Welcome! I'm so glad you are here because I have two great book reviews for you today. Plus, interviews with the authors! This new series of book reviews and author interviews promises to be informative and fun! And you will get the inside scoop on some fabulous "hot off the press" stories to add to your collections.
Book Review of Simon by Author Jenifer Jennings ️️️️️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Simon is the 6th book in a 7-book series, Servant Siblings. This Biblical Fiction story of Jesus’s younger brother Simon is another outstanding addition to this series. Simon is a story of soul-deep outrage at humiliations endured and hopes dashed. It is a story of a man trying to fight injustice in his own power and placing his trust in the wrong people. This story is of a man who reaches the end of himself. And, this is a story of a merciful God who finds an outcast, an outlaw, a disillusioned man in his darkest moments and offers redemption.
There are times while reading this fantastic tale about Simon, I disliked this main character very much. Times when I wanted to shout at him to go the right way or do the right thing. I’m sure there have been people in my life who wanted to yell the same thing at me. But sometimes we must hit rock bottom before we learn to look up. Come and go on the journey with Simon and be transported to the places and times of Jesus. See the sights. Hear the sounds. Smell the smells. Feel what it may have been like for one of Jesus’s brothers in Jerusalem in the year 33 A.D.
I highly recommend Simon, even if it’s the only book in the series you read. Although, each book has an incredible story and message of its own. Even if you don’t read Biblical Fiction, this series will not disappoint. It won me over.
Q&A with Author Jenifer Jennings:
What does your writing and research schedule look like?
My writing and research have taken time to hone, but I’ve got a fairly good system now. The first thing I do is research the verses that are the inspiration for the story. I have a growing list of commentaries and research materials I’ve collected over the years that I consult. From there, I create a skeleton outline for my story. Being sure to include Biblical Truths as the foundation is my priority. Next, I make notes of any related historical or cultural events, facts, or factors that might play into the story. I add these layers to my skeleton. Along the way, I create a spreadsheet that contains all my characters. This is a good place to refer to if I forget someone’s name, physical trait, or who they’re related to in the story. Finally, I make a note of any dialogue, character traits, desired scenes, etc. that I want to add to the story. I transfer this grounded outline to a pre-formatted Word Doc and break it up into loose chapters. I often start by writing the last chapter of a book. This gives me a target to keep aiming at if I get stuck along the way. From there, it’s simply writing chapter by chapter, making adjustments as I go. On most writing days, I can knock out a pretty solid chapter. Two if I’m really focused.
Tell us something about yourself that is non-writing related.
Let’s see, non-writing related is a small sphere of my life. I do crochet as a hobby. I’ve been doing it off and on for the last twelve years. Mostly, I make gifts for friends and family. Last year I made a word count blanket that tracked how many words I wrote in a year, and I started another one for this year. See, it all comes back to writing. A few months ago, I started teaching a ladies’ small group at my church. It’s been a huge blessing to have an outstanding group of ladies come so hungry for the Word. They even convinced me to record the lessons and post the videos on YouTube. That one took a lot of pleading before I agreed, but I’ve had so many people tell me how blessed they are with the ability to follow along with the lessons or re-watch the lessons each week. Teaching has helped me dig into God’s Word more and gives me another opportunity to share all the history and culture I’ve been learning through the years that helped with my understanding. Beyond that, I’m a plain-Jane, stay-at-home mom of two and wife to my wonderful hubby.
Why did you decide to write for the Christian fiction market?
I think the choice to write for the Christian fiction market was made for me, along with the decision to write in general. I never considered myself good enough to write. It wasn’t until God put a calling in my heart and soul that I couldn’t ignore that I put words to the page. I try to stay humble and sensitive to God’s leading. He’s shut every other door and keeps opening the Biblical Fiction door, so that’s the one I keep walking through.
When did you start your writing career?
My writing career unofficially started with the first book I self-published in 2011. It wasn’t until six years later when I started focusing on genre and authoring more books that I made it an official career.
Where is your favorite place to write?
My favorite place to write is at my writing desk in my husband’s office. When we first moved into our current home, he built me a desk in our living room that served me well for several years. As I started getting more serious about my writing career, I needed a space I could call my own and a door I could shut as needed. He graciously gave up part of his office so I could add a desk. It’s now my favorite place to write, and it’s often difficult for me to write anywhere else. I’ve tried writing in various locations, but I tended to get pretty distracted. When I’m at my desk, I know it’s time to write.
What do you like to read?
I love reading Biblical Fiction! So many wonderful authors have joined the genre and provided incredible stories. I will pick up certain titles, but I don’t read as much in other genres. As far as non-fiction, I will read a good writing craft book from time to time, and commentaries are always at my fingertips.
What was the inspiration for the Servant Siblings series?
The inspiration for the Servant Siblings series actually came from one of my older stories. While I was researching “At His Feet,” I was studying the life of Jesus and stumbled over some verses in Matthew and Mark that mentioned Jesus’ family (Matthew 13:55-56 and Mark 6:3). I’d never heard the topic preached or taught before. Coming to understand that it’s a debated topic within different Christian sects, I can see church leaders’ trepidation to bring up the topic. While writing several other stories, I kept coming back to this point of view of Jesus within the context of an actual family. We spend so much time studying Him with His followers, but not much time realizing He had an earthly family He lived with for thirty years. So, I gave them a fictional voice. I posed the question of what this whole thing would have been like for them. We have some peeks at Mary, Joseph, James, and Jude, but not much beyond them. Once the seed was planted in my brain, it was hard to fight it. All the siblings stood up and wanted to be heard. That resulted in a seven-book series surrounding not only Jesus’s last week on earth, His death and resurrection, but also those first few years of the baby church. It’s very clear in Acts that James is leading the church in Jerusalem (Acts 12:17, 15:13, and 21:18). I wanted to show the first steps in that direction through the eyes of Jesus’ siblings.
Which of the Servant Siblings series books has been the hardest to write so far, and why?
By far the hardest book to write was “Simon.” In each of the other books, the main character's sibling was pretty loud in sharing their story. Simon held back for a long time. There was also a timeline issue I had to be creative with resolving for Simon. Once I got through the midpoint of Simon’s story, everything took shape, and he became a lot more open about sharing his story.
What is your favorite and least favorite character trait of Simon?
My favorite character trait of Simon is his depth. When I first started giving a voice to his character in the first book, Simon seemed pretty black-and-white. It wasn’t until he opened up about his own story that I finally saw how much Simon lived in the gray area. For those of you who’ve read the story, you’ll notice this is alluded to through the use of the color gray. My least favorite character trait of Simon is his willingness to shed blood for his convictions. I’ve never been a violent person, so putting myself in the sandals of someone who ultimately swings a blade was a real growing point for me as an author. Even though Simon believes he has some pretty good reasons for his choices, it was hard to fictionally spill blood.
Do you have a favorite sibling in the Servant Siblings series?
Trying to pick a favorite sibling is like trying to pick a favorite child. With this series, I have thoroughly enjoyed each of the siblings for different reasons. James as the protective older brother I never had.
Joseph for his family devotion.
Assia for her motherly love.
Jude because we share a love of studying.
Lydia for her blatant honesty.
Simon for his depth. But, if I were pressed for a favorite, I’d have to say Salome. Parts of her story came to me so clearly, even as I was writing the first book. Knowing she was going to be the last book was very difficult. I’ve just started writing her story, and it’s pouring out better than any of her older siblings. She’s one of those characters who stepped onto the stage of my mind fully formed and full of sass. She will probably stay with me after this series is complete.
I am so thankful for those informative and intriguing answers, Jenifer!
Readers, please show Jenifer some love in the comments!
For more about Jenifer and her books, check out her website!
Book Review of Ahōti by Miriam Feinberg Vamosh and Eva Marie Everson
The novel Ahōti (The Story of Tamar,) is a Biblical Fiction that uses the Biblical account of Tamar, and other scholarly works including Words of Gad the Seer, an ancient text. This epic tale tells the story of a young princess, the daughter of King David, her disgrace and banishment, and how she not only survives but thrives in a world where men rule everything and women are possessions. This young woman, a healer, is used and discarded by those entrusted with her protection.
Left to make her own way in a harsh world before the time of Christ, Tamar does what she must to escape those who seek her harm because of lust, lies, and schemes. Trained and educated as a young girl by Nathan the Prophet, Gad the Seer, and Mephibosheth, the son of King Saul, Tamar uses their wisdom to her advantage and makes a life for herself, earning the respect of those blessed by her knowledge.
In Ahōti we see a timid girl transform and become a woman of courage who fights for herself despite the threat of imminent death. Tamar’s courageous journey is worth reading and I highly recommend this story. The historical detail is impeccable and you will become immersed in this ancient world from the time of King David to King Solomon more than you might think possible.
Q&A with Authors Miriam Feinberg Vamosh and Eva Marie Everson
1. How did the two of you meet?
Miriam: The first time I saw Eva Marie at Ben-Gurion Airport in June 2002. Eva Marie had arrived with a small group of women journalists who had been hand-picked to tour Israel with me with an itinerary based on my book, Women at the Time of the Bible, which I had written a few years before. Then, the Ministry of Tourism came up with the idea of a specialized tour of sites in the Holy Land where you could find the women of the Bible and focus on their story. It was such a privilege to put together what I had learned in writing Women at the Time of the Bible with an itinerary where I could actually show all the places where the female characters in the Bible were the “stars of the show.” And what a time we had...
Eva Marie: Like Miriam said, what at time that was! Of course, our “famous” story is that when a few of us went down (literally, one had to crawl down and then back up) to the newly discovered ancient palace of King Jabin (Joshua 11), I experienced a little “fall.” From that moment on, everything looked different to me . . . I experienced Israel from so many different levels.
At one point I said to Miriam, “We should write a book together!” We began to talk about what that would look like and, as God would have it, that book released in 2008 (Reflections of God’s Holy Land: A Personal Journey Through Israel, Thomas Nelson).
One of my favorite moments in Israel in ’02 was when we were in Beersheva. Miriam told us the story of Rebekah coming to be the bride of Isaac (Genesis 24). The English version of verse 64 that reads: Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel.
BUT! Miriam explained . . . in the Hebrew text Rebekah doesn’t GET off her camel . . . she FALLS off her camel.
I replied to the group, “When was the last time your bridegroom made you fall off your camel?
2. What is the background of the "Ahōti" project? Tell us more about the ancient document that led to the writing of the book.
Miriam: My scientific adviser on the book I wrote about the daily life of children in the Bible was Prof. Meir Bar-Ilan, an expert on the subject. At the launch dinner for that book, I was to discover that he was an expert in another area – an ancient document called the Book of Gad the Seer. It’s actually mentioned in the Bible (1 Chron. 29:29) but was believed to have been lost, like the other books mentioned in that same verse. But as it turned out, it wasn’t lost. A copy of this book had been preserved by the ancient Jewish community of Cochin, India, whose elders said it had been brought to them by the Jews of Yemen, who had come to Yemen when they were exiled from their homeland by the Babylonians after the destruction of the First Temple. There it remained, unrecognized, until Western scholars first laid eyes on it in the 18th century. Eventually, when the Scottish theologian Claudius Buchanan, became head of the Anglican Church in India he traveled to Cochin, captivated by the idea that the Jewish community there might be descended from the original Twelve Tribes. He was shown the document, which he recognized for the treasure that it was, and took it with him to England in 1809. It’s there to this day, at Cambridge University. And that’s where Prof. Bar-Ilan began his research, in the 1980s, which culminated in the publication of his definitive book on the subject The Words of Gad the Seer in 2015, introducing to a wider audience the commentaries of the author on various Bible stories about the reign of David. It was at that launch dinner that Prof. Bar-Ilan leaned over and whispered to me: “I have a story that needs telling, and I think you’re the one to tell it.” It was the story of Tamar, David’s daughter, who was raped by her half-brother Amnon (2 Sam. 13) and later remained “a desolate woman in her brother Absalom’s house.” But “Gad the Seer” takes the story much further. And so, based on the words of this ancient author, I believe Eva Marie and I are the first to turn one of its ancient tales into a contemporary novel with a resonant message for men and women today.
3. As you researched the story, what stood out the most to you about Tamar?
Miriam: My research led me to contemporary scholars who saw Tamar not only as a victim of sexual violence, as if that were not enough, but the pawn in a grand palace intrigue, the likes of which we can only imagine from hints in Scripture but make perfect sense once these scholars tied it all together. So I’d say what struck me most about Tamar was the enormity of what she had to overcome. In addition to the sexual violence, she endured at the hands of her half-brother, her father’s inaction and her brother Absalom’s grand plot, which led to her having to flee the palace and everything she knew and loved. But overcome she did, and her story, as Eva Marie and I imagined, can be our story – the story of every woman who faced insurmountable odds on the way to vindication.
Eva Marie: The moment that struck me the hardest was when we got to the part of Absalom’s death at the hands of their uncle, Joab. The Scriptures tell us that he had raped his father’s concubines (2 Samuel 16) and that David, upon returning to the palace (after running from his own son), had declared that he would take care of them for life. I said to Miriam (and we included this in the book), “How is it that King David took care of his concubines, but not his daughter?”
4. Tell us more about the Wise Woman of Abel and how you worked her into the story.
Miriam: Eva Marie and I put Tamar on an actual journey through the Holy Land, from Jerusalem, through the hill country of Samaria, past the Sea of Galilee, to a city that bore the same name as her mother, Maacah, David’s wife, whom David had, as we imagined it, exiled from the palace when Tamar was almost too young to remember her. This city is called “Abel Beit [Beth] Maacah” in the Bible (2 Sam. 20). There, a “wise woman” lived who plays a major role in the story of the rebellion of one Sheba son of Bichri against David. According to the story, Sheba hid in Abel and David’s general Joab was sent to capture him. My idea was that the “wise woman of Abel” was none other than Tamar herself, who had reached the city and begun a new life there in disguise, until it would be safe to continue her journey – to her mother’s home in Geshur. And why not? We don’t know her identity, and as Eva Marie pointed out, Scripture shows that she recognized Joab right away. What we did with that part of the story I think might be one of the most dramatic parts.
5. Was there a moment in the story that took your breath away as you were writing?
Miriam: And that excellent question allows me to continue the previous answer. How we pictured Tamar, as the “wise woman of Abel” diffusing the situation with planning, wisdom, and yes, a good dose of shrewdness – all characteristics that the heroines of the Bible used to save themselves and often the lives of others.
Eva Marie: The end. But I won’t give it away!
6. What do you hope is the takeaway from Ahōti?
Miriam: After reading Ahōti, I hope readers realize that Tamar’s story of despair, though it happened thousands of years ago and thousands of miles away for most, is still the story of so many women today who are victims of sexual violence. To this day, despite all the advances society has made, we still have to find within ourselves every bit of fortitude and determination we can to survive and thrive. Her story is our story.
Eva Marie: While rape and abuse and even betrayal is a part of too many women’s stories, it is only a small portion. We are women. We are strong (we have to be). So many see us as the “weaker sex,” but anyone who has ever lived as a woman knows that is just not true. We. Are. Strong. When I speak to women about the effects of rape, I reiterate: “You are not a victim. You are a victor. This is a moment in your life. It is not the moments of your life. Grab hold of what God has given and not what life has taken away.”
7. Can you tell us more about your families?
Miriam: What comes now is the short version, believe it or not: My Feinberg grandfather came from a village near Bialystok on western edge of what was then the Russian Empire, arriving New York in 1901. My grandmother, Dora (nee Garfinkel) came over in 1893 from Novogrudok (Novardok). Today both of these towns are in Belarus. Both sides of my father’s Milton (Mordechai) Feinberg’s family (and see below, my mother’s family as well) emigrated to the United States to save their lives from anti-Semitic pogroms of the late nineteenth century. Think Fiddler on the Roof. My mother’s name was Danessa, a name her mother invented to commemorate her father, Daniel Bachrach, who died before she was born. My grandmother, Rachel Friedlob Bachrach, was born in Przasnysz, Poland, and came to the U.S. in 1886, when she was about 4 years old. My mother was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and my father was born in New York. Together with my older sister and brother, I was brought up in Trenton N. J., where my father was a Jewish community social worker, and my mother was a housewife and social activist. I moved to Israel as a teenager (another story for another time).
I have two daughters, Maya and Nili, who together with their lovely husbands, brought our five cherished grandchildren into the world.
I must add here a little about the family of my late husband Aaron (who was a wounded warrior of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and who died on Israel Independence Day 2023). His mother, Tamar – yes, another connection – and his father Moshe, were from Hungary. After surviving the Holocaust, they came to Israel in 1949, made their home in Jerusalem and raised their two wonderful sons here. My eldest granddaughter Tamar, 13, was named for her grandmother and for Tamar of the Bible, both of whom exemplified strength, courage and the will to survive.
Eva Marie: I was born and reared in a small Southern town (Sylvania, Georgia). Picture Mayberry. I had a wonderful life growing up. Not perfect, but good. One baby brother, mother, father, me. The quintessential family of the 1950s/1960s . . . going on into the 1970s.
I was raised in church and my whole life I loved God but in the early/early 1970s I came to Christ during The Jesus Movement.
I married my husband Dennis in 1979. With him came two wonderful children, then we brought Jessica into the family. All three are now married and we have 9 grandchildren between us.
8. What's next after Ahōti?
Miriam: When I wrote Prof. Bar-Ilan that the seed he planted of the story of Tamar in Gad the Seer had borne fruit, he was thrilled, and immediately emailed me back the next stories he wants us to tell!
Eva Marie: I’m excited to see what happens next with Miriam. Working with her is simply amazing. I do have another work of Southern fiction that I’m about to sign a contract for (Title: Beth Bettencourt). And, as soon as we’re done with all the promotion for this book, I’m gonna take a long nap!
Miriam and Eva, we are so thankful you took the time to share your book and your stories with us!
Please, give some love to these fabulous authors in the comments!
To learn more about Ahōti and these wonderful ladies, check out this website.
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