When I meet Apu, a Peruvian shaman rooted in Andean tradition, I set out on what I believe will be a three-month journey through South and Central America.

Instead, it becomes the beginning of something I could never have anticipated.

From the mountains of Argentina to the sacred landscapes of Peru, Guatemala and Mexico, I encounter ancient ceremonies, unfamiliar cultures and places where mythology, history and everyday life exist side by side.

Along the way, strange coincidences, unexpected encounters and moments of quiet recognition begin to suggest that another story is unfolding beneath the surface.

At the time, I do not understand what I am looking for.

I only know that certain places feel strangely familiar, certain conversations stay with me, and certain experiences seem to ask questions I cannot yet answer.

Looking back, this was never simply a travel memoir.

It was the beginning of a much longer journey — one that would eventually lead through mythology, relationships, ancestry and the hidden patterns that shape a life.

Two White Feathers and a Handful of Rocks is the first book in a five-book true story, where every outward adventure becomes the first clue in a mystery that will take years to understand.