Sun Kissed & Salted

When curiosity and risk go too far, will she listen to the epiphany that could save her from losing it all? 

Alika Jones is a free spirit traveling the world on the edge. Emotional and psychological complexities drive this raw and vulnerable story of an unconventional life. Sun Kissed & Salted will propel you through a woman's wild escapades while diving deeply into her soul.

A near-death experience is just the start of a story about an eccentric woman who travels the world on a whim, oblivious that she has bipolar disorder and naïvely self-medicates with drugs, alcohol, and risky adventures. Alika Jones is a thrill seeker whose distorted instincts get her into trouble, and yet whose intuition fortunately gets her out of the bizarre circumstances she finds herself in. Growing up in a troubled household during the 1970s and 80s in Los Angeles sets her up on shaky ground, and she elopes with a handsome hustling street musician who whisks her away to Europe. Alika immerses herself in life on the streets, hitchhiking north to London, where the gritty realities of busking and squatting have her in survival mode. The couple finds ways to travel to Japan, Thailand, West Africa, and Mexico, driven by curiosity. Exploration of new cultures, playing their music, and entertaining crowds propel the story until a mysterious occurrence eventually guides Alika away from her abusive husband. She ventures into the world alone, vulnerable, and on the fringe of society, only to find that harrowing and outlandish circumstances lie ahead. Ultimately, she discovers the freedom she seeks is found when she takes responsibility and becomes honest with herself. This is the shift that marks the beginning of her transformation.

So, who is Alika Jones? She is a curious woman, a creative, a risk-taker, and a lover of boundless beauty. Alika is also bipolar and an oblivious alcoholic. She represents many complicated people, maybe even someone you know, who need help, compassion, and understanding. Numerous emotional and mental challenges propel the bizarre circumstances that unfold, but Alika is resilient and pushes through the obstacles she faces. In this story, I have focused on a life with a troubled past, filled with exciting events and poor choices. Despite her antics, Alika is not, by any means, a bad person, but a lost soul ignited by adventure.

I have focused on several aspects of the human experience that ostracize people from mainstream society, such as homelessness, addiction, and abusive relationships. This book has adult themes dealing with sexual assault, cultism, suicidal ideation, labor and delivery, sexuality, and mental health. This is a story that is gritty, sometimes sexy, and always full of surprises. Ultimately, it is enlightening. Sharing complex and intimate stories helps people know they aren't alone and inspires us to accept and love our whole, authentic, messy selves.

Sun Kissed & Salted is an autofiction. Many chapters combine elements of my life with fantastical scenes and characters crafted to dramatize a deeper truth. In essence, I have written this book from my perspective on the human spirit. 

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Now available as an audiobook read by Abby Filsinger LISTEN NOW.

Sun Kissed & Salted can also be found on the Libby App, Gardners Books, Baker & Taylor, and Book.by