A former Stroud journalist has released a novel about dementia, family secrets and the emotional power of music after more than 20 years in journalism.
The Songs That Find Us, by Andrea Darby, who grew up in Stroud and now lives near Tewkesbury, follows a family divided by long-held secrets and a devastating illness. Its characters are ultimately drawn back together through music and unexpected connections within their community.
The novel has already made an early impact with readers, reaching Amazon’s top 50 bestsellers in two women’s fiction categories within 24 hours of publication.
A family story told through three perspectives
The book is narrated by three members of the same family: mum Lizzie, dad Ed and their adopted daughter Beck. Each character offers a different view of the family’s struggles and the revelations that threaten to pull it apart.
Music provides a source of comfort throughout the story and may also offer a route back towards reconciliation. The novel includes its own soundtrack, with a curated list of significant songs at the back of the book tracing the family’s journey.
Darby said her lifelong interest in music provided the starting point for the story. She was particularly interested in the way songs can bring back emotions, memories and parts of a person’s identity that seem to have disappeared.
“Music has been a lifelong passion, and the starting point for this novel was my fascination with the extraordinary relationship between music and memory – how a song can unlock emotions, moments and parts of ourselves that we thought were lost.”
From that idea, the novel developed into a story about what happens when someone who has spent a lifetime protecting a secret begins to lose the barriers keeping the truth hidden.
“The story grew into a reflection on family, memory and the complex ways people stay connected through love, loyalty and change.”
Written during a creative-writing master’s degree
Darby developed the novel while studying for an MA in Creative Writing. During that time, she was mentored by the late author Fay Weldon, an experience she described as a privilege.
“It was such a privilege for me,” she said. “Growing up, Fay was the author everyone was talking about.”
Darby said Weldon championed the book and that she learned a great deal from her mentor.
Before turning to fiction, Darby worked as a journalist for more than 20 years. Her background in journalism now sits alongside a story shaped by personal experience: she has witnessed dementia’s impact on several members of her family.
A compassionate approach to dementia
That experience influenced Darby’s decision to address dementia with sensitivity and compassion. While the condition brings challenges, she said she wanted the novel to show the resilience, humanity and love that can exist alongside it.
The book also explores the possibility that music can prompt moments of joy, recognition and connection, including feelings that may appear unexpectedly.
“Alongside its challenges, I hoped to portray the resilience, humanity and love that can accompany the condition, and how music can spark precious – and sometimes unexpected – feelings of joy, recognition and connection.”
Darby hopes the novel will contribute to greater understanding and awareness of dementia, while reminding readers of the significance of memory, music and the moments that remain with people.
“I hope this novel contributes in some small way to greater understanding and awareness of dementia, but above all I hope it reminds us of the power of memory, music and the moments that stay with us.”
She said the response since publication had been deeply encouraging, particularly the emotional reaction from early readers.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the response,” said Andrea, who worked as a journalist for more than 20 years before turning to fiction.
The Songs That Find Us is available as an ebook and paperback from Amazon, other booksellers and Darby’s website, andreadarby.com.