ROANOKE, Texas, April 22, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Some people can live their whole lives without ever really finding that special friend. Sally Fugazi and Debbie Harwell never knew how similar they were, but a chance meeting began a friendship that changed their lives. Their new book, Candles in the Darkness: A True Story of Faith, Hope and Friendship (now available through AuthorHouse), is a collection of their email correspondence that both changed and saved them.
Late in the spring of 2000, Fugazi and Harwell met for the first time at their husbands' company conference in St. Augustine, Fla. After a brief chat, they realized how similar they were. Both of them cared for their ailing parents, were married with teenagers and had older children who were getting married and having babies. They exchanged email addresses and began a correspondence. That summer, they learned a great deal about each other, forming a deep bond.
While they each experienced large amounts of stress in their lives, they dealt with it differently. Fugazi prayed and worked in her garden to relieve the stress, but Harwell, having no outlet, buried her feelings deep within. In the fall, Harwell became clinically depressed. Fugazi, who had experienced her own bout of depression 10 years earlier, guides Harwell, lighting her way like a "candle in the darkness."
Grounded in friendship and love, Candles in the Darkness shows how everyone needs that special friend who can help show them the way with humor, faith and hope. Through depression, babies and biopsies, these two friends found their way and hope to help others.
Fugazi was born in Japan. An authentic Air Force brat, she moved 21 times. She lived in Europe and all over the United States with the Air Force and as a corporate wife. She has studied art history, library science and early childhood education at California State in Sacramento. Harwell has a degree in communication from Texas Christian University and has applied those skills in all aspects of her life. Together, these two women blend their wisdom, humor and faith to create a wonderful book about surviving as family women in the 21st century. Candles in the Darkness is their first book.
For more information about the book or the authors, visit www.candlesinthedarkness.com.
AuthorHouse is the world leader in publishing and print-on-demand services. Founded in 1997, AuthorHouse has helped more than 18,500 people worldwide become published authors. For more information, visit www.authorhouse.com.