Numerous emotionally jarring interruptions, mainly the deaths of two husbands, two sons and her mother, kept Barbara J. Duell from completing her contemporary romance novel, “Beyond Love,” before this year.

Duell began writing the fictional book in 1994, having spent nearly 30 years in administration at Loma Linda University’s surgery department.

She wrote medical-related articles for trade journals but never had attempted creative writing before starting the novel.

After retiring, she became involved with Child Protective Services and civil rights, and served on the bench of the Pima County Justice Court.

She has lived in Fountain Hills with a son since moving three years ago from Tucson.

Her publishing company, Shadow Wind LLC, released the book in February.

In hindsight, completing the novel after extended periods of temporarily setting aside the book was therapeutic, said Duell.

While her oldest son battled terminal cancer, he advised her to retrieve and finish the manuscript.

“Don’t sit around and be sad, he told me,” she said. “So I dragged it out again.

“It was one of those things that sort of brings you back from madness when you think you can hardly deal with it.”

“Beyond Love” tells the story of eight-year-old David Hampton who is rescued by a woman from being nearly run over by a car.

All David ever wanted was a Mom and he decides the female professor with a man’s name of Michael is the mother of his dreams. All he has to do is convince his father, and the woman.

As the initial attraction between the two main characters develops, the adults must deal with emotional pain from their previous relationships.

The characters are not based on real people, said Duell. She drew upon her knowledge of a medical setting by making David’s father a physician.

“It’s just my wild imagination,” she said.

The paperback book is available on Amazon.com; Barnes and Noble.com; e-book; and from Duell. She sells her copies for $12.

Her email is bdnativespirit@gmail.com

Her passion to write started when she first learned to talk, said Duell.

“Simple tales, spun from the depth of my spirit, told to anyone who would listen,” she said. “Then I found a pencil and paper and learned to write, well, almost. No one could understand what I scribbled, but I didn’t care. I just continued to dream and to write.”

Duell’s second book, “Come Hear the Whisper of Time,” about surviving loss and grief, is scheduled to be released in May.

She plans to follow with a children’s book, “Best Friends,” in June. Except for illustrations, the writing is finished. Duell is actively in search of an artist for the finishing touches.

Another novel about children living on the streets, “A Place by the Bay,” will follow in 2015.

She described her writings as “the culmination of what I turned to when I couldn’t sleep at night. Thoughts and memories. Fiction and fantasy. It’s all about relationships. Bringing misunderstandings out into the light so they can become true solid relationships.”