Photo: Copyright 2015 by MaryAnn Diorio. All Rights Reserved.
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MaryAnn Diorio Enterprises, LLC

TRUTH THROUGH FICTION ® 
 
Award-Winning Books for the Young,  
and the Young-at-Heart
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"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,
'Write all the words which I have spoken to you
                                    in a book.'"  (Jeremiah30:2)
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Author Newsletter
December 2015
On the Homefront

Merry Christmas! If you're like me, you're wondering where the time went. It seems as though we were just wishing everyone a Merry Christmas only a few days ago.

Much has happened since we last communicated. The biggest event was the formal adoption of our four new grandchildren--a sibling group consisting of three sisters and a brother. My husband Dom and I are now the blessed grandparents of five precious and rambunctious grandchildren.

Now that the adoption has been formally legalized, I can post photos, something I was not permitted to do before the finalization.  So now, I am delighted to introduce to you my son-in-law Peter, my daughter Lia, and my five precious grandchildren. From left to right, please meet:

Back Row: Ashley (age 8), Jessica (age 9), Tasha (age 6)
Front Row: Annamarie (age 3), Christopher (age 4) 


Back Row: Peter, Lia; Middle Row: Jessica (9) and Ashley (8);
Front Row: Annamarie (3), Christopher (4), and Tasha (6)
 

Left to Right: Annamarie (3), my daughter Gina, Jessica (9), Tasha (6), Christopher (4), and Ashley (8)

These children are God's gift to our family, a gift for which we are truly thankful. 

God has given us another gift --a gift that can be yours as well if you have not yet received it. It is the gift of His Son Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. 

This Christmas season, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, may we discern what a great gift He is--the greatest gift ever given to mankind. May we also share the gift of Christ wherever we go, so that others who do not know about Him may receive Him as their gift of salvation as well.

If you have never accepted Christ's gift to you of eternal life, please don't wait another moment to do so. Click here to find out how.


With love and blessings for a joyous Christmas season,

MaryAnn

New Release!

Looking for a Gift for That Special C hild in Your Life? Look No Farther!  

























Four-year-old Keisha has a new baby sister. But Keisha does not want a new baby sister. Keisha is afraid that Mama will love Baby Tamara more than Mama loves her. But when Mama shows Keisha three special candles, Keisha learns that there is always enough love for everyone because the more one shares love, the more love grows. 

Available in Hardcover and Softcover.

Available for Kindle and iPad

N.B. Please  ignore "Temporarily Out of Stock" Notice on Amazon.  Books are available.
A Touching Christmas Story
When Sonia Pettit's teenage daughter disappears for seven long years, Sonia faces losing her mind, her family, and her faith. 

What readers are saying: 

"This short story is a wonderful way to start the Christmas season. It is a story full of human emotion and the struggles this life can challenge us with. The lesson throughout the story is that all things are possible through God's grace. This is a "feel good" story that lifts the spirits and keeps you encouraging the main character to persevere and not give up. It is a great book for a short respite from our busy lives." ~ Kimberly T. Ferland

"A great Christian read." ~ Donna

"If only all stories made me sit on the edge of my seat, unsure of the outcome, but desperate for a good conclusion for the characters! " ~ Sarah E. Johnson

KINDLE FORMAT:  BUY NOW
AUDIO BOOK:  BUY NOW
 

Give the Child in Your Life
a Life-Changing Gift

What is the most important gift you can give your child? It is a knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Why is this gift so important? The reason is that without a knowledge of Jesus, one can never establish a relationship with God. And a relationship with God through Jesus Christ is the very reason we were created.

Children's hearts are particularly open to the things of God. Take advantage of this opportunity to introduce your child to who Jesus really is.

Get your copy of WHO IS JESUS? today!



Who Is Jesus? was a finalist in the 2015 Indie Excellence Book Awards. It is being acclaimed as "a Christian classic."
For the Special Child in Your Life!

Toby Michaels is small. Too small to be of much good to anyone. But one day, Toby discovers that it's not how big you are on the outside that matters; it's how big you are on the inside!

Available in the following formats:





 
Soon to Be Released!

THE MADONNA OF PISANO
 
...The first novel in the
historical fiction trilogy...

THE ITALIAN CHRONICLES


A young woman, a priest, and a secret that keeps them bitterly bound to each other . . .     
   
A horrifying encounter drags soon-to-be-married Maria Landro into the shocking world of religious corruption and an unrelenting village code of honor that threatens to rob her of everything she holds dear. Shunned by the very people who should have embraced her, she withdraws into the confines of Bella Terra, her family's farm, and remains there for several years . . . until she is forced to leave to ensure the formal education of her son. In a desperate attempt to protect her child from vicious tongues and malicious hate-mongers and her family farm from bankruptcy, she determines to seek vengeance against the one who ruined her life. But when Luca Tonetta enters her life, she learns a powerful lesson about forgiveness and grace. 

STAY TUNED!

A WINNING STORY OF FAITH FOR 8-12 YEAR-OLDS!

Do you believe in the impossible? Eight-year-old Jeremiah Bentley asks himself the same question in my latest children's book, DO ANGELS RIDE PONIES?

Confined to a wheelchair, Jeremiah wants more than anything else to ride a pony. But the doctors have said that he will never be able to ride a pony. Will Jeremiah accept the doctor's report as the final word, or will he discover that "all things are possible to him who believes?" 

What are readers saying about DO ANGELS RIDE PONIES?

The story is beautiful, and I found myself emotionally touched by it. Tears filled my eyes at the ending. ~ Stefani Milan, hostess of READ ALL ABOUT IT, RadioVisionTV

I truly enjoyed this book and the message it conveys to the children who will read it. Do Angels Ride Ponies? not only teaches the truth of God's Word, but also the potential each one of us has when we believe and act on that truth.
~ Deborah Piccurelli, Author of Hush,Little Baby


If you order your copy of DO ANGELS RIDE PONIES? today, you will receive a free copy of Dr. Dom's monograph entitled Vaccinations: Helpful or Harmful for Your Children?
Upcoming Appearances


















I would love to meet you in person. If you are available, please join me at one or more of the following events:

Saturday, November 28, 2015
Book Signing
CLC Christian Bookstore
Moorestown, NJ
Contact: Henrietta Hill

hhill@clcbookcenter.com 

 

Free e-Book!

Are you frazzled,
frustrated, or fatigued! If so, check out my special FREE offer. This month I want to give you my e-book entitled From The Treadmill to the Balance Beam: Biblical Principles for Achieving Balance in Life. All you need to do to receive your free copy is to sign up here. You will be added to my mailing list, and I will send you your free copy of my book.

If you are already on my mailing list but did not receive your free copy of From the Treadmill to the Balance Beam, please email me at drmaryann@maryanndiorio.com and put the word "Treadmill" in the subject line. I will send you your free book right away.
Recipe Rack

This Christmas season, I'd like to share with you one of my paternal grandmother's favorite recipes: Strufoli or Italian Honey Balls. Each Christmas Eve, Nonna would serve this delicious dessert as the entire family gathered around her dining room table. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did back then and still do now. :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Photo Courtesy of Fotolia.com

 
My Grandmother's Christmas Strufoli
(aka Italian Honey Balls)  
 
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel   
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 /2  teaspoon salt
4 eggs
2 1 /2 cups flour
Oil for frying
1 cup honey
Candy sprinkles
                                                                                       
In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, lemon peel, vanilla, and salt. Add eggs and 2 cups flour; mix well. Turn onto a floured surface and knead in remaining flour (dough will be soft). With a floured knife, cut into 20 pieces. With hands, roll each piece into a cylinder about 1/2 to 3/4 inch diameter. Cut each cylinder into 1 /2 inch pieces.
 
In a large skillet, heat oil to 350º. Fry pieces, a few at a time, for 2 minutes per side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Place in a large bowl. Heat honey to boiling; pour over balls and mix well. With a slotted spoon, spoon onto a serving platter and slowly mound into a tree shape, if desired. Decorate with candy sprinkles.
 
Yield: about 15 dozen.

Where is MaryAnn?

You can find MaryAnn on the following Social Media sites:

In This Issue
New Blog for Teen Girls! 


 Matters of the Heart
 
Do you want wholeness in every area of your life? If so, sign up for my blog that deals with the deep issues of the human heart. Click here to join the conversation.

Bookstore


A handicapped boy learns that faith moves mountains...

CLICK HERE TO ORDER.


Already being called
"a Christian classic"

CLICK HERE TO ORDER.


Winner of 2015 Illumination Book Award for E-Fiction

CLICK HERE TO ORDER.


A touching short story of God's faithfulness.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER.

You Were Made for Greatness!
Discover your true identity!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER.


Transform your marriage!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER.


Learn how God speaks to you, too!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER.


Dr. MaryAnn's 
STUDENT GUIDES in her OUTSTANDING AMERICAN AUTHOR SERIES


Nathaniel Hawthorne is an outstanding American author who lived and wrote during the 19th century. His fiction deals with a wide variety of themes, including alienation, sin, guilt, pride, and hypocrisy. He delves into issues of the human heart that cross generational lines. In A Student's Guide to Nathaniel Hawthorne, Dr. MaryAnn Diorio has provided a rich resource for understanding and appreciating the works of this great author.

BUY NOW!



Herman Melville is an outstanding American author who lived and wrote during the 19th century. He wrote MOBY DICK, one of the greatest novels in this history of all literature. Melville's writings blend fact with fiction and high adventure with powerful symbolism His personal experiences in far-off lands allowed Melville to bring a great sense of realism to his fiction. In A Student's Guide to Herman Melville, Dr. MaryAnn Diorio has provided a rich resource for understanding and appreciating the life and works of this literary giant.




Mark Twain is an outstanding American author who lived and wrote during the 19th century and died in 1910. He is most famous for two novels: The Adventures of Tom Sawyher and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain's greatest contributions to American style reside in his humorist approach and his unique use of language. In A Student's Guide to Mark Twain, Dr. MaryAnn Diorio has provided a rich resource for understanding and appreciating the works of this great author.



Witnessing Tools

Jesus said, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel" (Mark 16:15). When you go, be sure to take these two tools on your journey:


Beyond the Grave: 
Where Will You Go When You Die?
  


After You're
Born Again

Your Next Step after Accepting Jesus Christ as Your Savior and Lord





Are You a Writer?

If so, check out these resources just for you! 

 
A brief and basic manual 
on writing.




How you see yourself will determine your success as a writer.

MaryAnn Diorio Enterprises, LLC
PO Box 1185
Merchantville, New Jersey 08109
www.maryanndiorio.com / maryann@maryanndiorio.com
856-488-3580