“You came back…” she said, her voice trembling with disbelief.
He held her close.
“I never left,” Blake whispered, fire cracking in his chest.
Chapter 3 rewrites, and developmental edits.
In honor of EMS Week and Mental Health Awareness Month, read a raw excerpt from The Quiet After the Sirens—a memoir about trauma, silence, and survival.
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Catching My Breath & Looking Ahead: Exciting News and Ongoing Work
Walking the stage Summa Cum Laude was a moment of deep reflection, joy, and purpose—a signal that this story is far from over.
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Writing Memoir in Scenes: Telling Mental Health Stories That Heal
Memoir writing is more than memory—it’s a journey of healing. By telling our mental health stories in scenes, we create connection, meaning, and transformation.
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The Weight We Carry: Mental Health in EMS and the Silence That Follows
We don’t talk about what we see. Not really. We joke, we deflect, we survive. But The Quiet After the Sirens is about what happens when the silence breaks.
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Walking Through Fire: A Warrior’s Reflection for Mental Health Awareness Month
The first of May rises not just with spring’s fragile bloom but with the tremble of a war drum echoing deep within my chest. Today marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month, and for those like me—those who wear their wounds beneath the skin …
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“Her Final Breath, My Last Choice”
On April 20th, five years ago, I had to make the most painful decision of my life—from a Zoom call. My sister was dying, and I was her healthcare proxy. While my mother and niece sat at her bedside, I gave the word to let her go. That moment changed me forever. I carry it into every EMS shift, every sleepless night, and every word I write. Today, I remember her—not as the woman we lost, but as my sister. The one I tried to save, even from a distance. The Quiet After the Sirens began with her silence.
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The Quiet After the Call
There’s a silence most people never hear.
It’s not peace—it’s the sound after the sirens, when the adrenaline fades and the ghosts start talking.
After years in the military, fire service, and EMS, I came to know that silence too well. It isn’t quiet. It’s noise turned inward.
In that space, the heart races, the mind replays trauma, and the spirit aches under the weight of it all.
Crowded rooms became unbearable. Joy felt dangerous. And I couldn’t sit still without my hands shaking.
But healing began when I finally stopped running and listened to that silence. I learned to name the things I feared. I started writing again.
This memoir, The Quiet After the Sirens, is a testament to survival—not just in the field, but in the stillness that follows.
It’s about carrying the weight, honoring the ghosts, and learning how to breathe again.
If you’ve ever known that kind of silence, this story is for you too.
March of the Writers – Day 31: To Be Continued…
By @RWhiteAuthor As March comes to a close, so does this incredible journey through March of the Writers. For 31 days, we’ve explored our passions, reflected on our inspirations, shared our challenges, and celebrated our writing lives. Each day has been a new opportunity to …
Read MoreMarch of the Writers Day 29: 🥃 Writer Fuel Pt. 3: Reward Time! 📖
Writing takes dedication, but so does rewarding yourself! Whether it’s a glass of whiskey, a great indie author show, or finding the perfect new journal, celebrating the hard work we put into our words is essential. What’s your go-to reward after a long writing session?
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