By BETHANY WIEGAND
Diane Culver, a native of Muncy, recently published her first book, "Gloria's Road - A Schizophrenic Woman's Perilous Path to Christ."
The book follows an autobiographical timeline of Culver's life, from her wedding through hospitals stays, bullying and substance abuse, and dealing with a mental illness.
For Culver, her love of writing started when she was in grade school.
"I do remember in sixth grade, a student teacher had all different kinds of creative writing," Culver said. "Everybody says I'm good at it. I've always wanted to be a writer."
After beginning her story 25 years ago, Culver needed someone to help her publish the book. She walked into a restaurant one day and saw a man sitting at a table.
Through conversation, Culver met Harry Nash, who helped her weekly to get her book ready to publish, doing the typing and editorial work.
"He said there was only a one in 20 chance that it would get published, so I said send 20 manuscripts," Culver said. Culver's dream was realized and her book was published by Conquest Publishers in August.
The first half of the book deals with Culver's struggles, but the second half takes a turn for the better when Culver found God and turned her life around.
"I couldn't have done the change, it was God that did it," Culver said. "I woke up one day and realized I was on the wrong path."
Culver wrote under the pen name Gloria Lovejoy.
"I had a friend that was a minister, and I told him I was writing this book. He said use the name Gloria. My editor, Harry, said Lovejoy. Gloria is a word of praise to God and Lovejoy is to Christian virtues," she said.
Culver said her life changed when she got married as well.
"I never thought I'd make it down the aisle. The last chapter deals with me being on the right medicine and remission from schizophrenia."
You can find "Gloria's Road" on Amazon.com.
