“Music is the soundtrack of our lives.” – Dick Clark
Who hasn’t dreamed of being in a rock band? Pip, Irina, Karen, and Angie make that dream a reality when they form Not Perfect—an all-girl band that brings them together, despite their different lives. When they play, they’re a force to be reckoned with. But music isn’t just about the sound—it’s about finding your voice, expressing who you are, and standing strong in a world that doesn’t always get it.
With electrifying energy, That’s Why I Wrote This Song is a story about friendship, music, and chasing your dreams.
That’s Why I Wrote This Song – A Story of Music, Friendship, and Finding Your Voice
Music is everything. It’s the beat of life, the escape from reality, and the way to say what words can’t. For Pip, Irina, Karen, and Angie, music isn’t just a passion—it’s their way of making sense of the world.
Together, they form Not Perfect, an all-girl rock band where they can be exactly who they want to be. But life isn’t just song lyrics and jam sessions. Between school, family drama, and the pressures of performing, they’re navigating who they are—both on and off the stage.
When the girls get the chance to create a music video for their song “Psycho Dad,” they’ll soon discover just how much music can connect, heal, and change lives.
Inspired by Susanne Gervay’s deep dive into the music industry—including her daughter Tory’s experiences working behind the scenes—That’s Why I Wrote This Song is a fast-paced, electric novel about friendship, music, and fighting to be heard.
Why Read This Book?
Perfect for teens who love music, bands, and stories about friendship and self-discovery, That’s Why I Wrote This Song hits all the right notes!
Susanne Gervay is an award-winning Australian author, renowned for her books that tackle real-life challenges with honesty, depth, and courage. As a passionate advocate for children’s and young adult literature, she has worked extensively in anti-bullying initiatives, literacy programs, and youth empowerment.
Her I Am Jack series has been embraced by schools, families, and readers worldwide, addressing bullying, family, resilience, and growing up. The series has not only become an essential resource for anti-bullying education but has also been adapted into a successful stage production, touring Australia and beyond.
In That’s Why I Wrote This Song, Susanne dives into the power of music, self-expression, and the challenges of growing up. Inspired by real experiences in the music industry—including those of her own daughter—this novel follows four teenage girls who form a band, using music to navigate friendship, love, family struggles, and finding their voices.
Through her writing, Susanne continues to inspire young people to embrace their passions, speak their truth, and break through the barriers that hold them back.
Tory’s passion is music, family and friends.
From as long as she can remember music has always been a huge part of her life – playing it, listening to it, watching it. I have always been a band nerd but I’m proud of it.’
‘My family and friends mean the world to me. We have a very close family and get along MOST of the time. My brother Jamie is one of my best friends, as annoying as he is. We have been through everything together and can talk about anything.
My best friends always keep me going. There are always new dramas to gossip about, parties to attend, beaches and shops to visit, boys to meet and concerts to see. My friends make my life interesting and are the people who have always been there for me and are life long friends who I can trust with anything.’
WAYS supports this integration of music in story. It supports youth and music. WAYS’ Bondi Live Youth Music Project (BLYMP) empowers young musicians by giving them the opportunity to develop their talent and professionalism.
BLYMP holds Bondi Blitz on Bondi Beach with young bands. The headline acts at Bondi Blitz have included Grinspoon, Coolism, Nitocris and Unpaid Debt.
An Interview with Steph Bowe – A Young Literary Talent with Big Stories to Tell
Steph Bowe was a remarkable Australian author who made her mark on the literary world at a young age with her sharp wit, deep insight, and an incredible ability to capture the essence of being a teenager. Known for her novels Girl Saves Boy, All This Could End, and Night Swimming, Steph’s writing was heartfelt, funny, and refreshingly real. In this interview, she shares her journey as a young author, her inspirations, and her thoughts on storytelling, life, and the power of young adult fiction.
The kids came from the beaches of Sydney and they danced, sang, jumped in the pool, raged and partied in the video clip, Psycho Dad. See who they are at the end of the video clip of Psycho Dad.
Susanne became obsessed with music festivals, concerts, video clips of Eminem and bands.
Tory’s life is music – playing, listening, studying it, working in the music industry and even as a security guard for bands and celebrities – some of her stories are Tory’s stories as a guard
Verse 1 –
All of the times I cried
I wish you’d just die
Shouting and all the rest
But now I have learned best
What you did was wrong
That’s why I wrote this song
So maybe you would see
Just what you have done to me
Chorus –
Cause I don’t want you
And I don’t need you
You were so bad
You are my psycho dad
Verse 2 –
You call me all the time
You won’t give us a dime
I can’t believe this is real
The way you made me feel
You have your new wife
And your new life
My eyes are getting sore
So just walk out that door
Chorus –
Cause I don’t want you
And I don’t need you
Your life is so sad
You are a psycho dad
Cause I don’t want you
And I don’t need you
Your life is so sad
You are a psycho dad
Middle 8 –
I (I) really (really) don’t know how (don’t know how)
But I (But I) know I (know I)
Hate you so much now
I (I) really (really) don’t know how (don’t know how)
But I (But I) know I (know I)
Hate you so much now
Verse 3 –
You made me feel always scared
I knew you never cared
You left me all broken and scarred
And made our life so hard
I’ve got my family
And I hope you can see
That I don’t want you around
I’ve got my feet on the ground
Chorus –
Cause I don’t want you
And I don’t need you
You are so mad
You are no one’s psycho dad
Cause I don’t want you
And I don’t need you
You are so mad
You are no one’s psycho dad
Outro –
No one’s psycho dad
No one’s psycho dad
No one’s psycho dad
No one’s psycho dad
Chorus –
Why do I feel so alone,
Like I’m standing here all by myself,
When there are people all around,
I am lost but I want to found
Verse 1 –
Everyone wants me to be,
Some great success and be the best,
But I can never be who they want,
And I’m here to protest
Chorus –
Why do I feel so alone,
Like I’m standing here all by myself,
When there are people all around,
I am lost but I want to be found
Verse 2 –
No one hears me screaming,
No one hears my pain,
Can anybody see me?
I feel like I’m going insane
Chorus –
Why do I feel so alone,
Like I’m standing here all by myself,
When there are people all around,
I am lost but I want to be found
Interlude –
Come find me,
Come find me,
Can you please come and find me,
Won’t someone come and find me
Mid 8 –
Everything is blurred,
Between what’s real and in you head,
Will I wake from this nightmare,
Or continue to be dead?
Chorus –
Why do I feel so alone,
Like I’m standing here all by myself,
When there are people all around,
I am lost but I want to be found
Why do I feel so alone,
Like I’m standing here all by myself,
When there are people all around,
I am lost but I want to be found
Outro –
Why do I feel so alone (Why do I feel?),
Like I’m standing here all by myself,
When there are people all around (When they’re around),
I am lost but I want to be found
Why do I feel so alone (Why do I feel?),
Like I’m standing here all by myself,
When there are people all around (When they’re around),
I am lost but I want to be found
Why do I feel so alone,
Like I’m standing here all by myself,
When there are people all around,
I am lost but I want to be found
“That’s Why I Wrote This Song is a brilliant book.”
“This novel is very much a mother-daughter collaboration. Whilst Susanne wrote the story, her daughter, Tory, wrote the song lyrics which give shape to the band and provide insight into Pip’s emotional world. The strength of this story for me is the mother-daughter relationship; the love shines through and it is wonderful.”
“This book has fantastic energy to it, partly because of its multimedia components but also because of Gervay’s descriptions of rock concerts and Pip’s musical performances, which encompass all the senses so evocatively.
Spectrum SMH Review in Weekend Spectrum Sydney Morning Herald by Angie Schiavonne”
