Raised
by Talisha Ekkebus

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Anxiety was not part of Ember’s plan. She has everything she’s ever wanted: a home, a successful career, and a loving partner she can’t wait to marry. When her past unexpectedly sets off a series of panic attacks, she is desperate to keep it from ruining the life she’s built, and resorts to the one thing she never imagined she’d need—therapy. Sana is stuck in a nowhere place with no memory of who she is or how she got there. She’s told she is a mystical guardian with time-bending magic, assigned to help a little girl in need. It doesn’t take Sana long to realize that Amelia’s story is anything but magical. But what choice does she have? If anybody knows how it feels to be unseen, it’s Sana. Stay out of trouble. It’s a rule. Amelia tries very hard to follow the rules. She knows bad things happen when rules are broken. So, when she notices a stranger sitting across from her at the kitchen table—the one nobody else seems to see—she also knows better than to say anything. A ghost at the dinner table most definitely spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E. As each woman fights for the future, knotted threads of the past will force Sana, Amelia, and Ember to face the painful choice that binds them together: stop waiting for an apology and take back their power or stay tangled and trapped by inherited wounds they didn’t deserve to begin with.

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A lifelong storyteller, Talisha Ekkebus has a deep fascination with philosophy, science, and the underlying psychology of resilience. Having grown up with a parent with mental illness, she became intrigued by the mechanics of relationships and how they shape who we become. Ekkebus works as a Canadian author, strategic corporate leader, is a business owner, and founder of a bookstore. She enjoys live music, peaceful mornings, and loves spending time outdoors with her husband and dogs. Interested in getting in touch? Visit www.tekkebus.com

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Contributors

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Talisha Ekkebus