Welcome back, Lynn. Why do you write the kind of books you do?
I write
historical fiction because I love history, especially the history of our
nation. For me, reading about the past and how ordinary people lived lives of
courage in difficult times, helps me live a life of faith and grace with God’s
help. When we look back in history, I think it’s easier to see how God used
tragic events as part of His redemption story. And that gives me faith to
believe that He is still working now and that my life can play a part in His
story, too.
Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is
the happiest day in your life?
The day,
44 years ago, when I married my husband and best friend, Ken.
How has being published changed your life?
It has
deepened my faith and my walk with the Lord. I had to rely on Him every step of
the way and trust that the work I was doing was not in vain. I had to listen
closely to Him and understand that writing was a calling from Him.
What are you reading right now?
Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Ann Spangler and
Lois Tverberg. It is wonderful!
What is your current work in progress?
I’m
working on the sequel to Keepers of the Covenant, my current
new release. On this Foundation will continue the story of the biblical books
of Ezra and Nehemiah, and while Keepers of the Covenant featured
Ezra as the main character, the one I’m working on now will feature Nehemiah.
What would be your dream vacation?
To rent a
big house on a tropical island that has lots of bedrooms so my entire family
could join me there. Of course, all of our meals would be included so we would
never have to cook. And I would have a stack of excellent books to read on the
beach, too.
How do you choose your settings for each book?
The
inspiration for each of my books comes from an actual, historical time period,
such as the Great Depression or the Civil War. As I read about the history of
that time, I begin to imagine storylines and plots for my characters. Usually,
the setting comes last and grows out of my research and the plot I decide on.
If you could spend an evening with one person
who is currently alive, who would it be and why?
I would
choose author Eugene Peterson. His books have had such a huge impact on my
thinking and on my journey of faith, and I would love to hear his challenging
thoughts in person. His lyrical, poetic use of language is extraordinary, and I
would hope that just a little of it would rub off on me.
What are your hobbies, besides writing and
reading?
Riding my
bicycle, hiking on the beach and in the woods, interior decorating, and
traveling to foreign countries. It’s especially nice when two of my hobbies
coincide and I can bicycle in foreign countries!
What is your most difficult writing obstacle,
and how do you overcome it?
The
hardest thing for me is forcing myself to stay indoors and work on beautiful,
sunny days when I’d rather be riding my bike or spending time with my family.
The only way I can resist that urge is by looking at my calendar and
remembering my deadline. I’ve learned that if I resist the temptation now, I’ll
be saving myself a lot of grief and stress when my deadline comes.
What advice would you give to a beginning
author?
Don’t give
up. I needed to hear that advice several times along the way. Beginning authors
also need to spend enough time in prayer to become convinced that God is truly
calling them to write—not necessarily to be published, but to write. Once they
accept that calling, they won’t be tempted to quit when tough times come.
Tell us about the featured book.
Keepers of
the Covenant
is the second book in the Restoration Chronicles series. It brings the biblical
book of Ezra to life and tells the story of how he led the Jewish exiles back
to their homeland in Israel —and
back to God. In the process, Ezra faced a devastating challenge to his
leadership when a decree arrived from the Persian emperor
announcing that in a few, short months, every Jewish man, woman, and child in
the empire would be executed.
Please give us the first page of the book.
The Citadel of Susa , Persia
Spring 473 BC
Haman
paced the citadel’s rooftop, waiting for the court astrologers to finish their
work. He despised his impotence. His destiny should be under his own control,
not determined by mere pinpricks of light, sparkling in the midnight sky. This
muttering huddle of stargazers in their night-black robes shouldn’t decide his
future—he should. But the request he wanted to bring before King Xerxes,
supreme ruler of the Persian Empire , was much
too important to leave to chance or fate.
Haman
paused near the parapet to gaze down at the sentries standing watch at the
king’s gate. His obsession first began at that gate when an impudent Jew
refused to bow down to him. The entire world bowed before Haman now that he’d
earned a seat of honor above all of the king’s nobles, now that he’d become the
second most important man in the empire. He’d spent his entire lifetime in the
king’s service, yet after everything Haman had achieved, Mordecai the Jew
refused to bow.
“Lord Haman . . .?” He turned at the sound of
the chief astrologer’s voice. “We have an answer for you, my lord.” Haman took his time crossing to the waiting
astrologers, unwilling to let them see his urgency or the power they held over
him.
“What do
the stars say tonight?” he asked, folding his arms across his chest.
“Tomorrow
will be an extremely favorable day for you, my lord. We see no opposition from
the heavens to whatever you plan. In fact, the heavenly bodies all line up in
your favor.”
How can
readers find you on the Internet?
website: www.LynnAustin.org
Facebook: LynnAustinBooks
email: LynnAustinbooks@gmail.com
Goodreads:
LynnAustin
blog: Inspired
by Life and Fiction
Publisher: www.bethanyhouse.comThank you, Lynn, for sharing your new book with us.
Lynn Austin is back with the next book in The Restoration Chronicles series, Keepers of the Covenant. Austin weaves together the struggles and stories of both Jews and Gentiles, creating a tapestry of faith and doubt, love and loss. Here, the Old Testament comes to life, demonstrating the everlasting hope displayed in God's unwavering love for His people.
Lynn is celebrating with a Kindle HDX giveaway and a live author chat webcast on October 21st.
One winner will receive:
- A Kindle HDX
- Keepers of the Covenant by Lynn Austin
So grab your copy of Keepers of the Covenant and join Lynn and friends on the evening of October 21st for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)
Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by signing up for a reminder. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 21st!
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.Keepers of the Covenant - Christianbooks.com
Keepers of the Covenant (The Restoration Chronicles) - Amazon.com
Return to Me (The Restoration Chronicles Book #1): Volume 1 - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
18 comments:
thanks for the opportunity to read lynn's latest novel...
karenk....from PA
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
I really enjoy this type book. Historical Christian is fascinating to see how the author can make it come alive! D Stevens from NEBR
I've always admired Lynn Austin's work. My mom and brother both read her Gods and Kings series and loved it. I'm also a huge fan of Biblical fiction and would love to read this!
J.C. -Indiana-
Would love to read this one!
Dana, Michigan
Bringing Ezra to life sounds really intriguing - a fascinating period. I'd love to read this. Sheila Oregon sheiladeeth at gmail dot com
Thank you for the wonderful first page.
Beautiful cover.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
This books sounds great. Looking forward to reading it.
From MS
plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net
I look forward to reading about Ezra. Fiction is a great way to bring to life those great warriers for God.
Thanks Lynn.
A J Hawke
Texas
We have Lynn's books in the church library.
As soon as we get one ready for checkout it flies off the shelf.
Our readers love her books!
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Florida
Our Bible Study group will be studying Ezra and Nehemiah next and this book will greatly add to my study. I read Return To Me and will be excited to win and read Keepers of the Covenant. sm CA wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
Lots of great biblical fiction out there recently! Looks like another good one...
Patty in SC
Thank you for this interview and giveaway. I live in Hillsboro, KY.
Connie
cps1950 at gmail dot com
I am so excited to read "Keepers of the Covenant"!
Caryl in TEXAS
psalm103and138"AT"gmail"DOT"com
Hi, Lynn and Lena!!
Thanks for the interesting interview, I enjoyed learning more about you and your writing. I love biblical fiction and would love to read "Keepers of the Covenant"!!
bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
Kentucky
This book looks good! I haev read Lynn's books in the past and loved them!
Indiana
Enter me!!
Conway, SC.
Loved reading Return to Me. Looking forward to reading Keepers of the Covenant. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
Karen G, from NY
kmgervais(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com
Lynn Austin is one of my favorite authors!!
Amanda from Michigan
Post a Comment