Soundtrack for The Unseen Sacrifice

🎶 If The Unseen Sacrifice Had a Soundtrack

My head is never quiet. Music—whether it’s new age, rock, classical, show tunes, soul, jazz, or pop—swirls constantly between my ears, giving me exactly what I need in that moment to move through life.

While writing The Unseen Sacrifice, I often imagined the story unfolding like a film. The characters walked through scenes, emotions rose and fell, and in the background—at least in my mind—music always played, mounting then fading with each turning point. So if my novel had its own soundtrack, here are the songs I’d choose to bring it to life.

Opening Scene

For the first moments, I heard the ambiguous song Learning To Fly by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. This song sets the tone of quiet tension. On the surface, everything seems ordinary, but you can sense the undercurrent of secrets waiting to rise. it captures both the lightness of the desert life, and the strength Mia finds in standing up when she needs to. Here’s the YouTube link to this song: https://youtu.be/s5BJXwNeKsQ?si=evoGT-qJReGT4gYD

Mia’s Theme

Every protagonist deserves a theme song, and for Mia I felt Fleetwood Mac’s song Songbird, sung softly by Christine McVie exemplified this perfectly. Defined by her strong family values and fight for justice, Mia is torn between duty and desire. The song’s delicate beauty reflects both her determination and her vulnerability—she’s a woman pulled in two directions, but unwilling to bend on what she believes is right. Here’s the YouTube link to this song:https://youtu.be/y9Hqn8x6a8s?si=jcayPYEhnOsqEKop

The Antagonists

For Ken and Leah Abelman, the music felt sharp, calculated, and unsettling. My mind went immediately to the chilling score fromHalloween by John Carpenter. Its creeping tension builds unease and signals that danger is always near. Here’s the YouTube link to this song: https://youtu.be/Bt5rCgHN1Gc?si=YnejfqbfSPJ9CvVx

The Conflict

Some scenes weighed heavily on me while writing, and I found myself turning to The Beatles with While My Guitar Gently Weeps. George Harrison’s expressive vocals mirrored the sorrow beneath the anger, especially in the moments when Mia tries to connect with the dogs, Kasey and Luca, and when the Rabbi’s betrayal cuts her the deepest. The song carried the heartbreak of being wounded by those closest to us. Here’s the YouTube link to this song: https://youtube.com/shorts/D_WB5onMYCU?si=gzzSkIvLd2FIM0KY

The Turning Point

 

When the true cost of sacrifice becomes clear, I could only hear Refugee by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Steady, emotional, and unrelenting, it matched the moment when choices hardened into consequences—when Mia’s strength meant pushing forward no matter the cost. Here’s the YouTube link to this song: https://youtu.be/fFnOfpIJL0M?si=Sb79JJtpDpFUVaFk

The Ending

Could there be a more perfect closing song than Let It Be by The Beatles? After grief and struggle, hope whispered again. Gentle and wise, it felt like the story’s final chord: Mia has endured, and at last, she can let it be. Here’s the YouTube link to this song: https://youtu.be/QDYfEBY9NM4?si=IeVTtiYBNjyw4H7d

Bonus Track

In my head, there was always one extra song I imagined playing over the credits—the lighthearted, heartwarming Count on Me by Bruno Mars. I pictured it underscoring Mia, the kids, and the dogs together, leaving readers (and viewers, in my imaginary film version!) with smiles as the curtain falls. Here’s the YouTube link to this song: https://youtu.be/6k8cpUkKK4c?si=h1xhxF-dBx2SknfF

Music has a way of expressing what words alone sometimes can’t. If you’ve read The Unseen Sacrifice, I’d love to hear—what songs you would add to its soundtrack?

Don’t forget: The Unseen Sacrifice (Kindle) is available now for pre-order on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJ7XPSSL

Or

through Barnes & Noble (hardcover) at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-unseen-sacrifice-dani-i-tobbek/1148252949

My debut novel releases October 21, 2025!

All The Best,

Dani