I worked red carpets and toured with country stars. Then losing my dad made me rethink my dream career.

The author dedicated her book to her dad.

Courtesy of the author I lost my dad days after Hurricane Sandy destroyed our family home.

His death pushed me to leave a music career that was burning me out.

I built a travel-writing career around our shared love of Disney, food, and travel.

In 2012, I was working in a career that many would consider a dream.

I was a publicist in the Country music industry .

As a lifelong lover of music and a classically trained pianist at New York University, it was thrilling.

Every day was exciting, whether I was working a red carpet in Las Vegas or escorting music legends, like Dolly Parton and Carol Channing, to a media interview.

I had the opportunity to travel all over the country, including touring with some incredible artists.

The author with Carol Channing.

Courtesy of the author But behind the scenes, I could feel the burnout rising.

My dad died unexpectedly That same year, the unthinkable happened: My family's home on the Jersey Shore was destroyed in Hurricane Sandy , and days later, my Dad would pass away from a heart attack in the aftermath.

There are moments where your life is split into the before and after — and this was that.

My mother, sister, and I were left to pick up the pieces.