Providence (37 page)

Top 10 Soundtrack for My Novel

The uniquely identifiable music of the 1980s found its way into the writing of my first novel,
Providence
, along an unexpected groove. In early writing, I often discovered songs creeping into my psyche, triggered by a salient moment in the story. Specific scenes in the book tipped off lyric fragments from songs I remembered, which seemed to speak to the internal condition of the characters. Melodies from the era began to surface, bringing underscore to the scenes, and filling in the backdrop like thick water in a vase of smooth stones until the music had become a character itself.

Songs are powerful as imagery. They can capture our life moments like still photography. They can bring back our pasts in happily imperfect clarity, washing clear-cut facts from our minds, and leaving our pure and honest emotions vividly etched intact upon us.

Three quarters of the way through the writing of
Providence
, the songs were multiplying. Popping up in meaningful scenes like a movie soundtrack, making their impression on me as I wrote until I finally decided to make them part of the story. They pulled their own weight too, revealing clues about the inner world of the people inside the tale, and connecting a distant yesterday with an all-too near-at-hand today.

Some of the ’80s songs were especially inspiring to me during the writing of
Providence
starting with Billy Squier’s “Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love You.” Before iTunes, the iPod, or even the CD, if you wanted to purchase just one fabulous hit song, the small black vinyl disc known as the 45 was the way to go. I have a vivid memory of playing Squier’s exceptional Christmas classic over and over again as a frozen Christmas snow fell outside our house in the Midwest. It has always amazed me how the Squier classic has not been re-recorded much given the number of Christmas albums released annually. The song is red and white peppermint melted over a chestnut fire, and poured into a three-and-half-minute tune.

Al Jarreau’s “Moonlighting” was a hit theme song for the television series of the same name. Written by Al Jarreau and Lee Holdridge, and produced by Nile Rodgers, the song features one of the most romantic lyrical lines of all time: “Moonlighting strangers—who just met on the way.” It’s the idea that we’re on our way to somewhere, traveling alone, and then somehow by sweet serendipity, we encounter true love. Our soul’s find company and from then one, we travel on as two.

The Greek words
“Kyrie eleison”
from the song “Kyrie” by Mr. Mister mean “Lord have mercy” and have been included in Christian liturgy for centuries. This song is an excellent example of the profoundly sacred turning up in the secular mainstream. Lyrics like “Kyrie eleison down the road that I must travel. Kyrie eleison through the darkness of the night” lay a prayer on the lips of every radio listener who’s ever heard this catchy song. Incidentally, artist Mark Schultz recorded his own amazing version of this song on his album, Song Cinema.

In one scene in
Providence
, Jack is exhausted after a long day of writing. He emerges from his downstairs office, clicks on the CD with a remote, and hears Chris Eaton’s “Wonderful World.” If you’re not familiar with his song, Eaton is one of Christian music’s best loved songwriters. “Wonderful World” is the title cut from Chris’s 1995 album, and the only
Providence
song not from the 1980s. It’s a superbly absorbing song opening our eyes to beautiful things in this world, and when our eyes are opened to faith in Christ, seeing the vibrant beauty made possible by His love and forgiveness.

Do you remember “Sister Christian” by Night Ranger? She was the girl who was always “motoring.” The lyric had everyone grooving, even while no one had a clue what it meant. Night Ranger drummer, Kelly Keagy, wrote and sang the song. With telling lyrics like “don’t you give it up before your time is due,” my guess is Sister Christian is an early abstinence song, another positive message floating around inside the rock-and-roll world.

Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” is on my running CD and nearly twenty-five years after its release, I continue to marvel at the song’s fragile quality. Written by Cyndi and Rob Hyman of The Hooters, “Time After Time” is a song whose characters aren’t afraid to admit their own weaknesses. It speaks to people everywhere who relate to needing a greater strength beyond themselves, and wanting someone who will be there to depend on.

Three Steve Winwood classics, “While You See a Chance,” “Higher Love,” and “Back in the High Life Again” appear in the story of
Providence
. I carry a profound memory of flying internationally in 1981 and listening to “While You See a Chance” over and over again on the in-flight music system. I was young, and traveling alone, and felt like I was seeing my chance and taking it. The song felt like a confirmation to me. Twenty-six years later, I’ve downloaded a new copy of the song, purchasing it to listen to today when I fly. It’s admonition to take those God appointed opportunities when the moment presents itself is still deeply inspirational to me.

The MTV favorite Don Henley’s “The Boys of Summer” was released in 1984. It’s a song about important seasons in life passing from one era into another, the loss of innocence and the loss of love. It’s about our private questioning of ourselves and our internal examination of who time and our choices have led us to become. The tone of the song is haunting and confronts the pain of love and loss beyond our control. That’s a lot of ground to cover for just one pop song.

Before
Providence
had a real name, I wrote under the working title,
The Sound of My Soul,
which is a lyric from the song, “True” by Spandau Ballet. I liked how the title revealed itself in one key scene where Jack and Peter are in Oscar’s having lunch. Jack, overwhelmed by the enormous task of writing his memoir, and seeing a woman who reminds him of Jenny, knows he’s losing the fight to stifle her memories. Then someone in the booth behind them hits the jukebox and he hears, “this is the sound of my soul.” And so it was.

PROVIDENCE
Published by David C Cook
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David C Cook Distribution Canada
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David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications
Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England

The graphic circle C logo is a registered trademark of David C Cook.

All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be reproduced, scanned, resold, or distributed by or through any print or electronic medium without written permission from the publisher. This ebook is licensed solely for the personal and noncommercial use of the original authorized purchaser, subject to the terms of use under which it was purchased. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

The Web site addresses recommended throughout this book are

offered as a resource to you. These Web sites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of David C Cook, nor do we vouch for their content.

This story is a work of fiction. All characters and events are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is coincidental.

Scripture quotations and paraphrases are from the
Holy Bible, New International Version
®.
NIV
®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations also taken from the
King James Version
of the Bible. (Public Domain.)

LCCN 2007931294
ISBN 978-0-7814-4564-1
eISBN 978-1-4347-0430-6

© 2007 Chris Coppernoll
The author is represented by MacGregor Literary.

Cover Design: The DesignWorks Group, Jason Gabbert
Cover Photos: ©iStockphoto; Shutterstock

First Edition 2007

What people are saying about

Providence

“Chris’ first work of fiction is a showcase for his incredible talents. He brings to this book the same quality and creativity I have seen in him for years.”

—Michael W. Smith, singer/songwriter

“In his first novel, Providence, my friend Chris Coppernoll unfolds the wonder of a God of second chances—a God who brings beauty from ashes in the lives and relationships of those that trust Him. It’s a book I wholly recommend to the ever hopeful romantics among us.”

—Rebecca St. James,

Grammy Award-winning Christian singer/best-selling author

“Chris Coppernoll’s novel is perfect for those of us who love to curl up and read a great story in our pajamas.”

—Kerri Pomarolli,

comedian/author,
If I’m Waiting on God, Then What Am I Doing in a Christian Chatroom?

“Chris Coppernoll has written a tender and heartfelt story that illustrates the transforming power of the gospel and its ability to reflect the truth about our lives.”

—Jill Phillips, singer/songwriter

“In Providence, Christopher Coppernoll reminds us that if we allow Him, God can use anything, even our past and the memories it holds, for good.”

—Donna VanLiere,

New York Times best-selling author,
The Christmas Shoes
and
The Angels of Morgan Hill

“In Providence, Chris Coppernoll explores the tensions we all feel between our own plans, and the mystery of God’s unfolding will.”

—Chris Rice, singer/songwriter

“Emotionally charged and intriguing! Providence invites you into Jack Clayton’s world and allows you to feel his frustration and heartache along with his joy. The beauty of this novel is that it leads us all to the positive message of redemption and hope no matter what life brings.”

—Karol Ladd,

best-selling author,
The Power of a Positive Woman

“Chris Coppernoll is an apt student of the Human Experience. He has keen insight into the motivations that drive people to succeed–and the ultimate cost of fame. In Providence, Chris proves he is equally adept at translating reality into compelling fiction.”

—Mike Parker,

contributing editor, LifeWay.com

photo by Allen Clark

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CHRIS COPPERNOLL
is the founder of Soul2Soul Ministries, with radio programming heard in more than six hundred outlets worldwide. He has conducted hundreds of interviews on faith issues with personalities such as Amy Grant, Max Lucado, Michael W. Smith, and Kathie Lee Gifford.

He also serves as a deacon at The People’s Church in Franklin, Tennessee, and is currently working toward a Masters in Ministry Leadership degree through Rockbridge Seminary. Providence, his first novel, is his fourth book.