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In this beautifully written, vividly detailed adventure memoir, a young woman chronicles her travels across the deserts of the American West in an orange van named Bertha and reflects on an unconventional approach to life.

A woman defined by motion, Brianna Madia bought a beat-up bright orange van, filled it with her two dogs Bucket and Dagwood, and headed into the canyons of Utah with her husband. Nowhere for Very Long is her deeply felt, immaculately told story of exploration—of the world outside and the spirit within.

However, pursuing a life of intention isn’t always what it seems. In fact, at times it was downright boring, exhausting, and even desperate—when Bertha overheated and she was forced to pull over on a lonely stretch of South Dakota highway; when the weather was bitterly cold and her water jugs froze beneath her as she slept in the parking lot of her office; when she worried about money, her marriage, and the looming question mark of her future. This unflinching look at the reality of van life shows how Brianna was committed to living a life true to herself, come what may, and that made all the difference.

Nowhere for Very Long is the true story of a woman learning and unlearning, from backroads to breakdowns, from married to solo, and finally, from lost to found to lost again . . . this time, on purpose.

This is more than a story about a van; it’s a testament to the reality of a life lived on your own terms—the good, the bad, and the broken-down.

A Raw Adventure Memoir: From the canyons of Utah to the lonely highways of South Dakota, join Brianna Madia and her two dogs, Bucket and Dagwood, on a journey of profound self-discovery.
The Reality of Van Life: Go beyond the hashtag to discover the unglamorous moments—overheating in an orange van named Bertha, frozen water jugs, and the constant, nagging questions about money, love, and the future.
Solo Female Travel: Witness the powerful transformation of a woman learning to navigate the world on her own, finding strength in breakdowns and purpose in being lost.
A Story of Love and Loss: This moving memoir of divorce is a deeply felt, immaculately told story of exploration—of the world outside and the spirit within, from married life to a new beginning, alone on the road.