The author, who now resides in Daphne, Ala., said the book was written to help her deal with the grief of losing her 23-year-old son, Charlie, who died on July 3, 2009, due to complications with pneumonia.

Using the pen name JA Diller, her first book was self-published book through CreateSpace. It is co-authored by her younger son, BJ Diller, who is 16. She and her husband, Doug Diller, have been married for 31 years.

According to CreateSpace, the book involves three main characters, Feshy, Falk and Gigi, along with other family and friends, in the paranormal world.

The description reads: “A fantasy novel based upon my dreams I have experienced since the passing of my oldest son, Charlie (Feshy). Mayhem breaks loose; Feshy must find a way to save his earth siblings from The Shadow Mist, who threatens both himself and his Earth family,” according to the website.

“About one month after Charlie passed away, I began to have dreams of him living in another world connected to ours through a vortex,” Diller said. “One morning I awoke to our home filled with a dense fog. I slowly made my way to my computer chair, sat down, heard a whisper in my ear ‘Mom, please write a book about your dreams.’”

So, BJ our younger son bought me a journal a few days later to keep notes in about my dreams. ‘Beyond Life’ took form,” said Diller.

“Beyond Life” has 173 pages and 10 illustrations, drawn by Paul Schabbing of Neoga.

Diller said she hopes people who read her book come away knowing “that their loved ones are always beside them, (and) that we must go on in life. Find your way to adapt your body and mind after losing someone, and most of all never lose faith. Keep a journal, or something to help you cope.”

She has since started another book titled, “Beyond Life: The Betrayal.”