Monday, December 6, 2010

E.G. Lewis" "Witness"


We're happy to have E.G. Lewis with us today talking about his book, Witness. To learn more about E.G. and his book, read on!

Title: WITNESS
Publisher: Cape Arago Press

Cover blurb: WITNESS — an old story told in a new way. Young shepherd girl, Rivkah, accompanied her father to a Bethlehem stable and held the baby Jesus…and years later she watched him die on a cross. Meet Shemu’el, the man God destined for Rivkah. Experience a love so strong that neither Caesar's might nor Herod's cruelty could crush it. Witness it all through the eyes of one who lived it.

1) How did this story come to you?
 In 2006, while singing Carols during a Christmas service, I began to imagine a young shepherd girl accompanying her father to the stable that first Christmas. I immediately knew she’d want to hold the baby Jesus. I sat down to write this short, sweet Christmas tale knowing only two things; her name was Rivkah, the Aramaic form of Rebecca, and she’d held the Christ child. In no time at all, my little story grew into a full blown book and that single book became The Seeds of Christianity™ Series.

2)Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
 When I completed WITNESS I went through the usual query process and, just when I was about to give up, found an agent who loved Rivkah almost as much as I did. Still, Biblical fiction is never an easy sell and the Christian publishers weren’t interested, so my agent decided to run it by the New York trade houses instead. They eventually passed, but by then several CBA editors expressed interest. Through two more rounds of submissions WITNESS garnered lots of praise and no offers. My agent released the book back to me, suggesting I try to place it with a small publisher. About six months later a local publisher, Cape Arago Press, took on the series.

3)Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
The main characters in most of my books have been women; with a wife, three adult daughters, and five granddaughters, I suppose it comes naturally. Also, my books are Biblically and historically accurate. What happens to Rivkah and Shemu’el could, and did happen to people of that era. I once wrote and directed corporate training films. It surprised me, I’d never worked with scripts and sets before.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
The second book DISCIPLE, was released this past June. Right now, I’m hard at work on the next one in the series, APOSTLE, which has a February deadline. There’s one more after that and then I can turn to some other ideas I have squirreled away.

5) Parting comments?
I want to thank you for this opportunity to connect with your readers and tell them about Rivkah, WITNESS and The Seeds of Christianity Series™. Writing and researching these books has been a journey of faith.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My blog, Sowing the Seeds – The Life and Times of the Early Christians, has lots of interesting articles about the Early Church, Judaism, the Roman Empire, etc. http://seedsofchristianity.com/wordpress/. All of my books are available in hard copy or as eBooks from Amazon and most other internet booksellers, or direct from the publisher, Cape Arago Press, at http://www.capearagopress.com/

14 comments:

  1. I like biblical historical fiction. Put me in the win, adriennaturner@earthlink.net

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  2. I love it when authors can literally place us readers in a historical setting, and it seems as if that is exactly what you do!
    I would LOVE to be considered for this giveaway!
    Blessings and Smiles,
    chakasa58 at gmail dot com

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  3. What a sweet story this must be, especially to write about. No matter how many times it's been written, it's always new and wonderful. Thank you for this giveaway and the chance to win this lovely book. I hope I do.

    Peace and Joy,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

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  4. This is one that looks great for the season! Thanks for hosting!

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

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  5. I love the picture on the book. This story seems very sweet and shows the strength of enduring love.
    Thank you for the chance to win and read it.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

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  6. Sounds like a great read!
    julia(at)thouartjules(dot)com

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  7. Rebekah was first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 24:15-67. Now E.G. Lewis has weitten a book with a character named Rivkah, the Aramaic form of Rebecca. I would love to read Witness, the Biblical fiction of my name.
    Rebecca
    rbooth43(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  8. please enter me I'm a subscriber

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  9. This sounds really interesting; lovely idea.
    sdeeth at msn dot com

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  10. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to possibly win a copy of your book, "The Witness". Please include me in the many folks who also want to win your book. I love the premise of setting your characters down into the biblical settings of the characters life & times. I would like to have the opportunity to acquaint myself with Rivkah, her life & situations that affected that life & probably her faith & convictions, as well!

    May all your day continue to glorify & give honor to our Lord God, Jesus Christ, Savior of all those who will acknowledge & accept Him into their lives.

    Do you plan to make this book available to Kindle readers as well?

    May your Christmas & all the days of the New Year continue to draw you closer to Christ as you use your talents to his Glory. Blessed are you to have rec'd this talent to convey stories and words that serve to bring others to come into relationship with Our Savior.

    SweetThot@tds.net wants to win & read "The Witness".

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  11. would love to read this book ... thanks for the chance :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  12. I would feel so blessed to win this book. Ed has been blessed with the gift of writing. Merry Christmas!

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  13. To the Anonymous Visitor who asked about a Kindle Version, the answer is Yes WITNESS is currently available in Amazon's Kindle Store as well as The Sony Store, the iStore, and for the B&N Nook among others.

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  14. I love reading biblical historical fiction and I love this story. This is the perfect time to read about Jesus birth.
    Thank you for this opportunity to enter.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete

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