Ever feel like you are 'fighting the devil' - nowhere to turn, no end in sight?
An Awakenings connection and interview with Jeannie Walker,
award-winning author of Fighting the Devil
As you ponder this question, think back to generations past when the first settlers set foot on the shores of America. Think about the hardships endured before the journey, during the journey and after the journey. What about sacrifices - family, friends, loved ones - left behind or lost along the way? 'Twas not an easy task, the founding of a nation, the break from tyranny, revolution, liberation, adaptation. . .So, would you say 'fighting the devil' was a daily part of life?
Throughout history lies evidence of instances reflective of 'fighting the devil'. They exist within homes, on the streets, in the daylight and under the murkiness of darkness. Story after story has been told and/or written of encounters that endanger lives and destroy families. Some live to tell their story while others do not. Those that do survive never truly live without fear for too many hauntings shroud their very being.
As far back as recorded history, tales
cast foreboding shadows, some fact, others fiction. Then, there are those
limitless unrecorded messages ingrained within hearts, minds, and souls that
scream to be let out but fear or lack of courage forbids the story to be told.
Some perhaps find friends or relatives willing to listen while others fall on a
deaf ear. Even those that listen are not ardent believers.
While you may not have been a victim or personally
known someone who has endured torment, mentally or physically, there may be
someone in your ancestral chain that endured the unimaginable. Someone
somewhere knows! Perhaps it is a story lying dormant awaiting a
moment of rebirth for a restless soul to finally find peace.
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| Jeannie Walker |
With this background in
mind, Awakenings has invited
a visitor to her site today - Jeannie
Walker, author of
"Fighting the Devil", True Story of Consuming Passion,
Deadly Poison, and Murder.
Thank you for talking with us today, Jeannie. For
people who aren't familiar with who you are, please tell us about
yourself.
Jeannie: I grew up in rural Oklahoma and later Texas.
Most of the reading and writing I did was in
school. Growing up on a farm didn't leave a lot of time for
anything else except tending
to farm animals, feeding and watering
the chickens, gathering
the eggs, milking the cows, and feeding
the pigs. Then, there
was harvest time when the entire family
had to pull cotton,
combine wheat, and bale hay. Any spare
time I got, I spent
outside sitting under a big oak tree
enjoying nature and reading
a good book. My English teacher at Lone
Wolf, Oklahoma was a
big influence in my life. Mrs. Schreiner
encouraged all her students
to excel in reading and writing. I worked hard
to achieve excellence
and make straight A's because of the respect I had for
Mrs.
Schreiner and my other teachers in
school.
I have a lot of hobbies. I like to golf,
play tennis, take walks
and ride my bike. I also like to sing,
read and write. I believe
being in tune with nature helps me to
understand how to be
happy. My main love is God. My best
friend is Jesus Christ.
He leads me, talks with me and walks
with me. When I get too
weak to carry on, He carries me. That's
why there is only one
footprint in the sand.
Jeannie, as we share this time together, hopefully all
who read
will gain a better understanding of how one can 'fight
the devil'
and ultimately come out the winner. Is this perhaps
the premise
behind your writing?
Jeannie: I write because I love it. I write because I believe in truth
and justice. I write because I want to
reach out and tell people to
keep trying, to do all they can because
in the end, it is worth it and
to let them know they are not alone in
their struggle(s).
Would you give us a little insight into your story? I
understand
it is a true account of your ex-husband's
murder. Is that right?
Jeannie: Yes, that's correct. I lived in Long Island, New
York.
On June 12th, my daughter called and informed me that her dad
(my former
ex-husband Jerry Sternadel) had died from arsenic poison.
The very next morning I was on an
airplane flying from Long Island,
New York to Texas to comfort
my children.
I knew my ex-husband
had been murdered and I was pretty sure who murdered him.
I
began writing down my memories and
recollections about my
relationship with my ex-husband and the woman he married
after
we divorced. I wanted to document the
past events and current
events for my children and
grandchildren. I also wanted to give the authorities any information I could on
my ex-husband, his business dealings and his widow.
It is sorrowful enough when any of us goes through the
loss of a
loved one, but to experience a murder is not Please
tell us more
about the murder.
Jeannie: Jerry Sternadel, was a self-made
Texas millionaire.
He was poisoned to death in 1990. While
hospitalized, he told
nurses and doctors alike that two women,
his wife and bookkeeper,
were poisoning him. The hospital staff did not believe his
were poisoning him. The hospital staff did not believe his
accusations and continued to let the
murder suspects have
access to him as he lay dying
in his hospital bed.
He eventually died in the hospital while
strapped down to his
hospital bed with restraints on his
hands and feet and tubes in
every orifice. Upon his death, an
anonymous caller tipped off the police.
The authorities quickly determined that
millionaire Jerry Sternadel
had died from arsenic poisoning.
The widow was the sole beneficiary
of the million-dollar estate and a $350,000
life insurance policy.
It was later learned that just before
Jerry's death a teenager had
visited the Sternadel ranch and became deathly ill after he
drank
juice that was in the refrigerator. Two
years after the death of Jerry Sternadel, a bottle of arsenic was found in a
storage locker rented
by a woman under an assumed name.
The sheriff asked me to help with the investigation because
the
small county could not afford and did
not have the time or resources
to do extensive research. I quickly decided to
become a sleuth to
help solve the murder and the Sheriff
deputized me over the phone.
I began my research by reading
everything I could about arsenic poison
and its effect on a human being. I read
books about people who use poison as a weapon to kill. I started contacting
toxicologists, medical examiners, detectives who had solved arsenic murder
cases, District Attorneys who had handed arsenic murder cases, the EPA and even
the FBI in Quantico, Virginia.
It is very remarkable, Jeannie, how you managed such
an
undertaking. The murder alone and its effect on
your children
were stresses enough without taking on more. Now that
you have brought the entire story to the surface and completed your book, is
there any thing special you learned that you would like to share?
Jeannie: I learned
a person must never give up looking for truth
and justice. Most importantly, I
learned we all have to 'fight the
devil' every minute of every day.
What is your hope for readers of your story?
Jeannie: It is my hope that anyone who reads my book will come
to the realization that they are not
alone in their struggles, no matter how big or small. And that they have the
ability to overcome and the right to become their loved one's advocate ... if
necessary, to become their own, real-life Sherlock Holmes. I hope readers will
realize God will walk beside them every step of the way in their trials and
tribulations.
Jeannie, it has indeed been a pleasure having you
spend time on Awakenings sharing such a horrific
event of your life. To all my readers and followers,
thank you for stopping by for a visit.
Yes, I have read the book. Click HERE for my review, as well as others. I highly encourage you to seek more information about Jeannie's book. I highly recommend it! 
Micki Peluso
Thank you for this interesting review on Fighting the Devil. My book list is getting longer. This is again another book that I want to read. It is a timely book for our world today, especially since we have Pastors preaching from the pulpits that there is no devil! At least, some Pastors are doing that here in Germany. I also enjoyed hearing that Jeannie has written her book with the positive affirmation to not give up, because God cares and loves us.
I enjoyed the interview very much.
Ciao,
Patricia
Thanks a million for the chance to do an interview with you. You are such a lovely lady. It was my pleasure in more ways than I can describe. I want to thank your readers for responding. It is people like you and your friends who make this world a much better place to live in. It is people like and your friends who make a light shine when there is darkness. It is people like you and your friends who fill my heart with gladness and joy. May God make His holy light to shine upon you and may His loving aura surround you to keep you healthy, happy and prosperous. God bless each and all! Thanks again for your kindness and valuable time. Truly, Jeannie Walker