Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Interesting that so many television shows are now writing episodes that concern PTSD and how it affects lives. "Madame Secretary's" latest offering centered around Tea Leoni's character being caught in an ambush as she visited a dignitary in his home. The writers did a pretty good job of showing what PTSD can look like from outside. I thought the confusion of her family and the growing impatience within the sympathy of her coworkers, while only slightly touched on, was still accurate. But, they only had an hour so the writers seem took the easy way out and, after getting a pep talk, a therapist's business card and telling her husband what really happened "over there" after a game of Halo, everything was right in her world again. It's not that neat. Healing doesn't happen within a prescribed amount of time. Sometimes it doesn't happen at all and that's a shame.

We are committed to giving $1 of every copy of "Walking Between The Raindrops" to the Wounded Warrior Project PTSD. That's just us. You don't have to buy a book to support the incredible work these people are doing to help our soldiers. Please help support them in any way that you can.

"Walking Between The Raindrops" by Mary and Paul Roland on sale at Amazon.com in paperback and eBook.

"Comply and you won't die!"

It was a typical February morning in Austin, Texas. A light frost from the night before still clung to everything, including the truck parked outside the garage. The sun wasn't quite up yet so the exterior lights bounced and reflected off surfaces making everything sparkle. He carried his briefcase and a cup of coffee through the open garage and walked toward his truck. He thought about the day ahead of him; what he could do to keep their existing crews busy, new business to get finalized and making sure other projects were ready to start. He and his brother run a very successful electrical contracting company that wires new apartment projects all over the state of Texas.

He was thinking about that as he cleared the opening of the garage and stepped onto the driveway. He didn't see the masked men until it was too late. Two men wearing hoodies over their heads and bandanas over their faces jumped him. The bigger man pointed a large black pistol at his head and barked, "Comply and you won't die!"

Lance Self was the first victim. This attack happened on February 6, 2008, in Travis County and was filed as an attempted home invasion/burglary. Through the diligence and hard work of Williamson County Detective James Maugham, Texas Ranger Matt Lindemann, Williamson County First Assistant DA Jana McCown and Assistant DA Michael Jarrett, Lance's attackers were brought to justice.

Williamson County Detective James Maugham

Texas Ranger Matt Lindemann

Michael Jarrett and Jana McCown

Paul Roland and Lance Self