Life changes and a FREE ebook!

This summer has been all about closing out chapters and starting a new one. Or, maybe I should say finishing one book and starting the next! After a lot of soul-searching, our home was put on the market and my husband moved back to his home state while I stayed here in Washington. My son was already away at college, and my daughter, after turning 18, has ventured out to be her own adult/person. So. Here I am.

Where, exactly is that? Well, at the moment, I'm sitting in my beach cottage on the shores of the Pacific Northwest, facing the glorious San Juan Islands. After owning my own home since I was 19, I am renting this gem for the next ten months. Finding myself? Maybe. Although, I think at my age I am already quite confident in who I am. It's more of a slow metamorphosis into singleness. ;) My goal is to eventually write full time, and I think this beach house is the perfect setting!

 This is literally my backyard (don't hate me)

This is why I've been lacking the past few months in both posts and publications. However, I plan on changing that! Starting with a free run for book #7 in the Samantha Wolf Mysteries!

Click here for your free download on Amazon

The Case of the Curious Canine

The next best thing to owning your own dog is having a job where you get to take care of them. That's what Sam figures when she, Ally, and Cassy all volunteer at a local animal shelter. But they don't expect the trouble that comes along with the work.

When dogs start showing up at the shelter with odd symptoms, the director doesn't seem concerned. However, strange coincidences start to happen and Sam doesn't believe that they're random.

Confronted with the hard decision of following either her heart or her nose for a good mystery, Sam faces an emotional dilemma. Sometimes, the right path is the most difficult and this is one challenge that's going to take all of her friends to help solve.

Now, while this is book #7 in the series, it can absolutely be read as a stand-alone. If you would like to start with book #1, The Mystery of Hollow Inn, take a peek at my author page where you have a couple of options. (individual ebook @ 2.99 free w/Kindle Unlimited OR a box set)

AUTHOR PAGE

Stay tuned for several announcements over the next month. I have some 'stuff' in the works that's pretty exciting!

Local 9-Year-Old Credited With Saving Mom's Life

-Story by Tara Ellis, Staff Writer with Skagit Breaking News
 (Cross-posted from Skagit Breaking News)

When Kimberly Smith woke up on March 2^nd, 2017, she knew that something wasn’t right. Her chest hurt. It was hard to catch her breath, and her arms felt heavy. But she didn’t have time to be sick. She had just had a baby by C-section on February 6^th, and as a single mother of three boys, she decided to just ‘shake it off’.

However, as the day wore on, her symptoms only got worse. By the time her nine year old son, Camdyn, got home from school, she was clasping at her chest. It felt like she was being stabbed each time she took a breath. Camdyn was concerned. Sitting next to his mom on the couch, he offered to take his baby brother. Kimberly reassured Camdyn that she just needed to rest. That she could put the baby down to sleep, and take a nap.

 

Camdyn with baby Dylan

Camdyn didn’t think that was a good idea. Now this is where the story turns into one of heroism. Because most nine year olds would have just shrugged, and figured their mom knew best. But instead, Camdyn gave her a very convincing argument.

“Mom,” he implored. “My health teacher said if someone grabs their chest like that, I should call 911. I’m going to get my shoes on. We need to get to a hospital.” With that, her middle child that normally fought getting ready to leave the house, actually went and put his shoes on.

Moved by her son’s pleas, Kimberly didn’t take a nap. Instead, she called her doctor’s office to make an appointment, thinking she might have pneumonia. However, when they heard what her symptoms were, they decided to call an ambulance.

Camdyn went with his mom in the ambulance, charming the paramedics with both his interest in the apparatus, as well as the wise advice he gave his mom. Kimberly was thankful for the kind nature of the medics, and how they put her son at ease during a very scary time.

Once at Skagit Valley Hospital, it didn’t take long for a diagnosis: bilateral pulmonary embolisms. Kimberly’s lungs were full of blood clots. A blood test revealed that she had a genetic pre-disposition, and the recent C-section put her at an increased risk. The doctor was blunt; if she had taken that planned nap, there was a good chance she would have never awakened from it.

Kimberly with Dylan while recovering in the hospital

“I feel like he’s my son, but he’s also my hero,” Kimberly now says of her son, Camdyn. “I can’t even imagine if he hadn’t said what he did. What would have happened. I want to bring awareness about blood clots. I’m thirty-two, and I didn’t even know what a pulmonary embolism was.”

While spending seven days in the hospital, Kimberly had plenty of time to study up on blood clots, and discovered that March is Blood Clot Awareness month. According to the National Blood Clot Alliance, a blood clot is diagnosed once every minute, and someone dies from a blood clot every six minutes.

Some of the signs and symptoms of a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism) are:

- Sudden shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Sharp, stabbing, worsens with breathing
- Rapid heart rate
- Unexplained cough; sometimes with bloody mucus

Camdyn doesn’t think he’s a hero, but sometimes, a hero is simply defined by being the one person to speak up. If he hadn’t, the story might not have such a happy ending. Kimberly has a long road to recovery, but she’s thankful to still be there for her kids. It will take three to six months for the blood clots to be completely resolved, and up to two years to heal. Meanwhile, Camdyn and her oldest son, Bryson, are going out of their way to help their mom. Skagit Breaking would like to recognize Camdyn’s heroic actions that day, and help Kimberly with her desire to spread awareness.

       

Big brothers, Camdyn and Bryson, helping to care for their little brother.

If you would like more information about blood clots, or Blood Clot Awareness Month, please follow this link: https://www.stoptheclot.org/blood-clot-awareness-month-2017.htm

A GO FUND ME account has been set up for the family, if you would like to help.



Tara Ellis is a staff writer for Skagit Breaking, as well as a local author. You can find all of her novels on her Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Tara-Ellis/e/B00IVF1JQK    

TIME [a poem]

Today, I'm doing something a little different. I have a poem to share.

I haven't written one in quite sometime, but I was compelled this morning to put my thoughts into words and sometimes poetry is the best way to communicate that.

Yesterday, there was a horrific accident not far from here. There was work being done on an overpass, and a cement barrier fell and landed on the cab of a truck, instantly killing the people inside. It turned out to be a young couple and their 8 month old baby. They were both youth pastors and amazing people. They have ties locally and many knew them or of them.

I spent some time reading this young woman's amazing blog last night (and crying)...and it made me realize something: Our most precious gift to each other is our time. It's how we SHOW someone we love them...by being there for them, by giving of ourselves freely without expecting a return.

SO...

TIME

“To love one another,”...we are told,

Is the key to happiness, for both young and old.

But how do we do that? What does it take?

What special formula does happiness make?

Do we show love through stalking, or buying or sex?

Maybe obsessively sending them texts.

This art of love is really quite simple,

And has nothing to do with societies temples.

It’s free, it’s within us, and easy to give,

But it’s masked by the layers of having to live.

Running to work, the TV, and computer,

All of these things have become our ruler.

The little one tugging the hem of your sleeve,

Is brushed aside constantly, until they just leave.

The machine on your lap has all your attention,

There’s no room for children to force intervention.

But they are the ones, who are helping you find,

How to laugh, how to play, how to give them your TIME.

How do you show someone that you care?

By giving yourself, and just being there!

It’s a precious commodity, and without a price,

It's the gift we should treasure the most in this life.

-Tara Ellis

(taken from my backyard two days ago)