Wait for Me: A Novel

A READ WITH JENNA TODAY SHOW BOOK CLUB PICK

"Narrators Gail Shalan, Mark Sanderlin and Patti Murin bring this book to life with music, song and lyrical prose. I enjoyed listening to it so much that I can’t imagine consuming this book in any format." — The Berkshire Eagle

From the author of Mercury and Shiner comes a novel about the bond between two female folk singers, the love stories that haunt them, and the music that brings them together to burn bright.

This program features music performed by Gail Shalan, Mark Sanderlin, and Broadway star Patti Murin.

Young folk singer Elle Harlow reaches the height of her prowess in 1973, with two wildly beloved albums to her name and a hidden history of impossible heartbreak. When she sets foot on the famed Grand Ole Opry stage, a far cry from the mountain that raised her, Elle gives the biggest performance of her life. Then, to the dismay of shocked fans, her producer, and the man who still loves her, she vanishes.

Almost two decades later, eighteen-year-old Marijohn Shaw is spending her summer pumping gas, writing songs on her broken mandolin, and longing for a mother. Her father, Abe, has always sworn he was the last person to see Elle Harlow alive, but when a meteor strikes the woods of their sleepy Pennsylvania town and a piece of Elle’s past emerges from the wreckage, the truth of her disappearance sets fire to everything Marijohn believes about herself, her music, and her ability to love with abandon.

Wait for Me exalts the lush hills of Appalachia and the bright lights of Nashville as it reveals the legacy of Elle Harlow, the bold voice that defined her, the intimate betrayal that undid her, and the unexpected faith of another young woman determined to resurrect her.

“Gail Shalan, Mark Sanderlin, and Patti Murin dynamically bring to life this dramatic and tender country music story...This is a rich, lyrical reflection on love, friendship, and the enduring power of music.” — Kirkus (Earphones Award Winner)

"An exceptional audiobook experience with original folk music...the original music is seamlessly integrated and enhances the plot and characters through the lyrics and musicality of each song or interlude." — Booklist (Starred Review)

Song lyrics written by Amy Jo Burns, music by Mark Sanderlin, produced by Macmillan Audio.

A Macmillan Audio production from Celadon Books