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A successful leader in sales and marketing since 2006, with a BA in Political Science from Elon University (2002), Cameron De Jong has always understood the power of connection. Born in Bath, NY (1979) and raised in North Carolina, his journey into creative writing began in high school, driven by a desire to explore the deeper bonds that shape our lives.
This exploration is at the heart of the story you are reading. Inspired by the enduring impact of his own beloved childhood dog, it delves into the transformative power of love and the possibility of connections that reach beyond the ordinary.
When he’s not leading teams or crafting narratives, Cameron enjoys traveling, basketball, and the pursuit of new knowledge. He lives in Babcock Ranch, Florida, with his partner and their three adored dogs.
Reviewed by Alex Ndirangu for Readers' Favorite
Sam in the Clouds by Cameron De Jong is inspired by the profound connection the author shared with his sister and their first and most beloved dog, Sam. Days after Sam is buried, William sees a dog's head nestled in the curve of a billowing cloud. It even has a floppy ear—Sam’s ear. Logic screams “buried,” an undeniable end. Yet the rest of William—the part that recalls the comforting weight of Sam’s head on his knee—clings to the smile in the clouds. Things take an extraordinary turn when William witnesses a flower blooming instantly on the freshly turned earth of Sam’s grave. At first, he thinks grief is making him see and hear things. But then Mom, Lyn, and even Dad start to see them too. Then there’s Max. Why does he so often gaze into empty corners around the house? Could it be Sam? Is he there, or is William just desperate to believe he is? What of all the ordinary moments that William interpreted as meaningful? What if they’re just... ordinary?
Love, once given, never truly ends but transforms into something that remains with us always, and it always finds ways to bridge the distance, even in death. Cameron De Jong recognizes how devastating it is to lose a loved one. He gently walks the reader through the unique grief of losing a pet and even addresses the difficult journey of opening one’s heart again to a new pet. The tone is compassionate and hopeful. There’s intrigue, hidden truths, tension, grief, humor, renewal, plenty of love, and some very thought-provoking insights about the soul and what we perceive to be the end. Sam in the Clouds: How Love Endures Beyond Goodbye is a gift for all bereaved pet owners and readers fascinated with spiritual connections that transcend death.
