KEEPERS OF THE COVENANT - Lynn Austin - One Free Book

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.com

Thank 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

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 21st. Winner will be announced at the Keepers of the Covenant LIVE webcast event on October 21st. Connect with Lynn for a fascinating evening centered around God's unwavering love for His people. She'll be hosting a Biblical fiction book club discussion, giving away prizes, answering your questions, offering an exclusive peek at the next book in The Restoration Chronicles, and much more!

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

Christian Book Store

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