The most common feedback I get from readers of Gardenia Duty is the very one I used in my Acknowledgement: Nostalgia. As I researched the time period for my Higgins family, I not only read and dove into so many historical rabbit holes… but heard songs from the past. My favorite local radio station plays predominantly Babyboomer music. In various stages of the book, I would keep post-its in my car. If I heard a song that resonated with a particular scene, I’d jot it down. Most had a common plea of love of self, familial or romance that was a focal point of my novel.

I decided I would create My Playlist songs if other readers who inject reading as I do…a pairing of words and music– which are still words! Here I go and reveal my top #35 songs that resonated with my effort to share the life of the Higgins family! Bon Appetit! It may seem long but easy access to what I watched and heard as that oldest child in a complicated social and familial transition: From zero to 61 years….

Songs

Gardenia Duty – “This One’s for the Girls” by Martina McBride OR “He Didn’t Have to Be” by Brad PaisleyPrologue – “You Could Hear Me” by JocieChapter 1 – “In My Life” by The BeatlesChapter 2 – “Good Riddance” by GreendayChapter 3 – “What is Life” by George HarrisonChapter 4 – “Wink & a Smile” by Harry Connick, Jr. Chapter 5 – “I Got You” by Leona LewisChapter 6 & 7 – “Anchors Aweigh” (Navy theme song!)Chapter 8 – “Butterfly Fly Away” by Hannah MontanahChapter 9 – “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd SkynyrdChapter 10 – “Satisfied” by JewelChapter 11 – “Ring of Fire” by Johnny CashChapter 12 – “Morning Has Broken” by Cat StevensChapter 13 – “Time” by Alan Parsons ProjectChapter 14 – “Count on Me” by Bruno MarsChapter 15 – “The Deployment Song” by Emay HolmesChapter 16 – “Homeward Bound” by Simon & Garfunkel AND “Kind & Generous” by Nathalie MerchantChapter 18 – “Simple Man” by Lynyrd SkynyrdChapter 20 – “Dumb Blonde” by Dolly PartonChapter 21 – “He Didn’t Have to Be” by Brad PaisleyChapter 21 – “Space Oddity” by David Bowie (Audrey’s loss)Chapter 22 – “Guess I’m Falling 4 U” by Michael Bublé Chapter 22 – “You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley GoreChapter 23 – “I Will Survive” by Gloria GaynorChapter 26 – “Home” by Michael Bublé Chapter 28 – “Head Games” by ForeignerChapter 29 – “Stronger Woman” by JewelChapter 30 – “In My Blood” by Shawn MendesChapter 31 – “Roar” by Katy Perry Chapter 31 – “The Rose” by Bette MidlerChapter 32 – “Turn, Turn, Turn” by The ByrdsChapter 33 – “There You’ll Be” by Faith HillAcknowledgements – “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge

There are so many others but I narrowed this handful down. My memories growing up during the same Cold War period as the Higgins family is full of music that my mother filled our home with. My sisters and I danced and performed to our own 33-1/3 and 45s. Like my characters, the music is women empowered, spiritual musings, metaphors to scenes, and even melancholic. But, I find real-life full of all ranges of emotion and personal growth. Leave me a song that came to you while reading Gardenia Duty. Cheers!

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