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Kristin Thiele*
Public relations assistant

A senior lecturer at Avondale College is the youngest author to record a talking book for a Christian ministry to the blind and hearing impaired.

Dr Darren Morton (pictured) is so keen to spread the Christ-centred health, happiness and vibrant living message in his book, Seven secrets for feeling fantastic, he read for seven hours in a recording studio on the college's Lake Macquarie campus. "Recording the book was just another way to get the message out," says Darren, who lectures in health and exercise science. "The book's now more accessible to another audience."

Christian Services for the Blind and Hearing Impaired (CSFBHI) will include the recording, when completed--editing is continuing--in its library. The library gives the visually and aurally impaired the opportunity to "read" books they may not have had access to otherwise. It contains more than 1000 talking books, but with more than 400 members, the need for more is pressing.

"I'm looking forward with eager anticipation to Darren's book," says CSFBHI manager Les Relihan. "It is unique because many [authors] don't send us their scripted book."

Seven secrets is not the only book on the market or, probably, in the CSFBHI library, demonstrating the benefits of a Christian approach to healthy living, but it is different. "It's not just a 'how to' book," says Darren. "It actually provides information about the 'why.' I've drawn on my experience as a physiologist, as a person who studies how the human body is designed to function. I did this to illustrate not just what the secrets of feeling fantastic are, but also how and why they work. That's an important distinction. Understanding makes a big difference."

Despite the time commitment, Darren would record more talking books if the opportunity came again. "I'd do it again because this will help give the book--and its message--a greater influence," he says.

And the message is simple: "The world can be a negative place and many people, Christians included, are not experiencing the joy of living God desires for them. This book helps remedy this."

You can find Darren's book at the Adventist Book Centre in Cooranbong. Ring them on 1800 231 061

* Kristin Thiele produced and is editing the recording of Darren Morton's Seven secrets for feeling fantastic.

Credit: Ann Stafford

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