An Unexpected Journey
Experience a love so profound it defies logical explanation and a connection so deep it spans lifetimes. True story. ❤
An Unexpected Journey - June 25th, 2026
Adult Memoir, Relationships, Body & Mind
320 pages, 6 x 9 trim size
SOFTCOVER @ $24.95
HARDCOVER w/ Dust Jacket @ $37.95
Shown: Hardcover Dust Jacket
Diary Entries from
’An Unexpected Journey’
March 12, 2025:
I woke up feeling hollow in my torso. I couldn't feel my organs, didn’t feel anything, wasn’t hungry, and the thought of eating made me queasy. Couldn’t understand why, but whatever, and got to work. That afternoon, around 4:30 pm, you posted your video, and my world was utterly shattered. My heart ached for you and all of your pain, and my heart ached for the fact that I would never see you again. I understood why you needed to go, but I was pissed off at the universe for cheating you out of a longer, painless life. I was mad because I would never get to hang out with you again. Truly a #FML moment.
April 18, 2025:
I woke up around 1:30 am and stayed up until 3 am. Mind still racing over political bs, work, money, water pump issues, the usual. Throw Fred into the mix, and I start crying - so many things left unsaid and undone, uncommunicated… Closed my eyes and the best I got was detaching from my body and seeing the head of a grizzly bear poke out of the darkness at me, then a view of what looked like Crater Lake (OR), and to the right of me, Fred was standing, overlooking the lake and at one point, turned his head to the left and smiled at me. Then the vision was gone. I fell asleep.
Thoughts from Fred
on October 10, 2025
STURGIS
“I was there. (showing me the gas station scene from before - apparently a symbol for Sturgis) I see it all. Engines, the smell of the oil/exhaust. Packed diners, baskets with hamburgers and fries, beer, crowd noise, the smell of leather, music. Your smile. It’s funny watching men come on to you. They don’t stand a chance. Thanks for going, Babe.”
“I like seeing you adjusting to life — treasuring memories but moving forward. You still need to chill sometimes. Just be. Listen. You don’t have to control everything. Let your guard down. You’re safe. I won’t let anything bad happen to you, my love. Buddies for life. (He’s showing me your two chairs, on a throw rug with the table in between. Camper in the background.) You can’t get rid of me. Keep smiling and talking to me. I love it and will respond.”
NOTE: I feel like, if you ask him, he’ll leave you physical signs/symbols...like a feather, a stone, or something small — to confirm your connection.
“Tell her that she should follow through on the decision she’s been pondering. It will be good for her in the long run. She doesn’t need to hold back. Everything will be alright. I love her.”
Fred and I at The Lit Cactus (La Posa South LTVA) in Quartzsite, AZ., on Dec. 31, 2023.
Please scan to see the YouTube Video Playlist for An Unexpected Journey. Otherwise, you can CLICK HERE to find the Playlist, too.
A Message to Readers:
Thank you for choosing to read this memoir. I wasn’t planning on writing a book about my travels; I had actually started a YouTube Channel instead. I thought it would be much more fun to record the adventures I go on rather than write about them. For example, recording and watching a museum visit is more fun than reading about it over a couple of chapters.
So, with my YouTube Channel set up, all my “needed” necessities shoved into the back of my midsize SUV, a promise to my twelve-year-old self, and an unhealthy lack of fear of the unknown, I set off down the road with no idea what would happen.
My three main objectives were:
◦ Never see a snowbank ever again for the rest of my life, or have to live in sub-zero temps, or deal with black ice, or blizzards, or… You get the point.
◦ Live an adventurous life—something different from the first fifty-four years on this planet.
◦ Sit in a lawn chair and watch lizards jump on and off rocks in the desert.
The above three points are what my first fifty-four years of life had boiled down to: No icy winters or cold temps, adventure, lizards on rocks, and a lawn chair for comfort.
Simple and stupid, and it worked for me.
Well, what is that phrase about making plans and the universe laughs? Mmm hmm…
I met a man.
I knew I’d most likely meet new people during my travels, but meeting a romantic interest wasn’t on that carefully crafted BINGO Card.
Throughout this book, you’ll read all about him, how we met, our time spent together and apart, and serendipitously together again, as well as my thoughts on the biggest adventure, to date, that I have experienced.
I’d like to add and stress that even after the death of this gentleman, whom I had befriended, I was only journaling about my experiences for myself. Actually, this was the first time in my entire life I had ever journaled or kept a diary; I never had the discipline to write each day.
Anyway, I started journaling my experiences with him after his death. Yes, you read that correctly—after his death, as well as jotting down the experiences with him while he was still physically in this realm. My goal was to keep these notes for myself so I wouldn’t forget any of them. My end-all was never to publish a book. However, he had different plans. Again, you read that correctly. This book is Fred’s idea—and you read that correctly, too.
I have been journaling since March 12, 2025—the day he died—and for this book, I will include all experiences through March 31, 2026. He has lit a fire under my derriere, which you will read about further along in this book. I told him that I would finish writing in March of 2026, with a hopeful release on what would have been his sixty-fourth birthday, June 25, 2026. Typically, writing a book and all of the other processes of getting a book to market take a lot longer than a few months, but he’s on a mission, and I’m in the office pulling ten- to twelve-hour days to get this done for him.
My other conundrum was that I wasn’t comfortable slapping a price tag on it; I didn’t want to “cheapen” or disrespect Fred, or our relationship. He, however, has made it clear that this book needs to be written and sold to the masses as soon as possible. Again, you read that correctly, and you’ll find out how he expressed his urgency further into the book, too.
Noteworthy: These are solely my memories, my views, opinions, and experiences with Fred. I have not spoken with anyone in his family or any of his friends.
Because this is a compilation of several notes and documents, there are some repeats. However, the repeats contain different information and were most likely placed to support the story being told at that time. The Journal Entries section of the book, covering events from March 12, 2025, through March 31, 2026, lays them out chronologically. (The decision to include the April 2026 events was made because the book was still being compiled at the time, and some of those activities are included in the manuscript.)
I’ll add that there are tidbits of thoughts I noted in the middle of the night after waking up unexpectedly. Going through those entries now, after some time has passed, I wasn’t always sure what I meant at 3:33 a.m. that particular day, so I left the tidbit. I might actually remember what it means in the future.
Interestingly, though, as you read this book, you’ll recognize why things happened the way they did: the culmination of events, the answers to lingering questions, etc. It’s been a unique learning experience for me, cementing that old adage, “Everything happens for a reason.” And yes, it does.
You will also notice that this book isn’t written in a traditional/typical story form per se, but more along the lines of a “documented” story, and is very conversational as if we were all sitting around having tea. So, the layout and “vibe” are intentional. I wrote this from a first-person perspective, and there is some swearing, some references to sexual angst, some broken thoughts, a lot of laughter, and a bit of crying. Essentially, the reader will go on this unexpected journey with me.
Lastly, for people in his family or friend circle, I don’t use their names since they have no idea about this book’s creation; instead, I use descriptors when possible. There is one person, however, from Fred’s life whom I list as “L.M.”—her initials. I don’t know her personally, nor have I ever spoken to her, but I feel she should be mentioned because her name comes up both before and after his death.
With all that being said, both Fred and I hope you enjoy this book as well as the experiences we have shared thus far, and that we (hopefully) will continue to share in the future.
Adult Memoir, Non-Fiction
reviews
‘An Unexpected Journey is a memoir that doesn’t shy away from the unfiltered messiness of life, death, and everything else in between. Readers will curse, laugh, and cry as they read. Grief is raw. Happiness comes in waves. Belief goes beyond the expected. Most importantly, there is love that doesn’t just become a story but becomes something that lasts well beyond just a feeling.’
Raven C. Eckman, Author & Editor
York, PA.
'An Unexpected Journey shows love moving through our reality and beyond the veil. A story of love in its most indefinable state of existence and how it connects with us; an innate language that souls understand, and the mind fails to comprehend. When our walk upon this earth is quiet, still, and open, the soul feels love, and that deep love can find each of us in unexpected places.’
W. A. Carroll
Alexander City, AL.
’I love your book! It made me feel like I was right beside you as you met Fred, experienced your adventures, and formed your day-to-day friendship at camp. Your vivid descriptions of Fred show how unique he was. I'm glad he's with you on your journey—I'm sure he would love An Unexpected Journey, too.’
Monica Menchen
Cincinnati, OH.
‘From the very first page, An Unexpected Journey captivates with its unique perspective, inviting readers to witness a miracle and a magical love blooming—without the author ever seeking or believing in it. Knowing the author as I do, I envisioned every step, feeling the anticipation, the happy and sad tears, raw emotions rarely spoken but deeply shared. Her transformation in allowing and embracing love was both heartwarming and, at times, heart-crushing.
Reading that final chapter from Fred, now on the other side, fulfills the wonder of existence and answers our questions, enriching and completing this written love story, though it isn’t finished yet! That connection remains vibrant and grows stronger. An Unexpected Journey has brought joyful tears for my friend, who merits such deep, ‘Hallmark-card’ love. Everyone deserves that experience. I am hopeful my time will come as well, while I am still here.
Thank you, Kiersten, for your openness, sharing this with us, and inviting us on this journey. Thank you, Fred, for showing your love and dedication to my friend, and for your insight and clarity—it’s always present if you open your mind and your eyes and believe.’
Suzi Stone
Austin, MN