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Saturn's Favorite Music
by Laura Lee
Pub Date
18 Apr 2025
| Archive Date
6 Jun 2025
Description
Clara Jane is an alternative music-loving graduate fresh out of broadcast school in Detroit. Determined that she will be one of the lucky ones to make it in a competitive field, she lands her first job at a small market radio station in northern Michigan in the summer of 1992.
The station's hyper-local programming (featuring lost farm animal reports and radio obits) and its mix of light hits and great oldies is a far cry from the rock star glamour she craves, but it is all part of "paying her dues." Clara must adjust to small town life and to being the only woman in an all male airstaff.
Clara's biggest supporter is the recently-divorced morning man Seth Jones. Clara and Seth share a sense of humor and a mutual love of different genres of music. They develop a deep friendship that might become something more.
But just as Clara starts to become comfortable operating the board, the station is sold and staff members start to be replaced by automation. Will Clara find the radio fame she craves before the station goes completely robotic?
Saturn's Favorite Music is a fun voyage back to the days of analog radio with all of its skipping records and clashing egos. It is full of nostalgia and 90s music references, but its theme of technological change and what it means for messy human creativity and relationships is highly relevant in the age of AI.
Clara Jane is an alternative music-loving graduate fresh out of broadcast school in Detroit. Determined that she will be one of the lucky ones to make it in a competitive field, she lands her first...
Description
Clara Jane is an alternative music-loving graduate fresh out of broadcast school in Detroit. Determined that she will be one of the lucky ones to make it in a competitive field, she lands her first job at a small market radio station in northern Michigan in the summer of 1992.
The station's hyper-local programming (featuring lost farm animal reports and radio obits) and its mix of light hits and great oldies is a far cry from the rock star glamour she craves, but it is all part of "paying her dues." Clara must adjust to small town life and to being the only woman in an all male airstaff.
Clara's biggest supporter is the recently-divorced morning man Seth Jones. Clara and Seth share a sense of humor and a mutual love of different genres of music. They develop a deep friendship that might become something more.
But just as Clara starts to become comfortable operating the board, the station is sold and staff members start to be replaced by automation. Will Clara find the radio fame she craves before the station goes completely robotic?
Saturn's Favorite Music is a fun voyage back to the days of analog radio with all of its skipping records and clashing egos. It is full of nostalgia and 90s music references, but its theme of technological change and what it means for messy human creativity and relationships is highly relevant in the age of AI.
A Note From the Publisher
Laura Lee is the author of more than 20 books including biography, humorous reference, fiction, and children's literature. The Metro Detroit native brings a unique background to her work. She holds a degree in theater and worked as a professional mime, improvisational comic, and radio announcer before becoming a full time writer. She now divides her time between writing and producing (and traveling on) ballet master class tours with her partner the artistic director of the Russian Ballet Foundation.
The San Francisco Chronicle has said of her work, “Lee’s dry, humorous tone makes her a charming companion… She has a penchant for wordplay that is irresistible.”
Laura Lee is the author of more than 20 books including biography, humorous reference, fiction, and children's literature. The Metro Detroit native brings a unique background to her work. She...
A Note From the Publisher
Laura Lee is the author of more than 20 books including biography, humorous reference, fiction, and children's literature. The Metro Detroit native brings a unique background to her work. She holds a degree in theater and worked as a professional mime, improvisational comic, and radio announcer before becoming a full time writer. She now divides her time between writing and producing (and traveling on) ballet master class tours with her partner the artistic director of the Russian Ballet Foundation.
The San Francisco Chronicle has said of her work, “Lee’s dry, humorous tone makes her a charming companion… She has a penchant for wordplay that is irresistible.”
Available Editions
| EDITION |
Paperback |
| ISBN |
9780965734554 |
| PRICE |
US$19.99 (USD)
|
Available on NetGalley
NetGalley Reader (EPUB)
NetGalley Shelf App (EPUB)
Send to Kindle (EPUB)
Download (EPUB)
Additional Information
Available Editions
| EDITION |
Paperback |
| ISBN |
9780965734554 |
| PRICE |
US$19.99 (USD)
|
Available on NetGalley
NetGalley Reader (EPUB)
NetGalley Shelf App (EPUB)
Send to Kindle (EPUB)
Download (EPUB)
Average rating from 2 members
Featured Reviews
Martin M, Librarian
Elsewhere Press provided a galley for review.
I was initially attracted to this novel because it revolves around music/radio and takes place in Michigan. And though this is my first book of hers, I always want to support the local authors from my community.
I immediately connected with Clara (my first car was a Chevy Chevette). Her starting out on her first post-college job in '92 reminded me of a similar time in my life less than a half-decade prior. With this being a period piece, it is refreshing to have that reminder of a time when the Internet was still fairly limited and smart phones were still just a dream. This all gave me a sense of nostalgia and quaintness that I appreciated.
From the story, I got a good understanding of the ins and outs of a small-town disc jockey in the early 90's. Lee perfectly created that world in a way for laymen to quickly grasp (thanks to her own experience in that world). All of the song references spoke to my enjoyment of popular music. Things get a little episodic in the middle, yet everything layers and moves the overall narrative of Clara forward to an appreciated ending.
julie b, Reviewer
Saturn's Favorite Music by Laura Lee
Story follows Clara Jane as she graduates and heads off to her first job at a small rural town in MI. Love all the songs and little known facts about the singers. Brings back so many memories and I was surprised I like 99% of the songs today. Love the atmosphere she discovers when she first arrives and how it comes to be her second home. After a while she meshes with Seth and they put on dual show that fans like. The station is up for sale.... a new buyer shows up and keeps them all on, then the station goes digital and that's not what Clara wants at all in her life. Love changes she has planned for and how determined she is. All types of relationships in this read.
Great entertaining read. Learned so much about the start of radio stations and all the work involved.
Featured Reviews
Martin M, Librarian
Elsewhere Press provided a galley for review.
I was initially attracted to this novel because it revolves around music/radio and takes place in Michigan. And though this is my first book of hers, I always want to support the local authors from my community.
I immediately connected with Clara (my first car was a Chevy Chevette). Her starting out on her first post-college job in '92 reminded me of a similar time in my life less than a half-decade prior. With this being a period piece, it is refreshing to have that reminder of a time when the Internet was still fairly limited and smart phones were still just a dream. This all gave me a sense of nostalgia and quaintness that I appreciated.
From the story, I got a good understanding of the ins and outs of a small-town disc jockey in the early 90's. Lee perfectly created that world in a way for laymen to quickly grasp (thanks to her own experience in that world). All of the song references spoke to my enjoyment of popular music. Things get a little episodic in the middle, yet everything layers and moves the overall narrative of Clara forward to an appreciated ending.
julie b, Reviewer
Saturn's Favorite Music by Laura Lee
Story follows Clara Jane as she graduates and heads off to her first job at a small rural town in MI. Love all the songs and little known facts about the singers. Brings back so many memories and I was surprised I like 99% of the songs today. Love the atmosphere she discovers when she first arrives and how it comes to be her second home. After a while she meshes with Seth and they put on dual show that fans like. The station is up for sale.... a new buyer shows up and keeps them all on, then the station goes digital and that's not what Clara wants at all in her life. Love changes she has planned for and how determined she is. All types of relationships in this read.
Great entertaining read. Learned so much about the start of radio stations and all the work involved.
