One Town. One Draft Notice. Everything Changes.

In the quiet town of Janesville, Wisconsin, the rhythms of small-town life unfold as they always have. Factory shifts, Friday night dances, and long summer days filled with laughter. But as the world changes beyond their borders, so too does the world within.

Songbird in the Rain follows young people at the crossroads of their lives, caught between the expectations of their families, the weight of tradition, and the pull of an uncertain future. When a draft notice arrives, it sets off a chain of events that will test friendships, challenge dreams, and reshape everything they thought they knew about love, duty, and themselves.

“Some roads lead home. Some take you far away. But the hardest ones are the ones you don’t get to choose.”

Meet the Voices of a Generation

Lena Carter

The dreamer. A girl with music in her soul and a longing for something more. Torn between love and ambition, Lena must decide what truly defines her future.

Tommy Reynolds

The soldier. Raised on duty, honor, and family pride, Tommy always believed in a simple future. But the world has other plans.

Joe Palmer

The rebel. Restless, passionate, and unafraid to challenge authority, Joe sees the world changing—and he refuses to be left behind.

Carly Stewart

The fire. Tough, passionate, and fiercely independent, Carly loves Joe—but she’s never trusted him to stay.

Sarah Mitchell

The heart. A steady presence in a world full of uncertainty, Sarah clings to the familiar even as she watches those she loves prepare to leave.

Bill Thompson

The golden boy. Loyal, dependable, and deeply rooted in tradition. But in a world on the brink of change, is that enough?

Missy Carter

The outsider. As a biracial girl in a mostly white town, Missy has always walked a different path. Now, as she and Lena grow closer, she challenges Lena to see the world beyond what she’s always known.

Neil Walker

The athlete. The town’s track star and a born competitor, Neil is used to winning. But some races can’t be won with speed alone.

A Story of a Changing America

Set against the backdrop of 1966-1967, *Songbird in the Rain* explores the uncertainty of a generation standing at the edge of history. As the Vietnam War looms and cultural shifts reshape the country, Janesville’s young men and women must navigate the tension between the lives they were expected to live and the futures they are beginning to imagine for themselves.

For some, home is a place of comfort. For others, it’s something to escape. And for a few, it may be something they never see again.

Start the Journey

Some moments define a lifetime. *Songbird in the Rain* is a novel about the ones we never forget.