This year has been one where I’ve stepped back and worked behind the scenes while processing where the road is taking me. I thought doing this would be difficult. That I'd lose readers because I wasn't posting on social or trying to boost posts and direct everyone to my blog. In fact, it's been easier than expected. In November of 2025 I deleted my author FB page and my IG. Two places I was spending more time on than actually writing. You can't be an author and not write. It took me a long time to figure that out and a lot of hiccups along the way. Despite working in the shadows, I've actually been quite busy. We'll save that for another post. Today I wanted to give you a small glimpse of what I've been working on while still keeping the project close to my chest.
I never really considered a novel playlist before, and it wasn't until I was building one on Spotify that I saw the benefits it brought to the creative table. The story I'm working on now is one that I feel many people, couples especially, will relate to. Below is the list of songs to give you an idea of the story and hopefully to give you something new to listen to when you are out and about. I hope it can spark an interest in what's coming from my writing desk, and leave you curious to know more.
The Playlist
I'm not releasing the title of the novel yet, even though it's decided, so for now, we'll simply call it The Playlist.
Turning Page (Instrumental) — Sleeping At Last
This song became the emotional foundation of my novel. Without lyrics, it allowed the emotion of the music to shape everything the characters couldn’t say out loud.
Anchor — Novo Amor
This song reminds me of what it means to hold on to something when the ground beneath you feels uncertain. I first heard this song in one of my favorite movies, Five Feet Apart, and it carries the emotional weight of my entire novel. Maybe not so much the lyrics as the melody.
Slow Dance in a Parking Lot — Jordan Davis
There’s something deeply human about this song. My main characters can be seen in this song and it's why it's at the top of the playlist. It captures the small, ordinary moments that end up meaning everything.
I Won’t Let Go — Rascal Flatts
If you know me, you know this group is one of my favorites. This song speaks to commitment in its truest form. Not the easy kind, but the kind that stays through fear, uncertainty, and the unknown. It reflects the promise to remain, even when remaining isn’t simple.
Gone Too Soon — Daughtry
This song reminds me of my niece Keely, who tragically lost her life in a car accident April 2025. She was 18. While my characters experienced a different kind of loss, loss changes the shape of everything. This song helped me understand the questions that don’t have answers, and the way grief can exist alongside love without erasing it.
Tell Your Heart To Beat Again — Danny Gokey
This song represents what comes after. The moment when surviving becomes its own kind of strength. When continuing forward feels impossible, but you do it anyway.
Not all the songs represent the entire novel. Below are other songs that helped shape the story, and there are a few more I left off of this list for specific reasons I'll share later.
Other songs that helped shape the story:
- I Won’t Give Up — Christina Grimmie
- Because You Loved Me — Celine Dion
- I Turn to You — Christina Aguilera
Which one is your favorite? Or do you have your own songs that might align with this vibe? Share below, I'd love to give them a listen. Happy Reading and if you'd like, consider joining my mailing list. This is where I'll share the cover reveal, the title, and even some mini scenes before the book releases in 2027.
Comments ()