I’ve been sitting here reflecting this past Thanksgiving weekend, and mostly, I’m just overwhelmed with gratitude.
To be honest, I didn't think I would get this far. When doctors told me I only had two years to live—in 2020–I drafted a Will and got my affairs in order. I tried coming to peace with everything, but my youngest was only 10, and the thought of not seeing my kids grow up…get their dream jobs, maybe get marrried… Those thoughts felt unbearable. And as I tried facing the absolute worst, I realized mistakes I’d made. I was a workaholic, so focused on my career when I should’ve been building relationships. I would’ve done things differently if I could’ve seen into the future, and plus, there were so many things I STILL wanted to do.
Maybe fully understanding our own mortality makes life so much clearer…
So, now it’s almost 2026 😮🤯 And I’m STILL alive. I’m grateful to be here, living, enjoying—still fighting while appreciating—and most of all, with a heart full of gratitude!
When I got so sick this last summer with sepsis, I decided I really wanted to get one last book done (a novel I started working on in 2021!). There were MANY hard days where sitting at a desk wasn't an option. So, I actually wrote a huge portion of this story by using talk-to-text on my phone, sometimes just lying in bed trying to get the words out.
It was a lot. But several people (who I met online!😮) kept me motivated. 💓
The encouragement I’ve received from this online community is the fuel that helped me cross the finish line.
Anyway, there’s not much I can “give,” but I want to somehow say “thank you.”
So… for Cyber Monday
✨ Today, my brand new book, “The Unfinished Business of Opal Bloom,” is available for FREE download on Amazon! ✨
I also have several other books that are either free or just $0.99 throughout this week. Dec. 1–6.
To get them:
1. Simply visit: https://www.amazon.com/author/ecstilson
2. Or go to Amazon and search “EC Stilson books”
3. Download the books and enjoy!
You can find the Opal Bloom book here: https://amzn.to/4437AAN
Thank you for believing in me and for reading. I hope the lessons in this latest story will resonate with you, just as they helped me process the complex emotions I’ve faced with cancer—the doubts, the guilt, and the journey toward forgiveness.
Have an AMAZING day, and happy December 🥰
