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. Growing up in a troubled household in Los Angeles during the 1970s and 80s sets her 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 that the freedom she seeks lies in taking responsibility and being honest with herself. This is the shift that marks the beginning of her transformation.

This story 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.

____________________

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