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Alumnus wins Christian novel-writing contest
November 4, 2014 : By Sara Warrender
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| Dr. Paul Bennett |
Liberty University alumnus, Dr. Paul Bennett (’95), won first place in the Athanatos Christian Ministries’ (ACM) 2014 Christian Novel Contest for his book, “A Fall of Sparrows.” The novel was also named among the top five novels in the 2013 Operation First Novel contest by Christian Writers Guild.
“I was both shocked and humbled when I was notified (in May) that my novel had won a national writing contest,” Bennett said. “I have always wanted to write and publish a novel since I was very young, and I had been praying that God would use this novel as He saw fit to draw people to Him.”
As a result of the contest, Bennett received $1,500 in prize money and an offer from ACM to publish his novel, which Bennett accepted. “A Fall of Sparrows” will be published in early 2015 in paperback and electronic copy and will be available from all major online retailers.
Bennett graduated from Liberty as a pre-med student and is currently a physician at Lynchburg General Hospital. According to Bennett, his time at Liberty played a crucial role in solidifying his Christian beliefs and forming the foundation of how he views individuals.
“I met many of the heroes in my life while I was at Liberty, and many of their positive influences are portrayed in the book’s characters,” Bennett said.
“A Fall of Sparrows” is set during the Civil War and follows William Seymour, a Confederate soldier, who encounters an escaped slave and goes against orders to guide her through the Virginia war zone to connect with the Underground Railroad.
“It’s my hope that when people read ‘A Fall of Sparrows,’ they will discover an exciting and unique Christian novel that does not shy away from confronting difficult and dangerous situations,” Bennett said. “I hope they find hope and unconditional love portrayed through every page and discover a unique hero who is truly worth cheering for. Most of all, it is my hope that the message of salvation, woven throughout the book, is clear and convincing.”
