Today is May 12th - International ME/CFS & FM Awareness Day

      Like a lot of Fibromyalgia, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis  and multi-chemical sensitivity patients, I hate talking about it. I don't want people to think I'm just a complainer, a 'Debbie Downer ' like that SNL character.
Instead I'm surfing the net or watching Netflix, doing things to distract myself while I'm in  pain/and or are tired, and or breathed-in/ ate / or were exposed to something that made me feel sick.  Or all three? The days I do complain are usually my worst days when I feel  I want to scream at the top of my lungs make this pain stop. The word I hate most is CANT. I don't know about others but I like to get things done. It's been hard to realize I have to tell myself you can't do this today; but it's worse telling others that I'm sorry you can't do what they think you should be able to do. Simple trips like going to the grocery store can be hard. Luckily I have a supportive husband who is beginning to understand when I need to leave and go home.
You're saying how's that even possible?

   Have you ever had the flu? Think of your flu at it's worst and double or triple that, sometimes that is my good day. I try hard to appear normal and do normal things like everyone else so we don't often appear sick.
Others who have ME/CFS & FM  cannot even get out of bed/ eat/ or live any type of normal life.  

     Millions of people around the world suffer in silence, we don't want sympathy we just want to be heard.This disease needs research, so they can find the roots of this disease and cure it, for more info on this disease.  http://www.disabled-world.com/health/fibromyalgia/

Fibromyalgia Quick Facts

• Affects 3 to 5 percent of the general population
• Occurs in people of all ages, even children
• Men develop fibromyalgia too, although more women are diagnosed with it
• Symptoms are chronic but may fluctuate throughout the day
• Roughly one-quarter of people with fibromyalgia are work-disabled
• FDA approved the first drug for fibromyalgia in 2007 and more treatments are being developed but most find no relief.

 Top Twelve Fibromyalgia Symptoms    

     

• Pain all over
• Fatigue
• Sleep difficulties
• Brain fog
• Morning stiffness
• Muscle knots, cramping, weakness
• Digestive disorders
• Headaches/migraines
• Balance problems
• Itchy/burning skin
• No relief from symptoms
• Chemical sensitivities

                                                                          

Happy Mother's Day Mom

For my mother who is in heaven, but never far from me.

Beannacht Lá Fhéile Pádraig -(Happy St. Patrick's Day)

There's a dear little plant that grows in our isle,

'Twas St. Patrick himself, sure, that sets it;

And the sun of his labor with pleasure did smile,

And with dew from his eye often wet it.

It grows through the bog, through the brake, through the mireland,

And they call it the dear little Shamrock of Ireland.

(From an Irish song unknown author)

Madainn mhath

(Good morning)

Feashar math

(Good afternoon)

Oidhche mhath

(Good Evening)

Céad míle fáilte romhat!

(A hundred thousand welcomes)

Dia dhaoibh

(Hello to all)

Is mise Sile

(Sweet Sheilagh is my name)

Go raibh maith agat, a chara ceilidh

(Thank you my friend for visiting and sharing) and

Beannacht Lá Fhéile Pádraig  (Happy St. Patrick's Day)

And

Saol fada chugat

(Long life to you)

A Penny Saved A Murder Earned now available in paperback at Amazon

A lot of my readers asked me when I would have A Penny Saved A Murder Earned  available in paperback at Amazon; I am pleased to announce the waiting is done it's now available.
Please read an excerpt of the first chapter here http://sheilaghlee.blogspot.ca/2016/01/excerpt-from-penny-saved-murder-earned.html

Lily Kelly, her adopted daughter Rose Brooksfield, her Great-Grandma Katha, and Amelia, her cousin all feel like they are under a curse; but appears to be the work of a serial killer that people around them having been falling like dominos. Amelia’s parents and siblings, Amelia’s husband and son, and Lily’s first husband all have been targeted by a killer. Now as Amelia’s store clerk, a homeless man, Lily’s present husband the Mayor, and Lily’s mother-in law are targeted. Lily and her cousin Amelia, under suspicion by the investigating officer Emmett Rogers, must fight the impulse to blame the curse and get to the bottom of who caused all their woes, before the killer targets them. Buy the book here    http://amzn.to/1RgxBgl

Readers have said this of the first book in The Kelly Murder Mysteries :
~Just finished reading "A Penny Saved A Murder Earned" Excellent read! It had me hooked from the beginning! At several points I didn't want to but it down! S.G. Lee really had me wondering who it really was. Keep up the excellent work! Can't wait to read the next book!~ Lisa Walker

Available soon in paperback (presently only available in e-book form)(the companion piece to A Penny Saved a Murder Earned)~ A Stitch in Time ~ the back story for Emmett Rogers

A Stitch In Time is a prequel to A Penny Saved A Murder Earned. It is the story of Emmett Rogers, in two thousand and four. Emmett is considered a hero for his actions in Afghanistan, but all Emmett wants is to forget the battle there and get on with his life, in his new job as a police officer. However coming home isn't as idyllic as Emmett hoped. His seventeen year old sister is pregnant and his father threw her out, echoing another incident in Emmett’s life. Emmett must fight the battles he now faces on the home front and face his own demons, before he can move on with his new life.

IN THE COMPANY OF THE DEAD Cover Reveal from author Ciara Ballintyne

IN THE COMPANY OF THE DEAD Cover Reveal

We are pleased to present the cover art for upcoming epic fantasy, In the Company of the Dead.

Genre: Epic Fantasy/Romantic Fantasy

Release Date: 25 April 2016

Credit is due to the cover artist, Sam Keiser.

About the Book

Only a fool crosses a god, but Ellaeva and Lyram will do anything to get what they want.

Chosen as a five year old orphan to be the Left Hand of Death, Ellaeva has nothing to call her own—nothing except a desire to avenge her murdered parents. Her duties leave her no time to pursue the man responsible, until both her work and revenge lead to the same place—the lonely castle where Lyram Aharris is serving out his exile for striking his prince.

Lyram is third in line for the throne, and when the castle is unexpectedly besieged, he fears his prince means to remove him from contention for the crown permanently. Ellaeva’s arrival brings hope, until she reveals she has not come for the siege, but instead she hunts the castle for a hidden necromancer dedicated to the dark god of decay.

Within their stone prison, Ellaeva and Lyram must fight to save themselves from political machinations and clashing gods. But as the siege lengthens, the greatest threat comes from an unexpected quarter.

What to be notified as soon as the book is released? Sign-up to the newsletter here!

About the Author

Ciara Ballintyne grew up on a steady diet of adult epic fantasy from the age of nine, leaving her with a rather confused outlook on life – she believes the good guys should always win, but knows they often don’t. She is an oxymoron; an idealistic cynic.

She began her first attempts at the craft of writing in 1992, culminating in the publication of her debut work, Confronting the Demon, in 2013. Her first book to be published with Evolved Publishing is In the Company of the Dead.

She holds degrees in law and accounting, and is a practising financial services lawyer. In her spare time, she speculates about taking over the world – how hard can it really be? If she could be anything, she’d choose a dragon, but if she is honest she shares more in common with Dr. Gregory House of House M.D. – both the good and the bad. She is a browncoat, a saltgunner, a Whedonite, a Sherlockian, a Ringer and a Whovian… OK, most major geek fandoms. Her alignment is chaotic good. She is an INTJ.

Ciara lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband, her two daughters, and a growing menagerie of animals that unfortunately includes no dragons.

Twitter: @CiaraBallintyne

Facebook: http://facebook.com/CiaraBallintyne

Website: http://ciaraballintyne.com

Excerpt from A Penny Saved a Murder Earned

Excerpt from A Penny Saved a Murder Earned available in kindle and paperback 

Chapter 1  - Bloody Shoes

“A penny saved is a penny earned” ~ Benjamin Franklin

The blood streaked across the floor, but he had carefully sidestepped it. Stupid bitch! She got what she deserved. How dare she defile his Angel’s property? He hadn’t left a trace...had he? No, he was too clever by half.

 “I didn’t spot you entering. Working late? You have an early opening tomorrow.” A voice he didn’t recognize interrupted his thoughts.

“Wait a minute, you aren’t the lady. Who are you? You shouldn’t be here,” the man continued clearly alarmed.

“You shouldn’t be here either,” the murderer insisted.

“You killed Megan. I’m telling.”

“This was something you shouldn’t be allowed to see.”

“I’m leaving. I didn’t notice anything,” the man lied, witnessing the blood.

“I’m sorry pal. Wrong place, wrong time!” the killer answered.

The homeless man ran dodging racks, finally deciding to hide behind some shelving. The killer ran after him, puzzled for a moment because he could see no trace of the homeless person. The murderer then laughed, as he realized how foolish the vagrant was being, his stench gave him away. He subdued the man with a Taser gun. Waiting seconds he then pulled him from his hiding place. Taking ties from within his pocket; he fastened the man’s arms and feet. Satisfied that the homeless person was now trussed up like a turkey, he smiled.

 “Please! I don’t want to die!” the man cried, visibly sweating and starting to shake.

The man tried to kick out his legs and arms but failed, “You’ve heard about fate? Well sorry but this is your fate, buddy!” the murderer explained.

“Please! Couldn’t you let me go? I won’t tell! I’ll move to another city. Besides who would listen to a homeless man?”

“Someone would. My Angel would.”

The homeless man then smiled as if to gain trust from this killer, “You won’t hurt the lady who owns the store, will you?” he asked.

“I would never harm my Angel. How dare you?” the killer responded outraged.

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to insult you! Please just let me go....”

“What is your name?”

“My name is Al.”

The killer put his gloves back on and smoothed them and then turned his back on his victim.

“You’re going to kill me now. Aren’t you? Just don’t harm the sweet lady who owns this store. Will it hurt?” the man asked resigned.

“I would never hurt my Angel. She is sweet isn’t she? Unfortunately that makes unscrupulous people take advantage of her.”

“I promise I would never take advantage of her kindness.”

“I know you wouldn’t and it hurts me to do this. Tell you what though, I’ll make your death painless because I like you, Al,” the killer offered, feeling suddenly sorry for the man. Then he checked himself.

 Living on the streets was hell; maybe he was doing the guy a favour? Yes, of course he was. Taking a pill bottle out of his pocket and opening the dispenser, he placed some in a coffee cup he took from the sideboard.

Then he filled the cup with the tepid coffee from the coffee pot, stirring the pills in rapidly.

 “Please couldn’t you let me go? I won’t tell and I’ll watch over her when you’re not here.”

“Sorry, times up, Al. Here now, drink this coffee,” the assassin commanded placing the mug at Al’s lips.

 Al tried not to drink and spit some of the coffee out, but the assassin plugged his nose and the cup was soon empty.

 “Admit it Al, you had a crappy life. Just give in and go to the light. I hear good things wait there for people like you,” the killer stated.

Al tried to fight some more, but he soon found it was losing battle. Al’s breathing slowed as he slipped into a deep sleep and stopped breathing altogether. His age and living on the streets made the pills work fast.

Now what to do with the body? The killer thought. His Angel must not find this man here, bad enough he left Megan’s body here for his Angel to find. This man knew his Angel; she cared, so like her to look after the homeless. The dumpster of course! The day after tomorrow was garbage day. Covered in garbage no one would find Al.

©Sheilagh Lee January 9, 2016

Read more of this book by  purchasing at Amazon  Available at amzn.to/VuO44B

Happy New Year