Staff photo by Bethany Hart
Author Eva Dimel sells her books of poetry in Fayette Pharmacy, but she also leaves them in places like doctors offices and hospitals and has received an overwhelming response.
Area woman makes
helping others her goal
Bethany Hart Staff Writer
Despite the many challenges author Eva Dimel has had to endure, she has made helping others her life's work.
Dimel has published two books of poetry, her first is called Hope in the Storms and most recently she published Showers of Blessings. Both books are available in the Fayette Pharmacy and are published by Candy Valentine in Mt. Sterling.
Through her work, she has been recognized by several Christian magazines including Christian Voice and Chattanooga Christian Family magazines.
"When I was about 12, I used to write some poetry but I just always assumed that everyone could write and I never did anything with it,"said Dimel.
"I had family members and close friends and different people who had drug and alcohol addictions, I lost someone very close to me that was addicted to prescription drugs, and I would write things. It's like God would give me things to write and I would put them down," said Dimel.
Dimel has fought several personal battles, including one she still fights daily. When she was 17, she found that she suffers from panic disorder. The disorder holds Dimel back from performing every day errands and duties.
"It makes your world smaller than what you'd like it to be," said Dimel
Then, seven years ago, Dimel found out that she had a brain tumor which was pressing on her optic nerve. The tumor removal left her blind in one eye.
Dimel brought her writing into work and shared it with a co-worker who encouraged her to publish the writings.
"I told her she's crazy, I had no intentions of doing anything like that and she said if you don't I will because I think it will help a lot of people," said Dimel.
She found Valentine, her publisher, in a church directory and made a phone call. Before she knew it, her first book was published. She dedicated both of her books to God, crediting Him for her inspiration.
"I ordered 250 copies and I thought ok I'll give some to family and friends and then I'll be done," said Dimel.
The book was more successful than she imagined. Before she knew it, people were visiting her, asking her to sign the book and paying her compliments on her work. For some this would be the ultimate gratification, but for Dimel and her panic disorder it was a nightmare.
"I had a hard time accepting people complimenting the book and going on and on about it," said Dimel.
Before long, she had to carry her books with her because she was approached in places like the grocery store by people who wanted copies of her book. She received phone calls from all over the country from people who wanted to buy numerous copies at a time.
"I would send the books out, not ask for the money up front, I try sell them for what I have in them, and if they can't afford it I give it to them, because that means more to me than anything," said Dimel. "I remember I'd go to the mailbox and when I received the envelope back from that person I wasn't worried about the check. What meant more to me was the letter they had wrote about how it had helped them, how it had blessed them, that meant more to me than anything."
Dimel has kept every single letter sent to her by readers and her daughter has helped her put all of them in a large scrapbook.
She has taken her books to inner city recreation centers and jails, but she also leaves her books in places like hospitals and doctor's offices. Because she includes her name and phone number on the back of every book, she has a constant flow of people calling and sharing their story with her.
When Dimel's brother-in-law was at Mt. Carmel for open heart surgery, Dimel took a book with her and left it in the waiting room. When she went back the next day, the book was gone.
"There was an elderly lady up there and she had the book and her husband was dying, he wasn't going to make it. I thought, I pray it's a blessing to her," said Dimel.
Three days later, the woman contacted Dimel and purchased 20 copies of the books.
The books' publication has caused Dimel to face many obstacles and overcome her fears. She has spoken in places such as rec centers and churches about her work, but not without some reservations and breakdowns resulting from her disorder.
"I said God, you chose the wrong person, I don't fit this mold, I'm nobody, I'm blind on one side," said Dimel. "The next morning I got up and I was reading my daily devotions and it was like He was talking to me. It talked about broken shells and it said 'a broken shell can touch a life the way no perfect shell can begin to,' and that's me, I'm a broken shell."
Dimel wished to encourage anyone who would like copies of her books to please contact her at 614-875-9263.
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