Life’s been a whirlwind lately—between my Master’s program, EMS shifts, and book marketing, I feel like a tornado that finally stopped spinning. My old truck is

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.

TikTok video by Dennis Carradin, LPCMH, NCC