Nashville - Part Two - Hammer and a Song

The setting in Nashville and the focus on music add such a vibrant backdrop. I'm curious whether the author's own experiences or love for music influenced this choice.

There was a point where the story felt a bit slow as characters navigated their personal challenges. Do readers think this was necessary for character development?

The episodic structure kept me engaged, but I wonder if it was planned from the start or developed during writing to build suspense.