Eowyn Wood found a way to combine her love for music with her love for writing. The main character in Naked in the Rain and Afterglow is a piano prodigy, as well as a big fan of The Cure. This gave Wood the opportunity to explore both classical and popular music.

21 different artists gave permission to reprint their lyrics in Naked in the Rain and Afterglow. Some of these lyrics are used as chapter headings or epigraphs, while others appear within the text. Wood says, “For the epigraphs, I chose lyrics that pertain in some way to that chapter – whether emotionally, mood or something more specific.”


Over 40 artists are mentioned and/or their lyrics appear in Naked in the Rain and Afterglow.

Brian O'Kelly, the main character, is a classical pianist. In addition to the above, there are several classical and jazz artists/pieces mentioned and/or described within the text.

The Author on Music:

"As you may know, I managed to get a lot of my favorite music into Naked in the Rain and Afterglow. I've always loved music; it's all about emotion. That's generally what drives my musical choices - emotion, lyrics, and alright, sometimes it's just the overall sound (as in the Pixies).

"Mostly I listen to 'alternative,' but I also love blues and old-style jazz (like Billie Holiday). Then there's classical music, a whole other ball game.

"I'm particularly fond of Beethoven, some Mozart (not so much his piano works, though), and Liszt. I'm not a classical music buff, but I do get season tickets every year to the symphony, which happens to be at the opulently gorgeous Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (Italian Rococo Revival architecture - worth going just to see the place!)."