Song of Hummingbird Highway (Koehler Books, February 14, 2026) follows Terri, a Midwestern music lover who travels to Belize for her boyfriend's brother's funeral and discovers a world where Garifuna drums, Mayan cosmology, and ancestral healing rituals challenge everything she believes. When forces beyond her understanding threaten everything she loves, she must decide: Will she cling to the certainty of her old beliefs, or surrender to the transformative power of ancestral wisdom and a mother's fierce love? This 526-page debut reflects years of research and cultural collaboration with consultant Mesha Steele to authentically honor Belizean culture, Garifuna and Mayan communities. Each of the 30 chapters opens with original black-and-white photographic artwork, and 100+ curated songs serve as both plot device and metaphor throughout the narrative. For readers who: Loved the transformative journey in Eat, Pray, Love, and want that experience in literary fiction Are drawn to spiritual development books like Ask and It Is Given Appreciate the cultural authenticity of Barbara Kingsolver and Isabel Allende Seek stories where music, healing, and maternal love intersect with magical realism. About K.M. Cookie: I'm a believer in the transformative power of asking "Are you creating?"—a question that guided me through a disciplined 5am-7am daily writing practice to complete this novel. As Executive Director of Career Success at American Career College, I empower healthcare students across three Southern California campuses while maintaining my life as a storyteller and creative force. I'm a certified True Colors communication facilitator, growth mindset expert, and speaker at national conferences on leadership and resilience. I hold a UCLA Creative Writing Certificate and a master's degree in interdisciplinary studies integrating writing, leadership, and business. My work has appeared in Creative Nursing and Career Education Review. I celebrate milestones through "Stone on a Tray" rituals and "Sparkle Parties." My signature pink sparkle Chuck Taylor shoes—which I carry as companions rather than wear—symbolize this creative journey and remind everyone I meet: Are you creating? When I'm not writing, I curate Spotify playlists inspired by the novel's 100+ songs, create themed Instagram reels (@kmcookieauthor), and take garden walks with my husband and our beloved rescue pit bull. Available for pre-order now. Add Song of Hummingbird Highway to your Want to Read shelf and enter the Goodreads Giveaway for a chance to receive an advance copy.