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Two More Years
He said the dreaded words, "I give you two years to live," and my heart froze in time.
“Thank you for this most amazing, inspiring book; it is a very treasured read. It made me do a lot of thinking and helped me come to terms with things in my life.” ~ Bernadette Longu, Readers’ Favorite Books Reviews (5 STARS)
“This memoir is a precious life lesson for me as it made me realize that a mother’s strength is unimaginable and that my legacy shouldn’t be about the trouble I caused but about the good I could do.” ~ Emma Megan, Readers’ Favorite Books Reviews (5 STARS)
“Two More Years is just a beautiful and emotional memoir.” ~ Rabia Tanveer, Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews (5 STARS)
I have four young kids. To not see them grow up, start their careers, get married… those thoughts seemed unfathomable. "I'm only in my 30s. You can fix this. Can't you?" I'd made so many plans.
"No. I'm sorry, Elisa. We can't."
My breath evaded me, like I already needed the ventilator—the damn life support. I wouldn't die in a car crash or some freak accident. Nope. I knew what would kill me; I just didn't know when it would happen.
The night I met Mike, an infamous bachelor, I couldn't imagine that years later I'd be battling for my life as he helped raise my four children. Yet, there we were. It was slow at first, but my view on life reverted to something it had been years before. It wasn't until I started modeling in hospital gowns, fiddling for terminal patients, and taking my kids on outlandish adventures that I discovered how to truly live again. But, despite handling so much with grace and trying to build a legacy for my family, could that reconcile the most devastating of diagnoses?
“Stilson could easily have written another one hundred pages in her memoir, and her readers would have savored every last word. Stilson’s book is thought-provoking, touching, heartfelt and inspiring.” ~ Katie Specht, Feathered Quill Book Reviews
EVOLVED PUBLISHING PRESENTS a most personal memoir of one courageous woman's battle with cancer, and her determination to make the most of whatever time she has left, including her powerful mission to help others facing a similar battle. [DRM-Free]
“Thank you for this most amazing, inspiring book; it is a very treasured read. It made me do a lot of thinking and helped me come to terms with things in my life.” ~ Bernadette Longu, Readers’ Favorite Books Reviews (5 STARS)
“This memoir is a precious life lesson for me as it made me realize that a mother’s strength is unimaginable and that my legacy shouldn’t be about the trouble I caused but about the good I could do.” ~ Emma Megan, Readers’ Favorite Books Reviews (5 STARS)
“Two More Years is just a beautiful and emotional memoir.” ~ Rabia Tanveer, Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews (5 STARS)
I have four young kids. To not see them grow up, start their careers, get married… those thoughts seemed unfathomable. "I'm only in my 30s. You can fix this. Can't you?" I'd made so many plans.
"No. I'm sorry, Elisa. We can't."
My breath evaded me, like I already needed the ventilator—the damn life support. I wouldn't die in a car crash or some freak accident. Nope. I knew what would kill me; I just didn't know when it would happen.
The night I met Mike, an infamous bachelor, I couldn't imagine that years later I'd be battling for my life as he helped raise my four children. Yet, there we were. It was slow at first, but my view on life reverted to something it had been years before. It wasn't until I started modeling in hospital gowns, fiddling for terminal patients, and taking my kids on outlandish adventures that I discovered how to truly live again. But, despite handling so much with grace and trying to build a legacy for my family, could that reconcile the most devastating of diagnoses?
“Stilson could easily have written another one hundred pages in her memoir, and her readers would have savored every last word. Stilson’s book is thought-provoking, touching, heartfelt and inspiring.” ~ Katie Specht, Feathered Quill Book Reviews
EVOLVED PUBLISHING PRESENTS a most personal memoir of one courageous woman's battle with cancer, and her determination to make the most of whatever time she has left, including her powerful mission to help others facing a similar battle. [DRM-Free]
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2022
13 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
E.C. Stilson
34 books185 followersEC Stilson has authored over ten novels, novellas, and children’s picture books. Two of her memoirs, THE GOLDEN SKY and HOMELESS IN HAWAII, have become No. 1 bestsellers on Amazon for women’s memoir.
Since 2011, through fundraisers, book donations, and national radio interviews, EC Stilson has helped raise thousands of dollars for organizations such as Angel Watch, Portneuf Medical Center, the Pregnancy Resource Center, the American Diabetes Association, and Primary Children's Hospital.
When she's not working as a copy editor, she's parenting, fiddling, writing, or speaking at events for infant-loss support groups or cancer awareness organizations.
Her most recent memoir, TWO MORE YEARS, came out in 2022 and details the author's battle with stage four melanoma.
Since 2011, through fundraisers, book donations, and national radio interviews, EC Stilson has helped raise thousands of dollars for organizations such as Angel Watch, Portneuf Medical Center, the Pregnancy Resource Center, the American Diabetes Association, and Primary Children's Hospital.
When she's not working as a copy editor, she's parenting, fiddling, writing, or speaking at events for infant-loss support groups or cancer awareness organizations.
Her most recent memoir, TWO MORE YEARS, came out in 2022 and details the author's battle with stage four melanoma.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 31, 2023
This is a tale of Elisa Stilson’s battle with stage 4 melanoma. The story kicks off with the doc dropping a bomb: “Two more years.” That’s all you’ve got.
From tight foam treatments to the brutal chemo side effects and exhausting surgeries, Elisa lays it bare. But here’s the kicker—she faces it all with guts, humor, and faith, teaching us it’s not all about the illness. It’s about hope, family, and love.
The book’s like a patchwork quilt, weaving Elisa’s experiences—like playing the violin in the hospital lobby or her husband, Mike, helping her through the brain radiation, or even strangers sending gifts to her kids. Emotions go wild—from gratitude to impatience to love. Each story is a journey, where she fights frustration, embraces compassion, and limits herself to just one grumble a day.
Elisa’s got more than one battle. There’s the fight to get back her daughter who has moved out, a spiritual journey full of mysterious encounters, and her journey with her husband Mike – her rock through it all. In many ways, it’s also their love story.
She decided to battle on and not be a victim. Her determination, courage, and hope are all very inspirational. She never lost sight of what other people around her are facing. Her fake tattoo read “Always More” meaning there is always more to people’s stories than you might guess and there is always more to you. When she can’t attend her son’s party, she takes fun selfies in a hospital gown with a full-on smile and fake lashes. Sharing love, life, and moments that really count. This is a memoir that shouts, “Hey, life, I’m taking you back!” right from the chemo chair, this is it.
Oh, and here’s Elisa’s nugget of wisdom: “I’m really living, but man, I wish I’d done more when I was fit as a fiddle.”
This book is like sitting down with a friend for a real heart-to-heart—no filters, just life laid bare. It’s inspiring, and a little tough, but a big reminder to live each moment like it’s the only one you’ve got.
Would you live differently if you learned you had only two more years?
From tight foam treatments to the brutal chemo side effects and exhausting surgeries, Elisa lays it bare. But here’s the kicker—she faces it all with guts, humor, and faith, teaching us it’s not all about the illness. It’s about hope, family, and love.
The book’s like a patchwork quilt, weaving Elisa’s experiences—like playing the violin in the hospital lobby or her husband, Mike, helping her through the brain radiation, or even strangers sending gifts to her kids. Emotions go wild—from gratitude to impatience to love. Each story is a journey, where she fights frustration, embraces compassion, and limits herself to just one grumble a day.
Elisa’s got more than one battle. There’s the fight to get back her daughter who has moved out, a spiritual journey full of mysterious encounters, and her journey with her husband Mike – her rock through it all. In many ways, it’s also their love story.
She decided to battle on and not be a victim. Her determination, courage, and hope are all very inspirational. She never lost sight of what other people around her are facing. Her fake tattoo read “Always More” meaning there is always more to people’s stories than you might guess and there is always more to you. When she can’t attend her son’s party, she takes fun selfies in a hospital gown with a full-on smile and fake lashes. Sharing love, life, and moments that really count. This is a memoir that shouts, “Hey, life, I’m taking you back!” right from the chemo chair, this is it.
Oh, and here’s Elisa’s nugget of wisdom: “I’m really living, but man, I wish I’d done more when I was fit as a fiddle.”
This book is like sitting down with a friend for a real heart-to-heart—no filters, just life laid bare. It’s inspiring, and a little tough, but a big reminder to live each moment like it’s the only one you’ve got.
Would you live differently if you learned you had only two more years?
March 4, 2025
An Exceptional Writer and Memoir
I'm a writer myself - though I'm likely more than a little "rusty" since I've not written anything in quite some time now. But I read a great deal, and have always enjoyed writing. I'd like to think I know a little more than the "average bear" about what makes a writer "good," and EC Stilson exceeds that by far!
I think part of what makes a book excellent is that it has the ability to make the reader think and feel differently about life or some aspect of it. Also, it takes the reader to a place they might otherwise not go. I'm obviously not referring to a physical place - although in some cases, the reader might be motivated to travel to a place mentioned within a book's pages. I also think readers enjoy or feel positively impacted by a book that they can personally identify with in some way. This book checks all those boxes. Although I have never fortunately had cancer, I HAVE had a precancerous condition. My beloved mother passed of cancer in the summer of 2023. I lost several friends and family members to cancer. Just yesterday, another friend passed. But many people LIVE with cancer too! I had seemed to forget THAT reality -- until I read this book. 😀
As you now know if you didn't already, this memoir is Elise Stilson's journey with melanoma, a serious and potentially terminal skin cancer. It is also so much more. It is about who she is as a person, a wife, mother, musician, singer, employee, deep thinker (another one here, lol), believer in God and positivity. It is about what makes a family and who a person is when no one is looking. Read it, you won't regret it!
It more than grabbed my attention and held fast to it. Well edited and like talking with an old friend. Much wisdom here. I wish the author many more GOOD years!
I'm a writer myself - though I'm likely more than a little "rusty" since I've not written anything in quite some time now. But I read a great deal, and have always enjoyed writing. I'd like to think I know a little more than the "average bear" about what makes a writer "good," and EC Stilson exceeds that by far!
I think part of what makes a book excellent is that it has the ability to make the reader think and feel differently about life or some aspect of it. Also, it takes the reader to a place they might otherwise not go. I'm obviously not referring to a physical place - although in some cases, the reader might be motivated to travel to a place mentioned within a book's pages. I also think readers enjoy or feel positively impacted by a book that they can personally identify with in some way. This book checks all those boxes. Although I have never fortunately had cancer, I HAVE had a precancerous condition. My beloved mother passed of cancer in the summer of 2023. I lost several friends and family members to cancer. Just yesterday, another friend passed. But many people LIVE with cancer too! I had seemed to forget THAT reality -- until I read this book. 😀
As you now know if you didn't already, this memoir is Elise Stilson's journey with melanoma, a serious and potentially terminal skin cancer. It is also so much more. It is about who she is as a person, a wife, mother, musician, singer, employee, deep thinker (another one here, lol), believer in God and positivity. It is about what makes a family and who a person is when no one is looking. Read it, you won't regret it!
It more than grabbed my attention and held fast to it. Well edited and like talking with an old friend. Much wisdom here. I wish the author many more GOOD years!
February 5, 2023
I stumbled upon EC Stilson on Facebook. I think a local-to-Idaho news station did a news bit on her, and I saw that. Or maybe it was just that I was scrolling Facebook and somehow her page popped up. I honestly can't remember. But she's a very hopeful person, experiencing a terrible diagnosis of stage 4 melanoma where the doctors actually tell her she has just two years to live. In this memoir, we get to see how she chooses to LIVE instead of die before she's actually dead.
I'll be honest here, I was a little caught off guard by the ending. I felt it ended pretty abruptly, but that might be because I want to know more, even though the story hasn't ended yet. I look forward to reading more of what she writes.
If you're not a fan of hers on Facebook, you should be! She shares lots of hopeful and interesting stories.
I'll be honest here, I was a little caught off guard by the ending. I felt it ended pretty abruptly, but that might be because I want to know more, even though the story hasn't ended yet. I look forward to reading more of what she writes.
If you're not a fan of hers on Facebook, you should be! She shares lots of hopeful and interesting stories.
May 7, 2022
Inspiring and beautifully written.
Such a beautifully written, honest, inspiring and yet heartbreaking memoir. I live in a different country to this wonderful woman but by the end of the memoir I really wish I had someone like her in my life. Her personality, strength, perseverence and hope for the chance of a long life shine through on every page. I would recommend anyone to read this, and wish this beautiful lady many more years with her amazing family.
Such a beautifully written, honest, inspiring and yet heartbreaking memoir. I live in a different country to this wonderful woman but by the end of the memoir I really wish I had someone like her in my life. Her personality, strength, perseverence and hope for the chance of a long life shine through on every page. I would recommend anyone to read this, and wish this beautiful lady many more years with her amazing family.
May 21, 2022
EC Stilson artfully blended humor with the harsh realities of a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. A thoroughly engaging read, Two More Years delivers much needed perspective to a world so often driven by shallow, inconsequential pursuits that serve only to gratify the individual. The author is an amazing person and with such a positive attitude, Two More Years is sure to turn into a long, rich life we will have the opportunity to read about in the future.
February 7, 2023
Exceptional
The courage & strength to fight a vicious cancer with painful treatments while being fully present to raise her family is so selfless and admirable. In addition to helping others triumph over their own situations this courageous loving woman teaches all of us how to soldier on with faith, humility, humor and love. There is so.much goodness shared within this story.
The courage & strength to fight a vicious cancer with painful treatments while being fully present to raise her family is so selfless and admirable. In addition to helping others triumph over their own situations this courageous loving woman teaches all of us how to soldier on with faith, humility, humor and love. There is so.much goodness shared within this story.
July 19, 2022
E.C. Stilson is a superhero in every sense of the word for sharing her journey and inspiring others.
January 5, 2024
compelling read. A well written memoire of a difficult issue, this book inspired hope in spite of the hardships the diagnosis inflicted.
June 7, 2025
Great read. Inspirational
This book helps you put everything in perspective. Love how she puts everything out in the open. You will fall in love with the whole family.
This book helps you put everything in perspective. Love how she puts everything out in the open. You will fall in love with the whole family.
June 30, 2022
A Must Read!
Valiant fight for life in the midst of pain, suffering and despair! You will find her unbelievable courage and humor in this memoir of one of the bravest woman you will undoubtedly fall in love with. Great job, Elisa! As my daughter would say, "You are the bomb!" Highly recommended for everyone!!!
Valiant fight for life in the midst of pain, suffering and despair! You will find her unbelievable courage and humor in this memoir of one of the bravest woman you will undoubtedly fall in love with. Great job, Elisa! As my daughter would say, "You are the bomb!" Highly recommended for everyone!!!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews