Character Interview from The Shadowed Onyx by Nicole O’Dell

» Posted on Jan 10, 2013 in Blog | Comments Off on Character Interview from The Shadowed Onyx by Nicole O’Dell

This week I’m hosting  Lillian Duncan with The Christmas Stalking (ebook), Irene Hannon with Vanished (no giveaway), Nicole O’Dell with The Shadowed Onyx and Murray Pura with Ashton Park.  If you want to enter the drawings for the books, please leave a comment on one of the post during the week with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email address, another way you can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (January 13th) evening.

The Shadowed OnyxInterview with character from The Shadowed Onyx by Nicole O’Dell:

1. Ben Bradley, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

My wife, Alicia, and run a residence for trouble teenage girls in an old monastery nestled in the heart of the Colorado Rockies. We just love it there, and love seeing what God does in the lives of the girls who come to us. We have a son, Justin, who is as musically gifted as an angel—we have no idea where he got that gift because neither Alicia nor I can hold a tune.

2. What do you do for fun?

This question is a bit embarrassing because I’m somewhat of a work-a-holic. Alicia would love it if I broke away from Diamond Estates a bit more, but since our private home is built on the property, it’s too easy to take work home. It’s for a good cause, though, right? But, every Saturday, I do spend time outdoors. Hiking up the mountain, trekking down the mountain, skiing, snowmobiling, anything like that.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?

I have a hard time pulling the trigger when it’s time to send a girl home. One of our rules here at DE is that the girls have to want to be here. They have to want to change. We don’t take girls who are forced because they haven’t hit bottom yet. We want them to come to us when they have nowhere to look but up. Still, though, there are times that a girl is rebelling against the program and we have to send them home. That’s very difficult for me. I pray that God will tell me clearly what I need to do and when, but I always fear that I’m getting ahead of Him and cutting off the need before the miracle happens. 

4. What are you afraid of most in life?

I’m not really afraid of anything. I am confident and secure in Jesus Christ and His grace in my life. I’m assured of eternity with him, so what is there to fear? I’m anguished when others reject Him, though. That keeps me up at night and keeps me on my knees by day.

5. What do you want out of life?

I just want to make Jesus known to hurting people. It sounds simplistic, but it’s really not. Girls who come to Diamond Estates come from all sorts of abusive backgrounds, drug use, homelessness, poverty, and more. Sometimes it’s hard to tell them that Divine Savior was with them all the time and didn’t rescue them from it. It takes a long time for most girls to reach the point of seeing that rescue comes in many forms. But, oh how I love being there for those light-bulb moments!

6. What is the most important thing to you?

My God. My wife. My son. The girls who come to me for help. The amazing counselors and folks who partner with me to serve those girls. Did I say too many things?

7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?

I love to read! I wish I tool more time for it, but when I get a chance, I love to read anything sci-fi. That would be my movie or television genre’ of choice, too.

8.If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

People say I need to chill out a bit. That I’m too passionate and fill up a room with energy. I guess they’re probably right. Then again, God made me this way, so… But I do see how my exuberance can cut people off or keep them from sharing ideas. That probably isn’t good.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

We have horses on the property. Right now there are four, but I’m told there’s another on the way. They are wonderful animals, more like people, actually. Sometimes those horses can get through to girls when two-legged people can’t.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

I don’t want to go back. I have no regrets, and everyone I want to see is in my future. I will spend eternity with Jesus, the baby I lost, my family, and all of my loved ones. There’s nothing in the past that can top that.