HIDDEN FACES - Golden Keyes Parsons - One Free Book

Welcome back, Golden. How did you come up with the idea for this story?

This compilation had been on my heart for years. Thirty years ago I was teaching a Bible study on the adulterous woman and got to wondering, “Who was she? What really happened here?” Most scholars agree that she was not a prostitute, but a betrothed virgin. Lots of implications in that scenario: (1) She had to be very young. Most Jewish girls were betrothed by the age of 12 and married by mid-teens. (2) The law called for the partner to be brought for judgment. Where was he? (3) The fact that the partner was not brought indicates a trap set for Jesus. (4) What was Jesus really writing in the sand?

Anyway, my curiosity was piqued, and that sent me on a search for other nameless women who played a major part in Scripture, but we don’t even know their names.

If you were planning a party with Christian authors of contemporary fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Lisa Wingate – I love hearing how she creates characters. And she’s from my area … Central Texas. J

DiAnn Mills – Her mysteries are intriguing and well researched. And she’s a personal friend.

Beth Wiseman – A prolific writer and friend. Love her natural realism.

Eric Wilson – Love his writing and although we are friends via Internet, have never met him in person. Would love to do so.

Rachael Hauck – I appreciate her Christian commitment and her compelling writing style.

Deb Raney – Her stories grab your heart.

Now let’s do that for a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

Francine Rivers – Her Mark of the Lion series was the first Christian historical I ever read, I believe. I was hooked!

Tosca Lee – She plumbs deeply into her characters and is so creative.

Ted Dekker – Talk about creative. Although some of his books are too dark for me, I loved the Circle Trilogy and Immanuel’s Veins

Julie Lessman – I love Julie’s historical romances. And I love Julie! She’s a fun uplifting gal.

James Scott Bell – I’ve taken several of his classes and appreciate his expertise.

Tamera Alexander – Love her books and she wrote a great endorsement for my first book, In The Shadow of the Sun King.

Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?

I just don’t like the marketing part of it. It seems it gets more and more difficult to do that with each book. However, God has sent along a wonderful assistant who is helping me with that phase of the business, and I am so grateful.

Tell us about the featured book.

I explained much about it in Question #1, but it took years to get a publisher interested in it. The popularity of biblical fiction comes and goes, but when I heard WhiteFire Publishing was looking for biblical fiction I jumped on it, and they bought the series.

I found the series to be more difficult to write than I anticipated, because of the lack of information, particularly about the woman at the well. Who would have known there is little documentation regarding the Samaritans, and even less on Samaritan women. I could only find one image on the Internet of a Samaritan woman. One! I had to rely heavily on the fact that they are half-Jewish and just go with it.

In addition to write about five husbands. Now that was challenging!

And to write about a prostitute in Christian fiction in the case of the woman who anointed Jesus’s feet? That took some finesse as well.

I’m glad that I did it, but I don’t know that I would do it again.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Since this is a compilation, I will give you the first page of Book #1, Trapped! The Adulterous Woman.

“It is you. I feared I would never find you.” He tied his donkey to the lone tree shading the house and started toward her. “I’ve looked everywhere for you. Nobody would talk to me. Nobody would tell me where you were. You simply vanished.” He took a step forward. “I need to speak with you.” He hesitated, one foot on the stone path leading to her front door and one foot still in the dust.

She wavered between him and the arched doorway to her modest home, inching backward with each step he took forward. He was talking too fast. She shook her head.

“Please, don’t be afraid.” His deep voice softened. “I know seeing me must be a shock. May we speak? Please, don’t turn me away.”

Anna backed against the rough wall, her fingers clawing at the stony surface searching for the door. “How did you find me? Why…?”

Oppressive, stifling heat hung suspended in the gathering dusk, enveloping her face and sucking the breath out of her. Her tiny house had turned into a sweltering oven. Earlier in the day Anna had finished her baking in preparation for the Sabbath, but the heat lingered. She had taken her little Jacob outside where it was cooler to watch the neighborhood children at play. The laughter of the children romping in the distance echoed through the advancing twilight. They chased each other around the small trees down the road. The boys, aggressive and quick, teased their squealing playmates as they tagged each other.   

How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is www.goldenkeyesparsons.com and my FaceBook page is www.facebook.com/goldenkeyes.parsons

Thanks so much for the interview, Lena. Blessings!

The pleasure is all mine, Golden. I know my readers will be interested in these stories.

Readers, here’s a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.

Hidden Faces: Portraits of Nameless Women in the Gospels (four novellas)

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