The Books

A memoir and a novel — two ways into a life lived in motion.

Good Grief Travel the Book

– A Journey Through Life, Loss, and Adventure

Welcome to Good Grief Travel, a space where life’s unpredictability meets the transformative power of exploration. This isn’t just a book—it’s an invitation to laugh, cry, and reflect as I share stories of living fully, navigating loss, and finding purpose in the unlikeliest places. From spontaneous travel adventures to life lessons learned through love, family, and even grief, this journey is about embracing the world and everything it throws our way.

Through the pages of this memoir, I’ll take you to destinations around the globe—from the serene hills of Chiang Mai to the crystal-clear waters of the Maldives—interwoven with heartfelt anecdotes about love, parenting, personal growth, and the challenges that come with saying goodbye.

But this isn’t just my story—it’s about us: all of us trying to find meaning in the chaos and beauty of life. Whether you’re here for travel inspiration, practical insights on navigating loss, or simply a good story, this book is for you.

If you’re curious to learn more, I’m sharing exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and extended excerpts over on Patreon. Your support not only helps bring this project to life but also keeps the journey going.

Good Grief Travel readers/book club guide

Greg, He’s Fine

A novel · Beau Griffin

Derrik Dyka writes fiction as Beau Griffin — a name borrowed from his sons, for the stories he’d rather tell sideways.

Greg Pendleton is fine.

He has a laminated packing list, a carry-on he researched for a month, and a backup jar of Folgers for a hotel that already has coffee. His wife left three years ago; the wedding photo is still on the dresser, where he set it down while deciding where to put it. By every measure he keeps — and he keeps several — Greg is fine.

Then his son texts him before another routine trip to Manila: Dad, try to actually do something this time. Have an adventure.

Greg does not plan to. Greg plans almost everything, and an adventure is not on the list. But somewhere between the factory canteen and a village fiesta he has no operational use for, Greg ends up in a sash, at a long table, being called Tito Greg by people who have decided — without consulting him — that he belongs to them.

A funny, tender novel about a closed-off man, the family that claims him a world away from home, and the small, stubborn ways a life opens back up once you stop managing it.

                            Greg, He’s Fine readers/book club guide