Hello, Welcome to Bear Essentially

I'm Bear... aka, Tara Shannon - a foodie, lover of wine, a professional cook, health coach, wannabe writer & a Thyroid cancer Survivor!

I live in the middle of nowhere Ontario where my closest neighbors are buffalo. No, really!

Surrounded by my family, both furry and non-furry :) I live out my days testing recipes and trying my hardest to build a career out of what I love to do.

One thing that my cancer diagnosis taught me was that I need to follow my dreams. It was a hard lesson learned. During my diagnosis I lost my job and both of my parents. Whether I wanted to or not -- life changed big time and my choices were either to sink or to swim. I chose to swim. It's not always easy, but here I am. Making my way -- my way!

 

Being a Thyroid Cancer survivor prompted me to pay more attention to the foods I put into my body. It's amazing what you can do with food! I'm 5+ years cancer free and it's been an emotional journey. I had to relearn everything including the way I eat and how I care for my body. I made eating healthy and exercising almost daily a priority.

I'm excited to share my journey and what I've learned (and continue to learn) with you!

 

My Credentials:

Combined Degree from the University of Western Ontario in History & English

 

Professional Cook -- The Dublin Cookery School, Dublin, Ireland

 

Healthy Eating & Weight Loss Coach -- CanFit Pro

 

YogaFit Certified -- CanFit Pro

Tara Shannon

Not your Average Bear

Haldimand, ON: Cancer Survivor Launches 

Kickstarter Campaign 

-- and she needs your help!

 

This already warmly received series of lovely sketches and thoughtful text about a 

curious rabbit who asks simple questions and receives meaningful answers has launched on Kickstarter! 

 

"There is something so captivating and raw in the simplicity of your drawings, a dream-like quality. The words you choose to 

accompany said drawings are perfect! I see this as a book I’d love to read my children." - A. Purdham, Canada Writes

 

"This is not a children’s book. This is an Everyone Book. Put that line into your pitches. I will buy several. Looking forward..." 

- Sharon McMullan-Baron, Canada Writes 

 

Tara plans to raise enough funds to publish a children's book, that's really not just for kids, it's for everyone. The idea for the book came to 

Tara one day, born from her experiences with cancer, the loss of her parents, miscarriage and her ongoing battle with mental illness. Her 

drawings and writing quickly built a following through Canada Writes, a writing group on Facebook (sponsored by CBC Books). She never 

would have thought or dreamed of herself as an illustrator - or that she would launch a campaign on Kickstarter, but here she is, eager to see where life will lead her next! 

 

Tara Shannon is a freelance writer and an aspiring author with a degree in English and History from Brescia College at Western University. She was born and raised in Burlington, Ontario but now splits her time between her home in Haldimand County and her cottage on 

Manitoulin Island(and Ireland, as much as she can!!) 

 

The Book of Rabbit is dedicated to all of those that Tara has loved and lost, including Rhylan, the inspiration for Rabbit.

 

Helping Tara on her journey is professional illustrator, P.A. LewisMacDougal. Pat Ann has, for over a decade, applied her skills in the 

Story Arts as a Freelancer. From illustrating in the children's publishing industry to story boarding for children's animated television and 

everything in between. Pat Ann will assist Tara in making Rabbit come to life on the page, creating a book that will surely become a classic and must have addition toanyone's bookshelf. https://www.pat-ann.com

 

For more information on Tara Shannon or to donate to her Kickstarter Campaign please visit:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thebookofrabbit

​

Instagram & Facebook: @tarashannonwrites 

​

https://www.tarashannonwrites.com/rabbit

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