From Traveling Singer to Bestselling Author: 'This Wasn't a Simple Pivot; It Was a Moment of Reckoning' (Exclusive)

Dreams shape our lives in a strange way. Sometimes they take us where we expect, and sometimes they lead us down paths we never imagined. For years, I lived the dream of becoming a professional singer, traveling across the country, pouring my heart into every performance and connecting deeply with people along the way.

But life, in its not always gentle persistence, eventually pushed me towards something new — a calling I hadn’t expected, but was waiting for me anyway. This journey from stage to page has taught me that dreams can evolve, often in ways that require incredible courage, adaptability and self-confidence.

Jennifer Moorman in her acting days.

Courtesy of Jennifer Moorman

When I first started singing, the excitement of performing was everything. Music offered freedom, joy and the opportunity to connect with people in a way I had never known before. Each audience brought new faces, and each performance was like a small adventure with a multitude of strangers who momentarily became part of my world. I traveled from one city to another for five years. My days were filled with rehearsals and travel, and my nights were spent under the spotlight, hoping that my voice would make people happy, uplifted, and inspired. It was exciting, challenging and fulfilling all at once.

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But as anyone who pursues a passion knows, the road isn’t always smooth. I faced long hours, unpredictable schedules, and long stretches of solitude on the road. Still, those struggles seemed worth it because I was doing something that resonated so deeply with me. Singing was my big dream – or so I thought. It wasn’t until I felt the urge to change my life that I realized that dreams don’t always stay the same forever.

Jennifer Moorman and her band on the road.

Courtesy of Jennifer Moorman

Looking back, I can see the subtle changes that began to stir around me. As in many industries, executives are always looking for the next big hit. As time went on, I could no longer deny that I no longer liked this change in the industry. This was a confusing and emotional time because I was completely defining myself through my music. Letting go of that felt like letting go of a part of who I was.

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This wasn’t just a simple twist; it was a moment of reckoning. The idea of ​​leaving music as a career forced me to confront who I was outside of my identity as a singer. The day I sold the last of my musical equipment, I stood on the sidewalk sobbing.

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As I began to understand this change, I spent time thinking about the parts of singing that I loved the most. Aside from performing, I’ve always enjoyed songwriting, the storytelling aspect of lyrics that might resonate with someone else. This realization was my first clue. Maybe the storytelling itself is what attracted me the most — the connection, the sharing, the opportunity to give others insight into emotions and experiences.

I began exploring writing as a serious pursuit, but it was not an easy transition. I went back to college to get my English degree and discovered that I could combine experiences and emotions from my life on the road to create something entirely new. Storytelling offered me a way to connect with others, just as music did.

‘The Disappearance of Josephine Reynolds’ by Jennifer Moorman.

Harper Muse

With each step forward, I began to see my life not as a series of separate chapters, but as a continuous journey of growth. Music was a significant part of my journey, but it was not the whole of who I am. Just as I found resilience on the road, I found that I could bring that same resilience to writing. Embracing this new path in life has taught me that change doesn’t mean abandoning former passions — it means expanding our understanding of what we’re capable of and finding new ways to express our creativity.

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Today I am grateful for both the path I left and the one I chose to follow now. Moving forward into something new was scary, but it allowed me to see that each of us can develop in beautiful, unexpected ways. Sometimes life can pull us in directions we couldn’t have imagined, but if we accept and embrace the changes, it can lead us to even greater joy and fulfillment.

To anyone who might feel the same urge to step into the unknown, to dream a new dream, I want to say: Believe in your journey. Let go of rigid ideas of what you “should” be and open yourself up to what you could become. Life is full of surprises, and each of us is capable of much more than we know. So if you feel your dreams changing, lean into it. You may find that the evolution of sleep is not the end, but a glorious beginning filled with possibilities waiting to be explored.

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The disappearance of Josephine Reynolds is out on January 14th and is available for pre-order now, wherever books are sold.

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Source: HIS Education