St. James resident Faith-Ann Dalton has authored a memoir titled “In This House We Lived: A Faith Journey of Choosing Life Again and Again,” set to be published on May 8 by Anointed Colony Media.

At 21-years-old, Dalton visited a pregnancy resource center seeking an abortion. She was overwhelmed by the idea of motherhood among the relationship, family and financial issues she was facing at the time. She spent time in a maternity home, which provided her with the support she needed to decide on a different path.

Now a mother of four, the memoir traces Dalton’s journey of healing, which involved becoming a mother before she was ready and learning to live by her faith.

The idea for the book came to Dalton when she was on maternity leave in 2021 with her oldest daughter. Unsure of what to do with the extra time she had on her hands, she began writing. 

“Writing is something I’ve done since I was a small child,” Dalton said. “So it happened organically, and then it just built from there.”

Though the book went through multiple drafts throughout the writing process, Dalton said its message remained the same. She wants readers to know that the story isn’t just about choosing life for your baby, but about choosing life for yourself.

“Choosing life always is the better and brighter option, even if it seems really dim and you don’t see a person going in a good direction with their life, sometimes our paths change,” Dalton said. “You have to trust the process and trust God.”

She said the writing process had its challenges, but ultimately ended up being healing for her.

“It’s not just about me, it’s about all mothers and babies who are going through similar situations of being pressured to abort,” Dalton said. “If they make that decision, it’s hugely regrettable, and I think that that’s why I (wrote) it.”

When the book is published in print and e-book editions in May, Dalton said she is most looking forward to holding a physical copy in her hands.

“Just tangibly feeling a book that I’ve written in my hands, that’s gonna feel really good and unreal,” Dalton said.

The first chapter of “In This House we Lived” will be released this month for free to subscribers of Dalton’s email newsletter at www.faithanndalton.com.

“I just know that in the marrow of my bones I was supposed to do this, and so I’m doing it, and whatever happens after it’s out there doesn’t matter as much as just, I was obedient to what I believe God told me to do,” Dalton said.