Crazy Dreams
Cassidy Piscina is at a crossroads in life. She walked away from a five-year relationship after realizing it wasn’t going anywhere. Single again, she has a choice to make about the money she saved as a “wedding fund” for the past 15 years.
Cassidy could continue to save money for something that might never actually happen. Or she could use that money and take time off to find herself. Maybe she could chase an old dream.
Cassidy decides to walk away from her nursing career and attempt to make the swimming team for Rio. She has a five-year plan to get there and make that old dream come true.
She knows it won’t be easy. She knows the odds are against her. But Cassidy is determined to prove that sometimes Crazy Dreams can come true.
Music is a constant companion as I write. Crazy Dreams would not exist without the songs that inspired me along the way. In addition to the inspiration playlist that I created for this story, I also listened to a lot of music by P!nk and Natasha Bedingfield. These are the songs that were on my inspiration playlist for Crazy Dreams:
SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t read the book and don’t want to know what happens or how it ends, read at your own caution.
Crazy Dreams - by Carrie Underwood
This song gave me my book title. The fact is that some times crazy dreams do come true.
Distant Dreamer - by Duffy
I did a search in my music library for songs with dream in the title. It came back with a lot to choose from. I picked this one because in the beginning of the story, the dream seems like it is a distance away.
Anything’s Possible - by Lea Michele
This is one of the first songs I had picked for the inspiration playlist. The idea that anything’s possible keeps me going on rough days. And it does the same for Cassidy.
Fire Starter - by Demi Lovato
“I’m a badass jumping off a moving train…” I picked this song because of the lyrics. It takes a lot of courage to quit a stable job and pursue a crazy dream. That makes Cassidy a badass.
Weightless - by Natasha Bedingfield
I picked this song for a couple reasons. Technically, you experience weightlessness when you are in water. And the lyrics “the sky is the limit and I just want to float…” The song was the perfect inspiration I needed for Cassidy’s journey.
Catch My Breath - by Kelly Clarkson
Cassidy is an asthmatic like I am. That is one of the reasons I picked this song. The other is again the lyrics “no one can hold me back. I ain’t got time for that…”
Live It Up - by Colbie Caillat
This is another song I picked because of the lyrics. “I’m unstoppable I drop kick impossible…” When I was creating this playlist, I kept finding songs that were perfect for someone determined to make the impossible possible.
Made in the USA - by Demi Lovato
I picked this song simply to represent the fact that Cassidy was born in the USA. And she eventually represents the USA in competition.
We Are Never Getting Back Together - by Taylor Swift
If you’ve read the story, you know there’s a scene with Cassidy and her ex-boyfriend where he “offers to marry her” so she doesn’t have to quit her job. It’s clear that he doesn’t know her real motivation and she makes it clear to him that they are “never ever getting back together.”
Right As Rain - by Adele
I picked this song to represent Cassidy realizing she is okay being single.
Ain’t Got Far To Go - by Jordan Smith
I picked this song as a sign that Cassidy was getting closer to making her crazy dream come true.
Weightless (Less is More Version) - by Natasha Bedingfield
I picked the stripped down version of the song to appear in the second half of the playlist. I used both versions because I really liked the song. But at this point, Cassidy is starting to realize that it is not just her body that is changing in this quest.
Right on Time - by Gretchen Wilson
I picked this song because of the title. And then the lyrics made the song perfect. “Took a while to get here, but I’m right on time…”
I’m About To Come Alive - by Train
Spoiler alert: Cassidy actually makes it to Rio and is just a few days away from making those crazy dreams come true. This song was perfect to represent how alive she felt making it to Rio.
I Made It - by Fantasia feat. Tye Tribbett
I picked this song because of the title. Cassidy has made it to Rio.
Rise - by Katy Perry
This song was the theme song for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
Written in the Stars - by The Girl and The Dreamcatcher
I picked this song with the idea that Cassidy’s dream was always meant to come true because it was written in the stars.
Crazy Dreams - by Megan Hilty
Another song that appears twice in the playlist. But each version sounds different. The slower pace of this version represents how much Cassidy’s life has changed.
