SARAH SKAGGS PROFILE – By: E Baker 2020

If you ask Sarah Skaggs what her passion is, without a doubt she would say, writing.  Well, that’s one of them anyway.  Sarah is a tech support agent at our newly acquired system in Mooresville, NC (Continuum) who is soon to become a published author.   Her book entitled, “Little Emma’s Story, A Momma Ellen Christian Mystery”, is the first in her series of faith-based books to be published by Bright House Publishing and is due to come out this summer. Sarah has been a “writer” since she was a young girl.  Now she is a professional author. Even more impressive is the fact that an interested screenwriter is submitting the story to Hallmark Channel with the hopes of them turning the “Momma Ellen” mysteries into a series on their Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel.   The main character, Emma, is a foster child, and the story takes you into the many ups and downs of her sometimes mysterious world.  

Although the book is fiction, it is based on another of Sarah’s passions, fostering children. Sarah was a foster parent to more than 200 children over a nine-year period when she lived in her hometown of Logan, Ohio. Many of them continue to reach out to her today expressing their gratitude for being such a compassionate “rock” during the most difficult times of their lives.  It must be in her DNA because her mother was a foster parent to many as well. In fact, the character of “Momma Ellen” is loosely based on Sarah’s mother and her experiences fostering children.

Sarah and her husband Timothy live in Harmony, NC which is not too far from Mooresville and enjoy the country lifestyle the small town affords. They have four children collectively, and two soon to be three grandchildren. Like all parents, her children and grandchildren are a passion of hers as well. Although they are scattered across the country, they are constantly on her mind and in her heart. Sadly, her twenty-three-year-old son Michael, passed away last year. The tremendous loss that she suffered and continues to endure due to his untimely death is what motivated her to help others undergoing the same hurt. By volunteering at “Compassionate Friend”, a local grief counseling center in Mooresville, she helps other parents cope as best they can with their personal loss. She turned her grief outward towards hope instead of inward towards despair.

 Another way she manages her sorrow is by writing a motivational blog. She says the process is therapeutic. That may be true, but it’s also helpful to others because of the encouragement it provides with daily inspirational messages.  She also includes some of her award-winning recipes! See for yourself by visiting mrssarahmskaggs.wixsite.com/mysite.

When Sarah isn’t writing, nurturing, or counseling, you can find her at the local library taking art classes.  Yes, painting is the newest of her passions.  She says it’s a different kind of therapy for her and yet another way to express herself. Check out some of her pretty amazing work below. She may have a future!

I’m sure that with everything Sarah has going on in her life, you must be wondering how she has time to be one of the top tech support agents at Continuum.  I’m glad you asked.  You see, tech support is in her blood.  With every “paying” job she’s had over the last thirty years technical support is where she has naturally gravitated, no matter where the company placed her initially.   From Suddenlink to Amazon, to Leggett and Platt to Continuum, and now TDS, technical and customer support is the common thread. Knowing Sarah, I’m sure the technical aspect of the job takes second place to the opportunity to help customers solve their problems.  I see a trend here.  And when she receives her business administration degree in a couple of semesters, there won’t be any barriers to a bright future.