Five years ago, I was trying to survive one day at a time.

Today, I look at this image and see two books, two very different journeys, and a reminder that life rarely unfolds the way we expect.

When Getting Out of Bed Is the Hardest Part was written for the people carrying invisible burdens, the ones who are fighting battles no one else can see. To have it recognized as a winner in Psychology, Grief & Bereavement is an honor I never anticipated.

13 Days of Silence was written because I couldn’t let my son’s story disappear into a case file. Being named a finalist for Author of the Year is something I still struggle to put into words.

What strikes me most isn’t the award or the finalist designation. It’s that both books were born from some of the hardest chapters of my life. One came from recovery. One came from grief.

Two stories. Two journeys.

One mission: to make an impact.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that our most painful experiences don’t have to be the end of our story. Sometimes they become the very thing that allows us to help someone else find their way forward.

For that opportunity, I am deeply grateful.

~ Teri