MaryAnn Diorio Books
"Heart-Mending Fiction"
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Women's Fiction / Romance / Romantic Suspense /
Fiction for Children
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Make 2023 the "Year of the Sword" . . .
Are you using your Sword? The Sword of the Spirit that God gave you to use if you are one of His children? (Galatians 6: 17)
If you are not using this powerful weapon against demonic forces, make 2023 your "Year of the Sword"!
If you are not one of His children yet, become one now. Learn how at https://www.maryanndiorio.com/how-to-live-forever
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MaryAnn Diorio writes women’s fiction from a quaint, Victorian town in southern New Jersey where neighbors still stop to chat while walking their dogs, houses still sport wide, wrap-around porches, and the charming downtown still finds kids licking lollipops and old married folks holding hands. A Jersey girl at heart, MaryAnn is a big fan of Jersey diners, Jersey tomatoes, and the Jersey shore.
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Enjoy this newsletter? Please share it with a friend. Thanks!
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IN THIS ISSUE . . .
__A Word in Due Season
__On the Homefront
__The Inside Story
__January Giveaway
__Help Me Spread the Gospel
__My Happy Places
__Your Happy Places
__My New Product Line
__Your Turn
__The Recipe Rack
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A WORD IN DUE SEASON
by MaryAnn Diorio, PhD
Dear ,
A new year is a time for new beginnings. A time to start over. A second chance.
In His love for us the Lord give us second chances. He reminds us in His Word that "His mercies are new every morning" (Lamentations 3: 23).
Let us draw on God's mercies and start with a clean slate this year. Let's ask forgiveness for our sins, for He promises that when we do, He is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1: 1).
Let us forget the past and look forward. The Apostle Paul said this in Philippians 3: 13: "I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead," When we cling to the past, we cannot embrace the future.
And God has a wonderful future for those of us who follow Him. He promises us this in Jeremiah 39: 11:
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the LORD. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'"
As we begin this new year, let us start it in the hope of God's promises to us, placing our lives in His hand and keeping in mind that He loves us with an infinite love.
Happy New Year Blessings!
MaryAnn
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A lot was going on in our household during the month of December, as I imagine it was in yours as well.
One of the highlights of the month was our attendance at the performance of the Philadelphia Boys Choir with the Philly POPs orchestra at the Kimmel Center in Philly. Our eleven-year-old grandson is a member of the choir. He passed the stringent test and earned his red blazer only a couple of months ago. It was such a joy to see him up there on stage. We praise God for what He is doing in our grandson's life..
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THE INSIDE STORY . . .
Like all of us at some time or other, writers sometimes want to give up. We spend several hours a week—often between 20 and 30—sitting at our computers writing stories or articles that, we hope, will bless our readers and give them answers to many common problems we all share.
Considering time we writers spend writing, we get paid very little. The average yearly income for a Christian writer is about $5000. This is not to say that some don't earn more, but very few writers make enough from their book sales to earn a living. Most writers supplement their writing with a day job, with speaking engagements, editing, coaching, or some other types of work.
In order to get their books out there, writers need to advertise. This involves additional costs. They are expected to give away free books—another expense that the writer has to absorb.
If that were not enough, a writer needs to maintain a website (which costs several hundred dollars a year), a mailing list service (which costs over $100 - $200 per year, and book services whose job is to mail books and giveaways to writers (about $150 per year). A writer also should maintain membership in at least one writing organization in order to keep up with the industry. This is another $40 to $100 per year per organization.
On top of that, if a writer is an indie author (meaning she publishes her books herself), she must pay editors to edit her work (about $1500-$2000 per book for a professional editor), book cover designers to design the covers for her books (from $100 to $600 per book), and formatters to convert her manuscripts into computer code for ebooks (about $300 per book).
While these facts may burst a bubble in your mind, they are not intended as a complaint but as a statement of the cold, hard facts of the writing life. It is even more difficult for Christian writers since we do not write the kinds of books the world demands. For example, non-Christian writers of romance usually make far more money than Christian authors because non-Christians often write the kind of immoral books that a Christian writer would never think of writing.
Writing is a very competitive career in the sense that everyone wants to write a book. With the advent of Kindle Direct Publishing and other venues, that dream can now be much more easily fulfilled by those who have the dream.
Upon my last research, Amazon now carries over eight million books! A writer with no established name can get lost in that number.
So, what keeps me going as a writer for King Jesus? Here are.the main reasons:
1) I was called by God to write for Him, and I must and will obey His call, no matter how difficult it gets. Scripture says this in Romans 11: 29: "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."
2) I am not a quitter. When I know God wants me to do something, I know He will provide me with everything I need to do it (Philippians 4: 19).
3) I won't abandon my readers. My readers mean everything to me. Without them, my writing has no audience. (To learn more about the importance of readers, subscribe to my new blog titled The Reader Connection.
So, there you have it! A bit of the inside story about the writer's life. Please pray for us Christian writers. We are fighting many spiritual battles as we seek to proclaim the Gospel through our writing.
And please read and review our books when you can. When you do, you are helping us to spread the Gospel message through our stories. And you will reap the eternal reward for every soul that comes to Christ or draws closer to Christ because of something a Christian writer has written.
Thanks, Love, and Blessings,
MaryAnn
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JANUARY GIVEAWAY . . .
This month's giveaway is a free podcast I recently recorded on the end times. Many Christians are unaware of what is going on in the world.
Please listen to it prayerfully, asking the Holy Spirit to give you eyes to see and ears to hear. May you be blessed knwoing that our Lord's return for His Bride is imminent.
"The Three Cs of the World's Final Destruction"
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HELP ME SPREAD THE GOSPEL . . .
Will you help me spread the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ to the four corners of the earth?
Through a small monthly contribution of $1.00, $3.00, or $5.00 a month, you can be a part of something big.
Patreon.com is a platform that allows contributors to support those who are doing a work in which the contributor believes. As you well know, my life's passion is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who do not yet know Him. I do this primarily through the writing and publishing of books and the broadcasting of a weekly podcast titled Winning with the Word.
Because of the faithful financial and prayer support of my patrons, Winning with the Word now reaches 75 countries on six continents. I could not do this without my patrons.
If you are not yet one of my valued patrons, I urge you to become one now. Patrons receive many benefits, including free books, discounts on books, free podcasts, and a host of other benefits in thanksgiving for their faithful support.
You, too, can become one of my valued patrons. Just click on the link below and choose your tier of monthly contribution: $1.00, $3.00, or $5.00 per month.
Because of your generosity, you will reap an eternal reward for every soul won to Christ through Winning with the Word.
BECOME A PATRON NOW!
Many thanks and blessings!
MaryAnn
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This month I would like to share two of my favorite Happy Places:
Left: Montchanin, Delaware
Right: Sandy Cove Retreat Center
Northeast, Maryland
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NOW, FOR YOUR HAPPY PLACES . . .
Thanks to Team Members Christine Strittmatter and Joan Gangwer who sent me pictures of their Happy Places this month. You can find them below.
Be sure to send me pictures of YOUR happy places, and I will post them in a future newsletter
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This first Happy Place belongs to Team Member Chris Strittmatter. Thank you, Chris!
Chris describes her Happy Place:
"Although this first pic is seven or eight years old [and] taken in Georgia, . . . it’s a happy place pic because I’m with my family."
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This Happy Place photo below belongs to Team Member Joan Gangwer. Joan writes: "The Beach is my Happy Place!"
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START THE NEW YEAR WITH A NEW NOTEBOOK . . .
A new year is a great time to begin using a new notebook or sketchbook. Whether you like to write, to journal, to sketch, or to do all three,I created a special notebook or sketchbook for you.
Check out my special line of custom notebooks and sketchbooks featuring my art and photography on the covers. These notebooks and sketchbooks are ideal for that special person in your life who likes to write, draw, or keep a journal. And that special person may be YOU! :)
For a complete collection of my notebook and sketchbook designs, CLICK HERE.
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YOUR TURN . . .
As we begin 2023, I want to be sure I am meeting your reading needs and serving you well. To that end, I would be grateful to receive your valuable input regarding this newsletter.
__What do you like best about this newsletter?
__What do you like least?
__What suggestions do you have for improving it?
Send your comments to me at maryann@maryanndiorio.com.
Thanks and Blessings!
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The Recipe Rack . . .
Nonna Enza's Pasta e Fagioli
(Nonna Enza's Pasta and Beans)
This was my wonderful Italian mother's recipe and one of my favorite dishes as a child. It still is! :)
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Photo by Lia Diorio Gerken, PhD
Ingredients
__2 tablespoons Olive Oil
__1 clove Garlic, chopped
__Fresh Parsley, chopped
__1 tablespoon Tomato Paste
__1 can Cannellini Beans
__1 lb. Elbow Macaroni or tiny Shells
__Salt and Pepper to taste
__Parmesan Cheese. (optional)
__Water
Instructions
__In a large spaghetti pot, sauté garlic in olive oil until golden.
__Add tomato paste and stir until blended with garlic and olive oil mixture.
__Add cannellini beans.
__Mash some of the beans against the side of the pot.
__Mash more for creamier sauce.
__Add enough water to boil the pasta.
__Bring the mixture to a boil.
__Add the pasta and cook until desired tenderness, stirring occasionally.
__When the water is nearly absorbed, place the contents in a large bowl.
__Garnish with chopped parsley.
__If desired, add grated Parmesan cheese.
ENJOY!
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Let's stay in touch . . .
I love to stay in touch with my readers. You can follow me on one or more of the venues listed below. Just click on the icon.
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Copyright 2000-2022 by MaryAnn Diorio.
All Rights Reserved.
Disclaimer: Amazon.com Required Disclosure: MaryAnn Diorio is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
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"You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You."
__Isaiah 26: 3 NKJV
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