbourne as well as I think it truly is the best city in the world. Kelly sings about the MCG, and the iconic “clock on the silo” that overlooks it. I used to drive past this silo all the time, and it’s not that far from the Tigers’ homeground. The clip lovingly has many shots of the MCG, where Declan played many a game of footy. This song makes me miss Melbourne so much. If there was ever a movie (I can dream, right?) this would play over the opening credits.

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You can bet Simon would have been a PJ Harvey fan – what’s not to like? “Good Fortune” is a song all about the first flush of love and connecting with somebody, and also that feeling that something is going right for the first time in ages. (NB. I really had to tone down my squeeing over PJ Harvey here so as not to embarrass myself.)

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One of Simon’s problems was that he always had trouble opening himself up to people. So I think “Steer” by brilliant Aussie folkie Missy Higgins would have resonated with him.

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No Australian soundtrack should be without our Kylie, and in this case it would be her hit “Two Hearts” – except ALL copies on YouTube have embedding disabled! Boo!

Another Aussie classic, The Go-Betweens with “Streets of Your Town” – a deceptively cheery exterior with some dark lyrics hidden within. Bittersweet.

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Two minutes of classic indie pop – The Clouds with “Anthem”, another song about the complexities of love.

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Roger questions Simon’s gender, age and taste in music when he is found drunk on Stone’s Ginger Wine and is listening to Joni Mitchell’s “River” and comparing it to his own shattered love life.

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“There’s a constant battle running through my head” – Simon is open to “Persuasion”, by Stellar.

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Finally, I think this last song sums up Simon completely and how he feels towards Declan.

When I first held you I was cold
A melting snowman I was told
But there was no-one there to hold before
I swore that I would be alone for ever more
Wow look at you now
Flowers in the window
It’s such a lovely day
And I’m glad you feel the same
Cause to stand up, out in the crowd
You are one in a million
And I love you so
Lets watch the flowers grow

It is, of course, the fantastic Travis, and “Flowers in the Window”.

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So, by no means the comprehensive playlist, but just a little insight into the process. Hope I didn’t bore you too much!