E. A. Hanks: The Life Behind the Lens and Spotlight

From Vanity Fair and The New York Times contributor comes a poignant and eloquent memoir chronicling her solo, cross-country journey along the Ten, through the heart of the American Southwest. In this deeply personal exploration, E.A. Hanks sets out not only to uncover the mysteries surrounding her late mother's life and the harrowing violence that may or may not have touched her, but also to embark on a quest of self-discovery-seeking to understand where her identity ends and her mother's begins.

In her trusty, well-worn minivan "Minnie," Hanks retraces a long-forgotten road trip she once took with her mother, following the same route in search of answers about the complicated woman who gave her life. Along the way, guided by her mother's old diaries and her own recollections, Hanks uncovers a series of secrets-some unexpectedly beautiful, others dark and violent-that only deepen the mystery of her mother's past and raise more questions than they answer.

From the serene vastness of White Sands National Park to the lively streets of New Orleans, from the tense borderlands between Texas and Mexico to the swampy depths of the Florida panhandle, Hanks encounters a rich tapestry of people and places. As she confronts her memories, her past, and the present, she leads readers through a moving journey towards understanding how the stories of the places we come from shape the stories of who we are-and how the pursuit of those stories can ultimately reveal truths we may not have been ready to face.