New Year – Sanela Ramic Jurich

When A Story Refuses To Stay Silent

Posted on January 11, 2026 by Sanela

Posted in Books, New blog post, New Year, Sanela Ramic Jurich

I woke up this morning with an irresistible need to write.

The kind of urge that won’t let you focus on anything else. And you know me—once the urge strikes, I have no choice but to obey. There is no way around it. Even though it can feel a little imprisoning, it is also like nothing else. It is pure love. Pure life. I don’t think there are words big enough to fully describe that feeling.

All it took was a message from a faithful reader to stir me up and set my imagination in motion.

The story they’re referring to is a short love story I wrote many years ago for Valentine’s Day. I shared it on my blog back then, and since it didn’t receive many comments, I quietly placed it on the back burner—where so many things we care about end up waiting.

But stories, like love, don’t always stay where you put them.

This particular story—like all the stories I write—was inspired by real people. A real couple. Unfortunately, their real-life story never received a happy ending, so I wrote one for them. Sometimes, that’s the only way I know how to cope: by giving love the ending it deserved.

So, for the reader who reminded me… and for the story that refused to stay silent—

Here it is. Continue reading →

New Year New Chapter

Posted on January 13, 2025 by Sanela

Posted in Between the Worlds, Book recommendation, Books, eBooks, Haunting from the Past, Holidays, New blog post, New Year, Purchase Books, Remember Me, Reviews, Sanela Ramic Jurich

A New Year, a New Chapter: 2025 Begins with Promise

This book was awarded the AudioBookReviewer’s Choice Award as it was deemed to deserve a higher rating than the standard 5-star review allowed. —Reviewer’s Choice at Reviewer.com

As the calendar turns to a fresh page, I find myself reflecting on the beautiful duality of new beginnings: the excitement of what lies ahead and the quiet gratitude for the journey that brought me here. Each New Year feels like a blank canvas, waiting for us to paint it with our dreams, our efforts, and even our stumbles. This year, 2025, feels especially significant. It marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life, one that I’ve been quietly anticipating for a while now.

While I can’t share all the details just yet, I can say this—there are incredible things on the horizon. It’s a strange and wonderful feeling to hold a piece of good news close, knowing it will soon unfold into something even more meaningful. For now, let’s just say that 2025 has already surprised me in the best way, and I can’t wait to see where this year takes me.

One of the greatest joys of stepping into a new chapter is looking back at the love and support I’ve been fortunate to receive. Recently, a few reviews for my books reminded me why I embarked on this writing journey in the first place. One reader wrote: “Listening to Remember Me by Sanela Jurich was an emotional rollercoaster that left me feeling shaken, heartbroken, and deeply moved.” Another said, “Sanela Ramic Jurich has a gift for sharing the very real feelings of her characters with the reader.”

Knowing my stories resonate with readers, especially those who have shared their own reflections with me, fills my heart with gratitude. Writing can be such a solitary endeavor, but moments like these remind me of the incredible connection stories can foster.

As I look ahead, I’m filled with hope. Hope for the stories I’ve yet to tell, the journeys I’ve yet to take, and the opportunities waiting just around the corner. This year, I’ll continue to write, to dream, and to embrace the challenges and triumphs that come with any new chapter.

Thank you for being part of my journey. Whether you’ve read one of my books, left a kind review, or simply cheered me on from afar, your support means more than words can express. I hope 2025 is a year of new beginnings for all of us—a year filled with growth, love, and the kind of magic that makes life so extraordinary.

With all my love,

Sanela ♥

Finding Beauty in the Chaos: My Rollercoaster Start to 2024

Posted on January 13, 2024 by Sanela

Posted in Between the Worlds, Book recommendation, Books, eBooks, Ella Rees, Holidays, New blog post, New Year, Purchase Books, Sanela Ramic Jurich

It’s time to make old mistakes in different ways. Hurray! Happy New Year!

Well, well, well, 2024, you playful little rascal, you’re not exactly off to a flying start for me.

Picture this: New Year’s Day, 2024. I wake up feeling a bit wonky. Sore throat, chills, fever – the whole shebang. Is it the flu? Covid? Just a run-of-the-mill cold? I’m playing medical detective with my own symptoms. Fast forward to the third day of this saga, and I’m blessed with waking up to my left eye looking like it tried to arm-wrestle a bee and lost. Swollen shut and crusty – the glamorous life, I tell you.

Off to the doctor I go, who, after a dramatic drumroll, declares it’s strep throat causing the pink eye extravaganza. Absolutely fabulous. A week of antibiotics later, the fever is gone, but I’m still clinging onto “under the weather” like it’s a security blanket.

But hey, let’s not let that cramp our style. Writing took a backseat, but fear not, my literary endeavors shall rise like a phoenix from the ashes!

And then today happened. I wake up to a winter wonderland – 7 inches of snow painting my world in frozen magic. Picture me, sipping coffee by the patio door, witnessing the snowfall turn my backyard into a Narnia-level masterpiece. It’s the kind of serene and wonderful that makes you forget strep throat ever existed.

So here’s to kicking 2024 where it hurts and embracing the unexpected beauty it throws our way. Bring it on, 2024 – I’m ready for the rollercoaster! 🎢✨

May this year be a kaleidoscope of health, prosperity, serenity, love, laughter, and kindness.

~Sanela

Short excerpt from Between the Worlds: Sarah describes a nightmare caused by memories

The backhanded slap sent me sprawling. The shock of pain blinded me. When I tried to roll into a protective ball, he dragged me across the marble floor by the hair.

I denied and wept. He accused. Until he got tired, leaving me to crawl away and sob in a corner.

But this time, in this dream, I crawled off into my forest, where the air was warm and the ground welcoming.

And there, where the stream gurgled over its smooth rocks, I slept.

Then awoke to the cannon-blast of thunder and the jagged rip of lightning. Awoke to terror. Confusing the blasts of thunder with the blasts of the grenades destroying my grandfather’s town. His house. My parents, my grandpa…

When I fell asleep again, I was back in my forest. Running. Instead of fighting, I was running. Too afraid to turn around and face what pursued me. Finally, I reached the lake. The vast glorious Lake Michigan and decided to plunge into the water. And the trees of my forest all tumbled in after me.

Between the Worlds is available on Amazon. Click to buy!

About the author

Sanela Ramić Jurich is a distinguished author and accomplished public speaker with a compelling background. Hailing from Prijedor, Bosnia, she entered the world in 1976, just as the complex tapestry of the Yugoslav war began to unfold in the early 1990s. Precociously navigating the challenges of those tumultuous times, Sanela was merely fifteen years old when the conflict erupted.

Her literary contributions, exemplified by notable works such as “Remember Me” and “Haunting from the Past,” stand as poignant testaments to her lived experiences during the war. These masterfully crafted books not only showcase her prowess as an author but also serve as powerful conduits through which she shares her personal recollections of the era.

Currently residing in the vibrant city of Chicago, Sanela Ramić Jurich has established a harmonious life alongside her two cherished sons. Her journey from the ravages of conflict to her present abode is a testament to resilience, determination, and the indomitable human spirit. Through her words and public addresses, she continues to captivate audiences, shedding light on her remarkable narrative and the broader lessons that can be gleaned from her compelling journey.

Fueled by her passion for writing, Sanela was eager to take on a new writing endeavor. Utilizing a pseudonym presented her with the chance to engage with a fresh and diverse audience. She recently published her first contemporary/fantasy novel titled “Between the Worlds”. This captivating tale explores the themes of soulmates, profound connections, the allure of home, and the strength of emotions.

With every stroke of her pen, Ella Rees, the alias she wears with pride, casts a spell woven from the raw fibers of emotions, entwining readers in a spellbinding dance of heart and mind.

Happy New Year!

Posted on December 31, 2021 by Sanela

Posted in Books, Bosnia, Holidays, New Year, Purchase Books, Remember Me, Sanela Ramic Jurich

May the year ahead take you on an exciting new adventure, complete with life-changing experiences and deeper friendships. ~Sanela

Snuggle up with a cozy winter read. Remember Me and Haunting from the Past are available wherever books are sold.

SRETNA NOVA GODINA!

Continue reading →

Crazy and Fun New Year’s Eve Traditions

Posted on December 29, 2013 by Sanela

Posted in Holidays, New Year

When I was thirteen years old, a friend gave me a brand new set of tarot cards. My happiness only lasted a few hours before my dad got home from work and threw them away. His only explanation about why he did it was I should not believe in superstition.

Although I never let my dad see me follow any superstition after that day, I could not help but think about how much fun some of them are, so much so that they became traditions.Here are a few fun and weird New Year’s Eve traditions from around the world:

In Columbia people wear red underwear for love or yellow for money backwards, but by midnight, they have to be put on right.

They say to throw a glass full of water away from your home and all your tears and pain will go away with it.
Eat 12 grapes by midnight and ask for a wish while eating each one.

In Philippines, they say to put 12 round fruits on the dinner table for prosperity throughout the year.

Never serve chicken on New Year’s Eve, because chicken symbolizes poverty.
Wear polka dots for prosperity.
Turn on all the lights in your house to drive away evil spirits.

In Ecuador, they make a doll to burn. It signifies the burning away of the old year and the welcoming of the new one. Men dress up in drag and pretend to be the “widow” of the doll and beg for coins in the streets to help pay for the funeral costs.

In the Southern US, people eat black-eyed peas and a cooked green leafy veggie for dinner. The peas represent coins and the veggie represents cash.

In Brazil:

Eat 7 grapes for good luck.
Wear white to have a year full of peace and to scare away bad spirits.
Wear yellow and your year will be filled with money and wealth.
Pink – Happiness and Love.
Red – A year full of passion.
Blue – Peace of mind.
Green – Your year will be well balanced.
Orange brings success and money.

In Turkey, women wear red underwear for good luck. Also, they believe that it’s how you enter into the New Year, that’s how your whole year is going to be, for example: if you are spending your New Year’s Eve with friends and having fun, you’ll be surrounded with friends and have fun all year long.

In Chile, they say you should sweep your house inside out to remove bad energy and eat a spoonful of lentils at midnight for a year filled with work and money.

In Russia, write down a wish on a piece of paper, burn it, throw it into a champagne glass, and drink it before 12:01.

And in my house, we wear new clothes so the old rags and problems wouldn’t follow us into the New Year and on New Year’s Day we always read a new book with our children.

There you have it… crazy and fun. Hey, who knows, some of them might actually work!

Either way, I wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year!