During the 60s and 70s I was in a variety of bands, ranging from blues to country to rock & roll. Those were some very wild and rough times for me, but God saw me through all of that for a time such as this. The rest of the story: In 1986 I was working for a major retail chain in Fayetteville, Ga., just south of Atlanta, as Assistant Manager. On a certain day in January of that year, I decided to take a quick break and watch TV with some of my workers, mostly ladies. My section of the store included House wares and Health & Beauty Aids. Some of the ladies enjoyed my watching Days of Our Lives with them. On the way to the break room I grabbed a candy bar to snack on while enjoying the Soap Opera with the ladies. In a few minutes, (the best way I can describe it) my world literally turned upside down. I began vomiting violently and could not walk nor stand. My hearing began to fluctuate. I did not know what was going on with me. However, I thought at the time I was having the worse case of food poisoning since the dawn of creation. Someone had to drive me home and for the rest of that day and most of the night I was violently ill and could barely hear. I was able to call the store the next evening to get someone to pull the candy bars off the shelf, thinking they were tainted. What was really going on in my body was definitely not food poisoning, but it would be ten years before I would find out. What happened to me during those two days would lay low and not happen again until 1996. In 1995, after getting saved "again for the first time", I immediately took an interest in Spiritual Warfare. I had also given up the colleges and night clubs and was part of my church's Praise Team, along with my two brothers. We were born with the gift of music and wanted to give it back to God. My two brothers are still on the Praise Team; however, I had to step down about five years ago. More on that later. Anyway, I wanted to write a book centered on Spiritual Warfare, but I wanted my book to be more of a novel and not another "how to" book. They're plenty of those already on the shelves. I began praying about it and as I thought I was hearing from God, I would take notes. In late 1995 I had a composition book full of notes, so I began writing my first novel, The Lamb and the Dragon. Early in 1996, while returning home from taking some young boys to Fun World in Albany, Ga. , I had another very severe attack of vertigo and vomiting. My friend had to drive the rest of the way home while trying to comfort the fellows with us and tell them it was okay. He took me home and for the rest of the day I was sick beyond description. My episode was worse than the one I had ten years earlier. At this point, the vertigo and hearing fluctuation episodes were more severe and intense, and were happening every day. I literally could not function. After seeing six doctors, by mid 1996 I was diagnosed with Meniere's Disease, which affects hearing and balance. Every day for many years all I could was lay in the bathroom floor until it was over, then go to bed and sleep it off, only to have it happen again the next day. To add to my frustration, I could no longer write, so right after beginning my book, I had to stop. By 2008 I became unhirable and by 2009, I filed for early social security. In 2010 I had major surgery inside my left ear and had to resign from the Praise Team. As you might know, bad hearing is lethal in the music business. In 2011, on recommendation from my doctors, I filed for Disability; so far I have been turned down. Our government is quick to take and slow to give back. In 2013 I was well enough to finish writing my novel. Eighteen years from start to finish! It was published in January of 2014, and has been very successful so far. The sequel, Pam Smith and the Phantom Church, was published in 2017. After a lot of praying, I have to remember the bottom line: God knows and I don't know. However, through using the Three Ps: Prayer, Pursuit, Perseverance, I am still writing. There is no cure for my disorder, but there are things I can do to help with the symptoms: surgery, shots in the ear, being hooked up to a machine three times a day, and medication. I've done them all! I take it a day at the time and I'm thankful for what the Lord gives me. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Education, a Master's in Theology, and a couple other degrees. I am an ordained Minister in two churches. My wife, Christal, and I, are members of Friendship Alliance Church here in Moultrie. We have two "children" at home: a black Tabby cat named Trouble and a yellow cat named Taz. My third novel was published and released about a year ago and Thanks and God Bless, Donny
