A gripping story of perseverance during trials

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Fiery Afflictions follows a character named Eunice Brown, a well-respected and admired professional figure in her community who faces multiple trials in her family life. Two separate generational perspectives in her household cause strife between herself and Timothy, her eldest son. Timothy presents a hostile challenge to Eunice as she struggles to carry out her role as a single parent of four. When her eldest son starts to lean towards the wrong crowd, Eunice fights fiercely to steer her family away from wasting their lives and getting involved with people who endanger their well-being.

Encountering a devastating and unexpected life event, Eunice Brown remains strong and turns to her faith in Jesus Christ as she fights for the life of her family. At one point in the story, Eunice Brown notably declares the words of Proverbs 18:21: “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” Eunice is determined to speak life into her children and bring out the good she sees in them.

Meet the author

In Paul Morrel’s own childhood, his mother taught him to think positively, encourage others and bond with his brother and sisters. She often told him to “take a shilling and make a pound.” This mindset of growth has stuck with him as he always had the desire to be a writer. The first realization of this desire came in 2014 with the release of From this Wreck I Will Return Home, which is inspired by the true story of a boy who is lost at sea on his own for seventeen days. A few years later in 2017, The Few Who Find It was released. This is a story of two men of different religions who develop a friendship and explore the truthfulness of their religious upbringing and experiences.

After immigrating to Canada from Jamaica in 1974, Paul Morrel believes it is vital to have an understanding of history. Therefore, he makes a consistent effort to include historically significant events in his stories. His passion for writing and history are brought together with the hope of educating, inspiring and challenging his readers to think critically.

Relatable storytelling

Paul’s social work experience in probation, parole services, child welfare and health care gives him the insight to create dynamic characters. He always aims to capture the daily struggles of family life in a way that readers can relate to. Often working with complicated family arrangements and emotionally demanding tasks throughout his career, he uses this experience to lend a voice to his characters. As his characters develop, Paul often feels as though they take on a life of their own. Careful consideration is also given to the etymology of a character’s name in his stories. Similar to the Bible, a character’s name is often synonymous with their nature. The name “Eunice” means “virtuous” and the name “Timothy” means “to honour God.” This etymology is present in Fiery Afflictions even though the actions of the characters may not always resemble these origins.

Paul is a natural storyteller. Growing up without a television in the house, he created his own entertainment by telling stories. His family only had a radio that broadcasted the news 24/7 and books. This caused him to become more imaginative in his thinking.

In his current household, Paul also enjoys working together with his son, Shawn Morrel, on the cover art for his books. Using acrylic paint, a high value is placed on creating a visual impact on the cover that reflects the setting, characters and emotions of the story. In this scene captured on the cover of Fiery Afflictions, there is a moment of unresolved tension between Eunice and Timothy. Eunice’s deep gaze into the letter in her hand shows the devastation for what is happening in her personal life. She is unaware of Timothy standing behind her. The sea and the ship in the background represent travel and distance as one of the themes. The telephone and letters on the table symbolize the communication that becomes critical as time passes.

Prayer and God’s word

There is excitement about the release of Fiery Afflictions because of the values that are highlighted. Paul can attest that prayer has been a vital part of his life. There have been many seasons of his life spent reflecting on the Red Sea account from Exodus. God always takes his children through the water and places them on dry land. To forgo prayer is to miss out on the privilege of connecting with the God who knows us best. The biblical component of his writing gives readers an opportunity to engage with the Bible in a unique way.

Paul Morrel believes that being able to face trials and battle spiritual warfare is an essential part of the Christian lifestyle. In the days that we are living in, there are many facing trials of their own, whether it is in marriage, parenting, finances or physical health. Fiery Afflictions encourages readers to rely on God’s word and prayer during the unknown, painful and unexpected seasons that life brings.

Fiery Afflictions is available on Amazon, Kobo and at www.fieryafflictions.com.