"A thoughtful, compelling, and deeply human novel." -John O'Leary, bestselling author of On Fire and In Awe

Grief opened the road. Love revealed the way.

After the death of his only son shatters the life he once controlled, a fallen sports media executive follows a final message west, trading certainty for a road where grief becomes his guide. Each stranger he meets pulls him deeper into a sacred web of connection, culminating in an encounter with an enigmatic Cheyenne medicine woman who challenges everything he believes about loss and purpose. The Circles We Carry is a sweeping, luminous novel about how love does not end, but instead it ripples outward, binding lives, healing generations, and enduring far beyond time.

Stephen Panus is an author, speaker, coach, and sports and entertainment communications and marketing executive whose work explores grief, resilience, human connection, and the transformative power of hope. Following the sudden and tragic death of his sixteen-year-old son, Jake, in 2020, Panus wrote the critically acclaimed and widely shared Walk On, a deeply personal reflection on loss, perseverance, purpose, and choosing hope when life seems impossible to navigate. Through his writing and speaking, he has inspired individuals, leaders, and organizations facing adversity, helping them discover strength, meaning, and possibility amid life's greatest challenges. Stephen resides in the Northeast, where family, resilience, and the enduring power of human connection continue to inspire his work. Learn more at stephenpanus.com.