Published in 2025
338 pages
Cynthia Morris is an artist, author and certified coach. She co-leads creativity workshops in Lisbon and Paris, making fine use of her French and West European Studies degrees. Cynthia is a watercolor illustrator, book coach and avid reader. She lives in Denver with her husband Steve. Find Cynthia’s other books and more about her creativity retreats and coaching at www.originalimpulse.com
What is this book about?
What happens when you’ve made all the right moves, but ended up in the wrong place?
At forty-one, Darla Clarke has mastered the art of having it all—almost. Her career as a high-powered project manager in Boulder is picture-perfect, but the frame feels increasingly empty. When a friend’s death shatters her carefully controlled world, Darla realizes that sometimes the biggest risk is playing it safe.
Armed with an unexpected inheritance and a ticket to Europe, she trades spreadsheets for sketch pads. When she lands in sun-drenched Lisbon, all her perfect planning goes awry. She meets André, a fearless young rock climber who teaches her that the most beautiful views come after the scariest climbs.
Their white-hot romance ignites against the backdrop of Lisbon’s cobblestone streets and Portugal’s gorgeous beaches, bringing Darla alive in ways she never knew possible.
She rediscovers the artist she abandoned for practicality and her life blooms in full color. But her next stop is Paris, and she’s learning that the hardest part of living boldly isn’t the leap—it’s deciding whether to fly or return to solid ground.
Her Lisbon Colors is a sensual, life-affirming novel about the art of beginning again. This unforgettable story reminds us that it’s never too late to paint your life in the bold strokes you’ve always dreamed of.
