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, 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 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. 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 This is a short collection of stores from people who are living with Essential Tremor. Most people take for granted these everyday things. For me my tremoring hands make applying makeup very difficult and simple things like, when I'm baking, measuring spices in a spoon most of the time the spices will end up on the counter. Here are a few stories from real people living with ET. I have found that since my tremors have gotten sever, cannot open a simple pull-tab so I can get in to the object in the first place.
Using a weed wacker, a hedge trimmer or, for that matter, anything hand held with a motor that vibrates knocks me out of commission forhours. Not only do I shake out of control but I get a "buzzing" sensation in both of my hands that can last for days. Inserting a key in a lock..... Oh how about going target shooting? I was invited to go to a local shooting range and that was totally out of the question. Men don't talk about how it affects them emotionally as much ... but there is often a fear that others will think they are weak or incapable or not good enough. That can be extremely difficult to overcome. It affects more than just the physical ... just a thought. Hair cuts, shaking head. Dental work is difficult too. Signing for parcels was one for me, I said I was as an alcoholic, I am,! in my 28th year of recovery. Though it`s not much help, once I found out it was ET and got some wrist bands, I could tell people why I was trembling. A woman at an AA meeting kept remarking `why was I shaking?`, I said I’d had a stroke! I`m not pleased with myself saying that, but you with ET will understand, I hope....... It is a social stigmatism, various societies place on the role women and men should play, often ingrained from so many social influences.Volumes have been wrote about this. Then throw in medical/mental perceptions from people who don't even know us. Personally I feel if we spent more time notworrying what others thought our stress levels would go down 100 fold. I tell people i have ET and say it is similar to Parkinson’s. Having lived with ET as long as I can remember, it doesn't bother me what people think. Threading a needle can be a huge problem. I have to mail order my prescriptions. When I call in a refill, at the end, the person I'm talking to says, "Here's your confirmation number." I then tell them to forget it because they would have to repeat it about five times before I could get all the numbers and then wouldn't be able to read them, since I have Essential Tremor that affects my hands. They now send me an email with the number on it. Carrying a plate of food at a buffet. Carrying a tray with an open container beverage. Going up stairs with a plate of food because you need one hand for the rail and two for the plate. Everyone assumes I'm nervous because my hands shake; My husband sometimes complains that he's not in any family photos because I don't take pictures. Everyone else can snap a photo with their smart phones so easily and I need to brace the camera against something stable, at least. One hiked up a mountain and found I couldn't look through mybinoculars at anything in the distance because I couldn't hold them still enough. Another: pouring liquid into a small opening is a challenge. That applies to adding engine fluids. I must use a funnel and even then spill sometimes. One other thing, before I retired I would have to give a presentation occasionally. If I was in charge I would set up a podium with an attached mic. If some handed me one, I would usually have to hold it with both hands. If any of you youngsters remember Howard Cosell, he was a sportscaster on Monday I have relatively mild ET, but some things are hard: taking a picture with a cell phone, using a screw driver when it's in an awkward position or over my head, clipping my nails. I can't play games on the Wii any more with my kids, along with all the above I can't look through a telescope any more :( One thing I forgot to mention and that is when I have a Dr. appointment and it's going to require filling out paperwork, I tell them I have ET and ask for them to mail it to me before the appointment. I've had a couple that told me they couldn't do that. I said. "OK, but you will have to have someone to help me." And they did..... I have a hard time getting my earrings on. Putting on a necklace. These are just a few things people with ET have problems with. If you'd like to add your story, short or long about living with ET, Dystonia or Parkinson's please send them to diannshaddox@atlanticbb.net Please donate to DSF and remember every dollar counts. DSF will use the funds to bring awareness and send grants to doctors for research to find a cause and cure. Go to my Website Life with ET and read more. www.diannshaddoxfoundation.org Please join me in helping to spread the word about Essential Tremor. March is Essential Tremor month. My novel ‘A faded Cottage’ a South Carolina’, a love story is about a man with Essential Tremor. ‘A Faded Cottage’ is a powerful story blending fact and fiction. It is a story about a famous artist whose life is turned upside down when he learns he has Essential Tremor and begins to shake uncontrollably. He leaves his life in New York and buys a faded cottage on the beach of South Carolina discovering his teenage love after thirty years. This is his journal of only two weeks, a story of endless love, his tale of living with ET, and the strength and power of love. Essential tremor (ET) is a progressive neurological condition that causes a rhythmic trembling of the hands, head, voice, legs, or trunk. An estimated 10 million Americans have ET. A portion of the proceeds from each book sold of “A Faded Cottage” will be donated to Diann Shaddox Foundation to help find a cure. www.diannshaddox.com A Faded Cottage “Happy Birthday, dumb ass!” Brenton Quaid Witherspoon’s words echoed into the roar of the waves. His heart pounded in his chest as the cold mist circled and engulfed him. The wetness he mopped from his face with the sleeve of his jacket revealed the eyes of a world-renowned artist, known for his superb paintings of the sea. Quaid watched the dark, cumulus clouds as they grew in the threatening sky, showing colors of grey, black, dark blue and a hint of orange bleeding through from the morning sun. His trembling hands reached out in front of him tightening into fists. His throat constricted, anger grew, with the realization he would never bring the beautiful scene to life on canvas ever again, merely in his dreams. He reached in his pocket ••• click read more below Here are a few trials and tribulations of living with ET. These are real people dealing with a real problem. Don't forget March is Essential Tremor Month!
Using a knife to cut vegetables. Most of the time I end up cutting myself. Burning myself when I take dishes out of the oven. Signing my name at a register in a store. Dialing a cell phone. Cutting a piece of cake or pie from a dish. ••• Keep reading Living with Essential Tremor click read more below |