A Walk With Everyone

Marielle never expected to plan her death. On her 55th birthday, she sets off on a walk to contemplate her life so far, as its premature end rapidly approaches. She begins her journey in Acadia National Park, gravel crunching beneath her feet, euphorically alone in Maine's lush beauty. As the wooded trails welcome her, she forgets her body's fragility. When she comes across an eerily familiar person on a remote patch of the trail, she finds herself on the walk of a lifetime - her lifetime - whether she's ready or not.

Are we ever really walking alone? Facing a health crisis, Marielle sets out on her 55th birthday to walk the wooded Maine trails she grew to love. She did not imagine her walk would take her to the streets, hillsides and porches of generations of her family. Alone, finding herself journeying on an isolated stretch of abandoned trail etched out of twigs and time, Marielle encounters an eerily familiar person who ushers her forward on the journey of a lifetime - her lifetime. With each step, through supernaturally brilliant sunbeams and unexplainable places, Marielle paces forward experiencing the echo of her childhood, the promise of her youth and the fortifying support of all who journeyed life with her. Who will walk with Marielle? Where will Marielle's walk take her, and what does it mean to walk alone … with everyone? Marielle is about to find out. And it will change her life forever. #AWalkWithEveryone

Born in Philadelphia, Penelope Alonso is a professional journalist, content creator, and extremely proud mother of two daughters. She resides in New Jersey but spends at least one week every summer walking the trails of Acadia National Park in Maine's Bar Harbor region. Penelope has written thousands of articles for newspapers and magazines in her communications career, sharing the stories of diverse people of all ages and walks of life. "A Walk With Everyone" is a deeply personal journey for Penelope, who believes celebrating life is the greatest journey of all.