Monthly Archives: December 2013
What Was This Year Like For You?
If I were to think of one word that described this year for me, it would be change.
This year was jam packed with changes, big and small. There were a lot of adjustments I had to make on account of all the changes too.
Courtesy of Creative Commons
Change has never been an easy thing for me. So this year was a real challenge on multiple levels, but it stretched me and my faith.
During the summer months, I was filled with angst and anxiety. I hadn’t felt so nervous in a long time. It was affecting my sleep, my job and my life. It took everything in me to trust the Lord through a shaky and unstable time. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen and I confess, I was scared.
All I could do was talk to God and ask Him to help me. I am happy to report that He got me through the tough time and turned it around for good.
This year through all the influx of change, I managed to accomplish a lot. I couldn’t do it without the Lord and the support of the man He blessed me with.
There is a saying that behind every great man is a good woman, but I say this, that behind every happy wife is a great husband.
I can attest, I have the best husband in the world. It’s not to boast or brag, I’m just telling the truth and paying tribute.
I realize what I have been given is more than gifts under a tree. We mustn’t take for granted the blessings of those we love, a roof over our heads, food in our stomachs, and clothing on our backs.
The fact that we have Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. He is the greatest gift of all.
I’m grateful for what I have. I give thanks unto God for being in my right mind, for good health, for my husband and children, family, friends, my job and colleagues.
I think about those who are in prison, those who are hungry, those who are sick, those who have lost family members, parents who have missing children, those who are homeless, the list goes on.
I can find a hundred things to complain about, but when I look around me, I give thanks for what the Lord has done in my life and the ability He gives me to accomplish so much.
So here is to a spectacular 2014. I pray 2014 is the best year yet, for all of us.
Happy New Year!
How was this year for you?
Do You Gossip?
I find around the holiday’s people tend to engage in gossip more than usual. Sometimes the holiday’s brings the worst out of some people.
Gossipers preface what they have to say with, “Promise you won’t say anything…”
Courtesy of Creative Commons
But, do they know, that the information will eventually get back to the person their gossiping about?
When I get wind of someone who has gossiped behind my back, while smiling at my face, I want very little to do with them. I honestly do not care if they are family either.
If a so-called family member or friend has the audacity to talk garbage about me (or those I love) behind my back, I want nothing to do with them.
I forgive them, but I keep it moving. Life is too short to be around those who speak ill of you.
I’ve come to the conclusion that those who engage in gossip, don’t have your best interest in mind. They only care about themselves and whatever thrill they get in bashing other people behind their backs.
Gossip is negative and destructive, causing unnecessary harm and irreparable damage to relationships.
The Bible says, whatever is hidden will be brought to light. (Luke 8:17). The light pierces the darkness and truth is always revealed.
The person who engages in gossip, talking negatively about others, is actually causing themselves more harm than good.
Think about it… if you continued to hear from different sources that someone, whether a family member or a friend is talking badly about you, wouldn’t you distrust and lose respect for them?
An individual who engages in defamation or slander of another person, thinks they are not doing anything wrong, but it’s quite the contrary.
Gossipers cause harm and stand more to lose than gain.
Once the information finds its way back to the person, the gossiper is found out, and well, they will never be looked at the same way. No matter how much they smile and act nice, the damage is done.
If you engage in gossip, whether it is casual or consented, please think twice before doing so. Why not start the new year fresh by asking the Lord to help you not talk about other people behind their backs? I know it’s easier said than done, but gossiping is hurtful and the damage it creates is irreversible.
Do you gossip? Have you ever been a victim of gossip by family members, close friends or coworkers? How did it make you feel?
Author Interview: Victoria Christopher Murray
I can’t tell you how excited I am to have interviewed, Victoria Christopher Murray. I discovered her with her first book, Temptation. After I read it, I reached out to her on MySpace. She was so gracious and wrote back. We have been in contact ever since. I finally had the chance meet her this summer at her book signing in New York City of Never Say Never. I have never met such a generous, giving and helpful writer/author in my entire life. I consider her my mentor. I am blessed to know her and read her amazing books.
*******
1. What are some of your favorite books?
My favorite books are the books that have had the greatest impact on me; books that made me really want to pursue my dream as a writer. Native Son, by Richard Wright, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou, and Manchild in the Promised Land by Claude Brown.
2. Which book was the hardest for you to write?
Every single book that I write is hard. Really. Getting words down on a page for me is like pulling teeth — it’s just so hard to write. And interestingly, the longer I write, the more difficult it gets.
3. Which book was the most fun to write?
Any book I write with ReShonda Tate Billingsley is fun. Because it’s like she’s one-half of my brain. We are so in sync, it’s scary, and we are definitely writing twins. Plus, when I write with ReShonda, I laugh. And don’t let us tour together….
4. What is your writing process or practice in writing novels?
My writing process is quite simple. I write! I write every day and really, just about all day. I write and write and never go back to edit until I have a completed manuscript. Because if I keep stopping to edit, I’ll never finish. I’m on a constant deadline; with at least three books a year, as well as ghostwriting projects. So, I take advantage of every single bit of time that I have. And, I can write anywhere — in cars, on the train, at airports and on airplanes…it doesn’t matter. I write!
5. You have mentioned that aspiring writers have to treat writing as a job. What steps did you take to become the successful and prolific writer/author you are today?
I think the key to treating it like a job is that I show up every day. Like I said before, every day I write. I write when I don’t want to write — that’s what I would do with a job..and writing is my job. So if an aspiring writer aspires to write full time, that writer must start writing every day…NOW!
Pilar, thank you for this wonderful interview.
Thank you, Victoria. It was a pleasure having you.
*******
The production of her novel, The Deal, the Dance and the Devil has finished. The date of release will be announced soon. Also, her novel, The Ex Files has been optioned for a movie.
You can find Victoria Christopher Murray on Facebook, Twitter and on her website.
*******
Victoria Christopher Murray is the author of ten Essence bestselling novels, including Too Little, Too Late and Lady Jasmine. Her most recent novel, Destiny’s Divas, was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work (Fiction). Winner of the African American Literary Award for Fiction and Author of the Year, she splits her name between Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
Author Interview: Ed Cyzewski
I have the distinct pleasure of introducing you to Ed Cyzewski. I came across his writing browsing on Twitter. I appreciate his honesty in all of his writing. I am glad he agreed to do this, because I enjoyed his interview. I believe you will too.
*******
1) Did you always know you were a writer?
No. I started writing all of the time when I was 12, but my family always emphasized picking a practical career in medicine, law, or business. My high school teachers always praised my writing, but I didn’t take it seriously until graduate school.
2) If not, when did you discover you were meant to be one?
It was a last resort. I attended seminary, got an MDiv, and knew before I finished that I wasn’t cut out to be a pastor. Writing was always in the background, something I expected to do on the side.
3) When and why did you start blogging?
I credit my best friend Josh. When I got out of seminary, I had so much church stuff and theology to process, and he picked out the name “in a mirror dimly” for a blog that we started together. The blog was the continuation of our conversations over breakfast at south Jersey diners. As his family grew, he eventually stopped blogging, but it became a lifeline of sorts for me. While it was a creative outlet, my early years of blogging were mainly devoted to processing my struggles with church.
4) What was it like for you when you wrote your first book?
It’s hard to say. I started it as this side project, but publishing a book was also this kind of flakey dream I had. I wanted it, but I also didn’t fully understand at the time the significance of what I was getting myself into. I just know that the day I signed my first book contract was one of the most emotional days of my life, right up there with my wedding day and the day my son was born. Nothing prepared me for it. It was like I crossed some kind of threshold and was about to do this big, difficult thing I’d always wanted to do but hadn’t quite realized it.
5) Besides the Bible, what is one book that changed your life?
Tough call… I need two. The Cost of Discipleship has been significant in my life as a Christian, but Traveling Mercies was a real eye opener for me. I loved it. It’s a great book. But more than that, I had read books by David Sedaris and thought, “If only I could write funny stuff like this someday about faith!” Lamott showed me that Christians can laugh, be irreverent, and write with an appealing candor about their faith. That book was an important sign post for me.
6) When did you cross over into writing full time?
When my wife got accepted into the English graduate program at UConn, I started looking for work, and I realized I probably had a better chance at finding writing work. In addition, I wanted a portable job that could go with her academic career. The more I invested in writing, the more it has been affirmed as a clear calling for me.
7) Was it a difficult transition and why?
It was a horrible transition. We were broke for two years, living paycheck to paycheck. There are many reasons for that: a cancelled book deal and TWO cancelled magazine columns didn’t help. But I also thought I could find steady work writing magazine articles. A friend looked over my resume and suggested a different strategy for steady income: edit books and write blog posts for companies. We’re not rich, but we’re at least stable for now. Phew!
8) If you had to do it over again, what would you do differently?
Going back to my college days, I would have taken the creative writing program AND the communications program to learn how to do copywriting. Learning to write a good book takes time, so more practice always helps. And copywriting for businesses is where steady freelance income is at. In addition, there are so many places where copywriting comes in really, really handy as a book author and a website owner!
9) What does your average day look like?
I try to write for an hour before taking over with our son for the morning. Then I hang with him and try to do a few things here and there if he’s playing happily. I put him down for a nap around noon these days and start working. My wife comes home during his nap and takes over for either all or part of the afternoon depending on her work schedule. The best time to write is in the morning, but writing in the afternoon is cheaper than paying for childcare!
10) Do you have any mentors or influencers?
I’ve had a lot of great guides along the way. Matthew Paul Turner has been among the most important sources of advice and wisdom. He’s opinionated, speaks his mind, and really, really cares. I’ll take blunt advice from him any day. Also, I look at writers like Rachel Held Evans and Sarah Bessey as models for working hard, building community, and addressing topics that people care about. My former agent David Sanford was a huge help, and I lean heavily on the feedback of my agent Karen Neumair.
11) Who are your favorite authors and why?
I have a hard time picking a favorite author. I’m probably too picky. No one can write a fact-based nonfiction book like Malcolm Gladwell. He is the master of telling stories while conveying a big chunk of information. I think there are a lot of nonfiction authors who have great ideas to share, but they fail to make it compelling and readable. That is the area where I’m spending a lot of time these days. When it comes to fiction, most of the books by Jasper Fforde are brilliant.
12) What are your all time favorite books and why?
I usually end up recommending Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Cold Comfort Farm, and Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next and Nursery Crimes series. I also love Girl Meets God. I’m sure I’m forgetting something really obvious too!
13) What things did you do or books do you read to perfect your craft?
I read Writers Digest, blogged a lot, only read books that I liked, read writing advice books that had general craft tips like On Writing, and participated in writing groups. The most important thing for me was to take myself seriously enough to practice but not so seriously that I stopped practicing.
I share a lot of my publishing lessons in this eBook I put together: A Path to Publishing: What I Learned by Publishing a Nonfiction Book.
14) Lastly, what advice would you give a novice writer?
Get a notebook and carry it everywhere. A small moleskine or medium moleskine is perfect. Start rituals. You need habits and rituals to cultivate good writing habits. Before you go to work, spend 30 minutes writing anything, brainstorming, sketching characters, griping, whatever. Just start jotting down ideas. You need raw materials. Don’t expect to use them all. But let them roll around in your head. Create space in your day to just think about your writing ideas. Then, when you sit down at the “blank page,” you’ll have plenty of jumping off points.
Thank you so much, Ed.
*******
Ed Cyzewski (MDiv Biblical Theological Seminary) works as a freelance writer in Columbus, OH. He is the co-author of Unfollowers: Unlikely Lessons on Faith from the Doubters of Jesus and author of Creating Space, Coffeehouse Theology, Divided We Unite, and A Path to Publishing. Ed writes regularly for a number of magazines and web sites. He blogs on theology at www.inamirrordimly.com.
Author Interview: ReShonda Tate Billingsley
It is an absolute honor and privilege to interview the gifted, prolific, best selling author, ReShonda Tate Billingsley.
I discovered Ms. Billingsley through one of my favorite authors, Victoria Christopher Murray. They have written books together and refer to each other as writing twins.
Ms. Billingsley’s most recent release, A Family Affair is another best seller. All of her books are best sellers.
I’m excited to present to you, Ms. ReShonda Tate Billingsley.
*******
1) Did you always know you were meant to be a writer?
Yes, I always knew it. I was always making up stories. (My mom called it lying).
I remember one day in class we had to write about our summer vacation. So I wrote about how I lived in the projects with my mom and sister and how we didn’t have much and how I had to dodge gangs and drive-bys. The teacher actually told my mom and my mom was livid because we lived in a nice middle class neighborhood. (I’d made the story up because it was so much more interesting than my real life).
Actually, my first paid gig was for True Confessions magazine when I was fifteen. I wrote a story called “I stole my sister’s husband” and they published it. When the check came in the mail, I was too terrified to let my mother know I had written for the magazine, so I never cashed it.
2) Was there a major turning point or epiphany that lead you to become a full time writer?
While I was working as a reporter, I was writing part-time. (I had eleven books at that time).
My literary career was really taking off, but there were so many things I couldn’t do because I only had two weeks of vacation. So, I decided to walk away from my job and write full-time.
I didn’t make that decision out of the blue. I, of course, talked it over with my husband, who has always been my biggest supporter. My faith also helped me make that decision. Not to mention a solid exit plan.
3) You were a journalist, reporter, speaker and more, did you find the crossover into writing fiction difficult?
No, I never found it difficult because as a reporter, I went out and interviewed people for stories. I stuck to the facts.
As a fiction writer, I can let my creativity flow.
4) What have you learned in your writing journey since your debut novel, My Brother’s Keeper?
Oh wow! I’ve learned so much. I’ve grown as a writer because writing is my passion. But I’ve learned to stay true to me.
I don’t write what’s hot; I write what’s in my heart. And I’ve learned that I’m always in need of knowledge.
I strive to make each book better than the last.
5) Would you do anything differently?
I would definitely have a better business plan. I’m a creative person. But being an author these days requires a business mindset.
When I was self-published, I would sell some books, go buy some shoes. I didn’t have the business side together.
Even now, with a mainstream publisher, there are so many things I need to work on the non-creative side.
6) What is your creative process and writing routine?
When I sit down to write a story, I ask myself if ten writers were given this topic, how would they all write it? Then, I work to write it differently. (I used this process when I was a TV reporter as well). There are no new story ideas…the key is in how YOU tell them….I’d love to say I have a specific routine, but as the mother of three, I write when I can, I just make sure that I WRITE!
7) How do you balance your personal and professional life as a successful author?
Not only am I a wife and mother, but I’m also a co-caretaker for my mother. So, I write any free time that I have.
When I’m at a traffic light, I’m actually writing. I dictate into a tape recorder to help me more effectively and efficiently get things done.
I believe every minute you spend talking about what you don’t have time to do could be spent doing it.
8) What specific things could you share that helped shaped you as a writer?
Using every bit of free time I have by writing. Not only do I write, but I read.
Writing workshops and seminars has also helped to shape me into the successful writer that I am today.
9) Do you have a mentor?
I don’t, but I have colleagues that I bounce ideas off of and who help me work through my stories.
10) What inspires you?
I never want to look back on life and say “I wish I had…”
11) What are some of your favorite books and why?
I love reading literary works like Child of God by Lolita Files and Perfect Peace by Daniel Black, and then I love discovering new authors, so I’ll read a self-published book in a minute!
12) What authors affect you and why?
I would have to say my writing twin, Victoria Christopher Murray. Collaborating with Victoria has definitely stepped up my writing on so many levels. She challenges me and I love a challenge.
13) What books have you read that have helped you as a writer?
Any good book motivates me.
14) What advice would you give a novice writer?
Write every day. Even when you don’t feel like writing, write. You’ll never finish that book if you don’t write.
Set realistic, attainable goals.
For me, I started with three pages a day, five days a week no matter what. Well, before I knew it, those three pages turned to thirty.
*******
Biography
ReShonda Tate Billingsley always did have an active imagination. From making up stories to crafting award-winning poems, the national bestselling author has always maintained a love for telling stories. After numerous rejections from publishers, ReShonda stepped out on faith, established her own publishing company, and released her debut novel, My Brother’s Keeper.
It’s a move that paid off as megahouse publisher, Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books picked the book, and to date, has published all of ReShonda’s books.
A former television and radio news reporter, ReShonda is an editor for the Houston Defender Newspaper, as well as a professional editor, ghost writer and literary consultant. She has worked as a reporter for The National Enquirer and as an anchor and reporter for NBC, ABC and FOX television stations in Beaumont, TX, Oklahoma City, OK and Houston, TX. She left her job at FOX 26 News in Houston in 2007 to write full-time.
And write she does…
ReShonda is the national bestselling author of 28 books. Her sophomore novel, Let the Church Say Amen, has been made into a movie, directed by actress Regina King and produced by Queen Latifah’s Flava Unit Productions. The movie is slated to be released in Spring 2014. (ReShonda, who served as a consultant, makes a cameo in the movie). Her entire Amen series, as well as the novel I Know I’ve Been Changed has been optioned by BET. ReShonda also makes her on-screen acting debut in the movie, which will air in 2013 as part of BET’s new original programming lineup. Several of her faith-based books have become a sought-after property in Hollywood.
A much sought-after public speaker, ReShonda recently won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literature for her book Say Amen, Again and was nominated again in 2013 for her book The Secret She Kept. She has won numerous awards for her journalism, fiction and poetry writing skills. She is a five-time winner of the National Association of Black Journalists Spirit in the Words competition. Considered one of the top Inspirational Fiction authors in the country, her books remain a staple on the Bestseller’s list and have been featured in USA Today and Ebony Magazine as Summer Sizzlers. She was recently inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.
A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Missouri City/Sugar Land Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, ReShonda is a former professor of Broadcast Journalism at Langston University. She currently lives in Houston with her husband, Dr. Miron Billingsley, a Vice-president at Prairie View A&M University, and their three children, ages 13, 11 and 6.
Author Interview: Rhonda McKnight
Today I have the great pleasure of introducing, author Rhonda McKnight.
My connection to this superb writer is through our mutual friend, mentor and amazing author, Victoria Christopher Murray.
I really enjoyed her interview, and I hope you will too.
********
1) Tell me about your current project?
Breaking All The Rules is my first romance and my second indie project.
All of my novels were with traditionally published with Kensington and my first indie project was only indie for a short time. I sold it to my publisher for re-release.
Breaking is the story of a Deniece Malcolm, a wedding planner, whose pregnant baby sister is marrying her ex-fiancé. I think it’s a no, no for most people, but dating an friend or relative’s EX is a major taboo in the African-American community.
To make matters worse, Deniece’s sister has the nerve to ask her to help with the wedding.
Our hero is the groom’s rich, sexy, younger cousin, Ethan Wright. Ethan’s interested in Deniece, but she has a rule about dating younger men.
Despite her resistance, things heat up between them and Deniece begins to wonder if it’s time to break a few rules of her own.
2) How has Breaking All The Rules been received?
Readers love it. They love it more than I ever thought they would. It’s my first romance and I was a little nervous about introducing something that wasn’t the women’s fiction I normally write, but they can’t get enough of my hero.
The reviews have poured in and the sales have been better than I ever thought they would be. I also received my first review in USA Today and it was glowing. I was quite proud of that.
3) How long did it take you to write your first novel?
Too long. About 32 years. (That was a joke.)
I became serious about publication in 2003 and started Secrets and Lies in May of 2004.
I work full-time, so any writing I do is in the evenings and on weekends.
I finished the book in early 2007, but along the way I completed graduate school, had a baby, and in general was not working on the manuscript. Time in front of the computer was probably a total of seven months.
I wrote my second novel, An Inconvenient Friend in six weeks.
4) What was the most difficult thing about writing a novel?
The stress of draft writing and the discipline of pushing to the end without hating it too much along the way.
5) Who are your mentors or influences?
Victoria Christopher Murray is my mentor and she’s taught me more in a phone conversation than I could learn in ten years in this business.
6) Who are your favorite authors and why?
Victoria Christopher Murray, Pamela Samuels-Young and the late BeBe Moore Campbell. Victoria and the late Ms Campbell are master story tellers.
Ms. Moore in particular weaved multiple complex plots and a large cast of characters seamlessly. I miss her voice. I love a good mystery.
Pamela is the next John Grisham. Her legal thrillers are not to be missed.
7) What are your favorite books and why?
My favorite books are Too Little, Too Late by Victoria Christopher Murray, My Soul Cries Out by Sherri Lewis, A Heart of Devotion by Tia McCollors and Passing By Samaria by Sharon Ewell Foster.
In addition to being well written, I learned something from each story that has helped me in my Christian walk. That’s important to me and puts them at the top of my list.
Another favorite is Gather Together In My Name by Tracy Price-Thompson. I read it in one sitting and I’ve read it twice. I never read a book in one sitting and I never read a book more than once, so there was something special about it. I’ve not quite sure I’ve figured it out yet. I think it was just a fantastic story.
8) What books have helped you as a writer?
Books about novel writing. I own nearly 40 craft books and have probably borrowed at least 20 more from the public library.
9) What are you currently working on?
A Christmas novella that won’t end. LOL. Give A Little Love. It’s due for release in early December. I hope!
10) What do you want a reader to get from your novels?
I want readers to be entertained by my stories, because I’m an entertainer first. I’d love for them to also walk away with a message about hope, faith and forgiveness, because those are the themes that resonate from my work.
11) What is your writing and creative process?
I’m a bit of a planner. My stories or characters come to me and I write the first one or two chapters, but then I never write more until I know exactly who the people are and what’s going to happen.
I typically write the last chapter after I write the first and I force myself to outline and determine the goals, motivation and conflict before I get to Chapter 3. I write much faster and cleaner that way.
I draft write without re-writing and then re-write, re-write and re-write until I’ve reached my deadline.
My books are never finished. I just have to stop.
12) How does your faith play into your writing?
Heavily, I write who I am and I am a person who loves the Lord, so it shows in my stories. I’m also a divorced woman who still loves men, so the men in books are flawed, but they smell and look good.
13) How does a Christian writer write about romance and sex without feeling like they are sinning?
Let me say this so it’s clear up front, I write a pretty sweet romance. I’ve never written anything but chaste stories. I’m not sure how it works for other people, but I don’t think there’s anything un-Christian about romance and sex, and I consider myself to be a conservative Christian.
However, I also know the word “Christian” means different things to different people. Being Christian is my faith, but it’s also a lifestyle. While I recognize that we’re in our flesh (the human state) until we die, there are things that we can do through faith; remain celibate is one of them.
My stories are sexy, but I don’t write sex scenes. My characters are strongly attracted to people, but “though shalt not fornicate” in a Rhonda McKnight story. I balance what is realistic with what the Holy Spirit says is okay. When I rewrite it’s very easy to find content that needs to be deleted.
14) What do you think is the number one thing that hinders writers?
That’s an interesting question. Are writers really hindered? I don’t believe we are.
Writing is solitary act that can be as private or public as the writer decides.
Authors are hindered or can be by lots of things: contracts, deadlines, genre, reader expectations, the demands of marketing, etc, etc, etc.
I could go on and on, but I’ll sound ungrateful. LOL. I am glad to have a book contract.
15) Lastly, what advice would you give a novice writer?
Attend writer’s conferences (American Christian Fiction Writers is a very good one, as is Black Writers Reunion Conference) and build a network of other writers.
You’ll learn a great deal at a conference and your network will encourage you to stay the course. I know mine did.
The writers I connected with ten years ago are the same people I email and text good news and “grumble, moan and whine to” today. They’re also the people who help me promote my work and I help them. Those relationships are very important.
Pick a project and make yourself finish it. Get to “The End”. The End feels so good.
Lastly, believe in yourself.
Everyone won’t support your writing. Most people won’t, so be okay with ‘you’ being the only person who does.
Thank you so much for this wonderful interview, Rhonda McKnight.
********
Rhonda McKnight is the author of the Black Expressions Top 20 bestseller, A Woman’s Revenge (Mar 2013), What Kind of Fool (Feb 2012), An Inconvenient Friend (Aug 2010), Secrets and Lies (Dec 2009) and Breaking All the Rules (Oct 2013).
She was a 2010 nominee for the African-American Literary Award in the categories of Best Christian Fiction Novel and Best Anthology. She was the winner of the 2010 Emma Award for Favorite Debut Author and the 2009 Shades of Romance Award for Best Christian Fiction Novel.
Originally from a small, coastal town in New Jersey, she’s called Atlanta, Georgia home for fifteen years.
Visit her at www.rhondamcknight.net and www.facebook.com/booksbyrhonda and follow her on Twitter @rhondamcknight.
Who’s Who In The Bible by Jean-Pierre Isbouts
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: National Geographic
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426211597
ISBN-13: 978-1426211591
Price: $40.00
Purchase: Amazon | CBD | BN
Description
From the fall of Adam and Eve to Judas’s betrayal of Jesus, the key events of the Bible are expressed through the lives of hundreds of people. Each of the five chapters begins with a comprehensive historical overview that sets the stage for the events and characters that follow and detail the political and historical forces at play in the events described. This overview is augmented with award-winning maps, stunning National Geographic photographs that lend the text a sense of place, a time line that places the events in context.
The chapters end with a comprehensive alphabetical directory of the characters that appear in that part of the Bible. In true National Geographic fashion, exquisite art and artifacts, informative maps, intriguing text and unique family tree features are the threads that tie this illuminating volume together, revealing the stories of Biblical characters in chronological order and highlighting their greater meaning for mankind.
Who’s Who In the Bible is an authoritative and engaging reference source and an ideal gift for any religion or history buff.
Who’s Who in the Bible: Overview of the Book http://youtu.be/L1k4Psh-8BM
Who’s Who in the Bible: The Women of the Bible http://youtu.be/XslTybzLakA
Who’s Who in the Bible: Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael http://youtu.be/dj4LaXLDTbA
Who’s Who in the Bible: Dinah http://youtu.be/Om5eEX0cqr4
Who’s Who in the Bible: Mary Magdalene: http://youtu.be/ZJmLEcn9K78
Review
Who’s Who in the Bible is a delightful reference book. This textbook is filled with beautiful paintings, drawings and photographs from Genesis to Revelation.
It contains an alphabetical listing of characters and important timelines. This book is an incredible resource.
I collect books and this one surpasses any biblical reference book I have on my shelves.
I enjoyed being transported to biblical times while reading and viewing the photographs in this masterpiece.
Dr. Jean-Pierre Isbouts is brilliant and did a magnificent job in his research and writing of this book.
Who’s Who in the Bible does not disappoint. This is a must have for any biblical scholar, student, professor or layman.
Who’s Who in the Bible will make a wonderful Christmas gift. I highly recommend it.
Jean-Pierre Isbouts completed his doctoral program on archeology and art at the University of Leyden and is currently professor of culture and media studies at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California. He has written several other books, including National Geographic’s The Biblical World: An Illustrated Atlas, From Moses to Muhammad and In the Footsteps of Jesus.
Isbouts has also written four television programs that explore the legacy of the Bible, including the Hallmark television mini-series “The Quest for Peace,” which won the 2005 Gold Aurora Award and the 2005 DeRose-Hinkhouse Award.
Follow
embodyart