BOOKS
SPINNING EVA is the story of a young DJ who takes her on-air personality too far and, in the process, loses herself and risks losing it all. (Cover mockup v. 4)
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SPINNING EVA - A radio novel
When Eva LaVette goes on the air for the first time, her voice becomes her superpower, and her on-air character, a cloak. After losing her loving father as a young girl, she was left with a heartsick mother and an imposing stepfather who didn’t care for her. Eva learned being a good girl meant staying quiet and not making waves, even when she was forced to take her step-dad's last name. In college, pressured into marriage, she takes her husband's name. Becoming a radio DJ is an exciting opportunity for Eva to finally be heard and create her own identity. From the late 1970s into the ’90s, unassuming Eva spins multiple personalities on the air as she spins records, aspiring to prove she is cool, confident, and successful. It’s a heady feeling, but in deceiving herself—as Billie, Lizzie, Tanya, and Belle—she fails to notice when the line blurs between her perky on-air characters and the real Eva. Her husband Luka, a former musician, becomes jealous of her success. He prioritizes care for his ailing mother over the marriage, which pushes Eva further into the exhilarating and cutthroat world of radio. She neglects loved ones in favor of career and coworkers, risking her real relationships. Forced to face the consequences of compromising her integrity—an affair with the afternoon drive guy—Eva wonders if her love of radio and the need to prove herself to others is worth the price of losing her true self. |
SPINNING EVA is more than an emotional workplace novel, you'll experience an authentic peek behind the scenes at what goes on when the microphone is off. If you like Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler, Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah, or Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin, you'll love this story.
"I adored this book and can’t wait for the sequel. The author nailed it!"
~ Liane Hansen, retired NPR Weekend Edition host, Emmy and Peabody award winner
"It's a unique take on radio written from a realistic but still joyous perspective. It flows... the ups and downs, the self-doubt, elation, marital strife, and 'inside radio' elements, described in a way that interesting to both radio types and avid listeners."
~ Lee Harris, Morning News Anchor, 1010WINS, New York
"I adored this book and can’t wait for the sequel. The author nailed it!"
~ Liane Hansen, retired NPR Weekend Edition host, Emmy and Peabody award winner
"It's a unique take on radio written from a realistic but still joyous perspective. It flows... the ups and downs, the self-doubt, elation, marital strife, and 'inside radio' elements, described in a way that interesting to both radio types and avid listeners."
~ Lee Harris, Morning News Anchor, 1010WINS, New York
What advance readers are saying:
- I'll never look at radio the same way again.
- The character in all her places are vividly drawn. It's a page-turner.
- This was great fun to read. Engaging cast of characters, sweet insider's look at the radio and music scene, young women facing the reality of the man's world they are living in and trying to break the barriers. Well done!
- I am usually reading two or three books at a time, and for this I set the others aside. I was totally immersed in the story, pulling for Eva the entire way.
- I'm pulled in. I like it--a lot. I like the characters Eva and Coco, and am happy the first chapter wasn't exposition overload. Funny stuff and crisp dialogue. A lot of atmosphere and locale. Even Wisconsin weather.
- I'm blown away.
Music
Because Eva is immersed in her various jobs in radio, she misses out on the cliché 1980s. She works in jazz, then plays Lite Hits, country, and polka. Mixed into her story and her friend Coco's are disco, grunge, punk, classic rock, Motown, bluegrass, and deep-track '70s rock through alternative rock in the '90s.
It's chock full of radio bits
Dead air dreams, hitting the post, accidentally saying your real name, cue burn, fun contests, breaking up with someone while you're on the air, getting locked out of the station, gifts from prisoners, having to clean the station on overnights (girls only), lips moving while listening to ads, low pay, PDs screaming on the hotline, pesky AEs, Marti units hitting power lines, radio urban legends about getting fired, live remotes, rigged contests, show prep, smoking in the studio, stuttering, taking requests, tight playlists, tumbling carts, working every holiday, wacko callers/telephone screamers, and writing ad copy: For all your (cliché ) needs is a running joke.
"Bits, spots, pots, carts. Bumpers, kickers, sweepers, liners. Programming, promotions, production, remotes!"
- I'll never look at radio the same way again.
- The character in all her places are vividly drawn. It's a page-turner.
- This was great fun to read. Engaging cast of characters, sweet insider's look at the radio and music scene, young women facing the reality of the man's world they are living in and trying to break the barriers. Well done!
- I am usually reading two or three books at a time, and for this I set the others aside. I was totally immersed in the story, pulling for Eva the entire way.
- I'm pulled in. I like it--a lot. I like the characters Eva and Coco, and am happy the first chapter wasn't exposition overload. Funny stuff and crisp dialogue. A lot of atmosphere and locale. Even Wisconsin weather.
- I'm blown away.
Music
Because Eva is immersed in her various jobs in radio, she misses out on the cliché 1980s. She works in jazz, then plays Lite Hits, country, and polka. Mixed into her story and her friend Coco's are disco, grunge, punk, classic rock, Motown, bluegrass, and deep-track '70s rock through alternative rock in the '90s.
It's chock full of radio bits
Dead air dreams, hitting the post, accidentally saying your real name, cue burn, fun contests, breaking up with someone while you're on the air, getting locked out of the station, gifts from prisoners, having to clean the station on overnights (girls only), lips moving while listening to ads, low pay, PDs screaming on the hotline, pesky AEs, Marti units hitting power lines, radio urban legends about getting fired, live remotes, rigged contests, show prep, smoking in the studio, stuttering, taking requests, tight playlists, tumbling carts, working every holiday, wacko callers/telephone screamers, and writing ad copy: For all your (cliché ) needs is a running joke.
"Bits, spots, pots, carts. Bumpers, kickers, sweepers, liners. Programming, promotions, production, remotes!"
Chapter Titles:
1. Wavelength, Van Morrison
2. Workin’ For A Livin’, Huey Lewis and the News
3. Look Into the Future, Journey
4. Midnight Rider, Allman Brothers
5. Only the Lonely, Roy Orbison
6. Hypnotized, Bob Welch
7. Do They Know it’s Christmas, Band Aid
8. Lookin’ Out My Backdoor, Creedence Clearwater Revival
9. Like a Hurricane, Neil Young
10. Easy Livin', Uriah Heep
11. And She Was, Talking Heads
12. A Dream Goes on Forever, Todd Rundren
13. How Soon is Now?, The Smiths
14. Jackie Blue, Ozark Mountain Daredevils
15. Phoenix, Dan Fogelberg
16. Our Town, Iris Dement
17. Too Late for Goodbyes, Julian Lennon
18. For My Lady, Moody Blues
19. Heard it in a Love Song, Marshall Tucker Band
20. Foggy Mountain Breakdown, Earl Scruggs
21. Whiskey River, Willie Nelson
22. Honey Bee, Tom Petty
23. Will the Wolf Survive, Los Lobos
24. Don’t Do It, Marvin Gaye
25. Slippin’ Around, Ernest Tuggs
26. Come Ride with the Wind, Sunblind Lion
27. Spare Me A Little, Fleetwood Mac
28. Reelin’ in the Years, Steely Dan
29. Walkin’ On A Wire, Lowen & Navarro
30. Takin’ the Time to Find, Dave Mason
31. Makes No Difference, The Band
32. Don’t Shed a Tear, Paul Carrack
33. Heading for the Light, Traveling Wilburys
34. She Walks Right In (She Walks Right Out), Professor Longhair
35. Slow Turnin’, John Hiatt
36. Where the Story Ends, The Sundays
37. Right Here Right Now, Jesus Jones
1. Wavelength, Van Morrison
2. Workin’ For A Livin’, Huey Lewis and the News
3. Look Into the Future, Journey
4. Midnight Rider, Allman Brothers
5. Only the Lonely, Roy Orbison
6. Hypnotized, Bob Welch
7. Do They Know it’s Christmas, Band Aid
8. Lookin’ Out My Backdoor, Creedence Clearwater Revival
9. Like a Hurricane, Neil Young
10. Easy Livin', Uriah Heep
11. And She Was, Talking Heads
12. A Dream Goes on Forever, Todd Rundren
13. How Soon is Now?, The Smiths
14. Jackie Blue, Ozark Mountain Daredevils
15. Phoenix, Dan Fogelberg
16. Our Town, Iris Dement
17. Too Late for Goodbyes, Julian Lennon
18. For My Lady, Moody Blues
19. Heard it in a Love Song, Marshall Tucker Band
20. Foggy Mountain Breakdown, Earl Scruggs
21. Whiskey River, Willie Nelson
22. Honey Bee, Tom Petty
23. Will the Wolf Survive, Los Lobos
24. Don’t Do It, Marvin Gaye
25. Slippin’ Around, Ernest Tuggs
26. Come Ride with the Wind, Sunblind Lion
27. Spare Me A Little, Fleetwood Mac
28. Reelin’ in the Years, Steely Dan
29. Walkin’ On A Wire, Lowen & Navarro
30. Takin’ the Time to Find, Dave Mason
31. Makes No Difference, The Band
32. Don’t Shed a Tear, Paul Carrack
33. Heading for the Light, Traveling Wilburys
34. She Walks Right In (She Walks Right Out), Professor Longhair
35. Slow Turnin’, John Hiatt
36. Where the Story Ends, The Sundays
37. Right Here Right Now, Jesus Jones