Aiken author’s new book rooted in Native American folklore Diann Shaddox, an Aiken author and founder offor Essential For her first book, Aiken author Diann Shaddox raised awareness of a condition that she lives with – essential tremor. For her latest book, she pulled from another aspect of her life – her Native American heritage. Staff Photo by Stephanie Turner “Spirits of Sacred Mountain” is the latest book by Diann Shaddox. “Spirits of Sacred Mountain” was released in May. “Cody Tanner looks like a normal 11-year-old, except he can blur/disappear, use his mind to move objects, and stop time. Normal if you’re a spirit of the mountain,” says the book’s summary. Tanner, like Shaddox, is a Native American. The author is a member of the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma. “That’s probably what triggered a lot of this because I was reading up on the tribe, Wyandotte,” Shaddox said. The story of “Spirits” is rooted in Native American folklore and is written so that readers as young as elementary school-aged students can enjoy it, according to Shaddox. “I’ve already gotten people wanting a second one,” Shaddox said. “Spirits ” is dedicated to Shaddox’s husband, to the Wyandotte Nation and to the late Chief Leaford Bearskin. Before he passed, Bearskin asked Shaddox to write a story about the Native American culture. He was also a childhood friend of her mother. Shaddox’s first book, “A Faded Cottage,” was released in 2013. Her two other books are “Whispering Fog” and “Miranda.” All proceeds benefit the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor, an Aiken-based organization that Shaddox started. Her upcoming book signings are as follows: • July 7 from 4 to 6 p.m.: Aiken County Historical Museum, 433 Newberry St. S.W.; part of the museum’s Sweet Tea Series; will have refreshments of wine and cheese • July 12 from 3 to 6 p.m.: Ridgecrest Coffee Bar in the Village of Woodside, 108 Coach Light Way “Spirits of Sacred Mountain” is $5.99 as an ebook, $17.99 as a paperback and $27.99 as a hardback and can be purchased through major online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. “We think this is going to be the most popular book she’s written,” said Randy Miles, executive director of the Diann Shaddox Foundation. Shaddox has plans to make “Spirits” the first of a series. http://www.aikenstandard.com/20160627/160629548/aiken-authorx2019s-new-book-rooted-in-native-american-folklore For more information, visit www.diannshaddox.com or www.diann shaddoxfoundation.org. I have to say this spring Folly Beach Wine & Sign was interesting to say the least.
Saturday didn't look very good, weather wise I mean, and... It did turn out that we had a hell of a Saturday on the Folly Beach Pier. We began the day with clouds and a high hope that the humongous front marching our way would go north and miss us. WELL, it didn't. The group of diehard authors and artist set up tents and began to sell books & art, but the rain moved in. We believed the slow rain showers would move on but.... instead a horrific storm or I would call a hurricane came through. The tents began to dance in huge gust with a downpour and of course we were all out there on the deck, being drenched by rain, trying to save everything. Everyone was great, however we weren't giving up. Sooooo... we all decided to extend the Folly Beach Wine & Sign to Sunday. Sunday morning began with blue skies and bright sun. The wind was gusty but all the tents were strapped down and everyone was ready. Crowds of people began to show up and they were very interested in everyone's books and jewelry. I was able to talk with people from all over the world about the Diann Shaddox Foundation and Essential Tremor. I meet a few people who had ET and of course many that had not heard about it. We did have fun with the drawings for the raffles, that included a one nights stay at the Waters Edge Inn on Folly Beach, lunches & dinners at Locklears, Blues, Ritas and so many fun things. Check back we are planning on another Folly Beach Wine & Sign in September. You don't want to miss the fun. I had an amazing day Saturday April 11, 2015 at the Folly Beach Sea & Sand Festival. I was up at 2:00 in the morning preparing to leave Aiken, SC and drive to Folly Beach, SC. The weather was iffy to say the least with a forecast of 100% rain at noon. I arrived at Folly Beach with a few sprinkles of rain as we were setting up our tent. but the thick dark clouds swiftly began floating out to the ocean and a beautiful day emerged. Temperatures were in the low 70's with a gentle seabreeze. It was a record day of signing copies of "A Faded Cottage" & "Whispering Fog" and talking to so many people from all over the world about the Diann Shaddox Foundation & Essential Tremor. I met so many wonderful people, Marilyn, Nancy, Kat, Cindy, Brooke, and even met Katie Ward, (Jr. Teen Sea & Sand). This past weekend I spent Saturday, January 24th and Sunday January 25th at the Frampton Plantation in Yemassee, South Carolina as a guest of the South Carolina Lowcountry Tourism Commission. I was there to raise money for the Diann Shaddox Foundation. The "Frampton House" property was part of an original King's Grant to the Frampton family in the 1700s. In 1865, General Sherman's troops burned the plantation house and all the farm buildings that stood on this site. In 1868, John Frampton rebuilt the present charming Lowcountry farmhouse and continued to work the land, which is now the home of the SC Lowcountry Tourism Commission. Saturday morning began rainy and windy with the ground saturated from the storms the night before. I arrived around 9:00 that wet morning to find beige A frame canvas tents dotting the grounds of the old plantation where Union and Confederate soldiers had spent the night. 19th-century cannons made by Lt. Colonel Vernon Terry were placed in front of the old plantation home. As the morning moved on the rain clouds seemed to be racing across the sky as the warmth of the South Carolina sun began to shine down upon the Plantation. For me though, since my tremors go wild in cold and I couldn't seem to have enough layers of clothes on I sat quivering from Essential Tremor and the cold. The plantation home became busy with soldiers and visitors scurrying and preparing for the Battle of Pocotaligo to take place later that day. Members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans: Charles Jones Colcock Camp 2100 and the 144th New York State Volunteers, whose ancestors fought at the 1864 Battle of Honey Hill In Ridgeland, SC were present to represent Union and Confederate soldiers at the Battle of Pocotaligo reenactment. In the quietness of the afternoon The Battle of Pocotaligo began with the firing of the cannons echoing across the valley shaking and rattling the old plantation home. The original Battle of Pocotaligo was fought on May 29, 1862 near Yemassee, SC. The Unions objective was to sever the Charleston and Savannah Railroad to isolate Charleston. During that battle, the Union lost 2 & 9 wounded, and the Confederates lost 2 & 6 wounded. The second Battle of Pocotaligo was on October 22, 1862 and once more, the objective was to sever the railroad. In both battles, the Confederate soldiers were able to keep the Union soldiers from the railroad. Sunday was a picture perfect day that started out cool but warmed into the high 50’s. Each day I was able to meet and talk with so many people to explain about the Diann Shaddox Foundation’s mission to bring awareness for Essential Tremor, the largest movement disorder. I was able to meet Ann, James, Pat, Claudia, Brittany, Bob Rogers, Lt. Colonial Vernon Terry, and so many others. Not only did I get to enlighten so many about Essential Tremor, I also learned so much about history. I was very pleased that so many young people were there and interested in talking to historians. To witness how people lived sleeping in tents and their entertainment, (not the computer or cell phones) listening to guitar playing and singing at night by a campfire, and reading books or telling stories by the light of oil lamps was wonderful. It was a couple of fascinating days. To learn more about the reenactments go to: Sons of Confederate Veterans: Charles Jones Colcock Camp 2100 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sons-of-Confederate-Veterans-Charles-Jones-Colcock-Camp-2100/462176950559213?fref=photo & 144th New York State Volunteers, Folly Beach Wine & Sign 2015 Saturday, April 25, 2015 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. to benefit the Diann Shaddox Foundation. Mark your calendars and come out and join us on the pier at Folly Beach, SC. DSF is giving hope to millions, including children, living with Essential Tremor, the largest movement disorder. DSF is an accredited Non-Profit 501c(3) organization committed to find a cause and cure for Essential Tremor. Locklear’s Beach City Grill, Folly Beach Parks & Recreation, Diann Shaddox Foundation, & Diann Shaddox/author Presents: Folly Beach Wine & Sign 2015 Have fun in the sun on the stunning Folly Beach Pier, Folly Beach, South Carolina. Sip a glass of wine, talk and meet some wonderful authors and artists. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of sandy beaches, cool ocean breezes, and views of the great Atlantic Ocean. This was a few pictures from Folly Beach Wine & Sign 2014. A great day, blue skies, cool temps and a soft breeze blowing from the Atlantic ocean. Book Reviews 5 ★★★★★ review for ‘A Faded Cottage’
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars, July 13, 2014
Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: A Faded Cottage (Kindle Edition) very good
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
Shopping on Amazon. Don't forget to use Amazon Smile and Amazon, not you, will donate to the Diann Shaddox Foundation to help find a cause and cure for Essential Tremor. (Yes, not you, Amazon will donate to the Diann Shaddox Foundation!)
Your shopping will support Diann Shaddox Foundation. It is easy to use just go to smile.amazon.com it will automatically populate all your account info to it as well as order history when you download Amazon Smile. Clink on the link and go to Amazon Smile and join. 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 I hid my tremoring hands from people whenever I could for years, because I was tired of the stares and snide and malicious remarks. When I'd tell them I had Essential Tremor they'd just stare, since no one has ever heard of ET. Today, it has became impossible to hide my hands, and still at times so embarrassing when I'm out with people and try to eat or drink. But, I won't hide from reality anymore and I will bring awareness to help others, over 12 million Americans with movement disorders and millions more worldwide. I'm asking for help, to raise funds, fundraisers and anything you can do to support Diann Shaddox Foundation. We have to bring awareness to Essential Tremor. Please don't judge people when you see them out in public with shaking hands or head. Most people with Essential Tremor or any movement disorder hides from people. Many with movement disorders become disabled at worst and feel frustrated or embarrassed at best. Spilling drinks, splashing food onto themselves and others, dropping things and the most humiliating is your hands and head shaking is so degrading. Quality of life is a big issue for people with movement disorders. Daily activities such as feeding, drinking, grooming and writing become difficult if not impossible. Many people with movement disorders are too embarrassed to go into public and so remain isolated in their homes. Stereotypes shape the way we think about people and situations. 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. DSF’s funds will be used for awareness and will be distributed for research to help find the cause and a cure for Essential Tremor. www.diannshaddoxfoundation.org This is Daniel's story Press Release: South Carolina--June 2014 Diann Shaddox Foundation Diann Shaddox Foundation formed to raise Vital Funds & Awareness for over 10 million Americans Diann Shaddox Foundation, a non for profit organization, 501c(3), is committed to help people struggling in today’s world with neurological conditions. About 10 million Americans have Essential Tremor. 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 DSF is adamant to bring attention to the world. ‘A Faded Cottage’: Novel by Diann Shaddox founder of DSF is to become a long-term awareness/fundraising vehicle. ‘A Faded Cottage’ fuses fact with fiction to depict a compelling love story, based around an artist suffering from Essential Tremor. People love a bold story and ‘A Faded Cottage’ has it all, combined with a real-life awakening to the detriment ET inflicts on its victims. With Shaddox herself also a victim of the neurological disorder, the novel ‘A Faded Cottage’ imparts a powerful message, while acting as a real-life vehicle for vital ET awareness. While the protagonist in Diann Shaddox’s novel may appear to have a unique story, his battle with Essential Tremor (causing rhythmic trembling of the hands, head, voice, legs, or trunk) is shared with one in sixty Americans. The book is a stark reminder of the prevalence of this often ignored disorder.
Compared to other conditions, little is known about Essential Tremor and the treatment options are limited. Essential Tremor is not confined to the elderly. Children and middle-aged people can also have it. In fact, new-borns have been diagnosed with the condition. With awareness, people with Essential Tremor can come out of hiding and live normal lives. A portion of all electronic, paperback and hardback books sold will be donated to Diann Shaddox Foundation, leading the funding of research into Essential Tremor treatments and a cure. Diann Shaddox Foundation was formed to support and add additional resources to help find the cause and cure for all movement disorders. DSF is dedicated to inspire, educate, enlighten, and increase awareness to the world about people living every day with neurological conditions such as Essential Tremor. DSF funds will be used for research to help find the cause and a cure for Essential Tremor. DSF is bringing light to the darkened world of Essential Tremor. For more information and to keep abreast of the latest news from DSF contact www.diannshaddoxfoundation.org |