The late 1960s was a fabulous time for music. Fans flocked to every sort of venue to see their favorite stars. Audiences went wild, dancing, swaying and singing along. A new era dawned. This is the story of a fictional pair that might seem familiar.

Bayleen Island hosts an annual Folk Fest, and tonight Jesse Reid is the headliner. A name as big as that will draw people from far away, along with the locals. However, there’s bad news at the last minute: Jesse is currently in serious condition after crashing his motorcycle. Organizers scramble to figure out what to do. Islander Jane Quinn, with her band The Breakers, is recruited to save the night. Jesse’s fans want none of that. Almost before Jane can play her first note, they’re already walking out of the stadium. They came to see Jesse, not this no-name girl. But as soon as they hear her sing, they turn back around. She has totally mesmerized them --- with one of Jesse’s own songs. It’s a gutsy move, but Janie Q is an artist who defies the norm.

"SONGS IN URSA MAJOR will bring you joy and sorrow, soothe your soul and break your heart, take you to highs and drop you to lows, all in musical prose."

So Jane becomes a star almost overnight. In fact, the next day, Willy, the same man who handles Jesse’s career, seeks her out. He knows something special when he sees it, and he recognizes that in Jane. Big time. It takes a lot of cajoling on Willy’s part, but Jane cautiously agrees to work with him. Remember, though, this is the ’60s. The music industry is not known for being kind or fair, and sexism is rampant. While Jane may be equal to Jesse in musical talent, well, she’s a girl. For her, respect will be hard-earned. And everyone in the business has his own agenda. Worse, from the very start, Jane makes an enemy of one of the most influential people in her camp. Even Willy may have trouble saving her. And then she falls in love with Jesse, which oddly provides her with some insulation and boosts her popularity, even though she is determined to make it on her own. However, that spells more trouble for her. An independent woman at that time is hardly popular.

With a little help from her friends, Janie Q and her band break through several barriers to fame when they go on tour with Jesse. While it sounds like a dream come true, it has its nightmarish side, too. For one thing, Jesse’s band doesn’t want anything to do with The Breakers. Then there are the aftershow parties that go on all night. The drugs. The booze. The hangovers. The lifestyle. Until it all comes crashing down one day. It was inevitable, really. Well, it was fun while it lasted.

As readers, we ride along enjoying Jane Quinn’s early success and cheer heartily for her. We also cringe at her bad choices and yell at the pages in hopes of warding her away from going down the wrong path. Emma Brodie’s debut novel is an inside peek into a world most of us marvel at but in no way would want for our ourselves. In the end, Jane makes her decisions, and she seems at peace with them. Now you figure out whether you agree with her or not. Either way, SONGS IN URSA MAJOR will bring you joy and sorrow, soothe your soul and break your heart, take you to highs and drop you to lows, all in musical prose. Devour it on a magical journey.