Michael Sadler has been tracing the curvatures of his existence through songwriting, poetry and photography for more than half his life. In his debut collection of verse, Fade to Blue, Sadler shines a spotlight on the many facets of our lived experiences-the inevitable connections that weave through adolescence, young adulthood and middle-age. He captures the contagious energy and extreme despairs of youth, the tumultuous realities of adulthood, and the agonizing nostalgia of the timelessness of unrequited love. While wrestling with the questions of life and how to live it, living with purpose, and finding meaning in the journey, these poems offer an honest exploration of the value of solitude and our pursuit for connection. As Sadler writes stirringly about identity, road trips, memories of his father, love never reciprocated, spirituality, and death, he illustrates the need for moments of both agony and affection-the night and the stars-to fully appreciate all that life has to offer.