LISTEN
May is a piano-genius college freshman who dreams of becoming a brilliant composer. In her school's practice rooms she meets Conner, an undeniably unattractive junior, and she is immediately captivated by his raw musicality on the piano. As May tries to navigate college life and fulfill her music dreams, Conner pulls her toward the natural world, toward her own wildness, and, ultimately, toward the wildness within her music as well.
“May, a gifted musician, knows early in life that she is different than her peers,
that she doesn’t quite fit in. Any teen can identify with May as she struggles to
find her true path as she enters college to study piano. She is a loner who is
comfortable with herself, but life becomes more challenging when she falls for
fellow music student Conner, another loner whose beliefs, looks and non-
traditional ways are outside the norm. Will these kindred spirits—breakers of
stereotypes—succeed in navigating the troubling waters of early adulthood and
stay true to themselves? Francesca Varela’s skillful and colorful storytelling sings
as she keeps us guessing until the end.”
“Human life is complicated; luckily there are stories to help us navigate
important passages. The transition into early adulthood is particularly
challenging, and Listen provides a template for being faithful to core personal
gifts while maturing into the passion that will actualize them. Why bother with
the struggle at all, especially when most of ones peers seem content with
sleepwalking into their lives? The deeper truth is this: if we default on this
critical life stage, we may not get another chance to become what we are meant
to BE. And that is the great tragedy of human existence. May this story inspire
the reader’s own journey.”
“Enter a world where woods, streams, and wild creatures awaken both creative
expression and tender human connection. Two very different young musicians
discover each other at the confluence of nature and music with powerful
emotional results. ‘When the forest breathed, so did I,’ one of them says.
Readers of Listen will likewise delight in finding themselves breathing with the
trees.”
“Melodically written, Listen is a captivating story of music, love, and self-
discovery sure to entertain from beginning to end.”’
“Listen is a coming of age tale about a young woman learning to find her place
in a world that does not always recognize beauty—of nature, of music, and of
those who do not look and act as we expect. Her prose is simple yet profound,
with a rhythm that speaks to the themes of nature and music in Listen. This is a
work that I’ve been waiting for: a young author speaking to the struggles and
questions of her generation. And as much as anything, Varela is suggesting that
what we need now is to listen—listen to the sound of the leaves blowing in the
wind, the streams flowing, the birds singing. And, as the title suggests, we also
need to listen to what this talented and insightful young author is saying.”
2024 Francesca Varela
REVIEWS
AWARD-WINNING ENVIRONMENTAL FICTION
finalist
WHERE TO BUY
Publisher: Wayfarer Books (March 15, 2016)
Wholesale Orders: homeboundpublications.com/contact-us
Paperback: 242 pages
ISBN-10: 1938846524 / ISBN-13: 978-1938846526
ORDERING INFORMATION
Learn more about Francesca and
her copy editing services!
Gary Cornelius, author of Dancing with Gogos
Rev. Gail Collins-Ranadive, author of Chewing Sand
David K. Leff, author of Deep Travel
Kate Scott, author of Counting to D
Theodore Richards, author of The Conversions
LISTEN
May is a piano-genius college freshman who dreams of becoming a brilliant composer. In her school's practice rooms she meets Conner, an undeniably unattractive junior, and she is immediately captivated by his raw musicality on the piano. As May tries to navigate college life and fulfill her music dreams, Conner pulls her toward the natural world, toward her own wildness, and, ultimately, toward the wildness within her music as well.
“May, a gifted musician, knows early in life that
she is different than her peers, that she doesn’t
quite fit in. Any teen can identify with May as she
struggles to find her true path as she enters
college to study piano. She is a loner who is
comfortable with herself, but life becomes more
challenging when she falls for fellow music
student Conner, another loner whose beliefs,
looks and non-traditional ways are outside the
norm. Will these kindred spirits—breakers of
stereotypes—succeed in navigating the troubling
waters of early adulthood and stay true to
themselves? Francesca Varela’s skillful and
colorful storytelling sings as she keeps us guessing
until the end.”
– Gary Cornelius, author of Dancing with
Gogos –
“Human life is complicated; luckily there are
stories to help us navigate important passages.
The transition into early adulthood is particularly
challenging, and Listen provides a template for
being faithful to core personal gifts while maturing
into the passion that will actualize them. Why
bother with the struggle at all, especially when
most of ones peers seem content with
sleepwalking into their lives? The deeper truth is
this: if we default on this critical life stage, we may
not get another chance to become what we are
meant to BE. And that is the great tragedy of
human existence. May this story inspire the
reader’s own journey.”
– Rev. Gail Collins-Ranadive, author of Chewing
Sand –
“Enter a world where woods, streams, and wild
creatures awaken both creative expression and
tender human connection. Two very different
young musicians discover each other at the
confluence of nature and music with powerful
emotional results. ‘When the forest breathed, so
did I,’ one of them says. Readers of Listen will
likewise delight in finding themselves breathing
with the trees.”
– David K. Leff, author of Deep Travel –
“Melodically written, Listen is a captivating story
of music, love, and self-discovery sure to entertain
from beginning to end.”’
– Kate Scott, author of Counting to D –
“Listen is a coming of age tale about a young
woman learning to find her place in a world that
does not always recognize beauty—of nature, of
music, and of those who do not look and act as we
expect. Her prose is simple yet profound, with a
rhythm that speaks to the themes of nature and
music in Listen. This is a work that I’ve been
waiting for: a young author speaking to the
struggles and questions of her generation. And as
much as anything, Varela is suggesting that what
we need now is to listen—listen to the sound of the
leaves blowing in the wind, the streams flowing,
the birds singing. And, as the title suggests, we
also need to listen to what this talented and
insightful young author is saying.”
– Theodore Richards, author of The
Conversions –
AWARD-WINNING
ENVIRONMENTAL
FICTION
FINALIST
REVIEWS
WHERE TO BUY
Publisher: Homebound Publications (March 15, 2016)
Wholesale Orders: homeboundpublications.com/contact-us
Paperback: 242 pages
ISBN-10: 1938846524 / ISBN-13: 978-1938846526
ORDERING INFORMATION
