Truth Can be Stranger Than Fiction

Read about the amazing true story that inspired me to write A TIME TO… at 9/11 Remembered.

"A Must Read for Peace Corps Volunteers, Past and Present"

Barbara Henkin, Peace Corps Volunteer (Jamaica, 1969 - 71) says, "Being able to reflect on past experiences and then being able to put them into perspective is a rewarding thing to do. Al Masterson's opportunity to do this (albeit frightening) is an inspiration for readers of this book to do the same. The author, through Al, is very skillful in helping us to answer the "why" questions we all face in our own lives.

"Al's Peace Corps experiences in Ethiopia evoke particular memories and life lessons learned for this former Peace Corps volunteer. The opportunities we encounter and the choices we make have such a profound influence on the rest of our lives. Tadese, Al's Ethiopian friend and colleague while serving, reminds one of the richness and rarity of the chance to be immersed in a different culture for an extended period of time. Lessons learned during the Peace Corps experience do indeed enhance and enrich the lives of those who serve........the old but true adage that material things don't equal happiness; that we need to give back; that life isn't always fair; that we should always try to look at the "big picture"; that taking risks can cause the discovery of unknown talents; that smiles can equal an "international currency"; that it is so important to "listen to your soul"; and many more.

Thanks to Ron Peterson for the reminder that capturing and appreciating the moments of one's Peace Corps experience is indeed a worthwhile endeavor!"

Note: A TIME TO... is part of the Peace Corps Collection in the Library of Congress

"I highly recommend this book..."

A TIME TO... is not a book merely to entertain. It is a book that could provide a healing venue for those who lost loved ones on September 11 and the days afterward. Al Masterson represents all the victims of this tragedy… I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy a well-written novel intertwined with historical facts.
— Tannia E. Ortiz-Lopés (catholicfiction.net) and publisher of http://timewithtannia.tripod.com
Read the complete review here.

"An Engaging Exploration of Faith, Trust and Hope"

Shaeri Richards, author of Dancing with your Dragon, says, "If you enjoy exploring issues of trust, faith and hope, 'A Time To... A Baby Boomer's Spiritual Adventures' by Ronald Louis Peterson will provide you with many hours of reading pleasure. Set during the World Trade Center attack on 9-11, this well written novel focuses on the life of one man caught in the towers during the attack. As he faces his death, protagonist Al Masterson is led on an amazing spiritual adventure back through his life and we journey along with him, from his childhood struggles with a school bully, to his days in Ethiopia as a Peace Corps Volunteer, to his career as a television journalist. As Al is taken back to key moments in his past, we see how his life experiences have caused him to lose faith. "How can God allow this to happen?" is a question that comes up often for him. Yet even though his life has many challenges, Al's higher nature continually inspires his actions. In the end, the purpose of even the most difficult events of Al's life becomes clear, as he chooses to respond with faith rather than bitterness, and compassion rather than revenge. I enjoyed reading this book, and my soft heart was melted to tears more than once."

By the way, I highly recommend reading Dancing with your Dragon because it will help you harmonize your physical and spiritual lives in very stimulating ways.

"The Best, Most Original Book I've Read in Years"

Faith Filled Family Magazine says, "A TIME TO... is a captivating book right from the beginning. The author's use of words draws readers directly into the story and captivates their interest by making them feel as if they were there...

..."Overall, A TIME TO... is well written, and relatable. It is the best, most original book that I have read in years. It is clearly written, and well thought out. I would highly recommend it."

You can read Michelle Danko's entire review and inspirational stories in the spring edition of Faith Filled Family Magazine.

"A GREAT new spiritual book!" - Anglo-Catholic News Service

Rutherford Card. Johnson says - I have had very little time for discretionary reading these days, so when I not only read a book, but call it a page turner, that ought to say something. That is precisely what I would call A Time To... by Ronald Louis Peterson. The novel claims to be a baby boomer's spiritual journey, and it is just that. But, the message is one that ought to resonate with every man, woman, and child, no matter what their age.

Ronald Louis Peterson drew on his own experience growing up in New York, working as a Peace Corp volunteer in Ethiopia, and as a media and public affairs professional. This gives the book a great deal of realism. Also, the novel is filled with historical facts from the various periods of Al Masterson's life. While some younger readers might not know about all of these events, I do not believe this detracts from the message of the story at all. Whether young or old, and no matter where you are in your own faith journey, A Time To... will speak to your heart.

A TIME TO... Reviews

Midwest Book Review says, "Thousands of deaths make it easy to not see individual stories within those thousands. "A TIME TO... A Baby Boomer's Spiritual Adventures" is a novel powered by a memoir as Ronald Louis Peterson tells the story of an individual who embraced the second half of the twentieth century and found spirituality and life through it all, before facing the tragedy of 9/11. "A TIME TO..." is a thoughtful read, recommended--Five Stars."

CatholicFiction.net says, "A TIME TO... is a special look at life and the people God places there to help us as we grow in faith, hope, love and charity. It's an enjoyable book that takes the reader to many unexpected places with many interesting characters."

Louise Cardone-Calabrese says, "Very moving, stimulating lots of soul searching... setting afire long frozen feelings, making them warm and flexible again--Five Stars."

LStan07 says, "A TIME TO... is quite the pleasant surprise. Not your typical 9/11 tale, this story takes you on a personal journey with the main character, Al Masterson, to rediscover the best qualities of humanity. A great juxtaposition to see how one of the darkest tragedies in history can serve as the backdrop for some of the most beautiful examples of what makes life worth living. A great read--Five Stars."

Featured on Souls Code

I'm honored to have an excerpt of my novel featured on Souls Code.

My Interview with Family Fiction

Family Fiction just posted its interview with me. Ronald Louis Peterson Q&A: Ron Peterson FamilyFiction.com

Video Review

My Lit Chick Show Interview

Visit The Lit Chick Show

The origin of A TIME TO...

We all see life and events in our lives differently for many reasons; often age and experience are major factors. In the case of an event like 9/11, American adults experienced it much differently than children because adults knew intuitively from their lives that 9/11 introduced a new kind of war in which American civilians suddenly found themselves in the middle of a scary global battlefield. As I struggled to come to terms with this new reality, I began to recognize that 9/11 had adversely affected me spiritually. It had threatened to kill some of my soul’s most prized possessions: love, faith, hope and charity. When I concluded that others probably felt the same way, I began to play around with story ideas that would address these issues in a positive way. The final result is my novel, A TIME TO ….

A TIME TO… is a story about Al Masterson, a baby boomer and a risk manager who worked in the World Trade Center on 9/11. It’s about an historic tragedy and a soul-searching metaphysical journey, about a child’s love and his special gift, about the killing of an enemy and the imprisonment of a friend, about losing faith and then finding it as a Peace Corps Volunteer thanks to a peasant girl in famine-stricken Ethiopia, about discovering the power of hope during the last days of an iconic African emperor, about being victimized by the treachery of a coworker and rising above it in an act of charity, and about discovering one’s soul. It’s about how Al’s life was changed forever by a spiritual adventure that culminated with an amazing, satisfying ending at ground zero.