How @Hozier 's #TakeMeToChurch inspired #SecretsOfTheHeart

Author Willow Sanders
Mar 26, 2015
2 min read

As I began writing Ivy's story, Hozier's Take Me To Church was just beginning its ascent up the charts- it was not nearly as popular as it is now, and required some YouTubing in order to find the song because there was one line that kept repeating in my head over and over again as I wrote Ivy's story.

"I'll tell you my sins so you can sharpen your knife"

While this song - as per Hozier - is a song about love, this line specifically reminded me of Ivy's relationship with her father Lucas. How the two struggled to see eye to eye on anything, and every time they tried to interact they either misread the subtext of a conversation or had already steeled themselves so high that it was impossible for either of them to have a conversation without feeling slighted.

Originally when I began writing Secrets of the Heart- I wrote it a bit out of order. Lucas' confession scenes were the first ones out of the gate - not nearly as developed as they are now, but essentially I had always wanted Ivy to know that she had misguided ideas about her relationship with her Dad - and I wanted them to move on to a more adult understanding of one another.

The aforementioned line always reminded me of Lucas' feelings towards sharing information with his daughter. Especially since there is so much information that Ivy doesn't know about her Mom - and Lucas wants to share them with her, but is afraid because every time he tries, she lances him with her words.

Even now, after the book has been published and its out there for the world to read - I think of Lucas, sitting in his living room with a glass of bourbon, trying to figure out in his head a way to related to his spirited albeit wounded daughter who lashes in an attempt to protect her own heart.