My hope for the book trailer for Winter in the High Sierra was simple: to find a piece of music that felt beautiful, atmospheric, and true to the world of the story.

Let’s go behind the scenes of the story, inspired by your questions and comments.

There was only one man I thought could help us strike the right ‘chord’—Mr. Laurence Juber, the renowned Grammy-winning virtuoso guitarist (and former lead guitar for Paul McCartney & Wings). So I took a chance and reached out to LJ, as he is known to his legion of fans, and asked him if for our trailer he might consider playing something appropriate over the images. I never expected him to agree (he’s very famous and very busy), but to my delight he did!

What I REALLY didn’t expect was what happened next.

Instead of selecting something from the Gilded Age canon, LJ composed and performed an entirely original piece (‘Snowbound’) for the trailer. The moment I heard it I knew it was pitch-perfect for Sierra: elegant, evocative, and beating in time with the heart of the book.

There’s another element that makes this happy confluence feel even more extraordinary, and this is the instrument behind the sound. LJ performed Snowbound on his 1893 C. F. Martin & Company guitar—an instrument that would have been played and heard for six full years before Louisa McGregor stepped aboard the ill-fated Frisco Express.

Its voice carries the warm resonance of a different century, lending the music an authenticity and historical texture that’s impossible to replicate. It’s as though the past is woven directly into every note.

The result is more than background music. It’s a companion to the story. It breathes emotion into the trailer and offers a glimpse into the atmosphere of the novel itself. Collaborating with such a gifted musician as LJ—especially in such an unexpected way—has been a joy and an honor.

If you’ve not yet seen the Theatrical Trailer for Winter in the High Sierra, do watch it. We have produced both a narrated version and an on-screen text version depending on your viewing preferences. Either way, I hope that you’ll find the experience to truly touch your heart at this very special time of year.

Snowbound composed and performed especially for Winter in the High Sierra by Laurence Juber © 2025 by Juber Music (ASCAP); used under license.