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Sunday, March 15, 2015

Interview of Dianna Benson by Lorilyn Roberts on Her Newest Book - Persephone's Fugitive



Dianna Benson is a member of the John 3:16 Marketing Network, but I (Lorilyn Roberts) got to know Dianna better when she almost went with me to Nepal to distribute Christian books to orphans. 

Shortly before the trip, however, she was hit by a car while biking. Subsequently, she was laid up in the hospital for several days with a long recovery afterwards. I wondered how that impacted her relationship with God and her writing. 

I am blessed today to have Dianna with us to share her writing journey over the last year and her newest book, Persephone’s Fugitive, in this short interview.

LORILYN: Dianna, thank you for taking a few minutes to share with us the release of your latest book, Persephone’s Fugitive

DIANNA: Thank you for having me.

LORILYN: First, tell me how you are doing five months after your accident?

DIANNA: Yeah, on August 31, 2014 (on my oldest daughter’s 21st birthday) I was bicycling – I was in a crosswalk with a stop sign when a car failed to stop at the stop sign and failed to stop in the crosswalk and struck me. I’m still battling injuries, and some of them are permanent (damage to my left hand is one), but I’m doing tons better and I’m right handed, so life moves on.  

LORILYN: Where were you in the writing process of Persephone’s Fugitive when this happened?

DIANNA: On August 15 (so two weeks before my bicycle accident) I delivered the book to my editor and she was working on copy edits, so I was working on my next book.

LORILYN: As a Christian, I’m always looking for God’s redemption in the hard things that come our way. How did the accident affect your life and writing?

DIANNA: My first thought after I regained consciousness (I was only unconscious for 30 seconds maybe): “I’m glad someone hit me instead of me hitting someone.” 

That may sound strange, but I’d rather be injured than deal with the responsibility of hitting a bicyclist with my car. The driver was a seventeen-year-old and he was so freaked out (I felt a little bad for him). 

Keep in mind that I’ve been an EMT for a decade so this high trauma scene was normal for me, except this time I was the patient. 

My second thought after I regained consciousness was about my dad’s death in a bicycle accident when I was a junior in high school (after my dad’s death, I was on my own from that day forward until I married my amazing husband). For my three children’s sake, I’m so  grateful I survived my bicycle accident – I don’t want my children to endure losing a parent like I did at such a young age (my kids are 21, 18 and 14).

Life is hard, but that’s the point. Through our trials and tribulations, God is building our souls so when our flesh dies, our souls are developed to where God wants them to be for our life in eternity. 

In Persephone’s Fugitive (and in all my books), I want readers to see how my characters don’t just “get through” or try to “get over” the difficult stuff in life; instead, my characters accept the pain that difficult events in their lives cause them, and they move forward with a renewed sense of understanding in themselves, in life, and in God. 

This applies to me as well (not just my characters). Every stepping stone in life (large to small and everything in between) leads me in the right direction for me at that time in the chaotic river of life. God's hand is always there, but I must choose to reach for it so He can keep me balanced to prevent me from falling into the river. In the times I'm floundering in the river from a fall, I reach for God's hand, and He lifts me out of the river before I drown.    

LORILYN: I completely agree, Dianna. Thanks for sharing that. As an author, I’m always interested in how authors come up with their story ideas and plots. What is your creative process like?

DIANNA: Like my respiratory system exhales and inhales, each day throughout the day my mind automatically develops scenes and dialogue, always suspenseful in nature and typically opening scenes – this is my ongoing daily writer brain at work. 

With opening scene ideas in abundance for me, I keep a document of them all and pull from that list when the time arises. When I start a new book, I take an opening scene idea and simply write from there on paper with a pencil, allowing my muse to play until I have a full rough draft for my eyes only (meaning, I lock away my inner editor and critiquer and just have fun with the characters and the story, writing it at the seat of my pants; however, at times I’m a plotter even during the rough draft phase). 

            


*** SPOILER ALERT *** Reading Persephone’s Fugitive (including the book blurb) before The Hidden Son (Book One in the Cayman Islands Trilogy) will ruin the ending of The Hidden Son. However, both books are standalones. 

DIANNA: When a routine 911 call turns deadly, Paramedic Sara Dyer finds herself held at gunpoint by Jason Keegan, an injured psych-ward patient charged with murder. The situation spirals out of Sara’s control when the confrontation becomes a tense standoff between Keegan and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.

As Keegan’s hostage, Sara fights to save them both before he blows them up. She realizes his warning to the Cayman police is no empty threat since he’d rather die than spend the rest of his life in a prison cell. Sara soon discovers Keegan is just as determined to survive as she is - provided he can escape Grand Cayman and disappear forever. As she struggles to trust in God’s protection, help from an atheist turns her struggle into a lure away from her faith.

LORILYN: Is it part of a series?

DIANNA: Yes. Persephone’s Fugitive is Book Two in the Cayman Islands Trilogy. Book One is The Hidden Son (released 2013).

LORILYN: Thanks for sharing with us today your newest book. Where can readers purchase Persephone’s Fugitive?










Dianna T. Benson is the award-winning and international bestselling author of The Hidden Son and Final Trimester. Persephone’s Fugitive is her third release. An EMT and a HazMat and FEMA Operative since 2005, Dianna authentically implements her medical and rescue experience and knowledge into all her suspense novels. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and their three children. www.diannatbenson.com



Friday, March 13, 2015

John 3:16 Book Review: Once Again, by Deborah Heal

Once Again 

Romance, Mystery, and History Combine for a Delightful Read



Author: Deborah Heal

Published January 2014
$ 3.99 Kindle
$10.99 Paperback
Buy on US Amazon

Reviewer: Cheryl Colwell

A history teacher at McKendree College, Merrideth Randall is fascinated with historical events that occurred nearby. Though resisting the handsome Brett Garrison’s pursuit, she finds herself entangled because of the genealogical research she is doing on his family.

The delightful twist Deborah Heal has added to this series is a mysterious computer program that allows Merrideth to virtually visit the past and learn facts lost long ago, facts she cannot substantiate. I enjoyed the varied characters, fascinating history and secrets that were unearthed. A great read that I presume will fully conclude in the next book!



Thursday, March 12, 2015

Wakulla Book Reviews: The Aftermath and The Right Person, by Stacy Padulla

WAKULLA BOOK REVIEWS!





Title: The Aftermath

            "This is a story about a high school kid named Jason Davids who is dealing with peer pressure, alcohol, and drug abuse. He also finds himself caught in the middle of a spiritual battle. Luckily he has several Christian friends praying for and giving him good advice. But he also has a girlfriend and older brothers pressuring him to get high and party.

            Stacy Padula did an excellent job of highlighting the power of prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit to work through those who are willing to be obedient to His promptings—and how this combination will always bring God’s grace, love, and light into the darkest of people.

            This book has so many great messages for kids and young adults to learn from. And all of them have the foundational truths from God’s Word.

            I absolutely loved and enjoyed this book. So much so that any book I see written by Stacy Padula I will gladly read it.

            This book is mainly aimed at young adults, from 12 on up. But it holds so much truth and Godly advice everyone who loves God’s Word will enjoy it. And I’m confident they will recommend it to every teen they know." —Leon


Title: The Right Person (Montgomery Lake High #1)

            “The Right Person” is a story about people looking for acceptance. It raises an important question that faces almost everyone: what am I willing to do to fit in and be accepted by my peers? Ms. Padula takes this a step further and raises a more important question: whom should I be seeking acceptance from?

            Stacy Padula accurately describes the moral issues that teens and adults face: smoking, sex, drinking, drugs, lying, cheating, and disrespect. Ms. Padula weaves a tale that involves many characters who are each facing their own battles and struggles. She gives the reader just enough information about each one to bring the story together. She also gives the solution to each character’s struggle: Jesus.

            By the end of this book, I had tears in my eyes, as I could relate to the struggles they were going through and the deliverance they receive from God through Jesus. This is a book I’d like to have had when I was a teen! Well written, and the Gospel is shared without compromise! Stacy A. Padula is a voice God is using that will share the message of love, forgiveness, and acceptance to the world that needs to hear it!" —Loren

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Stacy Padulla is running a special
on all of her kindle books through Saturday. 
They will be on sale for
$1.99-$5.99 incrementally based on the edition.  
To learn more, 
visit her Amazon page at:http://amzn.to/1FUosWU


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Each WEEK, we are posting reviews from Wakulla Correctional inmates of 
John 3:16 books. 
Inmates are loving the new books from John 3:16 authors. Chaplain Steve Fox is is adding the new books to the prison library in this initiative to "change lives to ensure a safer Florida."





The Wakulla Correctional Book Review Series is part of 
Our Vision: "Changing Lives to Ensure a Safer Florida" 

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Wakulla Book Reviews: The Last Train at Sunset by Pearl Nsiah-Kumi

 Title - The Last Train at Sunset
 2 Reviews from Wakulla prison



This book explains in very easy to read and understand language. How you can receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? It quotes a lot of key Scriptures from the Holy Bible to further clearly the truth of what’s written.

The second half of the book tells you how to walk and grow as a believer in Christ. It uses Scriptures beautifully to walk a new believer through the foundational beliefs.

The author’s purpose is very clear. How to receive eternal life and how to grow in the faith.

I loved every page of this book. The topic is controversial to anyone who refuses to believe the truth of God’s holy Word that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one will enter heaven except through Him.

 The main thing I liked about how this book was written, was Pearl kept it simple, and used easy to understand words. Even a grade school child could pick up this book and be able to read and understand it, and maybe come to understand and accept Jesus Christ as their own Lord, God, King, and Savior.

 Thank you for writing this book.

                                                      Leon, (11-3-2014)

                                                      A brother in Christ.  

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This book speaks the truth, the Word of God, Scriptures from the Bible. This book is pretty much for anyone, the unsaved, babes in Christ, even mature Christians.


It starts off with “the invitation” the way to receive salvation, and then there’s the “Christian walk” where a lot can be learned, especially if you search the Scriptures she puts in the book, and there are many.

As I read, I came across a lot of Scriptures that I forget to make active in my life. It would be a great devotional to read daily to remember where you stand if you can’t read the Bible every day. There are certain sections I would like to read and remind myself on how I should behave on a daily basis, because at times I can let it slide based on my emotions, or the day I am having, or some people in certain situations.

                                                      Keith (9-29-2014)

To purchase The Last Train at Sunset from Amazon, click here.

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Pearl is a retired registered nurse, and a Christian author.  She came to the United States from Ghana, West Africa. She has lived in Maryland for over forty years. Pearl has three children, a son in-law, and four grandchildren. She loves to write poetry and short articles based on Scripture.  She has authored three books "Get On Board and Stay On Board," "The Last Train at Sunset," and "Time Is Running Out."  These books contain salvation messages, and messages about the Christian walk.  They are suitable for devotionals and also helpful in witnessing. 

They are all available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and also on her
Website: pearlkumi.weebly.com

Pearl is also a Volunteer Counselor at a local Crisis Pregnancy Clinic.


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Each Tuesday, we are posting reviews from Wakulla Correctional inmates of John 3:16 books. 





The Wakulla Correctional Book Review Series is part of 
Our Vision: "Changing Lives to Ensure a Safer Florida"