Title: JOURNEY TO JUDAH
Publisher: OakTara
Cover blurb:Could love await her, even in India?
Maggie Osteder’s given up hope of finding a man who shares her love for India. So while her friends plan dream weddings, she follows her heart, fulfilling a ten-year dream of becoming a career missionary. “Don’t lose heart. Stay focused on serving, and God will take care of the rest,” her mother always tells her. Yet upon arrival in Chennai, a fellow missionary makes a comment that strikes to Maggie’s heart—that her ministry will be more effective if she’s married. And her newfound friend says she has the perfect match: the new doctor, Gavin Munsfield.
But Maggie isn’t so sure she’s ready to open her heart . . . especially to a man who seems to be struggling with his own issues.
One woman. One God. One passion.
In an exotic culture of 7.5 million people and 30 million gods, one woman’s resolve to make the journey results in an amazing story of the Lord’s protection and provision.
1) How did this story come to you?
My daughter's love story was the initial seed; the rest is totally fiction. I was so impressed by the way God provided Rachel's "Boaz" clear around the world that I had to write about it.
My faith got a shot in the arm as I watched the Lord lovingly pick up a young man in Washington State, take him to India to meet my single missionary daughter, and then marry her in 2005 and return to India as a couple in 2006. It was truly a love story written by God. The Lord deepened my assurance in Ps. 84:11 which says, "The Lord is a sun and shield; He gives grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly."
About the time Rachel was introduced to Nathan, my women’s small group was studying A Lady in Waiting based on the story of Ruth. As I thought about the similarities between Ruth and Rachel, a story began to emerge. I woke up one morning with the title for my novel: Journey to Judah.
2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The first draft poured out of me in-between two weddings! Several readers and one agent offered helpful suggestions. After allowing the work to cook for a few months, I pulled the manuscript out once more, tweaked according to suggestions, then submitted through the Writer’s Edge agency. A year passed with no nibbles. Then in January, 2007, while visiting Rachel and family in India, I clicked onto my email. There sat an invitation from Capstone Fiction, now OakTara, to preview the entire manuscript. After more revising, Journey to Judah was published in April, 2008.
3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
While Journey to Judah is based on my oldest daughter’s love story as a career missionary in India, actually my other two daughters are involved in mission work around the world as well. Not only that, I grew up in home mission work. My father served in East Tennessee with Children’s Bible Mission for over 50 years; hence the fodder for chapter twelve of Journey to Judah where Maggie returns to one of her old childhood haunts.
4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
After a final proof, my third book, CHOSEN ONES, in the Born for India trilogy will be released. I have also signed a contract with OakTara for a stand alone novel titled, SECOND CHANCE.
5) Parting comments.
Journey to Judah is packed with action, adventure, and romance. But most of all, I want readers to know that following the Lord is not a step to fear, but a fulfilling journey on which He proves to be a faithful lover, provider, and protector. With this assurance, I hope readers will discover the special journey God has for them, no matter where that path may lead.
6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.eileenrife.com/
http://www.eileen-rife.blogspot.com/
http://www.guardyourmarriage.com/
I searched this book on CBD as well as reading your interview and I love this type of book. Sounds very interesting and an interesting interview as well! Really would love to win it. Thanks for the opportunity!
ReplyDeletedianalflowers@aol.com
Our church supported two lady missionaries and we have current friends who were also missionaries to India. Therefore I would love to win your book, Journey to Judah.
ReplyDeletekayewhitney@bellsouth.net
that sure looks like a wonderful book and I LOVE you were inspired by a real life happening. God does do amazing things. :) Look forward to reading your book and sure wouldn't mind winning a copy as I'm a pastor's wife, mother of 3 boys whom we homeschool and hopefully soon a church planting family.... ;) there's my earnest plea! LOL>
ReplyDeletejsblake@embarqmail.com
Love the interview, and I've been reading good reviews on this book. Would love to win it. Thanks for the giveway opportunity.
ReplyDeletedesertrose5173 at gmail dot com
I love the sound of this book. Thanks for the great interview. Really love to win it!
ReplyDeleteThanks so muchh!
dancealert at aol dot com
Would love to read this book set in India...please enter me in the contest. Thankyou for the interview and the chance to win Journey to Judah.
ReplyDeletemitzi_wanhan[at]yahoo[dot]com
I grew up as a PK (preacher's kid) and got to know a lot of missionaries who came to stay in our home. I learned a lot about Brazil, Peru and even India!
ReplyDeleteYears later, two of my older sisters married missionaries ... one (Jan) served 3 years with her husband in Seoul, South Korea.
The other (Bev) married a missionary's son who told her, when he proposed, that he planned to go back to serve where he grew up -- in Brazil. They have been serving there 36 years and raised all four of their children on the mission field.
When their second child was due, I flew down to spend three months in Brazil to help when the baby was born. What a fascinating three months that was! I learned so much about the Brazilian people, their culture and even learned to speak Portuguese. The worst thing about my trip? The baby waited until the day I left to make her appearance! :-/
Journey to Judah sounds like a fascinating read and one that I would enjoy.
potter1165@hughes.net
I love your upbeat attitude about serving. It seems like so many books regarding missionaries center around the hardships and miss or minimize the joy. Thanks for entering me in the drawing.
ReplyDeletetwinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com
Great interview! What a unique, fresh story. Thanks for the giveaway. I'd love to be entered for a chance to win!
ReplyDelete-Emily
hendrickson_emily(at)hotmail(dot)com
This is another book I am writing on my wishlist. I'm so glad to read of new books and authors on your blog that I would never have seen otherwise. Am saving my gift cards from my birthday until I finish my TBR stack, so this is going to be written down with the rest of the titles and I'll have to make a tough decision on how to spend those gift cards when the time comes!
ReplyDeletedianalflowers@aol.com
I need this book as I continue my journey in faith! It sounds so life-affirming. Thanks for writing such an awesome-sounding book.
ReplyDeleteI love that she took this from her own witnessing experiences of love from India and U.S., then reviewed a scripture in reference to this awakening and then took the necessary steps to write this craft for us to read. I would love to read such a love story since currently, I'm dating a man overseas from Africa but in Turkey right now. I want to continue to believe that all things are possible through God.
ReplyDeleteadriennaturner (at) earthlink (dot) net. Sorry. Or you can follow our Goggle account to put us in the drawing (email).
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great book--I'd love to read it!
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this! This posting was awesome and the book looks great! Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDelete~Molly~
Mollydedwards AT yahoo DOT com
Journey to Juda sounds like a wonderful book and I would love to read it. Please add me to the drawing and thank you for the chance to win it.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
debbiemcla[at]msn[dot]com
I have several missionary friends that I keep in touch with, so reading a book about missionaries will be very interesting. This book sounds so very interesting! Thanks for the interview to let us know a bit about you!
ReplyDeleteBlessings......Joy
ibjoy1953[at]yahoo[dot]com
The setting of this book and the plot sound fantastic. Our church sponsors pastors and orphanages in India, in fact we hope to adopt from there someday ourselves. So I love reading about India. Please enter me.
ReplyDeletejulesreffner(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to read this book. It sounds really interesting.
ReplyDeletewsmarple/at/gmail/dot/com
I watched the trailer on CBD...am very excited about this book! Thank you for the opportunity to win it!
ReplyDeletedianalflowers@aol.com
Hey this looks like a great book...eager to read it!
ReplyDeleteJudi
chuckjudi (at) uniteone (dot) net
This sounds like a fabulous book and I would love to be able to read it and pass it along to my daughter.
ReplyDeleteJudi
chuckjudi (at) uniteone (dot) net