Showing posts with label Jonah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jonah. Show all posts

Saturday, June 2, 2018

Interview with Biblical Fiction Author Sharron Lael


 Today I am excited to welcome a good friend of mine to Stitches Thru Time. Sharron has just released her first book, and I think ya'll will find it very interesting.
Sharron Martell was born and raised in the mountainous region of northern Colorado. She has a natural, creative flair for writing stories.
Some of her favorite activities include hiking, reading, drinking tea, and blogging. She has a little rat terrier called Chester, who has a sparkling personality of his own.
Not only does she wish to share her personal experiences through the books that she writes, she hopes that she also conveys Christ's love for you.

Welcome Sharron! We're so glad you could visit us today. Tell us about your book.
 “Zarek ben Nadin – The Chronicles of Nineveh” shadows the Biblical story of Jonah, a prophet of God who was reluctant to deliver the message of repentance to Nineveh, Israel’s enemy. Taken from the perspective of an Assyrian guard, Zarek’s story spans the experience of a lifetime from early childhood to adulthood. Zarek experiences the pain and regret of poor choices, but also experiences the ultimate power of forgiveness.

Where did the inspiration for your story come from?
 The inspiration for my story came from watching a play about Jonah at “Sight & Sound Theater” several years ago. It made wonder: what could have caused the complete repentance of a population of 120,000 (roughly the population of Fort Collins, Colorado) within 40 days? What kind of condition were the people in that made their hearts responsive to the message Jonah brought? Thus, the character of Zarek ben Nadin was born!


Sounds intriguing! How does your faith and spirituality work in with your writing? 
 Forgiveness is crucial to living an empowered life. The Bible says that if you don’t forgive others, God cannot forgive you. Without forgiveness, a person becomes embittered and angry. Working in different ministries, I have found that forgiveness is the key to peace and the foundation of a strong Christian walk. I believe through God’s selfless example of forgiveness and mercy, we can learn and show the same kind of love to others.

Nineveh is an interesting location. Did you have to do a lot of research? Can you share a few tidbits with us?
 Nineveh is a very interesting location and I found myself having to tweak my perspective on the story. Nineveh is an ancient city, but some artifacts have survived. This made research very interesting. I knew Nineveh was large, with numerous gates and portals.

   However, I didn’t know there were two large temples next to the palace, or that a river ran through the middle of the city (which probably made it difficult to cross over since bridges were few and far between, however it made a perfect natural barrier between the wealthy and poorer inhabitants of the city.

Why did you choose this genre?
 I love all the stories in the Bible, and they are not just stories. It is history, a written testament of God’s love and devotion to His children. I loved “Acts of Faith” by Janette Oke & Davis Bunn, and I’m also a fan of Jill Eileen Smith’s various books and series.

What are you working on next? 
I am debating between Priests, Prophets & Kings, Daughters of Israel, or perhaps an allegory. I am also interested in writing a story from a guardian angel’s perspective as he teams together with the main character to fight darkness and evil.

Very interesting. Looks like you have some great stuff going on. Thank you so much for being with us! 
You can find Sharron's books on Amazon and B&N, but the best price is on her website:
https://sharronlaelcoloradoauthor.weebly.com

Monday, August 22, 2016

Don't End Up in a Whale!



“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

I live the lessons of the Bible study I am leading. It happens each spring and fall without fail. I get a few weeks into the study and realize that my life parallels the topic. You can imagine what happened when our study was Jonah, Joel, and Amos. You guessed it! I had the urge to run the other way. After 10 consecutive years of heading up the study at our church, my 18th year leading Bible studies, I felt ready for a break.

A couple of years ago, I was anticipating the release of my debut novel. I felt overwhelmed by editing and the demands of learning social media. I spent hours at the computer working on frustrating details I had no idea would be required when I reached my lifetime goal of getting a book contract. How I would get everything done and still have time for my family and downtime for myself?

Leading a Bible study requires discipline and determination. The tasks competing for my attention weren’t bad. The book was also something God planned for me. The difficulty was in determining where God would most want me to spend my time.

As I looked at Jonah’s decision to run the other way, I realized that God was very specific when He told Jonah where to go and what to do. Jonah’s decision to run put him out of fellowship with God, and it also affected other people.
Some television commercials for a cable TV provider depict a series of decisions, which spiral downward to a terrible conclusion. If you do “x,” “y” will happen, which leads to “z,” and before you know it, you’re in a terrible mess.


There are definitely times when God allows us to leave a ministry or job, but in my heart, I knew this was not the time. Disobedience would take me out of fellowship with God and His people. I didn't want to end up in the belly of a whale, so I obeyed and stayed.

Are you struggling with where God has placed you? Seek His will in prayer. Examine your motives, trust Him to show the way, and then obey.

God tells us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. My stress decreased when I submitted to His will. When I am where He wants me, everything else falls into place.


Copyright, January 18, 2014 by Norma Gail Thurston Holtman

Don't forget to hop over to the Prizes Galore page on the blog and enter to win a signed copy of my contemporary inspirational romance, Land of My Dreams, or a Kindle loaded with great Christian books as part of our Stitches Thru Time Birthday Celebration! 

About the author: 
Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.
Connect with Norma:
Book Links:

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http:// lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/