What inspired you to write this book?
It started as a challenge from my mom. We both study the Bible extensively, and I’m also a writer—so she challenged me to write retellings of Biblical stories to get my imagination engaged. At first I just shared them with her. But I also have a podcast called Christian Natural Health that includes scripture meditations—so I thought, why not record them for those episodes? I started to do that, and before long I amassed so many of them that I decided to publish them. Then I realized, there’s too many for just one book! So now it’s a series. This is the first in the series, and I thought it only appropriate that it would be about Jesus, since everything in the Old and the New Testament revolves around Him. I also wanted to group His miracles together to try to get to know Him better. I hope this collection does the same thing for others.
What can we expect from you in the future?
The second book in the series is called “Daughters of Zion,” about the women of the Bible. The third will be called “Covenants,” and it’s an in-depth look at the various covenants God made with mankind throughout the Old and New Testaments, which I think are key to understanding the Bible as a whole. The last one doesn’t have a title yet, but it’ll be a hodgepodge of the stories that don’t fit elsewhere, of the judges, kings, prophets, and apostles.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I learn best when I teach. In the same way, when writing a retelling, I ask questions that I would never ask in just a casual reading. The stories are more indelibly marked in my imagination, which is exactly what I was going for.
Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
My first introduction to Jesus from a fictional standpoint was Aslan from the Chronicles of Narnia, and oh! He is the most beautiful, most compelling fictional character I think I’ve ever read. I can’t get enough of him. I hoped to write something that brought Jesus to life in the same way for others!
What are your top favorite authors?
C.S. Lewis, J.K. Rowling, Suzanne Collins, Orson Scott Card, Jeff Wheeler, Jane Austen… those are the ones off the top of my head!
What book do you think everyone should read?
The Bible, obviously! :)
How long have you been writing?
If we’re only counting books I’ve actually published, I started “Intangible” in 2008 and published it in 2013. But I wrote my first full length novel in elementary school sometime, though it will never see the light of day. :)
Do you see writing as a career?
It’s a side gig at the moment, though I’d love to have the option of making it full time someday!
What do you think about the current publishing market?
There are plusses and minuses to the self-publishing movement. I’m extremely grateful to have control over my work, as I think the publishing industry has its own agendas with which I largely disagree. But the down side is, it’s very hard to get noticed with so much competition.
Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?
I am getting into historical fiction and high fantasy lately, which are both new for me. YA fantasy has always been my favorite before, but I’m finding more and more that I don’t have the patience for the familiar tropes I’ve read a thousand times, or the same characters in different packaging.
Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?
I only have 1.5 hrs four days per week to write, so I write one at a time. I'd never finish anything if I did more than that… though that created a conflict while writing this series, as I was already 100 pages in to a high fantasy novel but my heart was with this series. I finally decided to listen to it, though I fully intend to go back to the other one eventually.
What makes a good story?
Compelling characters, surprising plot twists, and rich world building.
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