Books have soundtracks just like movies do. Sometimes they’re written into the story, sometimes they’re quietly playing in the background of a scene, and sometimes they reflect a character’s heart in ways words can’t.

In Welcome to Seagull Street: That Summer in Ocean City, Maryland, music runs through the lives of two characters in particular: Olivia and Evan. Their playlists couldn’t be more different, but both remind us that songs can shape the way we see the world, and ourselves.

With the Oceans Calling Music Festival happening next weekend in Ocean City, I thought this would be the perfect time to share a little about the role music plays in the book. I’ll be at the festival myself, giving out friendship bracelets and sharing my story with fellow music lovers!

Olivia’s Playlist: Pop, Power, and Possibility 

For Olivia, music is both comfort and energy. She’s the kind of person who always has earbuds tucked in, who turns to songs when life feels overwhelming. After a difficult divorce and a move to Seagull Street, music helps her rebuild and dream again.

• She finds inspiration in all types of live music, from powerhouse concerts to coffeehouse gigs. Taylor Swift and Beyoncé are more than artists to her, they’re reminders that resilience and reinvention are possible.
  
• She leans on familiar favorites too. Boy bands like Backstreet Boys and One Direction bring a sense of fun and nostalgia, especially the cheeky nod in 1D song “Olivia.”
  

Her playlist mirrors her personality: lively, hopeful, a little dramatic, and endlessly loyal.

Evan’s Soundtrack: Aerosmith Forever

Evan, on the other hand, is pure classic rock. His entire arc follows the rhythms and lyrics of Aerosmith songs, each track reflecting the stage he’s in, from heartbreak to hope.

• He’s always singing, sometimes to the point of annoyance (his ex certainly thought so).
  
• For Evan, music isn’t background noise, it’s how he expresses joy, resilience, and connection.
  
• In Chapter 7 (page 56) Evan talks about how he’s looking forward to the first Oceans Calling Music Festival and music is a symbol of his journey and fresh start.

Evan’s soundtrack is about freedom and fun, a reminder that music doesn’t just fill silence, it fuels transformation.

Music, Community, and Connection

Just like Olivia and Evan, all of us carry soundtracks through our lives. Certain songs become tied to summer nights, friendships, heartbreaks, and new beginnings. That’s what makes festivals like Oceans Calling so special, it’s not just a festival, it’s a gathering where music becomes memory.

That’s also what inspired me to tie music so closely into Welcome to Seagull Street. Ocean City is a place where stories and songs naturally blend and where a live band on the Boardwalk or a concert on the sand can change the way a night feels forever.

Join the Soundtrack

Heading to Oceans Calling this weekend? I’ll be there too handing out free friendship bracelets as a nod to the themes of music and connection in Welcome to Seagull Street. Look for me in my signature Maryland flag hat, stop by, say hi, and grab one!

And if you’d like to dive deeper into the soundtrack of the book, signed copies of Welcome to Seagull Street are available at the beach: Caprichos Books (Ocean Pines), Raggamuffin Boutique (24th Street), and Bethany Beach Books. Also on Amazon in:

• 📖 Paperback (for your fall reading nook)
  
• 📱 Kindle Unlimited (free with subscription)
  
• 🎧 Audible audiobook (perfect for your drive to the festival)

🎶 The Soundtrack of Seagull Street

A mix of Olivia’s anthems, Evan’s Aerosmith arc, and Ocean City vibes

1. Olivia – One Direction
   
2. I Want It That Way – Backstreet Boys
   
3. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
   
4. Dream On – Aerosmith
   
5. Dancing Queen – ABBA
   
6. Shake It Off – Taylor Swift
   
7. Break My Soul – Beyoncé
   
8. Walking on Sunshine – Katrina & The Waves
   
9. Good 4 U – Olivia Rodrigo
   
10. Come Monday – Jimmy Buffett
    
11. Under the Boardwalk – The Drifters
    
12. Island in the Sun – Weezer
    
13. Seagull – Bad Company
    
14. Hey Girl – O.A.R.
    
15. I’m on a Boat – The Lonely Island (ft T-Pain)
    
16. Soak up the Sun – Sheryl Crow
    
17. I Ran (So Far Away) – Flock of Seagulls