Your Blue Is Not My Blue: A Missing Person Memoir

Description

Aspen's and Justin's paths serendipitously aligned on the Pacific Crest Trail when both were walking from Mexico to Canada, separately and alone - both using thru-hiking in hopes of escaping their pasts. Both sought to redefine themselves beneath the stars. By the time they made it to the snowy Cascade Range of British Columbia - the trail's end - Aspen and Justin were in love. Embarking on a new pilgrimage the next summer, they returned to those same mossy mountains where they'd met, and they married. They built a world together, three years of a happy marriage. Until a cold November morning, when, after kissing Aspen goodbye, Justin left to attend the funeral of a close friend. He never came back. As days became weeks, her husband's inexplicable absence left Aspen unmoored. Shock, grief, fear, and anger battled for control - but nothing prepared her for the disarming truth. A revelation that would lead Aspen to reassess not only her own life but that of the disappeared as well. The result is a brave and inspiring memoir of secrets kept and unearthed, of a vanishing that became a gift: a woman's empowering reclamation of unmitigated purpose in the surreal wake of mystifying loss. 'Aspen Matis is a hero and an inspiration. Your Blue Is Not My Blue will open the door to empathy, compassion, and healing for you and all those affected by you.' - Deepak Chopra, author of Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential 'Your Blue Is Not My Blue is a sudden classic. Matis' poetic language renders such a shocking story that is relatable and tear-jerking. She is a champion with a tender heart and fierce courage. This book isn't for reading, but rather for transforming the filter and frame through which we view life and each other. A masterpiece!' - Kelly Sullivan Walden, author of I Had the Strangest Dream

Aspen Matis is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir Girl in the Woods, published by HarperCollins in 2015. Called "a powerful read" by O, The Oprah Magazine, the book made the Guardian's annual top fifty list. The New York Times called Matis "a hero." Her short-form writing has been published in the New York Times, the Atlantic, Tin House, Psychology Today, Salon, and Marie Claire. She now lives in New York City, where she visits cute cafes, writes madly, and studies philosophy, following the threads of her fascination. To learn more, visit www.aspen-matis.com.

"With fearless candor, [Matis] explores the details of her life, unearthing secrets and discovering an unknown strength despite her overwhelming loss. A beautifully written story of inspiration, courage, and ultimate transformation." -Booklist "Your Blue Is Not My Blue is an intense reflection...Matis writes poignantly and powerfully about the shattering of her world and her investigation into what was left after collecting the broken pieces." -CrimeReads "Aspen Matis is a hero and [an] inspiration. Your Blue Is Not My Blue will open the door to empathy, compassion, and healing for you and all those affected by you." -Deepak Chopra, author of Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential "Your Blue Is Not My Blue is a sudden classic. Matis's poetic language renders such a shocking story [that is] relatable and tear-jerking. She is a champion with a tender heart and fierce courage. This book isn't for reading, but rather for transforming the filter and frame through which we view life and each other. A masterpiece!" -Kelly Sullivan Walden, author of I Had the Strangest Dream "Saturated with a gorgeous sensory awareness, Your Blue Is Not My Blue is a gripping read that wrestles honestly and sensitively with the ways we connect and the ways we miss one another." -Aimee Bender, author of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake and The Girl in the Flammable Skirt "Your Blue Is Not My Blue is a haunting love story, a riveting mystery, and tale of gorgeous transformation all in one. Aspen Matis is an extraordinary writer. Each sentence is a marvel and a gem." -Laura Zam, author of The Pleasure Plan "Raw, elegant, and a ringside seat to a young writer coming of age, Your Blue Is Not My Blue is at turns a tour de force and an intimate journey. In moments it's as if Matis's hand reaches out from the book and grabs the reader by the throat. Matis is a triumph and so is her memoir." -Barney Scout Mann, author of Journeys North