February Features: Biblical Fiction Author Jill Eileen Smith

I am so excited to kick-off this month of February Features with lovely author Jill Eileen Smith! This woman is possibly the prominent voice in CBA Biblical Fiction today, after having first impressed readers with her exciting debut novel, Michal, and her subsequent Wives of King David series. With a flare for romance, a passion for the truth of Old Testament characters, and dash of epic intrigue, Jill Eileen is not an author to miss!

She is also one of my Mummy's bestest of friends. J

I am pleased to introduce her to you today. Here is a little bit about Jill Eileen:

Jill Eileen Smith is the author of Sarai, book one in the Wives of the Patriarchs series, and the bestselling author of the Wives of King David series. When she isn't writing, she enjoys spending time with her family--in person, over the webcam, or by hopping a plane to fly across the country. She can often be found reading, testing new recipes, grabbing lunch with friends, or snuggling one or both of her adorable cats. She lives with her family in southeast Michigan.

Jill Eileen took time out of her incredibly busy writing schedule to be with us for an interview today! I hope you will enjoy learning a little more about her and her newest book, Rebekah, book 2 in the Wives of the Patriarchs series.

And be sure to check down at the bottom for the chance to win YOUR CHOICE of one of her novels!

INTERVIEW

 

 Welcome, Jill Eileen! So glad you could visit the Tales of Goldstone Wood Blog. Would you mind telling us a little about yourself? Hobbies, personality . . . tea or coffee?

 

Jill Eileen: To put it somewhat succinctly, I’m a wife (35 years to the best man ever!), mom of three adult sons, writer, cat owner (or perhaps cats’ servant) aspiring Bible scholar, amateur historian, musician, and above all – a Christian. (Tea – definitely!)

 

Hoorah for cats! Best possible source of writerly inspiration, along with a cup of tea. Tell me, what led you into the writing life? Were you always a storyteller?

 

Jill Eileen: I’ve always loved stories. I loved to read from childhood on. But I didn’t start writing until I couldn’t find the book I wanted to read. So I decided I would write it. Of course, I didn’t have a clue what I was doing! But eventually, I learned.

 

That's the best possible solution when you can't find the book you want . . . write it yourself! Makes me smile. What inspired you to write your debut novel, Michal, specifically?

 

Jill Eileen: In short – my editor, Lonnie Hull Dupont. She didn’t know it at the time though. When she was editor at Harper San Francisco, I queried her about my two-volume epic on King David. She suggested I turn it into a novel about Michal. Naïve as I was at that time, I kindly turned her down. But God’s timing is never wrong (to quote my mom). I eventually wrote Michal’s story because the idea, once implanted in my mind, would not leave me.

 

 

 

How about your most recent novel, Rebekah? What led you to write it?

Jill Eileen: My contract. J I had proposed a Wives of the Patriarchs series to my editor even before Michal released. She asked to see what I had, and a few months later we had another contract for a three-book series on the wives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I didn’t realize then how hard Rebekah’s story would be to tell!

Sometimes, the harder the book is to write, the more worth-while it is in the end. I hope that will prove the case with Rebekah. I know it's my mother's very favorite of your books so far!

Do you find it easier or more difficult to write under contract? What difference does a deadline make to your creativity?

Jill Eileen Stress is definitely higher. But I have always written under “fake” deadlines. I’m a driven person, and even before I sold, I would tell myself I wanted a particular book finished by such and such a date. Then I would break that down into a daily or weekly word count. I still do that. My full-length novels are due in December, but I aim to finish their first drafts by June. I don’t think it hurts my creativity to set deadlines. But I do pray a lot over each scene.

Can you pick a favorite character from the Wives of the Patriarchs series? Why does this character stand out to you?

That’s kind of like that question – who is your favorite child? It’s hard to play favorites, though Isaac and Rebekah did just that with their twin sons!

I like different characters for different reasons. I understand Sarai better, having walked with her through so many struggles, and I know the pain of waiting! I felt sorry for Hagar, and wanted people to see her through eyes of grace. Rebekah – I can relate to her love for her son, though not her favoritism. And Isaac became much more heroic in my eyes after writing their story.

Rachel has my sympathy. Jacob even more so—all he wanted was to marry Rachel. And Leah…she faced some hard-won struggles.

So no, I don’t really have a favorite. They are all unique and I loved getting to know them! (I can’t wait to meet them in heaven someday.)

What inspires your work? Where do you turn when you need a renewal of inspiration?

Jill Eileen: I’m not sure I always feel inspired. The truth is, I usually feel inadequate to do the work and sometimes fear I will fall short of previous work or I will not please the Lord in the process. I know He gave the contracts, so I’m learning to trust Him to give the stories. But I have to spend time asking His guidance over scenes, in understanding characters, even in plot development. Unlike some authors, ideas don’t invade my every waking moment. I have to ask God to grant them.

Sometimes I just need time alone with the Lord. I’m talking about the kind of time where I find a quiet place and just read and read the Scripture – a whole book at a time or more. It’s like drinking water after being parched, and I don’t do this often enough. When my life is over, I don’t want to be remembered for the work I’ve done, for the books I’ve written, but for pleasing Him, for completing what He gave me to do, for loving those He has put in my life with His kind of love.

On a practical level, I find renewal in taking breaks, even vacations when we can get away, going for bike rides, listening to music, watching a favorite show or movie (Downton Abbey is my current favorite), talking to my kids, having tea with a friend.

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of the writing process?

Jill Eileen: I am not a fan of first drafts, though I do love the creative part that comes when we first put the scenes on the screen. I tend to stress that the story will come together and make sense. (I do paragraph summaries before I start, but I’m a partial SOP (seat of the pants) writer, so I’m not always sure how it’s going to come out in the end.)

My favorite part is making my Idea Board! I love casting my characters in picture form. I look at those boards as I write. They are very inspirational, as I’m a visual person.

If you were forced to pick a single favorite author, who would it be?

Jill Eileen: Oh, that’s not a fair question! To avoid offending any of my wonderful author friends, I will pick the woman who is now with Jesus and whose book made the Bible come to life for me—Marjorie Holmes and her book Two From Galilee. That book never fails to evoke emotion in me! I just read it again this past Christmas.

I know Rachel is the next book due out.  Can you share any exciting tidbits about it?

Jill Eileen: Rachel’s story gave me a new appreciation for Jacob’s plight. The poor man was desperately in love with Rachel and wanted only her. He could not have imagined ending up with four wives, and was often manipulated to give them children. I think there is a good reason Moses (by God’s command) later added this law for the children of Israel: “Do not take your wife’s sister as a rival wife and have sexual relations with her while your wife is living.” Leviticus 18:18 The story is filled with marital strife!

What are you actively writing right now?

Jill Eileen: I just finished Naamah, the first novella for the Loves of King Solomon, which is due March 1. I’m waiting for feedback on it before I turn it in. I’m expecting initial edits on Rachel in a week or so, and I will begin work on Rahab, book one in the Brides of the Promised Land in February.

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 So much good reading coming up then from this prolific author! Thank you so much, Jill Eileen, for taking the time to answer all of these questions.

 

February marks the release of Rebekah, the newest novel in the Wives of the Patriarchs series. Here is the synopses:

 

When her father dies and she is left in the care of her conniving brother Laban, Rebekah knows her life has changed forever. Her hope for the future is restored when she falls in love with her cousin Isaac, and their relationship starts strong. But marital bliss cannot last forever, and the birth of their twin sons marks the beginning of years of misunderstanding, disagreement, and betrayal. The rift between them grows wider and wider until it is surely too deep to be mended. And yet, with God all things are possible.

Join bestselling author Jill Eileen Smith as she fills in the blanks around the biblical women behind the men we know well. Her in-depth research and creative storytelling bring Rebekah's unique story alive with romance, heartache, and the power of forgiveness.

 

And now . . . . Jill Eileen has kindly offered a giveaway! One lucky winner may choose any one of her novels, either from the Wives of King David or the Wives of the Patriarch series. Isn't that exciting?

 

Follow the steps below to get your name entered. The more options you do, the more times your name will be entered, and the more chances you will have to win. And be sure to thank Jill Eileen for her time today.

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0cd5240/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway