Author Diane Owen Connelly shares a story of grief, faith, forgiveness, and unexpected reconciliation in her book, From the Crosswalk to the Cross.
New York City, NY
Author Diane Owen Connelly is sharing a story of grief, faith, forgiveness, and unexpected reconciliation in her book, From the Crosswalk to the Cross.
Born from the devastating loss of her daughter on October 2, 2017, the book chronicles how tragedy transformed Connelly’s spiritual journey and challenged her to put the principles of Christian love and forgiveness into practice.
Rather than focusing solely on loss, From the Crosswalk to the Cross follows what happened in its aftermath. Connelly describes growing closer to God during one of the most painful periods of her life and learning to forgive in circumstances that tested the very meaning of forgiveness. She presents the story as a testimony of how faith can provide direction when grief changes life forever.
One of the book’s most significant elements is the involvement of the man responsible for Connelly’s daughter’s death. He approved the telling of the story and contributed a personal statement that Connelly included in the manuscript. His participation adds another dimension to a story centered on accountability, compassion, reconciliation, and the difficult process of moving forward.
The journey also reached beyond the pages of the book. One year after the tragedy, Connelly and the man’s mother came together at the crosswalk where Connelly’s daughter lost her life to place a marker. The gathering received television news coverage and became a visible expression of two mothers connected by tragedy choosing a path toward healing rather than allowing grief and resentment to have the final word.
That extraordinary connection gives Connelly’s story a perspective that extends beyond a traditional account of bereavement. By sharing not only the pain of losing her daughter but also the relationships and acts of forgiveness that emerged afterward, Connelly explores what it can mean to choose compassion without erasing loss. Her experience offers readers a deeply personal example of how healing can involve difficult conversations, unexpected human connections, and a willingness to move forward while continuing to honor the person who was lost.
Connelly wrote From the Crosswalk to the Cross for readers facing grief, struggling with unforgiveness, seeking healing, or hoping to strengthen their relationship with God. Her message is rooted in the belief that even profound suffering can become part of a larger spiritual journey and that forgiveness can open possibilities that once seemed unimaginable.
Through her writing, Connelly hopes her daughter’s story can reach beyond her own family and encourage people navigating painful chapters in their lives. The book invites readers to consider how faith, love, and forgiveness can coexist with grief without diminishing the reality of loss.
From the Crosswalk to the Cross is now available.
The book is available at:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HK9PS9W2
For review copies, interview requests, or additional information, please contact:
Media Contact Details
Diane Owen Connelly
BrightKey PR
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Phone: 6466400262