Life lately has felt a bit like being caught in a tornado—except I’m not entirely sure if I was the one spinning or if the world just decided to do it for me. Between marketing The Quiet After the Sirens, juggling my Master’s program at SNHU, working full-time hours in EMS, and trying to keep up with life in general, I’ve been stretched thinner than an overused EMS glove.
But let’s be real—this chaos? It’s mine. And somehow, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
🚗 Farewell to My Faithful (and Falling Apart) Truck
Let’s start with the biggest update: my poor old truck finally met its match. It’s been threatening retirement for months, and the other day it just… gave up. It’s now officially ready for the scrap yard—may it rest in rust. 💀
After searching high and low for something reliable, I finally found my new ride—a Dodge Avenger that’s actually in great shape! I’ll be sharing pictures soon once I get some decals and a few personal touches on it. It’s a fresh start, and honestly, it feels like a small symbol of moving forward in life.
📚 The Quiet After the Sirens: My Story, My Healing
I’m beyond humbled by how many of you have been reading The Quiet After the Sirens and reaching out with your thoughts and encouragement. This memoir isn’t perfect—neither am I—but it’s my truth. It’s the story of an EMT 🚑 trying to make sense of the noise, the trauma, and the quiet that follows both.
Working in rural EMS — especially in smaller agencies — has taught me the true meaning of humility, service, and love for what I do. It’s not an easy life, but it fills a void nothing else can. I love this job because taking care of people in chaos heals the part of me that once needed someone to take care of me — someone who couldn’t, simply because they didn’t know how. When it’s your calling, it never stops calling.
To everyone who’s supported me—especially my wife Rosalynne, my daughter Madison, my little buddy Ollie (Ollie, Ollie, Oxen Free!), my sister from another mister Megan Webb, and my boss Laina—thank you. You’ve stood beside me through every outburst, every dark night, and every whiskey glass I’ve tried to hide behind. You’ve loved me through the storms, gave me a chance at this new job when no else would, and that means more than words can say. Also to my readers that support me, without you this dream would never exist.
🖋️ Signed Copies Available
For those who’ve asked—yes, you can now get The Quiet After the Sirens in ebook, paperback, and hardcover. It’s available through:
📖 Amazon
🏪 Walmart
📚 Barnes & Noble
And for those who want something a little more personal—I’m offering custom signed editions directly from me.
✨ Custom paperback: $20
✨ Custom hardcover: $30
Each copy comes with a handwritten message from me, signature and ships straight to you from my publisher.
If you’d like one, just reach out through my contact form or message me directly on social media.
🌪️ Finding Balance in the Chaos
Between the book, grad school, my EMS work, and life itself, things are wild. But I’m learning balance—slowly. My publicist has been helping me get organized, and soon they’ll be managing some of my social media posts to give me a little breathing room.
I’ll be back on the blog more consistently (scout’s honor). Writing here is therapy, and I’ve missed connecting with all of you.
So, here’s to broken trucks, new beginnings, and stories that remind us we’re still standing—even when the world tries to spin us out. Cheers
Thank you all for reading, for caring, and for being part of this journey.
— Richard 🖤