Luca, a brilliant and self-absorbed young opera singer, is buried in the rubble of a collapsed building. A girl crawls through the debris to comfort him and then vanishes. perhaps she died in the ruins or maybe she just a figment of his imagination. When he discovers the strange truth, he is unwilling to accept it.
This is a story of love between two people who would never have met and never have found common ground without one of the catastrophes of modern life.
Unseen Unsung celebrates the power of music and the force of human survival in a complex world.
The concept for Unseen Unsung started life way back in 1999 when I imagined people stuck under the rubble after an earthquake in Turkey. I was enjoying myself plotting, writing and character-building when 9/11 jolted the world. I found the axis had shifted; the story felt too light in the changed world and I set the project aside for over a year.
This is a book, not about disasters, but about life and music, about ordinary people coping with what life throws at them, big and small. In it I have allowed my passion for music, in particular opera, (fairly) free rein, but, as one reviewer wrote, “please don’t think you have to be an opera lover to read this book”.
Although Unseen Unsung was published as a print version in 2008, I went to talk to a reading group last year, who had obtained second-hand copies through the Internet, so I am hoping people will still find it enjoyable. I decided to turn it into an ebook in order to learn the ropes for the publication of my new novel Border Line, which will be coming out in December.
The ebook of Unseen Unsung is available at http://www.amazon.com/Unseen-Unsung-Hilary-Custance-Green-ebook/dp/B00LSRI2PO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405942187&sr=8-1&keywords=Unseen+Unsung and https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/unseen-unsung/id899213653?ls=1&mt=11
I hope some of you will try it and enjoy it. Correction. That’s supposed to read – Please buy my book!
Green Writing Room 
Sounds like a compelling story. Was it hard to write?
I really, really enjoyed writing most of it, but it is disconcerting when life follows art. I often pick up a newspaper and find a story that relates too closely to my current writing. Some writing difficulties stem from setting too complex a timeline, you can end up with somebody in Rome and New York simultaneously or a pregnancy lasting 18 months.
Bought :-)))
You’re a saint! I’m having to resist the temptation to tell you everything that is wrong with it. Hope you only see the other parts.
You must be so proud of doing that and persevering. I hope you sell many.
Thanks, I’m not a great salesperson, but there’s not much point in writing if no one reads the stories, so I have to do the other stuff. I do get a big kick when a novel works for someone.
I wanted to get the paperback because I no longer have a eReader. Figuring that your link would get me close to the paperback version I clicked on it – and was taken to THIS PAGE. ???
Oh crikey! It worked when I tested it earlier, don’t know what is going on. Thanks for letting me know. I think it would probably be easier for me to send you a print copy than try and get it through Amazon. It was only ever published in England and although there are second-hand copies floating round the world, unless you can find one in Oz, the shipping will be silly.
I’ll check around a bit more, Hilary, before making such a demand of you.
I won’t mind, so feel free to ask, if you can get it easily for a decent price elsewhere.
Hi Hilary, ypou have done well.
(I find the links take me back to your blog)
Thanks, yes, I was alerted by M-R and have just, after much pfaffing, sorted it. They should work now.
Congratulations on this momentous occasion Hilary! This is wonderful. I just tweeted the link and hopefully will drive some sales to you 🙂
Thank you so much for this support Lauren, and for all the advice that comes over the airwaves from your blog.
Bought, downloaded, and on my books to read least, Hilary. –Curt
Brilliant, and thanks so much. I only hope you enjoy it, though if your ‘to read’ list is anything like mine, it will be next year before it reaches the top.
I’ll give it a priority. 🙂
That’s beyond the call of duty.
Not only bought but finished. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Lots of surprises and a double twist at the end. Well drawn characters. Hard not to love this if you like, music, romance and drama. You should be very proud of this, Hilary.
I’m so very glad it entertained you (and I’m impressed with your reading speed). Thank you for making it all worth writing (and battling through the ebook processing).
My last post didn’t come through don’t know why? Just wanted to say I love, love, loved this story, kept me guessing and intrigued all the way through. Really related to the story, loved the references to opera, good luck with the e-book promotion. Best wishes Charlotte 🙂
I am indescribably happy that the story spoke to you, since you live and work the life I was trying to describe. I was lucky enough to interview a young mezzo, Olivia Ray, when I was researching the book and we follow her career. I am looking forward to following yours. Since you are an expert on the life of a trainee opera singer, may I quote what you’ve said?
Of course you can 🙂
Bless you!