Andrew Singer and Sarah May will speak about life on the road and their new books on Thursday at the Bookworm of Edwards.
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Buckle up and join husband-wife duo Andrew Singer and Sarah May at The Bookworm of Edwards on Thursday for an unfiltered conversation about what van life is really like and tour their tiny home-on-wheels. From America’s glorious public lands to Walmart parking lots, and boundless freedom to uproarious mishaps, expect an intimate, behind-the-scenes conversation that intertwines the love of the road, the written word, and the power of following your dreams.
Van tours and book signings are available before and after the event, which starts at 5 p.m., with the author talk set for 6 p.m.
Van life has been a part of Singer and May’s relationship since the very beginning.
“On our first date, Sarah asked me if I saw myself staying in San Diego long term,” Singer remembered. “My response was, ‘I love it here, but I’d much rather put my money towards a campervan than a house.’ Turns out van life was on Sarah’s vision board. While we have both been avid lovers of the road, living out of vehicles before, it wasn’t until the pandemic’s rug pull when we both found ourselves unemployed and took the leap to buy a van. With no construction experience, we built it out ourselves, watching YouTube videos and reading blogs, somehow, five years in, it’s still holding up and we still love van life.”
After five years of travelling the country together in a small campervan, Singer and May have found a love for the freedom of nomadic life.
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“In choosing experiences over things, we’ve not only gotten the most beautiful backyards in our country, we’ve been gifted the space to create,” Singer said. “Writing our books while camped out in our public lands was truly a bucket list life experience for both of us. The ability to wake up and go anywhere is a gift we both try not to take for granted, but using that freedom to complete these projects has brought a sense of fulfillment that general tourism wouldn’t have.”
It was through this freedom to write and life on the road that both Singer and May were able to write their newly released books.
“Van life has been healing in terms of connection to nature, time and space to write my book, and experiencing personal freedom, adventure, and love for life,” May said. “Trauma can feel incredibly disempowering, so having experiences that empower me have helped me heal and see what I’m capable of. But one of the biggest factors of healing on the road is who I’ve shared the journey with. Andrew has encouraged my writing from the very beginning and our relationship has provided a safe, supportive space of deep healing.”
“Writing a book is the creative equivalent of doing an Ironman,” Singer said. “It’s taken over four years of writing and editing, and now we’re realizing just how much goes into the promotional aspect of it. Plus, doing this as a couple provides the space to marvel at each other’s work. Getting vulnerable in memoir isn’t for the faint of heart, and I know we both carry a lot of pride for the stories we’ve chosen to share.”
However, their life on wheels hasn’t been without some challenges.
“While my book chronicles a few debacles — a flea infestation, escaping a wildfire, portable toilet mishaps — our biggest struggle with nomadic living has actually been community, or the absence of it,” Singer said. “In our stationary lives, we were both really socially involved, with many dedicated friendships. Losing the proximity and in-person component was a challenge and has taken us a few years to figure out how to properly supplement something so crucial to living a full life.”
Singer and May hope that readers of their books feel a connection and companionship.
“I hope ‘She Journeys’ resonates with women who have experienced significant loss and have had to rebuild from the inside out,” May said. “I hope there is something in my journey for their journey and that it inspires deeper healing, authenticity, and freedom.”
“More than anything, I hope this book is a worthy travel companion,” Singer said. “Whether you read it from a plush recliner in a six-figure RV, or nestled in your tiny tent, that you feel inspired to keep exploring within and about; that the road too transforms you for the better.”