Some roads don't just take you somewhere—they change you.

Belize's Hummingbird Highway is one of the world's most scenic drives, a two-lane highway connecting the capital Belmopan to the Caribbean coast at Dangriga. It winds through abundant jungle and mountains, past citrus groves and small villages, offering stunning views of the Maya Mountains, dense rainforest, and the famed Blue Hole park. But what captivated me wasn't just its beauty—it was the duality. This road represents simultaneously beauty and danger. It demands you pay attention, that you be present.

That tension became the perfect metaphor for Song of Hummingbird Highway.

I wanted to write an epic novel that carries the character from pain to empowerment, a transformation—the kind that requires us to move through both breathtaking moments and treacherous terrain. At 526 pages with 30 original black-and-white photographs and over 100 songs woven structurally throughout, this book became that vision. For three years, I woke for 5am writing session, reviewing accuracy with cultural consultants to ensure authentic representation of the Garifuna, Mayan, and Caribbean spiritual traditions that pulse through every page.

I briefly considered writing a memoir, then realized: my life might be ordinary, but my imagination is wild. Through fiction, I could teach my character Terri the lessons I learned in life—maybe a little faster than I did—without the constraints of literal truth.

But the real foundation of this book is music.

Every Friday night, my husband and I have "deck night"—our dedicated time to watch music videos, share stories from the week or decades past, and simply be present together. I always bring my notebook. Those scribbled notes became the core of what healed me. Music literally rewires us—it releases chemicals that bring pleasure and connection, lowers stress, even changes our heartbeat. It can energize and uplift, or invite deep reflection.

I wanted readers to experience that same visceral connection—to feel this book as much as read it.

If you've ever started a voyage, had a dream, accomplished a goal, or loved a song, you will understand this story. Because like the Hummingbird Highway itself, the best journeys aren't just about the destination—they're about who you become along the way.