THE THIEF - Stephanie Landsem - One Free Book on This Blog, Plus the Chance to Win a Kindle Fire HDX

Bio: Stephanie Landsem loves adventure in far-off times and places. In real life, she's explored ancient ruins, medieval castles, and majestic cathedrals around the world. Stephanie is equally happy at home in Minnesota with her husband, four children, and three fat cats. When she's not writing, she's feeding the ravenous horde, avoiding housework, and dreaming about her next adventure—whether it be in person or on the page.

Welcome back, Stephanie. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I never planned to write Biblical fiction, but one day I was listening to the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, and I just knew I had to tell her story. Since then, I’ve discovered that I love delving into ancient history and imagining what it was like to live in the time of Jesus.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

I guess it would be a tie between the birthdays of my four kids. I didn’t know until my oldest was born how much I would love being a mom.

How has being published changed your life?

I had to learn how to juggle! I have so much more going on now, in addition to my vocation as a wife and mother.

What are you reading right now?

I’m reading a book called Consider the Birds, it’s a lovely, prayerful discussion on the birds of Biblical times.

What is your current work in progress?

The Tomb, the third book in The Living Water Series. It is a surprising story of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.

What would be your dream vacation?

A trip to the Holy Land with my husband and children.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

In Biblical fiction, I choose the characters, and the characters dictate the settings: Samaria, Jerusalem, and Bethany.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

My dad. I live in the Midwest and my parents are on the west coast, so I don’t see them much. My dad is very quiet and I’d love to just have an evening with just him, to hear his stories of growing up and his thoughts on everything from politics to his grandchildren.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love to cook, especially in the summer when there is lots of fresh produce and berries available. With four teenagers, I have plenty of people willing to eat!

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Time management. I have a set schedule that I try to stick to. Writing in the morning, with no distractions, then marketing and social media in the afternoon and sometimes in the evening, as well.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Don’t despair! Write, and don’t worry if what you write looks terrible. Sleep on it and go back the next day. It almost always looks better than you first thought.

Tell us about the featured book.

Nissa is a Jewish woman with a sharp tongue and no hope of marriage. Abandoned by the God she once loved, her only recourse is to depend upon Mouse, the best thief in Jerusalem, to keep her blind brother, Cedron, fed and the landlord satisfied.

Longinus is a Roman centurion haunted by death and failure and is desperate to escape the accursed Judean province. Accepting a wager that will get him away from the aggravating Jews and their threats of revolt, he sets out to catch the thieves harassing the marketplace.

When a controversial teacher miraculously heals Cedron, Nissa hopes for freedom from her life of lies. But the supposed miracle brings only more misfortune, and Longinus, seeking to learn more about the mysterious healer, finds himself drawn instead to Nissa, whose secret will determine the course of both their futures.

Cedron, Longinus, and Nissa are unexpectedly caught up in the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus. As danger closes in on them from every side, they must decide if the love and redemption Jesus offers is true or just another false promise. How can the so-called Messiah save them from their shackles, when he cannot even save himself?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Mouse darted through the crowded streets of Jerusalem. His name suited him. Small and drab, he fled from one street corner to the next as though stalked by an unseen predator. Dirt and ash streaked his face, and the tatter of wool covering his head was no less filthy. Both his worn tunic and the cloak over it looked like they had been made for a man twice his size.

Not a head turned as he zigzagged around caravans, street vendors, and plodding donkeys. He was invisible—poor, dirty, worthless. Just another half-grown boy in the lower city whose parents couldn’t afford to feed him. If a Greek trader or a Jewish woman noticed him at all, that’s what they’d see—just what Mouse wanted them to see.

Mouse skirted the hippodrome, built by Herod the Great to show off his fastest horses, and moved like a trickle of water past slaves carting oil jars and women haggling over the price of grain. He didn’t stop to admire the trinkets laid out under bright awnings. He couldn’t be late.

There had been no food in his house for days, and the rent was due. Another week and the landlord would throw them into the street.

Thou shalt not steal, the commandment said.

A familiar voice whispered in his mind, dark and compelling. You don’t have a choice.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is: www.StephanieLandsem.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephanielandsem

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/stephlandsem

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/slandsem/

Don't miss Stephanie Landsem's outstanding sophomore effort, The Thief.

Best-selling author Tosca Lee had this to say of the book: Filled with memorable characters, The Thief is a tale of hopelessness turned to hope, of high stakes made higher, and ultimate love. What happens when a character at the lowest rung of society crosses paths with the most well-known figure in history? The story of The Thief. I couldn't stop reading.

Stephanie is hosting a Kindle Fire HDX and book giveaway at her website. CLICK THE BUTTON to find out more and enter to win.

Find out what readers are saying HERE. (Click the REVIEWS bar.)

Thank you, Stephanie, for sharing this new book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Thief  - Christianbook.com
The Thief: A Novel (The Living Water Series) - Amazon
The Thief: A Novel (The Living Water Series) - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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