Editorial Content for The Future Saints
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Ashley Winstead is a bit of a chameleon novelist. She seems equally at home across different genres, particularly romantic comedies and Gothic thrillers. Now, with THE FUTURE SAINTS, she has penned a novel that blends romance with the chronicle of a rock band on the verge of stardom and a lead singer on the verge of a breakdown.
The Future Saints --- with lead singer, songwriter and guitarist Hannah Cortland, drummer Kenny Lovins, and bassist Tarak "Ripper" Ravishankar --- used to be a different kind of band, playing the kind of breezy surf-pop that reflected the California coastal landscape where they grew up surfing and beach bumming. But about a year ago, Hannah's beloved younger sister Ginny, the band's manager (and Hannah's biggest cheerleader), died in a drowning accident. Ever since, Hannah has been drinking too much, imploding on stage, and turning the band's sound much harder and darker. The band --- not to mention Hannah herself --- seems headed for disaster.
"[THE FUTURE SAINTS is] a gentle yet powerful love story with an ending that will keep readers talking long after the final chord has faded away."
Enter Theo Ford, a representative of the band's label, Manifest Records, and their new manager. He's driven, hungry and good at what he does. He's gained a reputation as the label's "Fixer," and this time his goal is to get the Future Saints to record one last album --- so that the label can drop them once their contract terms are fulfilled.
But Theo is more than just an ambitious and astute businessman; he genuinely loves music and musicians. When he attends his first Future Saints concert, he sees something in the band, and especially in Hannah. He's not alone, either. When a video of a drunk Hannah collapsing on stage hits social media, the internet becomes intrigued with this train wreck in progress.
At first, the Future Saints are becoming famous (or at least infamous) for all the wrong reasons, as bookers invite them to perform at least partially in the hopes that Hannah will do something else outrageous on stage. But along the way, the band begins performing some new material that is --- although dark to the point of heartbreaking, given that it's inspired by Ginny's death --- the best music they've ever written. Theo starts to cultivate this new sound, even as he also tries to keep Hannah in check and defuse growing tension between Hannah and Ripper, a super talented guitarist who's hungry for his own moment in the spotlight. He also begins to develop feelings for Hannah the woman, as well as admiration for Hannah the musician.
As the chronicle of a rock band and the complicating factors of musical fame, THE FUTURE SAINTS certainly will appeal to fans of DAISY JONES & THE SIX and THE FINAL REVIVAL OF OPAL & NEV. But it's also an emotional journey through grief, addiction and recovery, as well as a narrative about Theo's attempts to find his own path that is not focused on impressing his absent father or his slimy boss (who's become, over the years, a sort of fatherly stand-in). It's a gentle yet powerful love story with an ending that will keep readers talking long after the final chord has faded away.
Teaser
When record executive Theo meets the Future Saints, they’re bombing at a dive bar in their hometown. Since the tragic death of their manager, the band has been in a downward spiral. Theo has been dispatched to coax a new --- and successful --- album out of them, or else let them go. He is immediately struck by Hannah, the group’s impetuous lead singer, who replaces their California pop with gut-wrenching rock. When this new music goes viral, striking an unexpected chord with fans, Theo puts his career on the line to give the Saints one last shot at success with a new tour, new record and new start. But Hannah’s grief has larger consequences for the group, and her increasingly destructive antics become a distraction as she and her sister, Ginny --- her lifelong partner in crime --- undermine Theo at every turn.
Promo
When record executive Theo meets the Future Saints, they’re bombing at a dive bar in their hometown. Since the tragic death of their manager, the band has been in a downward spiral. Theo has been dispatched to coax a new --- and successful --- album out of them, or else let them go. He is immediately struck by Hannah, the group’s impetuous lead singer, who replaces their California pop with gut-wrenching rock. When this new music goes viral, striking an unexpected chord with fans, Theo puts his career on the line to give the Saints one last shot at success with a new tour, new record and new start. But Hannah’s grief has larger consequences for the group, and her increasingly destructive antics become a distraction as she and her sister, Ginny --- her lifelong partner in crime --- undermine Theo at every turn.
About the Book
For fans of DAISY JONES & THE SIX and IN FIVE YEARS --- a powerful and transportive new novel about a music executive desperately trying to bring a rock band back from the brink, from bestselling author Ashley Winstead.
The best love stories are the ones you don’t expect.
When record executive Theo meets the Future Saints, they’re bombing at a dive bar in their hometown. Since the tragic death of their manager, the band has been in a downward spiral. Theo has been dispatched to coax a new --- and successful --- album out of them, or else let them go.
Immediately, Theo is struck by Hannah, the group’s impetuous lead singer, who’s gone off script by debuting a whole new sound, replacing their California pop with gut-wrenching rock. When this new music goes viral, striking an unexpected chord with fans, Theo puts his career on the line to give the Saints one last shot at success with a new tour, new record, and new start.
But Hannah’s grief has larger consequences for the group, and her increasingly destructive antics become a distraction as she and her sister, Ginny --- her lifelong partner in crime --- undermine Theo at every turn. Hannah isn’t ready to move on or prepared for the fame she’s been chasing, and the weight of her problems jeopardize the band, her growing closeness with Theo, and, worst of all, her relationship with her sister --- all while the world watches closely. The Future Saints’s big break is here --- if only they can survive it.
A novel about sisterhood, friendship and the ghosts that haunt us, THE FUTURE SAINTS is “a mesmerizing look at grief, love, and the music industry that's so raw and emotional, you’ll want to play it on repeat” (Laura Hankin, author of ONE-STAR ROMANCE).
Audiobook available; read by Ali Andre Ali and Brittany Pressley, with Vikas Adam and Tyla Collier
