Behind the Setlist: Confessions of a Non-Groupie

By Julie Gidlow

Publisher: Precocity Press

Working with Susan Shankin and Precocity Press on my first work of fiction was an easy decision — and one I’m very glad I made.

Susan made the entire process feel collaborative and comfortable. She has a wonderful ability to listen to what you’re trying to accomplish, offer honest feedback when something isn’t working, and help you find the best version of your book without ever making you feel like you’ve lost ownership of it. I always felt comfortable saying what I liked, what I didn’t, and what I wanted to rethink — and I knew I’d get that same honesty from her in return.

That combination of expertise, candor, creativity, and genuine warmth is rare. Susan knows her craft, cares about the work, and makes what could be an intimidating process feel exciting and manageable.

I couldn’t be happier with how Behind the Setlist turned out, especially the cover design! Seeing the book already reach #1 Best Seller and #1 New Release milestones just days into its release has made the experience even more rewarding. I would enthusiastically recommend Susan and Precocity Press to any writer looking for someone they can trust to help bring their book into the world.

Awards
Amazon #1 Best Seller in Two-Hour Arts & Photography Short Reads
Amazon #1 New Release in Popular Music
Amazon #1 New Release in Business Encyclopedias

What happens when a lifelong music fan suddenly finds herself at the center of a rockstar fantasy?

Mia Browne has spent decades covering the music industry—attending concerts, meeting artists, and collecting unforgettable stories along the way. She knows the difference between admiration and obsession, and she’s never had any desire to be a groupie.

Then one unexpected encounter changes everything.

After a concert, a musician she’s admired for years reaches out in a way she never saw coming. What begins as a flattering surprise soon becomes a whirlwind of texts, late-night conversations, and uncomfortable questions about fame, relationships, personal boundaries, and the power imbalance between performers and fans.

As the connection deepens, Mia finds herself caught between the reality of a musician-fan relationship and the myth she has built around a celebrated artist. Along the way, she must confront what she truly wants, what she’s willing to risk, and whether the people we admire can ever live up to the version of them we’ve imagined.

Filled with humor, heart, and authentic insider details from the music industry, Behind the Setlist offers a rare look at celebrity culture, fandom, self-discovery, and the complicated line between fantasy and reality.