Building Fires and Finding Stars

After tragedy struck his family and his five-year relationship with his girlfriend ended, Jason packed his suitcase and headed for his first summer-long solo adventure through Europe. But he discovered that his problems didn’t disappear as soon as he stepped off the plane. He was still filled with anxiety and needed to overcome his depression, come to terms with who he is, and accept his failures and the changes that altered his trajectory.


Jason didn’t know that his trip to Europe was only just the beginning. Soon, he’d be on a life-long mission to see the world because of his discovery of what it really means to be happy and fulfilled, inspired by one very important person, whose death changed Jason and his family for the better.


Seen through a musical and philosophical lens, Jason's story takes the reader all over the globe, as he shares insight into his travels and offers a glimpse into his imagination and creativity.


Jason Cooper is a music educator from Michigan with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Education in Educational Technology. He is a first-time memoirist of Building Fires and Finding Stars: Why I Never Stop Traveling, a heart-touching and candid story eleven years in the making.