A fourth-grade English writing assignment changed Bonita Buie’s life forever.

“Our English teacher had us write a letter, so I wrote a business letter,” Buie said. “My teacher took it to the principal because she thought it was so good that a fourth grader could write like that. They framed my letter and hung it on the wall in the office.”

She did not know God was calling her to become a writer at such a young age. She went on to major in business communications with no intention to write.

She later heard God call her to writing again.

“I would start on a book and then stop because I didn’t think I could do it, but God kept working with me and dealing with me,” Buie said. “It took me about five to six years to write my first book, ‘Through My Sisters’ Eyes,’ but I’ve been writing and making it plain every since.”

Buie has written three more books: “Unsolicited Encounters: The Guardian Angel”, “How I Got Over” and “Unsolicited Encounters: Good Triumphs Over Evil.” Her books are self-published through Aubey Publishing in Washington.

The writer has received positive feedback from all of her books. Most of her readers are local along with fans in Ohio and Massachusetts.

She admits that her career has taken her through many tests, but the Christian lives by James 1:2-4. She has written all of her books based on her personal life or to encourage others. “We go through so much in life and we kind of beat ourselves up on the things that we do that’s not of God. I want to encourage people to not give up because there’s always a silver lining at the end,” she said.

Buie will be hosting a book signing for her newest book, “Unsolicited Encounters: Good Triumphs Over Evil” Tuesday at the Lincoln County Public Library from 5-7 p.m.

“I’ve spoken to some of the other people that have read my books in the past and they can’t put it down,” she said. “The same thing will happen with this one.”