Book Reviews 5 ★★★★★ review for ‘A Faded Cottage’

•  Endearing!, loved this book! It wasn't raunchy but very classy and soulful. I loved how Ms. Shaddox made her characters in their middle age, but yet the love that they had for each other was as genuine and true as when they were young. I couldn't put the book down. I was happy when they found each other again. And just as they faced challenges in their youth, they still had different types of challenges as they reunited. I would recommend 
  

this book to anyone! Fantastic job of writing!


5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars, July 13, 2014                           

• Very sweet, romantic book set on my favorite coast - the South Carolina coast. Loved the scenery and romance. A very heart tugging book!

•  Faded cottage, an amazing journal of f how the hero battles fate. The thread of the story lies in the fact that he could achieve everything except for the two things which he treasured most-h is love of painting, and the only woman he had ever loved. Great book altogether. Regards

• A love that lasted for thirty years. Two mature people who find the opportunity to finally be together, enjoying every minute, overcoming obstacles that life has imposed upon them.
  "No regrets."
  Quaid and Sandy came from different worlds. He came from a rich family from New York, living in the best addresses in that city, studying in the best schools and having his creativity well explored to become a famous painter.
  She, the daughter of a woman who worked hard at two jobs to keep the only daughter of unknown father, who cherished the dream to be botany and to study about the beautiful plants of South Carolina.
  Two young people met each other on a sunny day, facing the sea, and immediately felt the ?attraction. But as fate, with the help of his father and her mother, they didn't not stay 
  together.They took their separate ways, but never forget their love.
  In their professional lives both were successful, reaching their dreams.
  Thirty years later, being hard to continue his work in painting, for suffer from Essential Tremor, Quaid decides to go back to the old cottage where lived wonderful moments and never had the courage to return. As one begins to ask to 
  another about where Sandy would lives, he had a pleasant surprise one day meeting her at the door of his house.
  Their romance back, more mature, stronger. And even trying 
  to hide his weakness, Sandy soon realizes his shaking .
  If he hide his weakness of those who knew him, imagine his surprise to find that she had a secret ...
  A mature story, bringing characters in their 50's.
  No existential problems, no torrid sex scenes. Only 
  resumes of love frozen in time.
  The pace of the story is calm and consistent with the characters. The romance is simple and expected. As the title says, it is a love story.
  You feel attracted by each of the characters, even the dog that appears at his doorstep and lives with Quaid. 
  The end is beautiful, tying a knot in the reader's head, chest tightness and making you wish to start to take life differently. No regrets
  I did not know the author and in the end of the book, in her biography, brings her own fight since discovered, in her twenties, to suffer of Essential Tremor.
  Despite being a book with a theme that I normally do not draw attention, the beauty and purity of the story deserves

•  A Faded Cottage is a beautifully written, thought provoking story.  The weaving of old and new makes for a lovely summer read.  I am very familiar with South Carolina beach life and it is clear the writer is as well.  If you don't have an opportunity to get to the tranquil beaches of South Carolina this book is the next best thing.  Slather on the coconut scented sun screen, prepare a fruity frozen drink and enjoy!

•  Excellent story! 
  Was a very great story, keeps you wanting to know more. If the man finds his one true love. I also loved how it has an awareness about essential tremors. 

•  What first attracted me to want to read this book was the cover. Love beach scenes, Quaid Weatherspoon is remembering his days at the beach house during the summer months when he was a teen. He had come across Sandy Jamison. Love hearing all the things about the beach, house and events that took place, very similar to my own upbringing. Love how the painting means so much to others, after all the years have gone by. He learns more about the ownership of the cottage as people stop in to visit and reminiscence. When Sandy visits they do revisit what happened, what split them up and each other differently of the other. They each have their own secrets, left untold that might make a 
  difference in the here and now...Love her career choice and the exploration of Turtle Island. They know why each never made an appearance for their last date that one year. It changed their lives forever.
  Love that this bittersweet story is around the Christmas holidays, what a treat! Love the gifts and the thought he puts into them. I fell in love with the necklace, so fitting that he had captured the sparkling sand in his paintings. What a beautiful story. Love how others can use their hands to do their career choice and everything they make turns out so beautiful.

•  This was a very well written story and made me remember my first love and the feelings that I had at that time. I recommend this for anyone that has loved and lost touch with their first love and wonders "what if". I couldn't put it down and read it in two days. I loved it !

• I loved this book. Once I started reading it I didn't want to put it down. To get a second chance at love is a wonderful gift and the author really captured it in 
  this book!! I would definitely recommend reading this book! The book has a very good story line. I actually learned some things about ET that I didn't know. I 
  would highly recommend this book! A must read!
• It's the most spelling binding book ever! Lost first love and then reunited again years later! Finally a book with hope and true love. Living your life to the fullest as every day as your last! Truly and experience with Health life choices and the help of the ones you love at your side. Would love an autograph book!
• The book has a very good story line. I actually learned some things about ET 
  

that I didn't know. I would highly recommend this book! A must read!

• So easy to read, believe and feel the everlasting love of this delightful couple! With two weeks available, they are gifted with a love rare and genuine enough to fulfill their lives!

• This is an enjoyable and relaxing love story that will take you into another world. bookaddiction
  

By Kathryn M. Kenny 
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: A Faded Cottage (Kindle Edition)

very good

On December 18, 2010 I sat in my office and wrote “A Faded Cottage” a SC Christmas love story about an artist who develops Essential Tremor. My life has change dramatically because of this one small book. So today, I have to say "Happy Birthday Quaid Witherspoon."

“A Faded Cottage” is a journal of only two weeks of Quaid Witherspoon’s life and takes place from December 18 to the first of the New Year. I’ve sat back pondered what my life would be like if I’d not published “A Faded Cottage” and continued with my plan of publishing my other books.

I have to believe my journey was for a reason. Life can be a mystery and I wouldn't have taken on the challenge to start a new foundation, Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor if I’d stayed the path that I’d planned. 

I became adamant to make a change when I talked to people around the country and no one had heard of Essential Tremor, even though I had been diagnosed with Essential Tremor for over thirty years and over 42 million people in the world have ET. I kept asking myself; how could that be? Something needed to be done. I soon learned that one cold December night changed my life. For the better only time will tell that answer.

It was the night of December 18, 2010, my birthday, a very calm and uneventful night. I couldn't sleep, which isn't unusual for me, so I made my way downstairs to my cubby office. I decided that I’d work on one of my novels. 

I sat in front of the computer and began to type, but it seemed my fingers and hands had another idea as they shook uncontrollably hovering over the keyboard. If you've tried to text as you are riding in a car or train when it’s bumpy, then you might understand how difficult it is to type when you have trouble with tremoring fingers hitting the correct keys. I’d learn to deal with my tremors for many years, but this night it became overpowering. 

I leaned back in my chair. I sat there and stared at the computer screen. My anger grew watching my hands quiver over the keyboard, and for once in my life I felt sorry for myself. The question of why me, a question without an answer, played repeatedly in my mind.

I took in a deep breath and closed my eyes. I let my tremoring hands type and the words, “Happy birthday dumb-ass” were written across the screen. I laughed and let the words flow and Quaid Witherspoon, a famous artist, was born. 

A man who had everything or so he thought, but now his hands had abandoned him and his life of painting had ceased, becoming a bitter man. I didn't plan the story of Quaid that night, but his character emerged from my mind and the story grew, while I told Quaid’s story. The story of Quaid Witherspoon, the novel 'A Faded Cottage', became an incredible love story, one about strength of mind to fight fate and never accept what life throws at you. ‘A Faded Cottage’ is journal of a famous artist not of his life, but of only two weeks, a love story about aging and two people being reunited after thirty years finding love can conquer all.

Through this process of bringing ‘A Faded Cottage’ to life, I have learned so much and talking, listening to everyone’s stories that are so similar to mine has increased my desire to make a difference. 

Essential tremor (ET)  Essential Tremor, ET is a progressive neurological condition that causes a rhythmic trembling of the hands, head, voice, legs, or body. Over 42 million people worldwide (including children) have ET, the largest movement disorder in the world. ET can begin at any age, from birth to 100. ET doesn't discriminate with age, race, sex, or national origin.

Most people believe only older people have ET and that it is just a social problem.
However, ET is DEMORALIZING, DEVASTATING, & DEBILITATING for all ages.
ET is Demoralizing. It is embarrassing when you are not able to hold a pencil or crayon in your hand to write or color and people stare and laugh.
ET is Devastating. Living with uncontrollable tremor makes it difficult to dress and feed yourself. Many people will never live their dream of being an artist, musician, singer, actor, doctor, or nurse.
ET is Debilitating. It isn’t just a social problem when you cut and burn yourself as you try to cook, can’t drive a car, and you are fired from a job because your hands tremor. Many people lose the ability to talk from voice tremors and aren’t able to write or sign to communicate. Suicide & bullying (all ages) is another problem. 
The list continues. The answers to help everyone living with ET are to bring awareness around the world and find a cure for ET.

I have become an activist to bring awareness to Essential Tremor. I am now the Founder of the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor a national Non-Profit public organization 501 c(3).  DSF, Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor mission is to educate and increase awareness about people afflicted with Essential Tremor. DSF works with people worldwide to show that ET is an international progressive disorder. We are unwavering to assist families with our Anti-Bullying Program, Suicide Prevention Program, Family Assistance Program, and to donate medical research grants to doctors to find a cause and cure. DSF will make a difference in millions of people’s lives and directly change the future for everyone who will inherit or develop Essential Tremor. www.diannshaddoxfoundation.org

Please go to www.diannshaddoxfoundation.org and donate, every penny counts and will bring us closer to finding a cause and cure.
Now, 'A Faded Cottage' has become a vehicle to explain about Essential Tremor and how so many live each day with tremoring hands, head, voice, and entire body. 

Diann Shaddox Foundation for ET and I will make a difference please join me. 

Diann Shaddox is an author, speaker, and Founder of the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor.
Diann Shaddox is best known for her released books: A Faded Cottage, a SC love story about an artist with Essential Tremors; Whispering Fog, a time travel romance; Miranda, The Pink Rose, a historical fiction, a journal of a young girl living in the late 1800's; Spirits of Sacred Mountain, about a young Native American Indian boy's life spinning out of control and a magical mountain with deep hidden secrets; and The Gatekeeper of Crystal Pond, Not What Lies Above, but Below" www.diannshaddox.com
She was diagnosed with Essential Tremor and has since become an advocate for awareness and research toward finding a cure for ET. She created the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor March 2014.
Diann is a Native American and a member of the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma.

My Journey 
​I've had many people ask me questions of why I started the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor. I hope this answers many questions.

My passion is writing and I had put off writing my stories for years. It seemed excuses kept flowing of being busy and everyone will think that I’ve gone crazy. After many years of excuses I began my journey of writing. 

However, my real journey began one night when I wrote “A Faded Cottage” a love story about an artist living with Essential Tremor. 
Why I wrote 'A Faded Cottage'

It was my birthday, the night of December 18, 2010, a very calm and uneventful night. I couldn’t sleep, which isn’t unusual for me, so I made my way downstairs to my cubby office. I decided since I was wide-awake that I’d work on one of my novels.

I sat down in front of the computer and began to type, but it seemed my fingers and hands had another idea as they shook uncontrollably over the keyboard. If you’ve tried to text as you are riding in a car or train when it’s bumpy, then you might understand how difficult it is to type with tremoring fingers when you have trouble hitting the correct keys. You see, I have had Essential Tremor from my early twenties and I’d learn to deal with my tremors for many years. But this night it became overpowering.

I leaned back in my chair and stared at the computer screen. My anger grew watching my hands quiver over the keyboard, and for once in my life I felt sorry for myself. The question of why me, a question without an answer, played repeatedly in my mind.
         
I took in a deep breath, closed my eyes and I let my tremoring hands type and the words, “Happy birthday dumb-ass” were written across the screen. I laughed and let the words flow and Quaid Witherspoon, a famous artist, was born. 

A man who had everything or so he thought, but now his hands had abandoned him and his life of painting had ceased, becoming a bitter man. I didn’t have the story of Quaid planned that night. His character emerged from my mind and as the story grew I calmed while I released the stress of the evening telling Quaid’s story, a journal of only two weeks of his life. The story of Quaid Witherspoon, the novel 'A Faded Cottage', became an incredible love story, one about strength of mind to fight fate and never accept what life throws at you. 

‘A Faded Cottage’ is journal of a famous artist not of his life, but of only two weeks, a love story about aging and two people being reunited after thirty years finding love can conquer all.
​
I put “A Faded Cottage” aside and kept editing my other stories to send to publishers, but “A Faded Cottage” kept pulling me in. I let friends read the manuscript and they believed I should go ahead and publish the novel to let others understand what I was living through with my tremoring hands. So began my journey. I gave in and sent the manuscript to publishers. To my surprise, I had a publisher come back to me right away and A Faded Cottage became my first novel. Then, I learned no one knew what ET was, so at my book signings I started to tell my story about ET. Well, the fire of spreading the word about Essential Tremor that I’d leaped into continued and I decided to start my own foundation. 

However, the first of May, my life was jerked to a stop. My healthy young son, who was backing me on my journey, went to the hospital with a headache. We learned he had an aggressive stage 4 cancerous tumor the size of a lemon in his brain. He elected to have surgery, never woke, and died on May 20, 2014. 

My life now had changed or maybe seemed to have ended. In June I sat back and reflected about my journey that had all started with one little book “A Faded Cottage.” How that one night on my birthday writing that book had sent me on a wild journey and I didn’t know if I wanted to continue. I had set out just to write my stories, but my life had turned into a whirlwind and now I had to make a decision.

I decided to take some time to think and I began the edits on “Whispering Fog” a time travel romance. My editor and I finished “Whispering Fog,”  and  the novel was published.

I don’t give up easy and knew my son would be disappointed if I didn’t continue with the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor. On August 29, 2014 the IRS approved Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor. 

What will my journey be in the future? I have become adamant to make a change, bring awareness, and find a cure for ET.

My light is growing dim, and my energy has grown low, however I will see what the future holds, and whether the flame will be distinguished or grow stronger to tell the world about Essential Tremor. I'm asking for support. There are many ways to support a foundation. Donate time to help with whatever you can, write articles, start a newsletter, help with IT services, so many ways to volunteer. Yes, it does take a lot of people and funds to advertise, bring awareness, and grant medical research money to doctors, to make a difference. 

I hope you will join me on my journey and if you have any questions that you’d like answered, I’d be glad to help. dsfoundation@atlanticbb.net​

My story of why began many years ago.

You see, when I was in my early twenties life changed for me, my left hand began to shake when I would do tedious work. No one, not even doctors, could figure out what was happening and they, the doctors, believed I was nervous, and just needed to calm down and that, I have to say, made me furious. 

Yes, I was a young mother and things were busy in my life, but I wasn't nervous, my left hand just shook and I couldn’t make it stop.

One day, standing at a Post Office window in Louisville, Kentucky changed my world. Up until that 

 point, I had handled the shakes and the stares, but... A simple form containing my name and address, that I was supposed to fill out, changed my life. I stood there, and not only my left hand was shaking but my right hand was waving in the air, with a line of people and the post office clerk staring at me in a confused and not so polite stare making my tremors go wild. Tears grew in my eyes and I tried to wipe them before they rolled down my face with my fluttering hand. I grabbed my package turned and ran out of the Post Office. I had tried to ignore my tremors and hadn't noticed or maybe just hadn't paid attention that my right hand had begun to tremor. I know it's difficult for many people to understand why it is so terrifying not to be able to write. Not only the humiliation, embarrassment, but feeling so inept, clumsy, a bumbling idiot. 

I had to find answers. I worked diligently going to doctors and still had the same result, I was nervous. I knew I had to do something so I called and made an appointment with a neurologist. I told the nurse that my family doctor had sent me, which wasn't true because he didn't think anything was wrong with me. 

My neurologist Dr. Holmes told me that I had Essential Tremors. This may sound weird, but I do have to say it was a huge relief just to know that I wasn't crazy and there was something wrong with me. He prescribed Inderal, a Beta blocker. I stayed on Inderal for years until my blood pressure kept dropping way too low and I had to stop the medicine. So, now, I'm off of all medicine and I just let my hands shake. In the last year, not only my hands tremor, but my head, voice, and I've noticed my legs and body will tremor when I get overly tired or stressed. 

I’m lucky that my ET didn't progress as fast as so many people around the world has done. For years I thought I was all alone, the only person with ET. I hadn't heard of anyone else with my disorder, so I tried to hide my hands and not tell anyone. You see anyone with ET learns quickly to grip their hands together to keep them from tremoring. Of course, that doesn't make it easy to eat, drink, or do things out in public.

In 2010, my hands for some reason began to tremor worse and I'd had some confrontations with people about my hands shaking. If you know me, then you understand that I don’t sit back when someone says smart remarks to me; I have to say something back. Well, the kicker was, my worst confrontation was at my doctor’s office that I’d been going to for years. I assumed all the office staff understood what ET was. I was wrong. That will be another story for another time.

Months went by and for the first time in my life, the frustration grew just as my hands tremoring. I was so tired of trying to do tedious things that took twice as long. Simple things became difficult, like when I was recently at someone’s home  and was offered a cappuccino, which I love, I had to decline the offer. I couldn't have held the small cup and would have splashed it everywhere. I began to pay attention to what I ordered in restaurants, since food on my fork or spoon could fly off before making it to my mouth and I never go to a buffet. Little things get to me, things we all take for granted, doing makeup, putting on jewelry, and even writing grocery notes that no one can read have become problematic. The stares make my hands tremor worse. 

On December 18, 2010, which was my birthday, I went to my cubby office. I sat down at the computer to work on one of my books I was finishing, but my hands were tremoring uncontrollably. That night, I’d had enough; my frustration of my hands fluttering like bird’s wings over the keyboard was too much. I sat in my dark office and began to type. The first word appeared on the screen, Happy birthday dumb ass, and Quad Witherspoon, an artist that develops ET believing his life is over since he can’t paint his masterpieces anymore, became alive right in front of me. “A Faded Cottage”a novel I hadn't planned to write, was born that December night. “A Faded Cottage” was published in 2013 and it has become a vehicle to share to the world about living with ET. 

Time moved on and I found out, by searching the internet, I wasn't alone and over 10 million Americans and millions worldwide have been diagnosed with Essential Tremor. I began to ask people; do you know what Essential Tremor is? My answer 99% of the time has been no. How can this be? I wanted more answers. 

Over the last year, I've become an activist and adamant to bring awareness to the world about living with ET. I decided to show my tremoring hands and not try to hide them anymore, even though it is very difficult at times. 

I had to get the word out there about ET and to make this happen I started my own foundation, the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor, a Non-Profit public organization 501 c(3) to bring awareness . 
We have to get the word out there to make this happen. I can’t do this alone and I do have others joining DSF, but I need your help. Please give and support all you can, any size donation no matter how small whatever you can to make this happen.  www.diannshaddoxfoundation.org 

Why I wrote 'A Faded Cottage'

It was the night of December 18, 2010, my birthday, a very calm and uneventful night. I couldn’t sleep, which isn’t unusual for me, so I made my way downstairs to my cubby office. I decided, since I was wide-awake that I’d work on one of my novels.

I sat down in front of the computer and began to type, but it seemed my fingers and hands had another idea as they shook uncontrollably. If you’ve tried to text as you are riding in a car or train when it’s bumpy, then you might understand how difficult it is to type when you have trouble hitting the correct keys with tremoring fingers. You see, I have had Essential Tremor from my early twenties and I’d learn to deal with my tremors for many years, but this night it became overpowering.

I leaned back in my chair and stared at the computer screen, my anger grew watching my hands quiver over the keyboard, and for once in my life I felt sorry for myself. The question of why me, a question without an answer, played repeatedly in my mind.
         

I took in a deep breath, closed my eyes and I let my tremoring hands type and the words, “Happy birthday dumb-ass” were written across the screen. I laughed and let the words flow and Quaid Witherspoon, a famous artist, was born. 

A man who had everything or so he thought, but now his hands had abandoned him and his life of painting had ceased, becoming a bitter man. I didn’t have the story of Quaid planned that night, but his character emerged from my mind and as the story grew my hands calmed, while I released the stress of the evening, telling Quaid’s story, a journal of only two weeks of his life. The story of Quaid Witherspoon, the novel 'A Faded Cottage', became an incredible love story, one about strength of mind to fight fate and never accept what life throws at you. 
‘A Faded Cottage’ is journal of a famous artist not of his life, but of only two weeks, a love story about aging and two people being reunited after thirty years finding love can conquer all.

Through this process of bringing ‘A Faded Cottage’ to life, I have learned so much. Finding the Essential Tremor awareness groups on Facebook, talking, listening to everyone’s stories so similar to mine has brought calmness to my life. 

Now, 'A Faded Cottage' has become a vehicle to explain about Essential Tremor and how millions live each day with tremoring hands, head, voice, and entire body. 

I have become an activist to bring awareness to Essential Tremor and founded the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor, Non-Profit 501c(3) organization committed to help people struggling in today’s world with Essential Tremor. DSF is dedicated to inspire, educate, enlighten, and increase awareness to the world about people living every day with uncontrollable tremors. 

Proceeds from the  sales of 'A Faded Cottage' books go to Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor.

Essential tremor (ET) is a progressive neurological condition that causes a rhythmic trembling of the hands, head, voice, legs, or trunk. About 10 million Americans have Essential Tremor and million more people worldwide. That's about 5% of all people in the United States. For comparison sake, 7.8% of the population have some type of diabetes. Most people though haven’t heard about Essential Tremor and I’m adamant to bring attention to the world. 

Millions of children and adults live each day with uncontrollable shakes from essential tremor, the largest movement disorder in the world. Awareness and education will stop the bullying, people losing their jobs, college students having their dreams disappear and end depression for people worldwide who are living with hand, voice, head, and body tremors.

The Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor will make a difference and directly change the future for everyone who will inherit or develop ET.

With awareness, people with movement disorders can come out of hiding; live normal lives as anyone with a disability. 

Please go to www.diannshaddoxfoundation.org and donate, every penny counts and will bring us closer to finding a cause and cure. 

06/13/2013  Guest on Tista Ray's website
http://tistarayofficial.weebly.com/7/post/2013/06/character-interview-quaid-witherspoon-from-a-faded-cottage.html

Today I am pleased to have Diann Shaddox , the author of 'A Faded Cottage', with us. She joins us with Quaid Witherspoon. 
                                               •••     click below to read more Guest on Tista Ray's website

It was a beautiful winter day, Saturday January 12th in South Carolina on Folly’s beach, a perfect day, in the high 70’s, to take pictures for A Faded Cottage’s book trailer. Driving down to the coast the fog that was inland disappeared, but along the coast, the fog began to roll onto the beach giving off a mystic that was enchanting. We took about 100 pictures and some, I hope, will be used someday for a book trailer for Whispering Fog.