I have been asked by Authors Lounge to discuss my book, Online Tryst: Flirting with Destruction and to tell the story of my book and my journey.
During the years of 2017 to January of 2021, I engaged in online dating hoping to find my mate after the prolonged illness and passing of my husband in 2015. Online Tryst is my story; chronologically telling how I believe I arrived at the terrible conclusion and what I perceive would be a better game plan and perspective. Written from a Christian point of view, the tale of my breaking point and how I came out of it is a painful and open discussion of what I learned.
I believe that any Christian (especially a woman and/or widow),
who is lonely and thinking online dating might be the solution, could benefit from reading this book, the story of my journey. It is not an exhaustive discussion because I wanted the book to be short enough to be easily read. But, it has enough meat in it to be relative.
Included in my story one will find a brief story of my personal history from childhood to reaching the point where the story in Online Tryst began, outlining specific salient points which I believe contributed to my downfall. Following, there is a fairly detailed description of several online “relationships” and the final “relationship” that ultimately almost broke me.
The book discusses thinking that can lead someone down this destructive spiral and highlights alternative ideas.
I do include some technical, internet and financial issues of which the average person may not be aware. Lack of knowledge and being too trusting can leave one very vulnerable. But the psychological impact of online predators is the worst part, in my opinion. As we all know, computer and internet technology is ever-evolving so while these issues are pertinent, the attitudes and beliefs of the one seeking a mate are the most appropriate and timely to address.
Additionally, included are several pages of references to articles which reveal some of the legal implications of what the perpetrators of online romance scams seek to accomplish in addition to lining their pockets. Also, there are several pages that describe the basis for a Christian foundation in one’s life. I believe these to be key in a correct approach to resolving any issues in our life but, specifically for this discussion, the issue of loneliness and love.
Online Tryst, written in 2022, would be a wonderful tool for a mature Christian Single Ministry and a valuable resource for those coming out of the grief process after losing their loved one. Even after the grief process becomes more manageable, the emotional impact clouds judgement and leaves the survivor of death or divorce vulnerable. My personal online dating experience would be a gripping plot to a movie.
I would love to prevent others from going through such pain as I experienced.
As the author of Online Tryst: Flirting with Destruction, I feel that the book covers a short period of my life but the story it encompasses has been very defining. Until I was 40, I was a wife and mom, important to my family but not very spectacular, to say the least. I aided my husband in many Christian ministries over the years and have studied Scripture extensively.
I had been married twice and raised four children in our blended family.
However, at that point my husband was diagnosed with the first of many disabling illnesses and I decided to go to college to hopefully, support our family as an accountant. I was encouraged to change my major to journalism or other similar studies but our financial needs were too urgent to follow dreams.
At age 44, I graduated with a B.S. degree in Accounting with an emphasis in Personal Finance. I then formed an accounting practice which I operated for the next 19 years and from which I fully retired three years after my husband passed. It was at this point I became embroiled in my online dating experience. After shaking myself free of that mess and finding myself in fairly dire financial straits, I was encouraged to draw on those somewhat rusty writing skills to tell my story.
Today I am healthy and whole, pursuing this ‘late in life’ new career with high hopes for my future. Thank you, again, for this opportunity to share my story.
My book (Kindle version and paperback) may be found on Amazon Online Tryst: Flirting with Destruction, by Theresa Miles:
