LAND OF SILENCE - Tessa Afshar - One Free Book

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

I write biblical fiction. The Bible is the greatest book ever written. Something about the stories it contains has managed to grab the human heart for thousands of years. More often than not, God chooses deeply flawed men and women through whom He fulfills His purposes. That’s why so many of us can relate to them! A broken woman who rises above her circumstances to persevere, to cling to God, and to ultimately overcome is an inescapably powerful character to read about. I relate to her brokenness and am inspired by her victory.

In my experience, all of us struggle with various kinds of insecurities. We doubt ourselves. We doubt God. But in God’s hands, the fissures that run through the very fabric of our being can turn into glory. Biblical fiction captures this miraculous transformation. It allows for all these variables to come together while at the same time remaining entertaining, exciting, and gripping.

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

That is too hard to choose! The day my husband and I looked at each other, star-struck, and knew our lives would never be the same again. The day I signed my first book contract. The day I won the Christy award. The first time my husband told me he loved me, and all the times after. This morning when I woke up and the sun was shining and I found that the lilies of the valley had poked through the dirt.

I’m a lot like you. I find joy in most days. How has being published changed your life?

I get to live in a whole different world without getting on a single train, plane, or automobile. I have conversations with people who don’t exist, travel in time, kill bad people, keep readers awake way past their bedtime, and no one arrests me or sends me to an insane asylum. It’s a pretty good deal, really.

What are you reading right now?

The Boys in the Boat, which tells the story of nine working-class American boys in the depth of the Depression who went on to win the 1936 Olympics eight-oar rowing race in Berlin. Absolutely breath-taking, inspiring, and impeccably researched.

What is your current work in progress?

I am working on the story of Lydia, the seller of purple cloth mentioned in the book of Acts. I think we underestimate her importance in the Bible, not to mention her significance for the world in general. Not only is she the first convert in Europe, but she also established the first European church in her home. Strong, loyal, and courageous, she is a successful businesswoman in a world dominated by men. I find her captivating.

What would be your dream vacation?

To have one? If you want me to be more specific, then I would love to visit a sunny island nestled against a deep blue ocean, with nothing to do but eat, read, swim, and walk on the beach with my hubby. On the other hand, I wouldn’t say no to a vacation in Italy. Or a tour of the churches mentioned in the book of Acts. Or a few weeks walking about Israel. As you see, I’m not picky.

I understand. It’s been a while since James and I went on vacation. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

I love cooking. Lately, I’ve been trying some healthier recipes. But I find you can’t give up everything. You need some naughty ingredients to make the food taste good. So I am trying to practice moderation rather than annihilation! We try to eat a low fat, low salt, low gluten, and low sugar diet.

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

Time. Biblical fiction requires hours of study and research before you can even start to tell your story. The research is time-consuming. Writing is time-consuming. Some days, it is tempting to feel overcome by all the demands of this work. But for me, writing is not a hobby. It’s not even a job. It is a call. I believe I was created to do this. The Bible says that God created us in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us (Ephesians 2:10). I believe, in my life, part of that work is writing. So what shall I say when things become hard or seem untenable? Shall I walk away from God’s purpose? Shall I ditch my destiny just because it’s hard? If writing is a call in your life, you must persevere.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

We can drive ourselves crazy with depressing statistics, discouraging circumstances, and impossible odds. However, there is a truth that we sometimes misplace: God is strong. He is able. He is an ever-present help in trouble. He can cover our gaps and our shortcomings. He is the best agent, the best marketer, the best editor you can find; after all, He too is a writer. Our destiny is in the palm of His hands, and though we may be buffeted by the winds of adversity and the wiles of our enemy, God is far more powerful than both.

Persevere. Dream big. Hone your craft. Love the characters you choose. Be emotionally honest. Write because you love telling stories, not because you want to be recognized or admired or to make money.

Tell us about the featured book.

Land of Silence tells the story of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and after years of incessant suffering, was healed of her bleeding illness in an instant. I have always been fascinated by her story because she is the only person in the New Testament that Jesus calls daughter. I wanted to create a storyline that captured Jesus’s reason for addressing her in such a tender manner.

We are all daughters and sons. No one escapes this reality. Our souls are marked by this truth. What our fathers and mothers thought of us, spoke into us, poured into us still resides in the deepest parts of our souls and gives us our sense of worth. These realities also produce our deepest wounds, wounds that continue to affect the course of our lives. By claiming us as His sons and daughters, God heals the wounds we may have sustained from our fathers and mothers, and multiplies the blessings we have received from them. He transforms our brokenness into His wholeness.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

On my website at Tessaafshar.com

Or on Facebook at Tessa Afshar author page

Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Lena. It’s been a pleasure to spend cyber time with you and your guests.

Thank you, Tessa, for sharing this new book with us. My readers have enjoyed spending cyber time with you, tool.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Land of Silence - Christianbook.com (best print price)
Land of Silence - Amazon
Land of Silence - Kindle

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. (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.

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PEARL IN THE SAND - Tessa Afshar - Free Book

I'm so happy to welcome Tessa to the blog. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.


A bit of me leaks into most of my characters, I think. My personal experiences tend to inform my writing, because I believe in the maxim, Write what you know. However, that’s not always possible when writing historical or biblical fiction; I am relieved to say that I don’t know what it’s like to be forced into prostitution, for example. But I do know what rejection feels like, and I use that knowledge as a steppingstone into Rahab’s heart.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Becoming a Christian is pretty quirky.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I remember when I was eleven, I wrote a short story in one sitting; I can’t even remember the plot line anymore. It was the first story that I asked my father to read, because his opinion was so important to me, and I wanted to wait until I had just the right story. When he finished it, he had tears in his eyes. “Did you really write this?” he asked with wonder. None of the accolades I had received at school made me feel half as good as that moment. I knew I was a writer then. By my dad was also an incredibly practical person, so I grew up believing that being a ‘writer’ meant having a hobby.

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

Jane Eyre is hard to beat; it has everything—intrigue, romance, God, a critique of Christianity gone bad, and Mr. Rochester. Anything by Jane Austen. Most things by Dickens. The Narnia Chronicles; The Lord of the Rings Trilogy; Busman’s Honeymoon; The Princess and Curdie; To Kill a Mockingbird. O dear, I think I’m running out of room; this is tragic. There’s so much more…

Jane Eyre is one of my all time favorites, too. I just reread it this year. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

Keep? I think it’s too late for that! Reading is a wonderful way of holding on to the last dregs of sanity though. It’s the one activity you have to be still for. You can’t really multi-task with reading. You have to be still and focus on this one magical world that someone else has created. Bliss. That, and eating slowly. I love to take my time over food.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

In historical and biblical fiction, one doesn’t have much choice. Rahab, Salmone, and Joshua were already part of the story. I try to do research into the time period for the other characters’ names. The novel I am working on now is set in ancient Persia during the time of Nehemiah. I wanted to name my main character Leila, because it’s a Hebrew word meaning /night/. But I found no evidence that this was a name used at the time amongst the Jews. So I called her /Sariah/ after a woman who was the wife of a soldier in a Jewish garrison close to this time period. Naming my hero has been even harder. Ancient Persian names are hard to pronounce! No wonder the Greeks complained so much and changed them all.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Getting through yesterday while clinging to Jesus? Every day is an accomplishment to me—at least everyday I trust in God and choose to believe Him over the lies of this world.

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

O my, Lena. No one has ever asked me that. Let me see: Jesus’ pet lamb? For obvious reasons.

Sounds good to me. What is your favorite food?

Medium rare steak and homemade French fries with a lightly dressed green salad. My concentration is totally shot now; all I can see is that thick, juicy steak. Can you smell it?

My husband hasn't been able to eat a steak for over a year, so I haven't either. Now I'm craving one. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

What has surprised me about the process of writing is that most of my experiences of rejection have been internal. Many times, I have had to battle the forces of discouragement as I write, so I am astonished at the doors God seems continuously to open. I think this is a skirmish that I’ll have to face again. My heart is susceptible to self-doubt. But Jesus is greater than my heart. I don’t stand on my gifting or my strength, which are both limited; I take my stand on Him who holds my future. Or at least I press on toward that goal.

Tell us about Pearl in the Sand.

Pearl is based on the story of Rahab, the Canaanite harlot who is famous for having saved Israel’s spies from death. She then went on to marry one of the leaders of Judah, and is in the lineage of Jesus. Think about that: some of the DNA of this former harlot swam in Jesus’ blood stream!

This is the story of a woman whose world was a mess, whose life was a mess, whose heart was a mess, but in encountering God, she found to her shock that her life was salvageable. More than that—it was valuable. She found that she was lovable. For her, this process happened through the love of a godly and persistent man who was nonetheless, flawed.

God started the most significant part of Rahab’s life by literally pulling down the walls of her home around her. As traumatic as that moment must have been for Rahab, she could not have moved on to the future God had planned for her without it. In a parallel pursuit of healing for her broken soul, /Pearl in the Sand/ portrays a God who just as determinedly set out to ruin the walls surrounding Rahab’s heart. I think women today need to know God as the wooer and pursuer of their hearts. They need to know that sometimes the most glorious breakthroughs of life come through a vector of God-ordained pain. More than anything I hope the reader of this story will come away with a deeper glimpse into her own soul, and a more profound understanding of God the Father.

Please give us the first page of the book.

If you go to my website at tessaafshar.com, you can read the whole first chapter. Even the second chapter is available under the Free Downloads tab. If you are interested in a little more interaction with me, please join me on my Facebook Author Page. I would love to have you along for that fun ride.

Thanks so much for inviting me to be a guest on your great blog, Lena. You ask really fun questions!

And you gave very thought provoking answers. I've loved having you.
 
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.














Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. (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 6 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. Here’s a link.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/