ISAIAH'S LEGACY - Mesu Andrews - One Free Book

Welcome back, Mesu. Congratulations on your new novel, Isaiah’s Legacy! Can you give us a quick overview of the book?

Isaiah’s Legacy continues the story of Judah’s Queen Hephzibah (Zibah), who was the prophet Isaiah’s daughter according to Jewish tradition. Isaiah’s Legacy is a sequel to my first book in the Prophets and Kings Series, Isaiah’s Daughter, but it can also be read as a stand-alone since its focus is the life and loves of Queen Zibah’s son, Manasseh.

Described as Judah’s most wicked king, Manasseh knew from his earliest memory that his father, King Hezekiah, would die—according to his grandfather Isaiah’s prophecy. Manasseh witnesses his abba’s death and is thrust onto Judah’s throne where his infatuation with a girl named Shulle transforms her from a poor maiden to his queen. Under the influence of her wicked uncle, Shebna, Shulle introduces palace intrigues and stirs ancient vendettas that pit pagan advisors against faithful Yahwists. Darkness marches forward, gaining momentum and threatening to snuff out the last flicker of Yahweh’s spark in Judah. But in a sudden twist of fate, Manasseh faces a darker path than his pagan gods can travel and finds only Yahweh waiting at the end of himself. It’s there—in a deep, dark pit—that I found Manasseh’s story to be the most phenomenal prodigal tale in Scripture. His redemption still gives me chills!

From sorcery to child sacrifice, this book really brings to life the reality of pagan worship during biblical times. What did you learn about some of these practices while writing the book?

Isaiah’s Legacy is the tenth book I’ve researched. The nations and generations in those books’ research spans Egypt, Canaan, Phoenicia, Assyria to Babylon (and many nations in between) and the people I’ve learned about range in time from Jacob in 2005 BC to Daniel in 530 BC—almost 1500 years.

In all that research, I’ve discovered so many similarities among the foreign gods, pagan rituals, and sorcery/divining between the nations and regions. But, interestingly enough, I’ve also discovered that gods and rituals differ from generation to generation even within the same nation.

A single god from the same nation may change in name and form from one generation to the next, but the same basic god may be shared by another nation with a similar legend and corresponding divine “family.” Nearly every culture includes a ritual of divining from animal innards. All nations, tribes, and tongues were fascinated by the various lights in the sky— sun, moon, and stars—and made them gods with differing names.

Some may find it disturbing when they discover ancient religions (some dating before Judaism and our Bible stories) that include stories very similar to Noah’s Ark and Creation. But I find it exciting! Many religions originated in Ancient Mesopotamia—where Abraham (in the Land of Ur) heard the One God call him to a different Land. Yahweh made Abraham’s descendants covenant bearers—Isaac, Jacob (renamed Israel), and Israel’s twelve tribes—and promised to bless all nations through them (Gen. 22:18). They kept the record of God’s redemptive work on earth with the Scriptures we hold in our hands today.

In every pagan ritual, every story of foreign gods, every method of divining, there’s a longing for connection with the Divine. Some want it for selfish reasons or to use it for evil. Others are looking to fill an emptiness that the Spirit has revealed—and He’ll lead them to discover the Truth. It’s been this way for ages, and I believe it will continue until we see Jesus with our own eyes.

You give one of the main characters, Manasseh, a set of unique characteristics that suggests he is on the autism spectrum. Can you tell us more about that and why you chose to give him those qualities?

I knew very little about autism until a couple of years ago, when one of my grandkids was slow in learning to talk. He would become frustrated in his attempts to communicate and begin screaming and lashing out. Concerned, I called one of my author buddies (Pepper Basham), who had also worked as a speech-language pathologist with specialty in social communication disorders for twenty years. Stated simply: she had twenty years’ experience of speech therapy with autistic teens.

After plying her with questions, I was pretty certain my grandson wasn’t on the spectrum, but her answers made me wonder about the character I was researching at the time: the twelve-year-old boy king, Manasseh. Ultra-intelligent, Manasseh could recite Leviticus fifty-five different ways (Sanh. 103b). (I can’t even recite all Ten Commandments.)

I wrote the first twelve chapters, concentrating on Manasseh’s childhood and early adolescence, and sent it to Pepper and five moms who had adolescent boys on the spectrum. I asked for their feedback on whether I’d represented this ancient Judean king correctly—if he had indeed lived with the characteristics of Asperger’s. One mom, who homeschools all five kids—four of whom are “Aspies”—went through the entire book, giving feedback on Manasseh’s emotions, thoughts, and actions.

To ensure no one would mistakenly believe autism caused Manasseh’s sinful choices, I also added a “foil” character—someone who is the antithesis of a character to accentuate certain qualities. A second character shows the same “quirky” characteristics but is faithful to Yahweh, affectionate, gentle, and kind. My hope is to raise autism awareness and dispel some of the false fears. I hope Isaiah’s Legacy can be a novel those in the autistic community can be proud to share with others.

I'm glad you included the Asperger's characteristics. I have a good friend who has twin boys with Asperger's. I've enjoyed seeong them grow and develop into teenagers. Which character in Isaiah’s Legacy do you most identify with?

My current self identifies with Zibah—older, wiser, struggling to stay relevant with the ever-increasing younger population. As I grow older, there are more-and-more younger ones who think differently than me and less-and-less my age who are willing to patiently teach them.

My younger self identifies with Shulle—confused about the real God and which adult’s theology to believe. I grew up as a spiritual mutt. Dad was Quaker. Mom, Charismatic. Grandparents, Pilgrim Holiness turned Nazarene turned Wesleyan. Sheesh! Each family member picked out a few Bible verses to prove their respective doctrines, and I didn’t know what to believe! So I didn’t believe. Praise Jesus that He doesn’t give up on prodigals!

What can you tell us about what you’re working on next?

The project sticks with my brand of a well-known Old Testament male character with a lesser-known female. Not sure yet if it will be two or three books on…drum roll…Joseph! I LOVE Joseph, and I’d love to explore some of the women in his life: his sister-mothers: Rachel and Leah; his only sister, Dinah; Potiphar’s Wife, Zelicha; and Joseph’s Egyptian wife, Asenath. I hope to announce the official future projects in January!

Mesu, the next project sounds as interesting to me as this one. Be sure to let me know when it will release. And thank you for sharing Isaiah’s Legacy with us today.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Isaiah's Legacy - Christianbook.com
Isaiah's Legacy: A Novel of Prophets and Kings - Amazon Paperback
Isaiah's Legacy: A Novel of Prophets and Kings - Kindle
Isaiah's Legacy: A Novel of Prophets and Kings - Audio Book

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.)

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, 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

OF FIRE AND LIONS - Mesu Andrews - One Free Book

Welcome back, Mesu. Tell us about your salvation experience.

I was raised in a Christian home—a spiritual mutt. Mom charismatic. Dad Quaker. Paternal grandparents ordained ministers (both grandpa and grandma) in the Pilgrim Holiness denomination—then switched to Nazarene, and then Wesleyan. Scripture was the weapon in my family’s theology wars, and I wanted nothing to do with God by the time I was twelve. I was an alcoholic by nineteen. When I was a sophomore in college, my boyfriend of five years broke off what I thought was an engagement, and I tried to end my life. A week later, my best friend and her fiancé invited me and her fiancé’s best friend, Roy Andrews, to attend a high-school-alma-mater football game. I’d known Roy since jr. high. He was as pagan as I was, but when he wore a tie to the football game, I knew something was different. When he didn’t cuss or show his red-headed temper while telling us that his roommate wrecked his car earlier in the day, I thought the folks at a Texas Christian college had brainwashed him! He denied it and said Jesus had changed him. I laughed. I only agreed to a second date as a challenge to see if he could keep up his holy-roller act. But the second date turned into three weeks of dates. The realization that he was so thoroughly different, completely changed, brought me to the saving knowledge of Jesus that I needed. I poured out my last bottle of black-label Jack Daniel’s (whiskey) the next morning. I married Roy Andrews six months later, and we’ll celebrate our 35th anniversary in June. J

What a testimony! I love hearing them. You’re planning a writing retreat where you can only have four other authors. Who would they be and why?

Francine Rivers – for three reasons: 1) because she came to Christ later in life and writes real stories; 2) because of her wonderful dry sense of humor; and 3) because she’s insanely talented and my favorite fiction author.

Liz Curtis Higgs – also three reasons: 1) same as Francine—came to Jesus later in life and has a humility about her that saturates a room; 2) forget dry sense of humor—she’s just crazy fun! And 3) I’d pick her brain on how to get soooooo much done and still have time to breathe!

The last two are men—they’d have to sleep in a different cabin! But I’d invite James Scott Bell and Donald Maass because I’ve learned so much about the writing craft from both of them. Though they have significantly different styles, they’re fascinating teachers and passionate about writing.

I know all of them, besides Donald Maass, personally and agree with you wholeheartedly about each one. Do you have a speaking ministry? If so, tell us about that.

Yes, I enjoy speaking, but because of some chronic health issues and increasing writing deadlines, I don’t do it as often as I once did. I’m looking forward to sharing about the themes in Of Fire and Lions at the writer’s conferences and women’s events in 2019. I still have some openings in the 2020 calendar and will begin to share about the next release early that year, Isaiah’s Legacy, the sequel to Isaiah’s Daughter. My favorite weekend conference topic is still “Sacred Love, Sacred Dance,” a journey through the entire Book of Song of Songs exploring intimacy with Christ.

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you and how did you handle it?

I was a Mary Kay consultant when our first daughter was a year old and had the opportunity to do the makeup for one of my high school friend’s wedding. We finished the makeup on the bride, the bridesmaids, and the mothers of both bride and groom. I helped my friend get her dress on and stood back to appreciate the stunning image. She looked A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! But then she realized she hadn’t painted her nails! “No worries,” said the Mary Kay lady-friend from high school, “I’ll paint them right where you stand.” We only had five minutes before she was to walk down the aisle, so someone handed me the bright red fingernail polish. I’d almost finished the second coat when someone asked what time it was. I looked at the watch on my wrist—and unwittingly tipped the bottle of red polish… Yep… The collective gasp nearly sucked all the oxygen from the room. I saw spots before my eyes and the red polish in a streak down the front of the bride’s pure, white taffeta. I. Wanted. To. Die. Every woman in the room went into “fix it” mode. One tried acetone to remove it, and the taffeta started to “melt” before our eyes. I just stood there with the polish still in hand. Slack-jawed. Stunned. Mortified. Finally, someone grabbed some liquid white-out (like we used to use to correct typewritten pages) and covered the red with that. I called out, “I’m so sorry!” as she walked out the door and got a laser-death stare from her mother. I sat in the back row for the wedding and left before the reception. Fast forward to our 20th high school reunion—this precious woman never mentioned the fiasco. Fast forward another fourteen years, when I have a conference in this woman’s Texas town. She picks me up from the airport and chauffeurs me to my hotel. I finally worked up the courage to ask her how she ever forgave me. “Mesu, there were so many other hard things that happened that day,” she said. “A little fingernail polish on my dress was the least of my worries.” What a great lesson in perspective and grace!

I love that. People are always telling me that they’d like to write a book someday. I’m sure they do to you, too. What would you tell someone who came up to you and said that?

I tell them it’s easier to write a book now than ever before. If they’re interested in writing about their life and memoirs, I suggest they do it through Amazon’s KDP program, where they can sell copies one-by-one at any price they set. It’s simple. They don’t need a publisher. And they can make changes for themselves if they find errors or typos. This is the perfect solution for those who simply want to write something for family and/or friends to read. If they’re serious about making writing more than a hobby, that’s a completely different animal. That requires commitment, passion, and a willingness to withstand multiple rejections—possibly never being traditionally published—on the journey to sharing their work publicly. Lots of folks want to write a book but few have the passion or calling to publish one. I wrote for twelve years before signing my first contract and endured countless rejections. If writing is just a whim…let it pass.

Good advice. Tell us about the featured book.

Survival. A Hebrew girl first tasted it when she escaped death nearly seventy years ago as the Babylonians ransacked Jerusalem and took their finest as captives. She thought she'd perfected in the many years amongst the Magoi and the idol worshippers, pretending with all the others in King Nebuchadnezzar's court. Now, as Daniel's wife and a septuagenarian matriarch, Belili thinks she's safe and she can live out her days in Babylon without fear—until the night Daniel is escorted to Belshazzar's palace to interpret mysterious handwriting on a wall. The Persian Army invades, and Bellili's tightly-wound secrets unfurl with the arrival of the conquering army. What will the reign of Darius mean for Daniel, a man who prays to Yahweh alone? Ultimately, Yahweh's sovereign hand guides Jerusalem's captives, and the frightened Hebrew girl is transformed into a confident woman, who realizes her need of the God who conquers both fire and lions.

Please give us the first page of the book.

"King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles. . . . He gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar . . . had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. . . . As they drank the wine, . . . the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall."

—Daniel 5:1–2, 4–5

Babylon October 539 BC

I’d never seen a sesame seed grow until I came to Babylon almost seventy years ago.

At harvest time my husband, Daniel, looks to the tiny seed as cause for great celebration. How inconsequential is a miniscule seed? How incomprehensible its yield? How unbearable the process of growth? A seed is buried. It dies. Then sprouts. And grows. It blossoms. Dries and dies again to be plucked up and used for the purpose of its planting. My husband’s purpose in celebration was to mark the passing of years toward prophecy’s fulfillment—now just futile poetry. But it caused me to remember things I’d rather forget.

It was a day I dreaded all year long.

I picked up my polished-bronze mirror and tucked a stray tendril of gray curls beneath my new linen head scarf, noting in the reflection his fidgeting behind me. He always had trouble tying a jeweled belt, but his fingers seemed more trembly this morning. Was he nervous too?

I set aside my mirror and crossed the bedchamber, nudging his hands aside. “Let me do it.” Though both his hands and mine were spotted with age and lined with bulging blue veins, at least mine were still nimble.

He cradled my head and placed a kiss on my forehead. “Thank you, love. What would I do without you?”

I finished the knot and gazed into his rheumy eyes, as smitten as I’d been sixty-six years ago. “Let’s hope you never find out.” I laced my arm through his. “Let’s go downstairs. The children are waiting.”

He opened our chamber door, and lively family sounds floated up from the courtyard below. We descended the stairs slowly since Daniel’s feet pained him. Waiting in our lush green courtyard were three generations of our descendants seated around four long rectangular tables. Four daughters with their husbands. Twenty-one grandchildren. And thirty- two greats.

Two conscientious grandsons met their saba Daniel at the bottom of the steps, one supporting each elbow. I was left to follow—alone. The snubbing had begun.

“I’m fine,” he protested. “Tend to your savta.”

“But Ima said your feet have been paining you, Saba.” Our oldest daughter’s firstborn offered an obligatory nod at me. “Shalom, Savta.”

I returned the nod with a half smile but remained silent, refusing to mock the peace such a greeting offered. One glance at our oldest daughter, Kezia, assured me there would be no shalom today. She stole sullen glimpses at me while standing beside her husband, Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah’s exiles in Babylon. Our other three daughters stood arm in arm with their husbands, eyes trained on the abba they all adored.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Ways to Connect With Mesu

Connecting with readers is one of the greatest blessings I’ve found in this writing journey. I’d love to hear your suggestions, your opinions, or anything else you’d like to share!

Please visit http://www.mesuandrews.com/ to order free bookmarks, download Bible studies or group discussion questions.

Facebook: Mesu Andrews

Twitter: MesuAndrews

Pinterest: MesuAndrews

Goodreads: Mesu Andrews

Instagram: Mesu Andrews

Thank you, Mesu, for sharing this new book with my blog readers and me. Last weekend, my pastor started a sermon series on The Kings of Babylon. This book is very timely for me.

Readers, here are links to the book.

Of Fire and Lions - Christianbook.com
Of Fire and Lions: A Novel - Amazon paperback
Of Fire and Lions: A Novel - Kindle
Of Fire and Lions: A Novel - Audio

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.)

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, 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

ISAIAH'S DAUGHTER - Mesu Andrews - One Free Book

Welcome back, Mesu. What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

God’s sovereignty always seems to pop up in my stories, which means His perfect goodness also comes out. Lots of folks struggle with “the wrathful God of the Old Testament,” so I try to show His perfect goodness and overwhelming love that helps explain some of the human condition seen in Old Testament stories. Our finite human wrestling with an infinite God is another theme I can’t seem to escape. Maybe because I’ve wrestled my whole life with how to know and understand Him more.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

My first novella will release in Summer 2018 as part of a series in which each author chooses a favorite Psalm and fictionalizes the story behind it. I’ve chosen Psalm 137, the captives’ Psalm, and titled the book By the Waters of Babylon. It will be a great warm-up for Daniel’s life story, tentatively titled Of Fire and Lions, that’s scheduled to release Spring 2019. In Spring 2020, we’re hoping to release the sequel to Isaiah’s Daughter and tell the rest of Hephzibah’s story.

If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

Celebrities, athletes, and politicians have never fascinated me. I’ve never been a star-gazer or fan girl, never cared about autographs or T-shirts. I want to spend an evening with someone who oozes Jesus, someone who has remained authentic and humble in spite of earthly blessing, and someone who wants to talk about the eternal—not the trivial or temporary. Liz Curtis Higgs would probably be my first choice.

I love Liz. She’s fun to be around. What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?

Eve. I have sooooooo many questions for her! What was it like to wake as an adult in God’s perfect world? How does perfection feel? Why in the world did she talk to that serpent? How many years did she live? How many kids did she have—300-400? How did she handle the guilt? I loved Tosca Lee’s book, Havah, because she explores some of these questions through fiction. But I hope to discover the truth someday in eternity!

How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

Read those rejections carefully. Are they a rubber-stamped No, or do they give you helpful feedback? Editors don’t love sending out rejections, and many editors actually take the time to offer insightful critique if they believe a writer has potential to eventually publish. When I received three years of “no” on my non-fiction projects (even with the help of a top-notch agent), a friend suggested I try teaching my Bible studies through fiction. I took a few months off (an extended break can be a good idea) and then began studying the craft of fiction. I’m still learning, but God opened the door for publication when I was willing to try a different direction. The most important lesson I’ve learned in publishing is to always be flexible and teachable. Learn from rejections and let God lead you through them.

Tell us about the featured book.

I love the quiet women in the Bible. Scripture mentions Hephzibah only twice, once as King Manasseh’s mother (2 Kings 21:1), which also makes her King Hezekiah’s wife. And again in Isaiah 62:4, when the prophet labels the restored Jerusalem by her name. Why did Isaiah (and Yahweh) choose to call Jerusalem, Hephzibah?

Jewish tradition teaches that Hephzibah was Isaiah’s daughter. Almost thirty years ago, my husband’s seminary professor asked, “When Isaiah gave Hephzibah as a bride to King Hezekiah, did the prophet think he was giving her to the ‘Root of Jesse’ (Messiah) of his prophecies?” Wouldn’t that be great—having the Messiah as your son-in-law?

Hezekiah’s reign began with a bang, and many of Isaiah’s prophecies seemed fulfilled by this go-gettum young king. Unfortunately, Isaiah’s later prophecies reveal his recognition that Hezekiah was NOT the Messiah. (Talk about in-law troubles!) My mind began to spin with those two fabulous words that make every author’s heart race: What if…

Hephzibah was married to Hezekiah, the most righteous king of Judah, and was mother of Manasseh, the most wicked king. Her story spans two books. The first, recalling her childhood and marriage to Hezekiah, is Isaiah’s Daughter. The second (as yet untitled) will explore the ruin and redemption of Manasseh’s reign.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Songs are written of sons, but daughters are left to whispers. So, gather near, friend, to hear of a daughter beyond imagining. She had the heart of a lion. Braver than a soldier. Wiser than a king. She was queen in Judah long after King David’s bones had turned to dust. Long after the arrogance of Solomon’s son split Israel into two nations.

When the northern tribes seized the name Israel, the southern tribes called their new nation Judah and placed David’s descendants on their throne. Judah’s capital city was the city of Jerusalem and its God was named Yahweh. But Israel bowed to pagan gods and even led some of Judah’s kings astray.

Yahweh’s prophets spewed out warnings, and Judah’s brave daughter, the lion-hearted queen, dared ask the prophets why? When? And how will Yahweh’s judgment fall?

One incomparable prophet answered, foretelling Assyria’s cruelty as Yahweh’s weapon of wrath. Isaiah, a man born to royalty, shouted at kings and comforted beggars. The records proclaim him husband to a prophetess and father of two sons. This is recorded, detailed, written.

But what of his daughter?

Her story begins when the northern kingdom of Israel joins forces with Aram, a neighboring nation. They attack Judah in retribution for refusing to join their coalition against Assyria. Isaiah delivers God’s Words to Judah’s King Ahaz—a promise and a warning. Ahaz ignores both. His decision forever changes the life of Isaiah’s Daughter.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Connect Info

Please visit http://www.mesuandrews.com/ to order free bookmarks, download Bible studies or group discussion questions.

Facebook: Mesu Andrews

Twitter: MesuAndrews

Pinterest: MesuAndrews

Goodreads: Mesu Andrews

Instagram: Mesu Andrews

Purchase Link:

http://mesuandrews.com/books/isaiahs-daughter/

Thank you so much, Lena, for taking part in the blog tour. You are a gracious host, and I so appreciate the ministry of your blog to authors and readers. May the Lord bless you abundantly for your faithfulness!

In His Arms With You,

Mesu

It’s my great pleasure to feature you and your new book on my blog.

Readers, 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.)

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

THE PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER - Mesu Andrews - One Free Book

Bio: Mesu Andrews is an award-winning author and speaker who has devoted herself to passionate and intense study of Scripture. As the daughter of a Quaker and a Charismatic Protestant, Andrews’ personal testimony describes how her unusual spiritual heritage led her to initially reject God. Her life changed however, when an old high school friend shared with her the Gospel message and challenged her to begin exploring the Bible for herself. 

As her desire for God’s Word grew, so did her passion for uncovering the truths found in Scripture. Andrews began teaching at Christian women’s conferences until chronic illness made frequent travel impossible. In that season of brokenness, she began digging deeper into the Bible, which stirred her curiosity about biblical characters and their stories. Andrews’ approach to writing biblical novels is wrapped in awe for God’s Word and a deliberate and careful examination of historical details. The result is a vivid and mesmerizing retelling of some of the most treasured narratives in Scripture.

Mesu Andrews’ understanding of and love for God’s Word brings the biblical world alive for her readers. Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year for a Debut Author. Her three subsequent novels, Love’s Sacred Song, Love in a Broken Vessel, and In the Shadow of Jezebel all released to great reader enthusiasm.

In her highly anticipated fifth novel, Andrews transports readers to the fertile and often turbulent world of ancient Egypt. The Pharaoh’s Daughter is an intimate and richly complex portrayal of the woman who drew Moses out of the water and claimed him as her own. Its elaborate detail will leave readers transfixed; its pace will no doubt leave them breathless. Andrews says, “I love to write about the shadowy women of God’s Word, those whom Scripture leaves nameless but who’ve made such an impact on the heroes of our faith.”

Andrews has enjoyed 30 years of marriage to her husband Roy, who incidentally, was the old high school friend who rescued her with the transforming truth of Jesus Christ. They live in the Pacific Northwest and have two adult daughters.

Welcome back, Mesu. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

Oh, Lena, you’re asking me to do something I seldom do—dream. The Pharaoh’s Daughter is the first of two books in The Treasures of the Nile series. Miriam (working title) is the second book in the series, and I’ve just finished that rough draft. These books are the first continuation series I’ve done and the last of my contracted books, so I’m not sure what comes next. I’d love to pick up where Miriam leaves off (after the exodus and crossing the Red Sea) and follow the Israelites to Sinai and into Canaan…but we’ll see what the Lord has in store!

Tell us a little about your family.

My sweet hubby, Roy, is the academic dean at Multnomah Biblical Seminary, and we’re both big Indianapolis Colts fans. We’ve known each other since third grade—though we didn’t start dating until we were sophomores in college. He’s the reason I know Jesus personally, the one who led me to Christ (after we’d been dating for about six weeks. (We’re a testimony that dating evangelism can work. Tee-hee.) We have two married daughters and six grandbabies, who live entirely too far away, so we’re racking up frequent flier miles! I sorely miss my Rotti-pitbull, who died of cancer about a year ago, and I hope to get another four-legged friend this summer.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Absolutely! I had never read a biblical novel (any novel—except as required reading in high school) until I attended my first writer’s conference. I was a non-fiction gal, hoping to write and publish Bible studies and devotionals, using fiction as a tool like Jesus’s parables. In one of my conference critiques, the editor told me to write one or the other—fiction or non-fiction—and if I was going to write biblical novels, I should start with The Red Tent. It was one of very few biblical novels available in 2001 since few had been published in the Christian market, so I read LOTS of general market biblicals—and was horrified at what was done to God’s Word. Now, I read almost exclusively biblical novels in the CBA market and promote as many other authors in this genre as I can. It’s my prayer that readers won’t need to read a general market biblical novel to gain insights into God’s Word. It makes more sense to read authors who are guided by the same Holy Spirit that inspired the text of Scripture.

That is so true. What are you working on right now?

I’m working on Miriam, the second book of The Treasures of the Nile series (Waterbrook/Multnomah). It has been such a fun challenge. When I first pitched the project to my editor, she laughed and said, “Even I’m bored. How are you going to make Miriam—an eighty-six year-old single prophetess—exciting?” Well! I assure you…ten plagues and the confirmed-bachelor Eleazar (who meets a lovely harem slave) spice up the plot with enough romance and spiritual lessons to keep us on our toes. The research into the plagues has been fascinating, and the realization that the Israelites—including Miriam—didn’t truly KNOW Yahweh until He began revealing Himself through the plagues has been a wonderful personal journey for me. I think that’s what I love most about writing biblical novels. I learn as much or more than the characters in our familiar Bible stories.

What outside interests do you have?

I love the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. My husband and I had lived in the cornfields and flat lands of Indiana our whole lives until he accepted a teaching position at Multnomah University in 2007. A few years later, the Lord plopped an amazing gift into our laps—a small mountain property in the foothills. At age forty-seven, I camped in a tent for the first time in my life. Granted, I had a battery bank to power a mini-refrigerator, laptop, and a box fan, but hubby and I cooked over a fire and let the beauty of the Pacific Northwest seep into our bones. I’m hooked. We hope to someday build a cabin, but for now we’re enjoying the quiet beauty of our little patch of NW foothills.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

The settings for my books are largely determined by Scripture; however, oftentimes archeologists disagree on key sites. As I read several resources on the geographical area in question, patterns form, and the setting for the story emerges as I study the historical accounts. For instance, in The Pharaoh’s Daughter, the excavated city of Avaris is believed to have been the biblical city of Rameses. Recent archeological evidence offers rough layouts for that city dating back to 1500-1200 BC. Using those rough drawings, I added a little imagination to situate the slave villages of the Hebrews to create the area our Bibles refer to as Goshen—sort of a pauper’s community on the outskirts of the larger Egyptian metropolis. Is my setting exactly as it was during biblical times? Probably not, but it simulates the culture, the climate, and the geography of the time—and hopefully transports the reader into ancient Egypt. That’s the most important thing.

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

I think the Sunday school answer is “Jesus,” right? Wouldn’t we all love to see Him, touch Him, hear Him, etc.? Someday that will happen…but if I must choose someone other than Jesus, it would be one of two women—either Eve or Mary (mother of Jesus). Each of them knew God intimately in their human experience. They walked with Him, talked with Him, loved Him with a physical presence that I can only dream of in eternity. What would it have been like to “walk with God in the cool of the Garden” as Eve did—before she was marred by sin? What would it have been like to wipe a tear from Jesus’s eye when He skinned His knee, to comfort the One who would one day comfort all humankind? These women experienced God as no other human beings ever did, and I can’t wait to hear of their experience.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

I wish I had known the importance of each word in a story. A single word can set a mood, convey deeper meaning, or send a reader’s heart racing. Word choice is an art that the best authors hone with forethought and care. Some of my harshest reviews resulted from my careless choice of a single word or phraseology. God’s Word warns us that the power of the tongue can kill or destroy, and I’ve seen the power of a single word do the same.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

As I said, I learn the lessons of my characters, and right now I’m writing the rough draft of Miriam. One of the characters was trudging and complaining through the wilderness after crossing the Red Sea. Then he looked at the pillar of cloud ahead of him and felt convicted, thinking, if I insist on viewing the holy as common, I’m doomed to a life of hopelessness.

This lesson hit me between the eyes. God’s presence indwells me through His Holy Spirit, so I experience little miracles everyday simply because of His constant Presence—whether I acknowledge those miracles or not. If I insist on viewing those holy encounters as common, I’m doomed to hopelessness. If, on the other hand, I recognize the holy in my daily existence, even the flight of a sparrow can offer hope on a difficult day.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Write something meaningful everyday. Whether it’s for a blog post or in a prayer journal, write something that demands clarity and the process of a beginning, middle, and end. Don’t let it become mechanical. Let it flow from the heart as the Holy Spirit gives you the words. Write it immediately after your quiet time with the Lord. When I stopped writing for publication, I got published. I began working on craft and gave up hope of EVER getting published—that’s when the doors opened. MY desire was to publish Bible studies and devotionals. God’s desire was that I write novels. When I let go of my agenda, He gave me the thing I never knew I wanted. Now, I love writing fiction and can’t imagine writing anything else! His ways are not our ways. They’re infinitely better.

Tell us about the featured book.

Anippe has grown up in the shadows of Egypt’s good god Pharaoh, aware that Anubis, god of the afterlife, may take her or her siblings at any moment. She watched him snatch her mother and infant brother during childbirth, a moment which awakens in her a terrible dread of ever bearing a child. Now she is to be become the bride of Sebak, a kind but quick-tempered Captain of Pharaoh Tut’s army. In order to provide Sebak the heir he deserves and yet protect herself from the underworld gods, Anippe must launch a series of deceptions, even involving the Hebrew midwives—women ordered by Tut to drown the sons of their own people in the Nile.

When she finds a baby floating in a basket on the great river, Anippe believes Egypt’s gods have answered her pleas, entrenching her more deeply in deception and placing her and her son Mehy, whom handmaiden Miriam calls Moses, in mortal danger.

As bloodshed and savage politics shift the balance of power in Egypt, the gods reveal their fickle natures and Anippe wonders if her son, a boy of Hebrew blood, could one day become king. Or does the god of her Hebrew servants, the one they call El Shaddai, have a different plan—for them all?

Please give us the first page of the book.

The royal linen closet is a dark hiding place, but I’m a big girl—almost five Inundations old—so I’m trying not to be afraid.

I wonder…is it dark in the underworld? Was my Ummi Kiya afraid when she and the baby inside her crossed over this morning?

The priest ordered me and my little sister to the birthing chamber. Ankhe is only three. She wouldn’t go.

The priest was angry, so he came to our chamber and grabbed Ankhe’s hand. “You must see the beauty of Tawaret—goddess of childbirth!”

Instead, we saw Ummi Kiya’s blood poured out on the straw under her birthing stool. Her light-brown skin was white as milk. The midwives pulled out a baby boy, but he was as gray as granite.

The angry priest wasn’t angry anymore. He knelt before Ankhe and me. “Anubis, god of the underworld, has stolen their breath. I’m sorry.”

I ran from the birthing chamber, screaming, before Anubis could steal my breath too.

I’ve been hiding a long time because Anubis might still be hunting. He knows my name, Meryetaten-tasherit. It’s hard to understand, but I’m called a decoy—named after Queen Nefertiti’s daughter Meryetaten to confuse Anubis should he prowl the palace grounds. If I stay in this linen wardrobe all day and night, perhaps the dark god will take the Great Wife’s daughter instead.

Nefertiti, the Great Wife, hates me because Abbi Akhenaten loved my mother. Ummi Kiya was his Beloved Wife, and she gave him a son—my brother, Tutankhamun.

Intriguing. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Author Website: http://www.mesuandrews.com/

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MesuAndrews?ref=hl

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/MesuAndrews

Author Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mesuandrews/

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103519315772289492238/posts

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3513697.Mesu_Andrews

NovelCrossing: http://www.novelcrossing.com/activity-feed/userid/1863

Thank you, Mesu, for sharing your life and this new book with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.

The Pharaoh's Daughter - Christianbook.com
The Pharaoh's Daughter: A Treasures of the Nile Novel - Amazon
The Pharaoh's Daughter: A Treasures of the Nile Novel - Kindle

Christian Book Store

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

LOVE IN A BROKEN VESSEL - Mesu Andrews - One Free Book

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

I write biblical novels because I love to research biblical texts, and a story always seems to emerge. In order to understand God’s Word, I dig into its context—who wrote it, when, and why? When I discover the amazing details of interconnected lives—prophets, kings, patriarchs—the Scripture comes alive for me in ways I hadn’t seen before, which fuels my passion to write the novels others read. I tried to write Bible studies at first, but since I didn’t have the training or degrees to back up my findings, novels became the outlet for the wonderful information I found during my research. And frankly—I think fiction is more fun!

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

My wedding day. It wasn’t a picture-perfect, storybook wedding by some standards. My husband Roy and I were married in a hotel banquet room, and we honeymooned at a Holiday Inn in Cincinnati, Ohio! But I married the man who led me to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, and our love has grown every day since. Our lives haven’t always been easy, nor has our marriage been without bumps in the road, but on my wedding day, I knew the Lord had given me the desire of my heart—a man who loved me more than anyone else on earth. And I’ve never been happier.

How has being published changed your life?

I actually have to WORK now! Ha! I’m thankful and extremely blessed, but I must say it’s been a surprise that with each published book, the workload becomes heavier. I used to write a few days a week and still have time for shopping with my daughters or coffee with friends. Now, those little excursions must be scheduled, or they don’t happen! I’m easily working forty hours a week, sometimes more. Marketing, writing, re-writing, blogging, etc. The time really slips away, and I’ve had to budget my time like a REAL business woman. Oh my! Li’l ol’ me! It’s downright shocking! ;)

What are you reading right now?

I’m reading Jill Eileen Smith’s book, Rebekah, right now. The next one in the queue is Joan Wolf’s, This Scarlet Cord. I try to read as much biblical fiction as possible to stay current on what’s out there. Historical fiction/romance is my favorite genre overall, and I love anything written by Laura Frantz, Tessa Afshar, Francine Rivers…

What is your current work in progress?

I just submitted my rough draft of The Shadow of Jezebel, which is scheduled for release March 2014 (Revell). Here’s a sneak peek:

Princess Jehosheba (Sheba) wants nothing more than to please her Baal-worshiping abba, Judah’s King, and his first wife Queen Atalyah, the daughter of notorious Queen Jezebel. But when a mysterious letter from the dead prophet Elijah predicts doom for the king’s household, Sheba realizes her dark skills as Baal’s priestess reach beyond the world of earthly governments. When both light and darkness align, forcing her to marry Yahweh’s high priest, Sheba enters the unknown world of Yahweh’s Temple. Her husband shows her Yahweh’s truth and a love beyond hope, but can Sheba overcome Jezebel’s lingering torment? Can Yahweh use a fallen priestess to shine the unquenchable light of His love to faithless Judah? The Shadow of Jezebel—Meet the woman who saved a king, delivered a nation, and preserved the Light of the World.

What would be your dream vacation?

A Holyland cruise! I love cruise ships. My hubby and I have cruised several times in the Caribbean and to Mexico, and we toured Israel for ten days in 2000. I’d love to combine my two passions. I’ve always heard it’s cheaper to book passage on a cruise than pay the per/day fee for a nursing home—so maybe when it’s time for me to enter managed care, I’ll reserve my spot on a ship bound for Israel! J

How do you choose your settings for each book?

While some of the ancient locations are specified in Scripture (i.e. Jerusalem, Tekoa, Samaria, etc.), the layout of houses and palaces is largely guesswork and imagination. Some archaeological information is helpful to establish the arrangement of ancient cities or buildings. For instance, much has been revealed about Samaria’s palace being built on a hill, creating a natural fortress, since King Omri was a soldier with a military mind. The layers of each tel (or mound of an archaeological dig) help define to which century a piece of pottery or a building’s foundation belongs, so I must sift carefully which information is relevant for the time period of my characters/story. The same is true for even flowers and trees of Israel. Some of the flora and fauna in Israel today would not have been native to the Land of Scripture, so I can’t include it in my settings. To answer your question, I suppose I don’t get to CHOOSE much of my setting at all. I get to discover it!

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

Mel Gibson. Yes, it’s partly because Braveheart is my favorite movie, but there’s a deeper reason. I want to ask what it was like to direct the movie, The Passion of the Christ. I know how utterly consumed I become in my plots. When my hero or heroine is despairing, I despair. When they’re in a tight spot, I can’t rest until I figure out how to get them relief! I’d like to ask Mr. Gibson how directing The Passion changed him personally? Or did it? What was it like to see Jesus beaten, mocked, crucified—before your very eyes? Talk about the Bible coming alive! I’ve watched that movie once, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to watch again. It crushed me so. I want to meet the man who created such a stirring picture of my Savior…

I’m sure his work on that movie is what made him such a target for the enemy to try to bring down. I’ve prayed a lot for him. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I LOVE movies. Old movies, new movies, all kinds of movies! And we recently purchased a small parcel of land in the foothills near our house. My husband and I lived in Indiana all our lives, so moving to the Pacific Northwest in 2007 was sort of magical to us. Its emerald green moss and grass year-round sort of captured our hearts. We’re hoping to clear a little spot and do some exploring before our bones get too old and creaky! Who knows what the Lord has in store for us on our little mountain property—maybe a writer’s getaway.

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

My health is always a hurdle to be crossed. I still fight daily migraines, controlled to a dull roar with meds and limited activity. Fibromyalgia and a couple other chronic issues keep me from running marathons (just a figure of speech—I never ran a marathon on my best day!), but the Lord has blessed me with a wonderful doctor who keeps me rolling along. Writing is the perfect ministry for me, and the Lord knew it way before I did. I used to be a TOTAL extrovert. I needed people like I needed air to breathe, but after spending six months in bed, I discovered only One Friend was essential to my existence. All the other folks in my life are a true blessing and icing on the cake—a sweet addition to my world—but I get most of my fellowship through my computer screen these days. That’s why I love connecting with readers on Facebook, my website, Goodreads, and NovelCrossing!

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Trust in God’s timing, and go to writer’s conferences! I’m so thankful I didn’t get a book published when I first began trying. My life was too crazy to have added all that comes with a book contract! I scrimped and saved to attend a writer’s conference each year (or every-other year). The training I received, and the long-term contacts I made were invaluable. Christian publishing is a small world. Hang around long enough, get to know the people, and people will know you. Stubborn proficiency gets published!

Tell us about the featured book.

Love in a Broken Vessel is a biblical novel about Gomer and Hosea. Deserted by those who love her and betrayed by the gods she once worshiped, Gomer lives a bitter existence … until one day her childhood friend reappears—Hosea. But is it too late for Gomer? Is her heart too broken to capture even a drop of love? While unfaithful Israel breaks God’s heart, Gomer’s broken spirit tests Hosea’s faith. Can the two find faith in Yahweh’s power to love?

Please give us the first page of the book.

~Hosea 1:2~

When Yahweh first spoke to Hosea, Yahweh told him, “Marry a prostitute, and have children with that prostitute. The people in this land have acted like prostitutes and abandoned Yahweh.”

Hosea’s empty house throbbed with sweet silence. He soaked it in, letting it nourish him like the last bite of warm, fresh bread soggy with lentil stew. His stomach rumbled, and he realized it was past time for his evening meal.

The stone worktable stood like a sentry in his main room. Covered baskets hung on the wall, filled with day-old bread and hard cheese. The meager fare would suffice until he could soak lentils for tomorrow’s meal. He approached the table, noticing dust dancing in a shaft of dusk’s golden light.

A second look at the glow drew him deeper into contemplation. I only see the dust when light shines through the window. Hosea waved his hand through the light, stirring the dust, but felt no resistance. Visible and real, yet without recognizable sound or weight, the dust was present but immeasurable. A slow, satisfied smile crept across his lips. Now, that is a good topic for the prophets’ class tomorrow. Jonah would enjoy the—

A breeze swept through the house, startling him, swaying the hanging herbs. Hosea turned to the front door, confused. Had the wind blown it open?

The door was closed.

“What was that?” he whispered to no one. The wind stirred inside the house again, this time not a breeze but a gale that whipped his robe around his legs.

The wind spoke. Marry a prostitute.

Hosea gasped. Yahweh?

Marry a prostitute, and have children with that prostitute.

The wind grew stronger, and Hosea covered his face, fell to his knees, listening.

The people of Israel have acted like prostitutes and abandoned Yahweh.

The wind stopped. All was silent. Tranquil again.

Powerful. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Please stop by my website and order free bookmarks and get downloadable questions and Bible studies! http://www.mesuandrews.com/

Or visit me on Facebook: Mesu Andrews

Twitter: MesuAndrews

Pinterest: MesuAndrews

Blog posts on Fridays (inside scoop on characters, plots, and new releases!): http://www.mesuandrews.com/blog/

Thank you, Mesu, for sharing with us today. There are many parallels between your life and mine. The greatest is that I have always been an extrovert, but in this season of my life, I am staying home because of infirmities and spending most of my time writing and connecting to my readers and other authors.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Love in a Broken Vessel: A Novel - paperback
Love in a Broken Vessel: A Novel - 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 Google +, Feedblitz, Facebook, 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

LOVE'S SACRED SONG - Mesu Andrews - One Free Book

Welcome, Mesu. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

Since many of my biblical characters are real people, and some have a great deal of integrity (or lack of) and personality prescribed by the scriptural text, I have to go with what’s given. However, it’s fun to play with some of the supporting cast. I don’t necessarily write myself into the stories—more so bits and pieces of my family show up occasionally. In Love’s Sacred Song, Solomon goes to an old vinedresser for romantic advice, and the verse the old man recites was taught to me by my dad when I was in junior high: “Love is such a funny thing—shakes like a lizard, runs around your heart, and grabs at your gizzard.” My dad is now bedfast and can’t see to read, but he laughed aloud when my mom read him that portion of the book. Those are the kinds of things I like to write into my characters—secret treasures shared with family and friends.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

When I was in high school, I was good friends with two of my teachers. Not like Facebook friends. I mean friends. Like go out on Friday night. Spend the night at their houses. Hang out. Talk about our love lives. I look back now and wonder, Why in the world were they friends with a high school junior/senior? Quirky is a good word for that ongoing hmmmmmmm.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

When I was in bed for six months and physically couldn’t do anything else! I’m a little slow on the up-take, so I think the Lord had to get my full attention. J I wrote my first script for (and performed in) a play in second grade. I have written love letters to boys since third grade. I received A’s in all my English classes and was valedictorian. But I was an extrovert. I couldn’t sit still long enough to write! My sole desire in life was to be a wife and mom. When the Lord stirred my hunger for His Word, I added one more vocation—Bible Student/Teacher. I began speaking because that’s what extroverts do. When my body rebelled, that God-given desire to study and teach was satisfied through that latent joy of writing I’d once dabbled in. I learned “dabbling” isn’t good enough to get published, and now I constantly read, learn, and study the craft to become the writer God intends me to be.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

Biblical fiction—with some regency and historical. Honestly, I have so little time for recreational reading, I guard that time for the stories that grip my heart…and those stories are the ones about ancient Israel and God’s people. I’m a very task-oriented person. If an activity has no purpose, I find it difficult to carve out any of those precious, irretrievable 24 hours in my day. I read for edu-tainment. I want to be challenged, to learn, to be changed. If it’s just a nice story—uh-uh.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

Well, it’s actually pretty simple for me. If I run, run, run, my body falls down, down, down. J Or it hurts, hurts, hurts. Chronic illness changes a person’s perspective. I no longer need to get out of the house to feel sane. I try to schedule all my appointments and errands on one or two days a week. I actually need to be in the house, quiet before the Lord, and give my body time to rest at least three or four days a week in order to function long-term. I’m blessed with an incredibly helpful husband, and I sometimes have to ask others for help. It’s humbling. It’s good to be humbled, and it’s good to be quiet.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I use a couple of websites to look up biblical names and Hebrew names to check their meaning. If I’m naming a nasty character, I pick a surly name that epitomizes what I want that individual’s personality to resemble. In Love Amid the Ashes, I used a website for Arabian names. Sayyid meant “master,” because he would lord over his servants and was the antagonist who would try to master the protagonists. In Love’s Sacred Song, Arielah meant “Lion of God,” and I used that image several times to indicate her strength.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I would love to say, “My kids,” because our daughters are fabulous human beings who have chosen incredible husbands and are in the process of providing me with adorable grandchildren. The problem is…if they were screwing up their lives, I wouldn’t take the blame, so I don’t think I should take the credit! So I think I’ll have to say my marriage. Roy and I were married in 1984, just eight months after an old boyfriend had ditched me (after a five-year relationship). Everyone said I was rebounding, that Roy and I would be divorced in a year. But everyone didn’t know that I’d fallen in love not only with Roy Andrews but also with his Savior. We’ve had some hard days, even some rocky years, but our foundation has always been Jesus. I believe He has been the glue in our relationship. So I guess I can’t take the credit for the marriage either! Ha!

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

I want to be a BEHEMOTH! (Check out Job 40:15-24 for more details, but in a nutshell…) This guy ranks first among the works of God. He’s powerful, strong, and awesome, yet he’s gentle enough for children to play nearby and he’s so peaceful. No matter whether God comes at him with a sword or the rivers rage around him…he’s peaceful. I love that!

What is your favorite food?

Lobster, with pizza as a close second. (Those little Lindt Lindor white chocolate truffles are an addiction—does that count?)

Oh, yes. Chocolate is one of the food groups, isn’t it? What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

I thought I was supposed to write Bible studies, devotionals, and non-fiction stuff. I tried for seven years to get published in those genres. Nothing. Not even a nibble. My best friend told me to write the Song of Solomon Bible study as a novel. But remember my task-oriented personality? (Here’s the roadblock…) I thought fiction was frivolous, just fancy stories to entertain. Then my friend asked me if I thought myself a better teacher than Jesus—since He used parables to educate the crowds.

Ugh. That’s what best friends do to help with our writing careers. They show us our faults gently until we refuse to see them, and then they club us over the head with a 2 x 4—in a Christian sort of way.

So I began learning the art  of writing fiction—and I’m still learning. Good fiction is never frivolous. Good fiction is always edu-tainment. And that’s what I strive and pray to write—good biblical fiction.

Tell us about the featured book.

It’s the story of Solomon’s Song of Songs:

Standing in the overpowering shadow of his famous father, young king Solomon wavers between fear and bravado, longing for a love that is true and pure—a love that can be his cornerstone. A shepherdess in the northern city of Shunem, Arielah has known since she first laid eyes on Solomon that it was her destiny to become his bride. When her father secures a promise from King Solomon to marry Arielah as a treaty bride to help unite the kingdom, it seems her dreams will come true. But how can this simple shepherdess live as part of Solomon’s harem? Can Solomon set aside his distractions to give himself completely to just one woman? Or will he let duty, deception, and the daily routine divide his heart?

Please give us the first page of the book.

~1 Chronicles 12:23, 32~

These are the numbers of the men armed for battle . . . men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.

Arielah tiptoed around the sleeping forms of her surly brothers. Empty wineskins served as silent witnesses to their drunken slumber. Kemmuel and Igal would be snoring till dawn. They’d been a disgrace to Abba Jehoshaphat and to the tribe of Issachar since they were old enough to tend sheep.

Kemmuel rolled on his side and smacked his lips, and Arielah stood like a stone. A moment later, she reached for the iron handle and tugged open the rough-hewn cedar door. The bottom corner scraped the dirt and creaked on leather hinges. She held her breath. Glancing slowly over her shoulder, she sighed her relief at the steady rise and fall of her brothers’ chests.

A shadow of melancholy swept over her. They looked so peaceful lying there, but their rage was a living thing boiling just beneath the surface. If only they would let her love them. But her big brothers rebuffed even the love Abba and Ima tried to offer. Arielah had learned at an early age to keep her distance or reap her brothers’ wrath, and now she spent most of her time avoiding them. Tears blurred her vision.

Focusing beyond them, she saw Ima Jehosheba seated by the cooking stones, waving her out the door. Ima’s wink and loving smile nudged Arielah into the shadowy courtyard. Abba Jehoshaphat had already gone to Shunem’s well for the elders’ meeting. Both parents had known Arielah planned to observe the meeting from a distance, since a woman was never welcome there. And though Abba was a righteous man of faith and prayer, tonight he condoned Arielah’s deception.

Keeping to the shadows, Arielah left their courtyard and slipped behind a few stacked water jars, feeling more like a bandit than the daughter of Shunem’s most revered judge. Silently she moved among the merchants’ stalls toward the well at the center of Shunem. There every town meeting was held and every bit of gossip found its voice. Crouching behind crates and tables, she remained under the shadow of goatskin canopies covering the empty booths. No merchants lingered this late to hawk their wares. Only dogs and vermin loitered to clean up the scraps.

She smiled, remembering a time when her childish spying had taken her into the busy streets of Jerusalem. She was only seven when King David had summoned Abba as a northern advisor to consult on a civil matter. The whole family accompanied Jehoshaphat to the capital city. That was the first time I saw Solomon. Arielah’s heart skipped a beat at the thought of the young king. Tonight’s meeting would be very different from the one in Jerusalem so many years ago.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Readers can find links to all my social networks and a sign-up link to my free weekly devotionals on my website: http://www.mesuandrews.com/. Or if you’d like to take a look at the book trailer for Love’s Sacred Song, check out: http://youtu.be/LYCpTmNVCQo. I’ve also got an author profile on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3513697.Mesu_Andrews

Thanks so much for letting me chat a bit with your readers, Lena! I love to keep in touch with folks, and I welcome emails and comments from readers! Blessings!

Thank you, Mesu, for the interesting interview.


Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Love's Sacred Song: A Novel - paperback
Love's Sacred Song: A Novel - 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 Feedblitz, Facebook, 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