For anyone who has ever launched themselves towards their dreams only to be rebuffed…don’t let go.
The Sea of the Unknown lays before us, cold and callous. Behind us stand the comforts of home, the assurance of a path well-trodden. But some of us feel called to something else, something unseen, undefinable. Those hopes and nebulous dreams rest out over the horizon, beyond the chop and spray of the slate-gray sea that crashes at our feet. We know not how to reach those dreams; we know only that we must try.
Sea of the Unknown
Mishaps and Monsters on my Journey to Paris
Available in paperback, e-book, and audio bok
From the moment I figured out how to operate a crayon, I started writing stories to fill a fantasy world of my owncreation. I dreamed of sharing that world, of bringing it to life in the imagination of readers and movie-goers. And I dreamed of building my own life in Paris—the city that most nourished my creativity. But the real world always seemed to send its own monsters to resist, and throw me off my route.
The book on how I got to Paris. Not your classic American-turned-Parisian story.
Desert of the New
Spiraling into Sanity in the City of Light
Available in paperback, e-book, and soon audiobook
Stop running long enough and the demons will catch up. When I moved to Paris I thought I was chasing a dream: the infamously people-centered French lifestyle filled with good food, better wine, and long chats on openterraces. What I didn't realize was that while I was doing the chasing, I was also being chased.
The last time I wrote a memoir, I hadn't even started therapy. It's amazing how much can change and just how quickly. This book starts in the eye of the storm that was my early life in Paris. The brief calm in launching a book and pausing my vlog only gave space for things to get much, much worse.
“At first glance, this book may seem like a love letter to Paris, but it unfolds into a heartfelt tribute to ‘Home,’ wherever that may be. It inspired me to reflect on my own notions of self, relationships, and life. We often hear that the unexamined life is not worth living; this book feels like a mirror of that sentiment. The examined life is worth celebrating-a journey worth embarking on towards a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.”
“Writers have been documenting the pull of Paris since time immemorial but often focus on the magic; the life that begins upon settling in. Swanson offers an honest and heartfelt chronicle of the journey to get there — perhaps the most compelling part. This is a wonderful read for anyone that has wondered how individuals go from dreaming of Paris to transforming their lives to make it home.”
“Can a city be a lifeline? In Swanson’s follow-up memoir, Paris plays such a role- and an always compelling backdrop-as he peels back the layers of his personal and creative journey. An honest and heartfelt look at healing and rebuilding”
“I’m a recent follower of Jay and bought his book to find out more about his journey to living in France. I’ve read several books at this point from expats who have uprooted their lives to move to France, and I can honestly say that Jay’s story is the most down-to-earth, hopeful story I’ve read yet. Through trials and tribulations, we see that moving abroad is no easy feat, but it’s still attainable by anyone with determination and perseverance. I would definitely recommend this book to others, especially those who have dreamed about moving abroad but feel that it’s an unreachable goal.”
RICHARD BILKEY
Editor
JANELLE SWEENEY
Photographer
KAARIN HOWARD
Cover Design
RICHARD SHEALY
Line Editor