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.
2024 Francesca Varela
Listen
“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
“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
David K. Leff, author of Deep Travel
“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.”
Rev. Gail Collins-Ranadive, author of Chewing Sand
“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.”
Gary Cornelius, author of Dancing with Gogos
“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.”
REVIEWS FOR LISTEN
WHERE TO BUY:
BOOKSTORE/LIBRARY ORDERS:
Wholesale Orders: wayfarerbooks.org/contact-us
Publisher: Homebound Publications
Release Date: March 15, 2016
Paperback: 242 pages
ISBN: 978-1938846526
Please Note: In the process of transitioning from Homebound Publications to Wayfarer Books, my
publisher is updating the listings for Listen on Ingram, Amazon, etc. Stay tuned for updated links!
Learn more about Francesca
and her copy editing services!
Other books by Francesca Varela:
AWARDS
MEDIA FEATURES
o
Finalist in the young author category at the 2017
Next Generation Indie Book Awards
o
Finalist in the young-adult category at the 2016
Foreword Book of the Year Awards
o
Notable book at the 2016 Sigurd F. Olson Nature
Writing Awards
HOW TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
•
Leave a rating on Goodreads or Amazon
•
Ask your local library to order Listen
•
Ask your local indie bookstore to stock
Listen
•
Recommend to friends/family
Francesca G.
Varela
Listen
REVIEWS:
WHERE TO BUY:
Gary Cornelius, author
of Dancing with Gogos
“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.”
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
FINALIST
Young Author
2017
FINALIST
Nature Writing
2016
FINALIST
Young-Adult
2016
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.
BOOKSTORE/LIBRARY ORDERS:
Wholesale Orders:
wayfarerbooks.org/contact-us
Publisher: Homebound Publications
Release Date: March 15, 2016
Paperback: 242 pages
ISBN: 978-1938846526
Other books by
Francesca Varela:
HOW TO SHOW
•
Leave a rating on Goodreads or
Amazon
•
Ask your local library to order
Listen
•
Ask your local indie bookstore
to stock Listen
•
Recommend to friends/family
MEDIA FEATURES:
YOUR SUPPORT
www.francescavarela.com
Francesca G. Varela
Please Note: In the process
of transitioning from
Homebound Publications to
Wayfarer Books, my
publisher is updating the
listings for Listen on
Ingram, Amazon, etc. Stay
tuned for updated links!
