Sitting Next to a Stranger

A gratitude note to experiences in life Nora Van Wilpe, an introverted graphic designer, has always stayed within the lines—both in her illustrations and her carefully managed life in Amsterdam. On a whim, she embarks on a backpacking trip to Mexico, seeking inspiration for her art and an escape from the trodden path. As she pushes herself to explore Mexico and the strangers she meets, she is torn between longing for the familiarity of home and an intense curiosity to find out what else life has to offer. She joins Ruby, an adventurous soul whose spirit never fails to pique Nora's interest, finding friends in the mystic city of San Cristóbal de las Casas. Nora’s creative spark ignites when she stops assigning labels to people. Can she take a chance on the messiness of an unfettered life—and herself? This is a story about feeding your creativity, the vulnerability of sharing yourself with others, and getting out of your head to step into the beautiful world.