Shawn dreams of finding a lifelong relationship, but only finds frustration—until he meets Violet, a beautiful, mysterious woman who sees past his autism to the man within. From the moment their eyes first lock, something sparks.
But behind Violet's quiet smile lies a world of pain. Trapped in a life of exploitation, she's learned that closeness brings danger.
Yet, something about Shawn feels different. Safe. Real. Worth risking everything.
As their bond deepens, they must defy impossible odds and find the courage to fight for each other, no matter the cost. Because only love has the power to heal their deepest wounds and break them free from their past.
This inspirational contemporary romance—now a motion picture— returns as a newly revised 10th Anniversary Edition, with expanded storytelling and greater emotional depth.
A gentle smile lit Shawn’s face. “I could never go to auditions. Or act. For anything. You’re very brave.”
She smirked, bitterness rising. “Or crazy.” It amazed her that he still believed her story, but she appreciated her precious moments of being treated like anyone else before she had to raise her walls again and lose that brief taste of normalcy.
He looked into her eyes. “You’re a different wavelength.”
Violet tilted her head. “What do you mean?”
Shawn paused, studying her with careful attention. “There are colors we can’t see. Beauty that’s outside our visible spectrum. There’s a lot about you that’s not visible to me yet. But I can tell it’s going to be . . . beautiful.”
Violet’s composure began to slip, but she gathered it back like armor, years of practice helping her maintain control. She wasn’t used to hearing kind words that didn’t come with strings attached, or weren’t weapons disguised as compliments. Long ago, she’d learned not to trust what people said, but something in Shawn’s voice made her want to believe him.
“Can we try the hug again?” she asked, taking a tentative step forward. He pulled back. “What if I hug you gently?” She tried to put her arms around him, but he stepped away and looked down at the sidewalk. She waited a moment, patient. “Can you give me a hug?”
He looked up, uncertainty written across his face. Scooting a little closer to Violet, he carefully put his arms around her, creating a circle that held her without touching.
She had never experienced someone being so close without making contact. It felt more intimate than any embrace she’d known.
About the Author
Allen Wolf is an award-winning storyteller who creates novels, films, and games. His debut novel, The Sound of Violet, inspired him to write, direct, and produce its movie adaptation, continuing a filmmaking career that began with the worldwide release of his thriller, In My Sleep, which garnered multiple film festival awards. A graduate of NYU’s film school, he hosts the popular Navigating Hollywood podcast, where he and his guests offer an insider's perspective on the entertainment industry. The award-winning games he created, including You’re Pulling My Leg!, have been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of players worldwide. Allen lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children, who inspire his creativity.
Connect with Allen by visiting
thesoundofviolet.com to follow him on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Author Interview
Q: What inspired you to write
The Sound of Violet?
The story came from conversations with friends about how bewildering dating in Los Angeles was when I was single. I was often naïve and overly trusting in relationships, and I thought, what if I took those qualities and built them into a character who unknowingly falls for a prostitute? The dramatic irony seemed ripe for both humor and conflict.
But what really transformed the story was my research. In my first drafts, I wrote Violet as the typical "empowered prostitute" you see in Hollywood films. When I started talking to organizations that fight human trafficking, I discovered that the vast majority of women in prostitution are actually victims being trafficked. That realization completely changed how I portrayed Violet and gave me a passion for raising awareness about this issue. What started as a romantic comedy became something much deeper—a story about redemption, unconditional love, and seeing people for who they truly are beneath their circumstances.
Q: How long did it take to write this book?
The original version took me about two years to write, but that included extensive research into both autism and human trafficking. I wanted to get both portrayals right, so I spent months consulting with organizations, reading personal accounts, and talking to people with lived experience. For the 10th Anniversary Edition, I spent another year completely revising it—deepening the characters, enhancing the emotional authenticity, and incorporating what I'd learned from making the film adaptation. This story has been evolving for over a decade!
Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?
The biggest surprise was learning the harsh reality of human trafficking. I went into this thinking I was writing a quirky romantic comedy, and I came out with a completely different understanding of exploitation and victimization. I was shocked to learn that there are over 40 million people enslaved worldwide today, more than any other time of history. That number is staggering and heartbreaking.
I was also surprised by the autism community's response during the film production. A mother contacted me because her autistic son had unknowingly dated a woman caught in prostitution, and she was encouraged that I was portraying an autistic person as the hero of the story. Having an autistic crew member consult on the film also opened my eyes to nuances I hadn't fully understood. Those conversations reminded me how important it is to pursue authentic representation.
Q: Do you have a favorite quote from
The Sound of Violet?
My favorite quote is when Shawn looks at Violet and says, "You're a different wavelength." Violet asks, "What do you mean?" and Shawn replies, "There are colors we can't see. Beauty that's outside our visible spectrum. There's a lot about you that's not visible to me yet. But I can tell it's going to be . . . beautiful."
That moment captures everything about how Shawn sees the world—and how he sees Violet. Because of his synesthesia, he experiences colors as sounds, so he's always been aware that there's more to reality than what most people perceive. He applies that same openness to Violet. Where others might only see her circumstances and judge her, Shawn sees beyond the visible spectrum. He recognizes that there's beauty and complexity in her that hasn't been revealed yet, and he's patient enough to wait for it.
It's also a beautiful metaphor for how we can see everyone through eyes of hope, believing in the unseen potential in people and trusting that there's more to someone than what's immediately apparent. That's the heart of this entire story—looking deeper, seeing further, and believing in beauty that others might miss.
Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
I've been a storyteller for as long as I can remember. As a child, I created marionette shows and performed for friends and neighbors. I was always the kid making up stories and trying to bring them to life in whatever medium I could. When I went to NYU's film school, I discovered I loved both visual and written storytelling. My senior thesis film, Harlem Grace, was a finalist for the Student Academy Awards, which gave me confidence that maybe I could do this professionally.
But I think the moment I really knew I was meant to be an author as well as a filmmaker was when I started getting feedback from early readers of
The Sound of Violet. Seeing how the story touched people, how it made them think differently about autism and trafficking, how it gave them hope, is when I realized that writing wasn't just something I enjoyed; it was something I needed to do.
Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn't know?
I'm a morning person to an extreme degree—I often start my day around 3:30 or 4:00 AM when the world is still quiet and my mind is fresh. There's something magical about those early hours when no one else is awake. If I send an email to someone that early, I try to remember to send it delayed so people don’t wonder about my sanity.
Also, I've been to Disneyland over 500 times! I used to write there regularly because being surrounded by story-based attractions fueled my creativity. I'd set up at places like Flo's V8 Diner in Carsland or in front of the castle, and occasionally tourists would give me curious looks. But there was something about being in "The Happiest Place on Earth" that helped me write about hope and transformation, even when tackling dark subject matter like trafficking.
Q: What are you currently reading?
I'm always reading multiple books at once—I like having different options depending on my mood. I just finished Liane Moriarty's
Apples Never Fall, which was brilliant. She has this incredible ability to peel back layers of a seemingly ordinary family to reveal all the secrets and complexities underneath. Her work continues to inspire how I approach character development.
Right now, I'm reading Roald Dahl's
Boy, a memoir about his childhood. There's something fascinating about seeing how his early experiences shaped the dark whimsy in his later work. I'm also working through Viktor Frankl's
Man's Search for Meaning—his insights about finding purpose even in the darkest circumstances resonate deeply with the themes in
The Sound of Violet. Understanding how people find meaning through suffering has been profound.
And I'm re-reading Orwell's
1984 because it feels particularly relevant right now. Orwell's exploration of truth, control, and human dignity under oppressive systems makes me think about the different kinds of freedom—or lack thereof—that my characters experience. It's a reminder that being truly free, truly seen as a human being, is something we should never take for granted.
Q: What is your favorite genre to read?
I wouldn't say I'm loyal to one specific genre, but I'm consistently drawn to contemporary fiction that explores the complexity of human relationships and digs beneath the surface of ordinary lives to reveal extraordinary truths. I love authors who create characters who feel like real people dealing with messy, complicated situations, but who write with such empathy and insight that you come away seeing the world differently.
The best writers don't need fantastical settings or high-concept plots to hook you; they just need authentic human emotion and the courage to explore uncomfortable truths. I'm also particularly drawn to stories that balance humor with heartbreak, because that's what real life is like. We need both the laughter and the tears to feel the full weight of a story.
At the end of the day, genre matters less to me than whether a book makes me feel something and helps me understand people better. If it does that, whether it's literary fiction, memoir, or even a well-crafted thriller, I'm all in.
Q: What is your favorite hobby?
I love traveling and hearing people's life stories. There's something magical about sitting down with someone, whether it's a stranger in a café or someone I'm interviewing for my Navigating Hollywood podcast, and really listening to their journey. Everyone has a story worth telling, and I find endless inspiration in those conversations.
I also love playing board games with my family. I've actually created a number of games myself,
You're Pulling My Leg! and others, so I love game nights. And of course, taking my kids to theme parks is one of my greatest joys. Seeing the world through their eyes reminds me why I create stories in the first place.
Q: What is your favorite season and why?
I love fall, especially in Los Angeles, where we finally get a break from the heat. There's something about the change in light, the way the golden hour becomes even more golden, that feels creative and reflective. Fall also brings a sense of fresh starts, probably because I still associate it with back-to-school energy. It's the perfect season for curling up with a book, starting a new writing project, or a new book with the Navigating Hollywood groups I lead at the studios. Plus, there's something poetic about a season that's all about transformation and letting go of what no longer serves you, themes that resonate deeply with
The Sound of Violet.
Tour Giveaway
(3) winners will each receive a signed copy of The Sound of Violet (10th Anniversary Edition), a Blu-Ray or DVD of The Sound of Violet movie, the movie soundtrack CD, and $10 Amazon Gift Card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 12, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 19, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
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