First published 2012
Alan Christoffersen once ran a successful advertising agency. Now he carries only a backpack as he walks across America. His wife is dead. His home and business are gone. He started in Seattle and aims for Key West, the most distant point he could find on his map. Nearly halfway through his journey, Alan faces almost a thousand miles between South Dakota and St. Louis. The road brings him unexpected encounters. A mysterious woman trails him for close to a hundred miles. A ghost hunter searches cemeteries for his deceased wife. An elderly Polish man offers Alan a ride and tells him a story he will carry forever. Each person Alan meets shapes his understanding of loss and recovery. His physical journey mirrors an inner search for meaning after devastation. The miles teach him that healing comes not from destinations but from the courage to keep moving forward.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, realistic-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, personal-growth
Setting: Key West, Seattle, South Dakota, St. Louis
Period: contemporary
234 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster