Interview with Barbara M. Britton and spotlight of Lioness...

We're happy to have Barbara M. Britton with us talking about her book Lioness. To learn more about her and Lioness, please read on...

Back cover blurb

While the Israelites struggle to occupy the Promised Land of God, Mahlah bat Zelophehad is orphaned and left to care for her four sisters. But daughters of the dead are unable to inherit land, and it will take a miracle for Mahlah to obtain the means to care for her sisters and uphold the vow she made to her dying mother.

Mahlah must seek Moses, the leader of her people, and request something extraordinary—the right for a daughter to inherit her deceased father’s land. A right that will upset the ox-cart of male inheritance and cast her in the role of a rebel.

But, God is the protector of the orphan and the widow, and five orphaned daughters need His help. With God, anything is possible. Even changing man’s tradition.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30 

      Mahlah arched her back. A sky, blue and crisp like a faceted gem, draped over the camp. No trade winds cooled the warmth of the fresh, new sun. She picked up a basket from outside her family’s ramskin tent and wedged it against her hip. Grasping her woven belt, she shifted the leather, so her knife was but a flinch away. She wouldn’t allow any beast in the wilderness to harm her sisters.

       “Come on, Tirzah. The dew is gone.”

       Tirzah emerged from behind the tent flap. She blinked at the brightness and wrinkled her nose. “Why do I have to gather manna?”

       “Because it is your turn.” Mahlah reached to take the hand of her youngest sister. “Hurry now, before Father stirs.”

       A gurgling noise rumbled from Tirzah’s belly.

       Mahlah stifled a laugh. “We better go before your hunger wakes the neighbors.”

      “It won’t.” Tirzah pressed her lips together. Her stone-collecting satchel hung at her side.

      “If we stay here and let our kin harvest the closest manna, your rumble will turn into a roar.”

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

-          I love watching football

-          In High School, I was on a Bible quizzing team

-          I was a Blue Bird in grade school, and I loved selling (and eating) thin mints

-          I’m the only girl in my home

-          I’m a breast cancer survivor

Why did you choose to write this book?

I’ve been a Christian for a long time, but I had never heard the story of the daughters of Zelophehad. These girls aren’t one hit wonders in the Bible either. There is a lot of Scripture about their groundbreaking “ask” of Moses and of God. I wanted to bring their story to light, so others could be inspired by these orphaned sisters.

What one thing about writing do you wish non-writers would understand? 

Publishing can be a slow process. If an author is traditionally published, a book may take 18 months to get to the shelves. Couple that with the time taken to write a book, and an author may be busy, but a reader doesn’t see their efforts. I wish the traditional process was quicker.

What is the toughest test you've faced as a writer?

With the invention of social media platforms, authors can be contacted night and day by readers. While interactions are wonderful, some can be hurtful. Not every book is for every reader. I was contacted by a reader who didn’t like one of my novels and then challenged my faith. I don’t mind a book critique, but no reader should judge my relationship with God.

What do you hope readers take away from your novel?

The theme for “Lioness” is “Go forth with God.” The daughters of Zelophehad trusted God enough to seek an inheritance that had never been given to women. Especially, unwed girls. Their faith in God is an inspiration. They are also bold. The girls seek Joshua many years later and remind him of God’s promise of land.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of, writing-related or not?

My children aren’t perfect, but they are walking with the Lord. Their belief brings me joy. I taught elementary chapel for many years and I believe children’s ministry is very important. Teaching isn’t easy, but it is rewarding. After eight years of writing manuscripts, my first book contract was a joy, too.

What do you do for fun when not writing?

I am finding marketing my books to be fun. At first it was overwhelming, but I have found a groove. I also enjoy reading, baking, and walking (which I need to do after eating what I baked). I enjoy dancing, but my husband isn’t too fond of dancing.

What are you working on now? 

I am working on another Biblical story, but before it will hit the shelves, I have a historical novel set during WWI that will release (after the DoZ series). “Until June” is a hope-filled caregiver story based on a true story I heard on a cruise ship excursion.

How about you? Did you know the story about the daughters of Zelophehad?

Check out Numbers 26:33, 27:1-11, chapter 36 and Joshua 17:3-6

You can find Barb on:

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon Link for “Lioness.”

Bio

Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. Barb writes romantic adventures for teens and adults. She is published in Biblical fiction and enjoys bringing little known Bible characters to light in her stories. Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Find out more about Barb’s books at http://www.barbarambritton.com/books.html

Barbara Britton Interview & Jerusalem Rising...

We're happy to have Barbara Britton with us today talking about her book Jerusalem Rising. To learn more about her and her book, read on!

Why did you choose to write this book?

I have taught the story of Nehemiah many times in Vacation Bible School. Kids love tearing down fake rocks and rebuilding them into a wall. Nehemiah was tasked with restoring the wall around Jerusalem and he also pointed the Hebrew people toward God. I was shocked to learn the daughters of Shallum helped rebuild Jerusalem’s wall. I thought their take on the construction project would make an interesting story. Women construction workers in Bible times were rare. I also discovered a prophetess in the book of Nehemiah who was new to me. She’s not a nice prophetess.

I enjoy bringing little known Bible stories to light. I wanted to share all the “new things” I discovered in the book of Nehemiah: women wall builders, a nasty prophetess, all the men who worked against Nehemiah and God. Spoiler alert. God wins.

What is the toughest test you’ve faced as a writer?

Even with three books published and three in the publishing pipeline, I sometimes doubt my writing skills. I need to cast the doubts aside and realize God gave me my passion. When I finish a manuscript, I look at the amount of work and say, “How did I do that?” With God. I’ve spent many years learning the craft of writing and I pray God will use me to shine a light on Him and His Word.

What do you hope readers take away from your novel?

The theme for “Jerusalem Rising” is be strong and courageous and do God’s work. It isn’t always easy to do Kingdom work or stand up for God, but God calls us to make disciples and share the Gospel. I hope people are encouraged by Adah and Nehemiah’s story.

What accomplishments are you most proud of, writing-related or not?

I am personally proud that I am active in ministry even though I have a lot of writing tasks. I love teaching Bible study and mentoring women, and I have honored those commitments even though life can get hectic at times. God gives us gifts to use in His church and I want to be faithful to Kingdom ministry.

Book Blurb:

When Adah bat Shallum finds the governor of Judah weeping over the crumbling wall of Jerusalem, she learns the reason for Nehemiah’s unexpected visit—God has called him to rebuild the wall around the City of David.

 Nehemiah challenges the men of Jerusalem to labor on the wall and in return, the names of their fathers will be written in the annals for future generations to cherish. But Adah has one sister and no brothers. Should her father who rules a half-district of Jerusalem be forgotten forever?

Adah bravely vows to rebuild her city’s wall, though she soon discovers that Jerusalem not only has enemies outside of the city, but also within. Can Adah, her sister, and the men they love, honor God’s call? Or will their mission be crushed by the same rocks they hope to raise.

The first page of  Jerusalem Rising:

Seventeen-year-old Adah bat Shallum breathed deep. Deep enough to carry the pomegranate, cassia, and aloe scents from the length of her nose to the depths of her lungs. Was this fragrance a treasure or a stench? She trusted her senses. Her patience had produced a precious perfume worth several silver coins. Possibly some gold ones too. Careful not to spill a single drop, she poured her afternoon’s labor into small glazed jars, and lined them one finger length from the edge of the shelf and one thumb width apart. A piece of whittled poplar closed every opening and kept her fragrance captive.

“Adah. Judith.” The summons echoed down the street. A harsh inflection deepened her father’s voice.

She peeked through a hole in the wall—a roughedged reminder of Nebuchadnezzar’s siege—and spied her father’s forward-leaning march. Wiping her hands on a clean rag, she scurried around the acacia wood table, a centerpiece to the small space she recently called her own. She crossed the threshold of her storeroom and hastened into the dirt lane.

What do you do for fun when not writing?

I love to read books by author friends. As Elizabeth Bennet said in the movie Pride and Prejudice, “I’m very fond of walking.” I don’t walk as much outside due to the cold Wisconsin winters.

What are you working on now?

I am finishing a mini-series about the daughters of Zelophehad. “Lioness: Mahlah’s Journey” will release in October of 2019 and tell the story of these five orphaned sisters. The remaining two books show their journey to inherit their land…and find love.

Where else can readers find you?

I have a website www.barbarambritton.com, and I am on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

Barb’s Bio:

Barbara M. Britton lives in Wisconsin and writes Christian Fiction for teens and adults. She has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Barb brings little-known Bible characters to light in her Tribes of Israel series.

What Bible story would you like to know more about?

K. Dawn Byrd's "Amazing Love"

I'm pleased to announce that Amazing Love is now available in eformat and will be available soon in print!

Amazing Love, the modern-day story of Hosea and Gomer from the Bible, speaks of God's unconditional love, mercy, and grace and how much loving someone that much can cost.

Gabe Knight, a pastor in a small coastal town, finds his life is turned upside down when Dee Dillow arrives and hires him to remodel an estate she's inherited from her aunt. Dee dashes his plans for wedded bless when on a drunken binge, she divulges that she's the highest paid call girl in Nevada and part-owner of the ritziest brothel in the state.

Gabe falls in love with her, but can't believe he's hearing the voice of God when a still, small voice tells him to marry her. After much questioning, they marry and he is deliriously happy. Until, Dee betrays him.

Gabe soon discovers just how hard it is to have the unconditional love God calls him to have for his wife, the kind of love God has for his children. When faced with losing her, Gabe realizes what true love is, how much it hurts, and just how much God loves and is willing to sacrifice for his children.


Read the first chapter of Amazing Love...


Youtube:


Excerpt from my prologue:
Dee signed the letter with a flourish and then read it aloud.

Maggie:
For the longest time, I blamed myself. There must be something terribly wrong with me, something so bad that even a mother couldn't love me. After years of therapy, I've learned that it's not me, it's you, Maggie. You're not capable of loving anyone. That's a terrible thing to say about a mother, but it's true.

Even here at Carpe Diem, I've continued therapy via technology. Today was a hard day because it's my birthday. As was expected, I never heard from you. Like my therapist said, it's not my fault you didn't call. It's a choice you made, Maggie, like so many other bad choices.

I used to dwell often on the things you allowed to happen to me. You had to have known that John was visiting my room almost nightly. You chose to ignore it even though he was your husband. And then, he sold me to his wealthy friends and you stood back and allowed it to happen. Whoever had the most money. That wasn't the life I would have chosen if given a choice. Even now, I long for a life of normalcy. A husband, a couple of children, and a picket fence is just a dream.

There are times I hate you, but I realize you have demons of your own. Something has happened to you to cause you to be so selfish and full of anger. That's why I try to overlook your hostility and lack of love toward me. You need a good therapist.

My therapist recommends that I write letters to you when I'm angry. It helps. This is letter 642. I've kept them all. You'll probably never read them, but they're not really for you. They're for me.

Your daughter, Dee



Amazing Love will be available soon at CBD and other outlets.