Arts & Culture Magazine - March/April 2008 - (Page 31) By Diana Colson : : Profile Sonja Bentley Zant Sarasota Author’s Entertaining Novel Recommends Living Life With Intention he dynamic Sonja Bentley Zant has embarked on a mission: to write “entertaining novels that inspire people to live their lives with intention.” Sonja’s mother taught her that a smart woman learns from her experiences, but a wise woman learns from the experiences of others. The power of fiction is that it allows people to vicariously explore conflicts between characters, then reexamine their own lives with increased perspective and understanding. Hurricane Season is the title of Sonja’s first novel. Its heroine, Eloise Butts, is ‘still waiting’ at 33, while living in Miami Beach—a place where maintaining one’s virginity is not simply rustic and quaint, but also counterculture. Elle decided at age 15 to remain a virgin until marriage, first on her list of nonnegotiables. Now 33, she remains determined not to negotiate away her core values, no matter how strange these might appear to others. Enter Marco Maselli, who sweeps Elle away to the provocative world of Italian fashion, where she struggles to recognize the difference between lust and love. Marco gives Elle a beautiful handmade dress, which makes her feel gorgeous, and fills her with a surprising level of confidence. (This Sarasota author certainly understands the power of fashion! A fabulous outfit can give a woman a sense of boldness, a willingness to see herself from the outside in. Trouble enters when a woman’s outside appearance becomes the only thing that matters.) Elle is blindsided by Marco’s persuasive charm. When a hot, competitive woman named Gabby saunters provocatively onto the scene, Elle’s fear of losing Marco becomes greater than her integrity, and she makes the dangerous decision to give herself to him to ’save’ their relationship. Surprising turns of events take place, which I shall not reveal. However, the author’s message is clear: women have not been protective of each t Hurricane Season : : Novel by Sonja Bentley Zant. ONLINE VIDEO other; they often betray and abandon each other to compete for a man. Too frequently, sex is used as a weapon to attract a man who is involved with someone else, or to keep from losing him. “I really don’t want to be known as the abstinence author,” confesses Sonja. “But I do hope the provocative subject matter of this book will illustrate the power of non-negotiable living.” By giving her audience a great beach read, Sonja Zant hopes to get her message across, especially to young women: Be strong. Be committed. Live your life with intention. www.artsandculturemag.com sonjazant.com arts and culture magazine : : 31 http://www.artsandculturemag.com http://sonjazant.com
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