Diary of An Angel by Michael Farnsworth-Review

Product Details

• Title: Diary of an Angel
•  Author: Michael M. Farnsworth
• Paperback: 162 pages
• Publisher: Martindale Press (October 9, 2013)
• Genre: Fiction
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615866018
• FTC, FYI: I received a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Description:
Forenica has never guarded anyone before, let alone been responsible for a soul. All that changes when she joins the ranks of heaven’s angels as a Junior Guardian. Her first assignment seems simple enough; her charge, Angela Higgins, seems too perfect to have any real struggles. She could scarcely have been more mistaken. Forenica learns quickly that helping Angela make it back to heaven is no trivial undertaking. Soon after Forenica’s assignment, Angela’s family suffers an unexpected crisis, which threatens to destroy her marriage and to snuff out her faith. As the situation grows more desperate, Angela also struggles to hold on to her wayward teenage daughter. Feeling powerless to help, Forenica seeks for answers to Angela’s problems in the annals of heaven. There Forenica uncovers secrets that will change both their lives forever. But in the end an unexpected angel will provide Angela the miracle she needs.

My Review:
Let me start my review by saying, I do believe in angels. Before I ever read this book I've felt that angels live among us and help us day by day. So reading this story about Guardians Angels was a true pleasure. The author portrays Heaven exactly as I hope it will be. I loved the idea of people that have passed on being assigned as guardian angels. The story is about one such soul, Forenica, who is not assigned a baby like usual, but is instead assigned a grown woman, Angela, with many troubles in her life. Forenica's assignment is to help her through the struggles of life and to return safely to Heaven one day. 

This story is so touching and heartfelt. It also has a level of angst and suspense as the reader wonders if Forenica will truly be able to help Angela with her problems. There are some sticky moments where Satan's army looks like it will win.The thing that I'll remember most about this book, is that we can receive help from Heaven. We are not struggling here by ourselves. There were so many moments in this book that brought me to tears. You will be drawn to the wonderfully written characters, the angels and the humans on Earth. This sweet story is one that you will want to share with those who need a "pick-me-up" from the drudgery of life. Whatever religion you participate in, if you believe in God and angels, this book will be an inspiring read for you.
  

Author Q&A

Where did you come up with the idea for Diary of an Angel?

I think the idea really began to take shape (ironically) during a re-read of The Screwtape Letters. As I considered the opposite side of that story—heaven’s fight for souls—the whole idea of guardian angels came alive. And the more I thought and pondered on it, the more I felt there was a story that needed to be told. Sadly, C.S. Lewis never tackled that story. So, readers have to settle for mine.

Do you really believe angels are so involved in our lives?

God’s miracles and dealings in our lives are for all who have the eyes to see them. Those who honestly and humbly look for God’s blessings, will see them—more and more. That has been true in my own life. And no more so than when I was writing this story. The real message here is that heaven is involved in the nitty-gritty details of our lives. Whether that involvement comes from actual guardian angels, God’s spirit, the scriptures, a sunrise, a baby’s laugh, or some angelic earthy friend, it doesn’t matter. Because the end-goal is the same.

Do you think heaven is really like you depict in your story?

Yes and no. Yes, because God would surely pattern our world after his own. If you were to build a house for your children, you’d probably build one like your own, wouldn’t you? And No, because I have no doubt that the beauty of heaven will supersede anything that anyone could possibly fathom in mortality. In that regard, I’m not worried about a reader of my book ever approaching me in heaven to tell me I got my depiction of heaven all wrong. Because the real thing will be infinitely better than my vision; no one will care that I got it wrong. The important thing for me is that readers feel heaven as they read. That feeling if far more important that the visual picture painted in the reader’s mind. I obviously took some creative liberties in my depiction. I did this mainly for me, to help me show a fun and interesting heaven—not a puffy white cloud of boredom. Heaven is not boring, I’m confident of that.

Where did the name Forenica come from?

When I first began planning the story, I believed the name had originated from my head. But I've been told that it's actually a real name--a surname, to be precise. I haven't bothered to research into this myself. The name came to me some time before I even conceived any story involving angels. At that time I intended to use the name in a different story. But, I wrote Diary of an Angel first. The name was handy and I liked it, so I decided to use it for my protagonist. Generally speaking, it's not advisable to use unusual names. They can distract the reader from the story. In the case of Forenica, I like to think that the name fits well for the character. My hope is that most readers will form their own image of Forenica's appearance, without being influenced by the Sarah's, Emma's, or Jane's they happen to know. (All three excellent names, by the way.)

Will we see Forenica again?

I hope so. For me, a story has to kind of incessantly ask me to write it. If it doesn’t, my heart won’t be in the story. And that would just not do. I do have a few ideas swimming around in my head, though. Not necessarily involving Forenica, but heaven and her angels. It may be some time, though. So, I plead for patience from my kind readers.


Meet Author Michael M. Farnsworth:

Michael M. Farnsworth holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Texas A&M University. A degree that comes in handy if you're a software engineer, which he is, but not so much if you're a writer. As a native Texan, he should know lots about riding horses and herding cattle--but he doesn't. He does, however, know a good deal about wrangling small children. He has four of them. When he's not wrangling children, writing code or writing books, he's probably building something. He lives with his wife and children in Seattle, WA.


To learn more about Michael and his work find him at Twitter,  Facebook,  and at his Website. 

****His new book Haladras was just released this month! It looks REALLY good!! *****

 

A desert planet. A dangerous secret.

 When Skylar’s enigmatic uncle warns him to stay away from the mysterious winged insects that have been sighted on other planets, he thinks little of it; no one has seen the insects on their own planet of Haladras. His uncle knows more than he’s telling, though. The creatures are not insects, but machines. And they’re hunting for Skylar. Only after Skylar narrowly escapes capture and flees Haladras with his uncle does he learn the whole truth. What his uncle reveals will shatter Skylar’s world and thrust him into a conflict that will force him to become more than a mere boy of fifteen. 

Go check it out on Amazon.com. or visit www.haladras.com