Welcome, Carole. Tell
us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
Not much. Usually there’s a trait or two of me or someone I
know in each character. But at a conference once, a best-selling author told us
we write the same story again and again, just in different settings with
different characters. My heroines always seem to need to realize they have to
find their identify in God, and learn to trust only in Him and not in people,
especially not in the men in their lives, a lesson I struggle with daily. I
don’t do that on purpose, but it always ends up in there somehow.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
I have no idea. I’m a pretty boring person, actually.
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
The idea for my first book, In the Shadow of Sinai, first came to me as I was reading in
Exodus. God says to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of
Hur, of the tribe of Judah ,
and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding,
with knowledge and with all kinds of skills…” I wondered, how does a slave
learn to make all the beautiful pieces that were in the tabernacle? Did God
just say, “Poof! Now you know how to do all that!”? Sometimes he works that
way, but not very often, and it’s not very fun that way, so I made up a story
to explain it.
Tell us the range of
the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I like Biblical fiction, and occasionally contemporary
romance.
How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
Hide in my office and write. (Or watch chick flicks, which
drives my girls nuts.)
How do you choose
your characters’ names?
For my Biblical fiction, I choose names that were in use in
that time period in that area of the world. I find documented proof if they are
not Biblical names. For the one I’m
writing now, I actually talked to a guy who is studying Gallo-Brittonic to help
me with some ancient names in first-century Britain .
For my contemporary romance novellas, I just choose names I
like!
What is the
accomplishment that you are most proud of?
Finishing my first book. I started it well over twenty years
ago. I ran into some research issues—there was no internet then, and it was
really difficult to find some books in print—so I just stopped writing for
about fifteen years while I concentrated on my family. I finally picked it up
again and finished it in about a year.
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
A cat. They get to sleep a lot, and sit on laps and be
petted.
What is your favorite
food?
It’s a toss-up between chocolate and tacos.
What is the problem
with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
In the beginning, research. Like I said, it almost made me
quit. It’s so much easier now, with the internet and the ability to find and
order out-of-print books. It’s still a huge part of my writing. One of my
all-time favorite books was published in 1934 and is basically a collections of
the notes of the excavations of Tell Beit Mirsim—a city in Israel . It was
explored in 1926-32 by W. F. Albrght. They discovered ten different levels of
the city, each one with its own story to tell about the inhabitants! So
fascinating to a historical fiction author! But the coolest part is that the
whole time the archaeologists are giving glory to God. About their job, the
Exodus, the city, every last part of it.
Tell us about the
featured book.
The Walls of Arad is the third in the Journey to Canaan trilogy but can be read alone. It takes place
after the forty years of wandering and is based on Numbers 21. This chapter
tells us that when the Israelites went north to bury Aaron, the king of Arad attacked and took
hostages. Arisha is a young woman who fled that Canaanite city and found
herself in the Israelite camp.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
Oasis of Kadesh
Barnea, Sinai Peninsula
Late 13th Century B.C.,
Late winter, 22nd day of Shevat
Late 13th Century B.C.,
Late winter, 22nd day of Shevat
“You want me to what?” Zadok stared at the white-haired
woman sitting beside him, her face as serene as if she had just asked him to
pass her a cup of water.
“Marry her. I want you to marry Arisha.”
He’d seen the girl around Miriam’s tent. Not often. She
tended to stay inside, away from the gazes of others. “Why me?” He wiped his
sweaty hands on his tunic. Marriage was not a topic he enjoyed discussing. “I’m
sure there are any number of young men who would be more than happy to take her
as a wife. She’s very pretty.” Her wavy, light brown hair and sad eyes floated
through his mind.
“She doesn’t need those others. She needs you.” Miriam’s
wide grin plumped the apples of her cheeks, giving her an endearing child-like
look despite her age.
“Needs me? What do you mean she needs me?”
Her eyes twinkled. “Are you going to repeat everything I
say?”
Zadok jumped to his feet. “Are you going to tell me what you
are talking about?”
“Sit down.” Miriam spoke without looking up or raising her
voice.
Clenching his jaw, he pulled his cloak tighter against the
cool morning breeze drifting through the long, orderly rows of canvas tents.
“You know what happened the last time I wanted to marry someone.”
She flipped the manna cakes in the pan over the fire in
front of her tent. Apparently satisfied they were nicely browned on both sides,
she put two next to a handful of dates on a plate and handed it to Zadok.
“Marah was a selfish, spoiled child, and her father was no better. They
couldn’t see past tomorrow and had no faith in Yahweh’s provision.” She
grinned. “But you will be perfect for Arisha.”
“And why is that?”
“Arisha is from Arad .
In Canaan .”
“In Canaan ?” He pointed
north. “That Canaan ?”
Miriam raised a brow. “You know of another?”
He bristled. “And I am perfect because like her, I am not a
true Israelite.”
Miriam’s eyes—the same piercing eyes she shared with her
brother Moses—held his. “I watched your sabba lovingly build every piece of
furniture in that Tabernacle.” Her bony fingers pointed to the structure hidden
behind the animal hide curtain on the other side of the sandy walkway in front
of them. “Your grandfather crafted the Ark of the Covenant, over which the very
presence of Yahweh rests. And I watched his sabba Hur, along with my own
brother Aaron, hold Moses’s arms up to heaven all day so we would not be
slaughtered by the Amalekites. That man gave his life for Israel . You
could not be more Israelite if you were Jacob himself.”
Interesting! How can
readers find you on the Internet?
Twitter: @CaroleTowriss
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NovelistCaroleTowriss
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/ctowriss
email: carole@caroletowriss.com
website: www.caroletowriss.comThank you, Carole, for sharing this new book with us. I will read it as soon as my copy arrives.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
The Walls of Arad (Journey to Canaan) (Volume 3) - Paperback
The Walls of Arad (Journey to Canaan Book 3) - Kindle
Comment Starting Questions: Have you read any biblical novels? If so, what do you like most about reading biblical novels?
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
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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.
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23 comments:
would love to win. angela in KY
Martha
WI
I would think Biblical Fiction would be the hardest to write. There would be so much research. I feel that when I read Biblical Fiction I am learning so much, and getting a glimpse into the past.
Marta,
It is a TON of research, and I can get lost in it! The hardest part is knowing what to leave out.
Thanks for dropping by!
Carole
Yay! I've really been looking forward to this book! I can't wait to read it!
Elly -Indiana-
Thanks, Angela! Glad you're here!
Hi Elly
My husband has lots of family in Indiana!
Sounds like a great book. Thank you for sharing! Melanie Backus, TX
Sounds like a great book. Thank you for sharing! Melanie Backus, TX
Most of the books I read are Christian fiction. Sometimes I read biblical fiction. It helps me to visualize history.
Dianna in TN
This sounds like a wonderful trilogy.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
I somehow missed this trilogy, so thank you for sharing this on your blog. I'll be logging on to Amazon and ordering the first one today. I really enjoy Biblical fiction. Elaine in Wisconsin
Thanks for stopping by, Melanie!
Thank you! That is my goal.
Thanks so much for visiting all the way from Australia!
Thank you very much! I hope you enjoy it.
Carole
New author for me. north platte nebraska.
I also read Christian fiction and I enjoy Biblical themed fiction. As I read I find myself referring to the related scripture and this increases spiritual growth.
This books sounds fascinating and I appreciate both your interview and giveaway
Blessings!
Connie from KY
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Looks awesome! Please enter me.
Clarksville VA
Well, hey then! That practically makes us family ourselves!😉 But, seriously though, between my mother and my grandpa, I'd be surprised if some of your family ISN'T acquainted with my own. I literally run into friends of my grandpa's EVERYWHERE I go, from Chicago to Louisville, Sprinfield to Cincinnati. Have you ever heard that Johnny Cash song, "I've Been Everywhere"? Yeah. Definitely my grandpa lol.
Hi Abigail! Thanks for visiting.
Hi Kim. Glad you're here.
Hello Connie.
I'm so glad to hear this! It's always our goal to send our readers to Scripture.
Carole
Thank you so much for hosting me on your blog, Lena!
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