A Faded Cottage

A FADED COTTAGE

A FADED COTTAGE
"Inspired by real stories about Essential Tremor"
"A South Carolina Love Story"

Why I wrote 'A Faded Cottage'
A Faded Cottage
MY STORY by Diann

On December 18, 2010, I sat in my office and wrote “A Faded Cottage” a Christmas love story about an artist who develops Essential Tremor. My life has change dramatically because of this one small book.

“A Faded Cottage” a journal of only two weeks. The story of Quaid Witherspoon’s life. 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 only writing and 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.

When I talked to people at book signings around the country I became adamant to make a change since no one had heard of Essential Tremor, even though I had been diagnosed with Essential Tremor since I was in my early 20's and over 100 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 to 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. You see, I have had Essential Tremor diagnosed in my early twenties and I'd learn to deal with my tremors, 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 while I told his 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 for Essential Tremor.

Now, 'A Faded Cottage' has become a vehicle to explain about Essential Tremor and how so many children and adults 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.

Inspired by Real Stories about Essential Tremor
A Faded Cottage, is a powerful story blending fact and fiction about a famous artist whose life is turned upside down when he learns he has Essential Tremors and begins to shake uncontrollably.

A Faded Cottage
When a love letter written by a teenage boy becomes lost after a summer filled with passion, it brings about an incredible love story of two people being reunited, after thirty years.

When Essential Tremors take over a famous artist’s body, a simple feat of holding a paintbrush turns Quaid Witherspoon’s life upside down, becoming a bitter man. This is his journal of how he battles fate, not of his entire life, but of two weeks. Quaid had everything money could buy, except the two things he loved the most, his love of painting great masterpieces, and the only woman he had ever loved. The calming waters off the coast of South Carolina calls Quaid back to Hathaway Cove, to a small, faded cottage, one with a leaning front porch, worn paint so similar to him, flawed. The same beach where he began painting as a young boy, the place he met his one true love, and the place he let her go.

Sandy, Quaid’s love from his past, learns he is wondering about her, just as she is wondering about him. Their love is alive, meeting for the first time in thirty years, letting the years fade away, but fate has another twist. Sandy keeps a secret, letting them have their two weeks.

Learn more go diannshaddox.com

Proceeds from the sales of 'A Faded Cottage' books go to Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor.
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.
Every penny counts and will bring us closer to finding a cause and cure.