If a picture paints a thousand worlds . . . Abandoned as an infant on the local veterinarians front porch, Pepper Rafferty was raised by two loving mothers, and now, at thirty-six is married to the stable, supportive Ike. Shes never told anyone that at fifteen she discovered the identity of her biological mother. Thats because her birth mother is Ula Frost, a reclusive painter famous for the outrageous claims that her portraits summon their subjects doppelgangers from parallel universes. Researching the rumors, Pepper couldnt help but wonder: Is there a parallel universe in which she is more confident, more accomplished, better able to accept love? A universe in which Ula decided she was worth keeping? A universe in which Ulas rejection didnt still hurt too much to share? Combining a thrilling pan-continental race against time with an authentic and touching personal drama, Self-Portrait with Nothing is an unforgettable debut that explores what it means to be part of a family.