Celebrating Local Authors: Literary Voices Shaping Our Community

In South Jersey, a lively community of local authors share their stories, each adding their unique voices and experiences to the literary world.

Among them are Daniel Yulo, Bennett Carlton, Corina Jane Benedetti, and Heather James Miller, who have embraced the power of storytelling in their own ways. Their works, ranging from novels and poetry to memoirs and historical accounts, offer glimpses into their lives and the rich backgrounds of their communities.

With every page, they set out to take readers on journeys of discovery and connection, celebrating what it means to be human.

Daniel Yulo, a now retired Certified Public Accountant who resides in Clarksboro and is originally from Carneys Point, began his writing journey while caring for his 104-year-old father. He filled the quiet moments during his father’s naps by developing his first novel, Meeting Secure which introduces an elite paramilitary group called SECURE, tasked with solving interconnected crimes in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

His second book, VP Secure, set to release soon in a few weeks. This book follows the same group as they investigate the kidnapping of the Vice President, with much of the action taking place locally in New Jersey and Philadelphia.

Yulo emphasizes the importance of character consistency in his writing process along with local references in his stories as he makes nods to local landmarks, for example Rutgers University, and 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.

Reflecting on his writing process, Yulo shared, “I knew what the end was going to be before, and then I wrote to that ending. I don’t know if that may not work for everyone, but it did for me.” He finds writing to be an enjoyable task, though he admits that publishing is far more challenging.

“The harder part is taking that original document and then editing it, revising it, and getting it published. Even though I have a publisher, I think publishing it is harder than writing it.”

Bennett Carlton, from Swedesboro, who recently retired from the Gloucester County Library System, is another local author who has focused much of his work on historical figures connected to the Swedesboro area. Carlton’s first book Have We Taken the Mountain?: The Civil War Battles of General Charles G. Harker was inspired by his research on General Charles Garrison Harker, a Union general from the Civil War who was born and buried in Swedesboro. He also has a school named for him in Woolwich Township as part of the Swedesboro Woolwich Elementary School System.

Encouraged by a descendant of Harker, Carlton expanded his research into a full book. Carlton also adapted his story about Harker into a children’s story as well titled, General Harker: Civil War Hero, making Harker’s tale accessible for all ages.

His following works include stories about Revolutionary War loyalist John Hatton titled, King of the Tories: John Hatton and the American Revolution in Swedesboro and Woolwich Township, New Jersey and Civil War ironclad commander Captain Jeffers titled, With Zeal and Intelligence: Captain Jeffers Commands the Monitor.

Carlton also ventured into historical fiction with his novel The Professor, set during World War I, following a professor fired from his job is recruited by a German spy ring to sabotage U.S. military sites while evading federal agents. As the authorities close in, he plans to escape on a U-boat, but is torn between leaving his true love or persuading her to flee with him to Germany.

Like Yulo, Carlton faced challenges in the publishing world, finding traditional routes difficult. “Yeah, I would say not to be discouraged if you want to go through, or if you’ve tried to go through the traditional, you know, publishers,” he said. “They’re very selective. They can afford to be. But, you know, I wouldn’t discourage anyone from trying, but there is an alternative.” Carlton turned to self-publishing through Kindle Direct Publishing, a decision that allowed him to get his work out into the world without waiting on the approval of major publishers.

With the help of his sons, Carlton is able to layout his books and his wife also assists with proofreading. Despite the challenges, Carlton describes his writing journey as “gratifying” and that he found so much encouragement in his last project The Professor, as he gears up to pen the sequel.

Heather James Miller, a Hospitality Professional from Logan Township is another author whose works have personal significance. She published her grandmother Thelma K. Haskins’ memoir, I Never Walked Alone, in 2020, capturing her grandmother’s 93-year life journey and challenges. The book found great success and was named an Amazon bestseller. Miller believes that everyone has a story, whether that be one of pain and sorrow or of victory and triumph, they are all stories that deserve to be shared.

That being said, in addition to publishing her grandmother’s memoir, she also has helped publish many other authors. A few of the stories she has published are A Tailored Fit Life: Faith and Fashion Guide by Samantha Murray, Now Unto Him: Prayers & Devotions From the Heart by Melissa Huggins, The Blueprint of Prayer by Pastor Freudeline St. Jean and Diana Abellard.

In 2022, Miller released her own memoir, Born in Adultery: The Secret Daughter’s Memoir, where she opens up about being born into an adulterous relationship, and the drama and trauma that came from being a secret child.

Writing became a healing and eye opening process for Miller, and now she continues to set out to help others share their stories. In March 2025, she will host her first workshop, guiding participants through writing and self-publishing their own books.

The six-week course will cover everything from graphic design to editing, helping writers complete their manuscripts in three months. Miller believes, “If you can text, you can write a book,” offering a practical approach to overcoming the fears of writing.

She emphasizes the importance of healing before writing about painful experience. “What has happened to you isn’t your fault, but healing from it is your responsibility.”

By focusing on healing first, she encourages writers to tell their stories authentically, without pointing fingers, and to recognize that every trauma has a beginning that changed the course of their lives. No matter how many times a story has been told, every version deserves to be shared with the world. Miller says, “if I’ve reached one person, my job is done”.

Corina Jane Benedetti, a sixth-grade English teacher from Gibbstown, always knew she wanted to write. “I actually always wanted to write a book since I was, like, really young,” she said. “I literally started writing when I was around six years old. I was writing in journals, and I was writing like manuscripts, and my parents actually saved everything, which is crazy, and everything was dated.”

Her first book, Whispered Whirlwinds: A Serendipitous Collection of Poems and Short Stories, was published in June 2024, and she is currently working on her second book, Exponential Storms, which is set to be released on June 1, 2025.

In addition to her personal writing, Benedetti finds inspiration in her teaching career, having taught everything from special education to high school English. She finds it especially rewarding to see her students develop a love for reading and writing.

Benedetti’s work draws from her personal experiences, blending humor with heartfelt reflections, and she offers valuable advice to budding authors. “Perseverance. I always tell my students you can do anything you put your mind to. So, if there’s something that you have a goal to do, strive for that goal. And don’t give up. Do not give up. You know, persevere and just keep trying.”

As she encourages others to persevere, Benedetti recalls how she has done the same. Sharing that marketing and getting people to know about her work has been the biggest challenge she’s faced. Despite not having an educational background in marketing, Benedetti has been making major strives to get her book out to the world, as she recently participated in the Gloucester County Library System Greenwich Library Branch “Authors Meet and Greet” back in September, alongside a few other local authors one of them being Yulo.

She plans to do another meet and greet in April of 2025 at the Monroe Township Public Library. Nonetheless, with her stories Benedetti wants to make an impact, stating, “If my writing influences somebody else in a positive way, I really want to be able to do that.”

These writers, all with deep roots in their communities, have turned personal experiences, local history, and even challenging moments into compelling narratives. They have each taken unique paths to publication, facing the ups and downs of both traditional and self-publishing.

What unites them is their passion for storytelling and a shared belief in the transformative power of the written word. Through their works, they are not only leaving a literary legacy but also offering encouragement and insight to others who aspire to tell their own stories.

Each of these authors has faced their own set of challenges, from the mechanics of storytelling to the emotional hurdles of sharing personal stories. Yet, they all share a common thread: the belief that storytelling can change lives.

Whether writing historical fiction, memoirs, or poetry, they all encourage others to pursue in their creative endeavors, proving that every story deserves to be told, heard and read. Heather James Miller says, “Stories change lives, and they save lives.”

By Asiya Robinson