Song for Ria

Alison Connaught is grieving the death of her daughter, Ria, who died of an overdose of OxyContin. She travels to the US to meet Rias friends and colleagues and gains insight into the challenges of Hollywood. She begins to make music again, but this time it is hers. Her album is released and advertised in the docu-soaps commercial breaks, and Alison is able to tell her side of the story to the world. This is a visceral and deeply moving tale of grief and regret.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2022
Publisher: RedDoor Press

Renowned composer Alison Connaught is in the depths of grief, mourning the loss of her high-profile Hollywood-based daughter, Ria. Tragically, Ria succumbed to an overdose of the OxyContin drug, which Alison had no knowledge of her daughter's consumption. Despite Ria's successful acting career, living thousands of miles away in the United States, Alison bears the weight of guilt and self-blame, questioning what kind of mother could be unaware of her child's substance abuse.

Alison's grief has taken a toll on her life, rendering her unable to engage in her passion for music. The once award-winning composer finds herself at a crossroads, questioning the future of her career. Moreover, her marriage to Ria's stepfather, Harvey, is struggling, as she travels to the United States to confront her daughter's friends and colleagues and gain insight into the demanding world of Hollywood.

Through her journey, Alison begins to form a bridge between her daughter and her musical muse. She discovers that a docu-soap about Ria is in the works, with one of Ria's rivals serving as both the producer and the star. As Alison reconnects with her daughter's life, she also starts to make music again, determined to create music that is truly hers.

The release of Alison's album and its promotion through docu-soaps' commercial breaks and accompanying publicity provide Alison with an opportunity to share her side of the story with the world. However, there is one person she needs to confront, and that is Ria's inconstant boyfriend, Joshua. In a heartfelt confrontation, Alison is able to reconcile her place in Ria's story and find closure.

This novel by Michelle Shines is a powerful and deeply moving exploration of grief and regret. Through Alison's journey, readers are taken on a visceral and emotional ride, experiencing the full spectrum of emotions that accompany loss and the complexities of mother-daughter relationships. Shines' skill as a storyteller brings Alison's thoughts and actions to life, creating a vivid and unforgettable portrait of a woman grappling with the unthinkable.

Dimension: 198 x 129 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913062996