Today on the Seriously Write blog, Christine Lindsay shares her experience in the second part of her post on creating and marketing with book trailers. Come on by and let’s discuss this form of marketing.
Biblical Fiction: Do You Read It?
Summer is here and so is a beach bag full of Biblical fiction.
Do you read the genre—stories set in Bible times and revolving around people who are known from scripture? At one time, it was a difficult era to find, but it seems to be gaining in popularity.
If you’re interested in reading novels with this setting, here are some released so far in 2013:
- Diana Wallis Taylor’s Claudia, Wife of Pontius Pilate from Revell
- Tracy L. Higley’s So Shines the Night from Thomas Nelson
- Brock and Bodie Thoene’s The Jerusalem Chronicles Series, Book One, Jesus Wept from Zondervan
- Rebecca Kanner’s The Sinners and the Sea: The Untold Story of Noah’s Wife from Howard Books
- Mark Burnett and Roma Downey’s A Story of God and All of Us: A Novel Based on the Epic Mini-series from FaithWords
- Joan Wolf’s Daughter of Jerusalem from Worthy Publishing
- Tosca Lee’s Iscariot from Howard Books
- Ginger Garrett’s Reign, Lost Loves of the Bible Series #3 from David C. Cook
- Jill Eileen Smith’s Rebecca, Wives of the Patriarchs, Book 2 from Revell
- Stephanie Landsem’s The Well from Howard Books
- Mesu Andrews’ Love in a Broken Vessel, Treasures of His
ove Series #3 from Revell - Roberta Dorr’s David and Bathsheba from River North
- Tessa Afshar’s Harvest of Gold from River North
- Jerry B. Jenkins’ I, Saul from River North
- Golden Keyes Parsons’ Alone, The Woman at the Well, a novella from WhiteFire Publishing
There may be others, but these should get you started on your summer reading. Though I haven’t read any of the novels listed and, personally, can’t recommend them, many of the authors themselves are a recommendation.
How do you feel about Biblical fiction? Have you read any of these novels? Are there others not listed here that you can recommend?
The above list of titles was gathered from Christian Book Distributors and ACFW Fiction Finder. I have received no compensation for this post and have no material connection with any product(s) mentioned. Embedded links are strictly for the convenience of my readers.
Review: To Whisper Her Name
Unfortunately, this post is late due to internet problems. Sometimes, life just doesn’t work right, which is what the protagonists experience in the book I’m reviewing today.
Back Cover Copy:
Set at Nashville’s historic Belle Meade Plantation, the most influential thoroughbred stud farm in America’s history, To Whisper Her Name weaves the struggles of real people of the post-war South with the journeys of a man and a woman scarred by betrayal.
Olivia Aberdeen, destitute widow of a man shot as a traitor to the South, is shunned by proper society and gratefully accepts the invitation from “Aunt” Elizabeth Harding, mistress of Belle Meade Plantation. Expecting to be the Harding’s head housekeeper, Olivia is disillusioned when she learns the real reason Elizabeth’s husband, Confederate General William Giles Harding, agreed to her coming. Not finding the safe haven she expects, Olivia is caught off guard by her feelings for Ridley Adam Cooper, a Southern man who seems anything but a Southern gentleman.
Branded a traitor by some, Ridley Cooper, a Southern son who chose to fight for the Union, is a man desperate to end the war still raging inside him. Determined to learn “the gift” that Belle Meade’s head horse trainer and former slave, Bob Green, possesses, Ridley harbors secrets that threaten both their lives.
As Ridley seeks to make peace within himself for “betraying” the South he loves, Olivia is determined to never be betrayed again.
If you’ve read past posts here, you may know I’m a Tamera Alexander fan who has read all of her novels. So, of course, I picked this one up. I’m particularly drawn to her gentle writer’s voice.
In my humble opinion, To Whisper Her Name is her best work since From A Distance. Though close to 500 pages—a looong book for me—it was well worth reading every single one, especially when one of those pages ends like this:
“How long they stood that way, he couldn’t say. He only knew that when she slipped her hand around his neck and drew his mouth down to meet hers, he realized for the first time what bittersweet tasted like.”
Now, I know the context of Ridley’s thought is important and not visible here—don’t want to give too much away—but believe me, it packs a punch.
Due to their circumstances, the reader gains an instant affinity for both Olivia and Ridley. Each has been impacted by the Civil War in a way that makes them social outcasts in the southern state of Tennessee. This is a story of rebuilding—lives, fortunes, self-esteem.
While Ridley has a bit of a wicked sense of humor, Olivia is pure southern belle propriety. Both characters grow in a realistic manner, especially Olivia as she learns to accept a new way of life and God’s plan for her future.
The secondary characters are equally interesting. General Harding continues to harbor bitterness at the South’s defeat while struggling to bring his thoroughbred farm out of the red and accept his wife’s physical frailty. “Uncle Bob” Green is like a wise, old grandfather–someone you want to advise you in any and all matters, someone to lean on and tell your troubles to.
To Whisper Her Name is the second novel Ms. Alexander has written that revolves around the historic plantations near Nashville. The first, A Lasting Impression, gave insight into the Belmont Mansion, the antebellum home of Adelicia Acklen. I recommend them both.
So if you’re looking for a sigh-worthy post Civil War romance, carve out a few hours to explore Belle Meade Plantation with Olivia and Ridley.
I have received no compensation for this post and have no material connection with any product(s) mentioned. Embedded links are strictly for the convenience of my readers.
Creating and Marketing With Book Trailers
Today, on the Seriously Write blog, author Christine Lindsay talks about book trailers in the first of a two-part post. Come on by and tell us what you do or don’t like about book trailers. If you’re an author, have you created a book trailer? Do you have a particular way in which you market your books using them? Please share your experience.
