Lynn Squire's "Joab's Fire"

Title: Joab’s Fire
Publisher: HigherLife Publishing.

Cover blurb: Joab Black and his wife Sarah overcame the worst of pioneer hardships in order to establish a prosperous farm in Alberta, Canada. But those challenges never prepared them for the tragedy they now faced—a staggering loss and intense pain causing them to doubt everything they had ever believed. In the midst of their sorrow, even their closest friends interpret their sufferings as a result of God’s judgment. Has God abandoned them?
Sergeant Dixon, the local North West Mounted Police officer, investigates the events leading to the Blacks’ plight. While his work gives them a ray of hope, his probing into the activities of a certain stranger possibly connected to the case may cost him his job and even his life.
Inspired by the Biblical book of Job, this novel includes a Bible study exploring the perfection of God’s plan and the bounty of His love even in the most inexplicable and intense sufferings.

1) How did this story come to you?
I wanted to write a book that would help people through difficult times. Considering my life, I knew Job, in the Bible, helped me through life so I set out to write a story based on him. After reading what my great grandparents went through to settle a wild country, I felt there could not be any better location for a Job-like story than Southern Alberta at the turn of the 20th century.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I never intended to publish this book. I considered it my practice work where I tried all the writing techniques I was learning at the time. However, I posted each chapter on my blog for Fiction Friday. When I saw how readers were responding to it, and after discussing the possibility of writing an accompanying Bible Study with some friends (including pastors’ wives), I wrote the Bible study section. The book went through two critique groups and finally I mentioned it to my former agent. She suggested I try HigherLife and said she would mention it to the editor there. I submitted the book; they reviewed it and offered me a contract; and I sweated buckets as I signed the contract. This would be a great step of faith. This wasn’t about me becoming famous. This wasn’t about me making a name for myself. This was about getting the message to people who needed to hear that life is short and we survive by focusing on God and the eternal life He provides for all who believe that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. Whenever I grew nervous through the publisher’s editing process and production schedule (and now through the marketing stage) I reminded myself to be bold and courageous for the Lord is on my side.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m told I’m a pretty open book. But here we go:
1) Perhaps one of the greatest fears I have is being caught in a lie. Stressing over that has kept me as honest as I can be, but there are times where I have spoken without giving my answer enough thought and it turns out that what I said was false. Oy, such a thing can give me an ulcer.
2) I have a scar on my face between my eyes, which I got as a child. Just recently it occurred to me, after studying myself in the mirror, that who ever thought I was angry when I wasn’t were looking at the scar—when I squint it makes me look angry. I squint a lot, according to my eye doctor. Trust me, I’m not as angry as I look.
3) I had a cousin who told my husband when we were first married that I am fearless. And while I can see his point (given the crazy things I did as a kid), he was sadly mistaken. My life has tended to be governed by fear, and my way of coping has always been to lower my horns and charge like an angry bull. I’ve realized, in my old age, that this is my tendency, and I’m working on laying those fears at my Lord’s feet and learning to curl up under His wing.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on a novel set in the late 1840’s in Cornwall, England. Here’s my one sentence summary: A vicar seeks inner peace by destroying the ministry of an evangelist.
By the end of July, I hope to have a booklet out with seven short stories and seven devotionals on faith. The stories are based on Hebrews 11, the faith chapter. While none of my characters are in this chapter of the Bible, they do demonstrate the same faith that the Bible characters did.

5) Parting comments?
The passion of my work lies in my desire to present Biblical truths through story to readers. On my blog I regularly post for Fiction Friday, and with each post I include a Food for Thought section. I’d love for readers to come and join in the discussion. My blog address is: http://faithfictionfunandfanciful.blogspot.com/

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My personal website is: http://www.lynnsquire.com/
My blog is: http://faithfictionfunandfanciful.blogspot.com/
You can purchase my books at: http://www.presentingbiblicaltruths.com/
If you want to learn more about Joab’s Fire, go to: http://www.joabsfire.com/