Wednesday Writers–Claiming Canaan: Milcah’s Journey by Barbara M. Britton

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Barbara M. Britton, Biblical fiction, book excerpt from Claiming Canaan, Claiming Canaan, Wednesday Writers

Today’s Wednesday Writers guest is Biblical fiction author Barbara M. Britton. Barbara will be talking about saying “Good-bye” to her characters. be sure to check out the book excerpt at the end of the post. Welcome, Barbara!

Faith Among The Faithless: Saying Good-bye to Historic Sisters

by Barbara BM. Britton

A few weeks ago, I said farewell to five historic sisters. The daughters of Zelophehad were a recent new-to-me Bible story. How had I missed these brave sisters in Scripture? Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah were orphans who went before an assembly of men and asked to inherit their deceased father’s land. To his credit, Moses sought God, and God said the girls were right. If a man died without a son, his daughters could inherit his land. How had I missed this story? (Numbers 27:1-11)

I was going to leave these sisters before the battle of Jericho and only write a single book, but their story became three books. I followed these historic girls through the book of Joshua. While their initial story is in the book of Numbers, these girls are mentioned in Joshua 17:3-6 where they remind Joshua of their inheritance. Bold? Maybe. Though these girls would need to be strong in their faith for their tribe settled in Canaan where kings had been slain, but faithless people remained.

In my final book “Claiming Canaan,” I show what it might have looked like to settle among a people who do not know God. Milcah, the lead sister in the final book, has to navigate being a landowner and staying true to God without compromising her faith. Milcah chops down wooden carvings of false gods on her land. She doesn’t accept coins with foreign gods inscribed in the metal. She allows widows and orphans to glean on her land but insists that no idols are brought on her land and that names of false gods are never uttered among her plants. Remaining faithful to God takes work.

Even today, our world has been drawn away from God and His promises. Many have followed the lies of Satan and the empty promises of media, music, and mankind. Our idols have become status, wealth, power, beauty, and the list goes on and on. I am heartened that during recent events, many have spoken God’s name and given witness about their faith.

The theme for my daughters of Zelophehad series is “Go Forth With God.” As unmarried women in Bible times, these sisters embraced God who is their true Father. I placed them on land where their faith could be a beacon to the godless. My hope is that their faith is a beacon to us today.

What idols do you see people following today?

 

 “Claiming Canaan: Milcah’s Journey.”

Biblical Fiction from the book of Joshua.

by Barbara Britton

When the tribal elders make marriage a requirement for claiming her land, Milcah bat Zelophehad must find a betrothed straightaway. The only problem in finding a husband is that all her suitors were slain while conquering the land of Canaan. Men avoid her in order to stay alive.

After praying to God to send her a bold suitor, a man from her father’s clan plummets from a tree right on top of her. Is this God answering prayer, or a foolish antic by Eli, the war-scarred brother from one of her clan’s rival families?

Will settling in Canaan sort out Milcah’s troubles, or have her woes just begun?

Excerpt:

Milcah and her sister Tirzah venture into the pagan city of Megiddo searching for jars…

Before Milcah could balance her basket of grapes on her hip, women gathered round her and Tirzah. Some reached at the clusters with bony fingers. They clutched coins barely larger than a plump raisin. Hoglah would have no problem selling her cakes in the city.

Eager, or desperate, the women pushed closer. A barterer held a coin in front of Milcah’s face. The image of a false god scowled from the bronze.

Milcah’s cheeks burned hotter than a bad sunburn. “Do not take their coins, Tirzah. Not if there is a false god etched onto them.”

“There are so many hands.” Tirzah’s back pressed against Milcah’s. “How will I know?”

Milcah held her basket over her head. “Do not pay with images of your gods. We serve the One True God.”

“We need jars.” Tirzah slapped at an overzealous woman. “Didn’t you hear? Jars.”

On tiptoe, Milcah cast a glance and saw Eli engaged in a brisk conversation with a merchant.

Hurry.

Milcah shook her head covering and flailed her arm like one of Tirzah’s tantrums.

“Bring us jars or something to trade.”

A full-faced woman with a brightly embroidered robe pushed to the front of the raucous crowd.

“I have what you seek. Come.” The woman smiled with teeth as thick as a mosaic tile. “Over here.” She waved for Milcah and Tirzah to follow.

With Tirzah clutched to her clothing, Milcah dipped past wide turbans and dodged scurrying children toward a table loaded with sandals, pouches, and leather bracelets designed like the ones Noah wore.

Their impressive shiny-haired leader whisked back a curtain and displayed three tall vessels, identical to the ones in the storehouse. This woman or her husband had ventured outside of the city and traipsed across the vineyard.

Before Milcah could ask the price, a shriek rose above the din of the marketplace.

Want to read more? You can purchase “Claiming Canaan” on Amazon or wherever books are sold. Libraries can order the series too.

About the Author

Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She is published in Biblical fiction and enjoys bringing little-known Bible characters to light in her stories. Look for Barb to venture into Christian Historical fiction in June with “Until June.” Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate.

Find out more about Barb and her books on her website, Twitter, and Goodreads.

 

 

 

 

WEdnesday Writers–Barbara M. Britton talks about Jerusalem Rising

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Barbara M. Britton, Biblical fiction, Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers, Jerusalem Rising, Nehemiah

 

Today Wednesday Writers welcomes Barbara M. Britton back to the blog. Barb writes Biblical fiction and brings little known Bible characters to light in her Tribes of Israel series. Today she’ll be talking about some women who helped rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. Interesting info, I didn’t know, or remember. Welcome, Barb.

 

Wonder Women in Nehemiah’s Adventure

Thanks, Catherine.

I have taught the book of Nehemiah many times in Sunday School. My students stacked boxes to simulate Nehemiah and the Israelites restoring the wall around Jerusalem. What I missed during all those years of teaching, was that young women helped Nehemiah rebuild Jerusalem’s wall. Nehemiah 3:12 mentions the daughters of Shallum as construction workers. How did I miss this fact? We don’t know how many daughters Shallum had, or how they were named, but I bring Adah and her sister Judith to life in my novel Jerusalem Rising.

I also missed another woman who played a role in Nehemiah’s story. How did I overlook a prophetess? There aren’t many women prophets mentioned in the Bible. Ten women are named as having this title, and one is Noadiah from Nehemiah 6:14. Unfortunately, Noadiah is infamous. Nehemiah asks God to remember her, not for her help in building the wall, but for her shenanigans in trying to thwart Nehemiah’s success. Noadiah was called out for trying to intimidate Nehemiah. Why would a prophetess of God work against a man God had called to restore Jerusalem? We may never know this side of heaven.

Nehemiah faced foes inside the city of Jerusalem—like Noadiah—but he also faced foes from outside the city. Enemies abound in the book of Nehemiah and I enjoyed tying their journeys together in my latest novel.

How about you? Are you familiar with the story of Nehemiah, the daughters of Shallum, or the naughty prophetess Noadiah?

Jerusalem Rising

by Barbara M. Britton

When Adah bat Shallum finds the governor of Judah weeping over the crumbling wall of Jerusalem, she learns the reason for Nehemiah’s unexpected visit—God has called him to rebuild the wall around the City of David.

Nehemiah challenges the men of Jerusalem to labor on the wall and in return, the names of their fathers will be written in the annals for future generations to cherish. But Adah has one sister and no brothers. Should her father who rules a half-district of Jerusalem be forgotten forever?

Adah bravely vows to rebuild her city’s wall, though she soon discovers that Jerusalem not only has enemies outside of the city, but also within. Can Adah, her sister, and the men they love, honor God’s call? Or will their mission be crushed by the same rocks they hope to raise.

Excerpt:

“So that is why you came?” She shifted her lamp. “Not to collect taxes but to set up an office here and bring in workers to rebuild the wall?”

He nodded. “You found me inspecting the wall tonight. The City of David will be a stronghold again.” The shadows dancing on his face could not soften his stare, which bore into her gaze like a hammered tent peg. “This wall will rise and these gates will be secured. God has made it clear to me what we must do.”

She trusted God. Or at least she had before her mother’s eyesight darkened. A year ago she had prayed for a miracle from God for her mother. No healing came. And where was the rain? She had prayed for showers for the fields. Othniel had prayed. Her father had prayed. The soil remained parched. People went hungry. But if Nehemiah had truly heard God’s voice, perhaps Adonai was showing His favor to His people once again.

“When will the stone masons arrive?” She didn’t know much about resurrecting a wall, but the king had renowned craftsmen.

“King Artaxerxes gave me letters for safe passage and a leave from the palace. I have access to the forests in the south. But as for workers, those already living here will secure this city.”

Her shoulders sagged. “We have no army. The drought has left families without food and coin—

“Adah.” His address held a tone of chastisement. “Do you believe in God’s provision? In answered prayer?”

Want to read more?

“Jerusalem Rising: Adah’s Journey” is available on Amazon, B&N, and other on-line book stores.

 

About the Author:

Barbara M. Britton lives in Wisconsin and writes Christian Fiction for teens and adults. She has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Barb brings little known Bible characters to light in her Tribes of Israel series. You can find out about Barb’s books on her website, or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

 

Catherine Castle’s Christmas Reads–The Swaddling Clothes by Amber Schamel

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Amber Schamel, Biblical fiction, book excerpt from The Swaddling Clothes, Catherine Castle's Christmas Reads blog sereis, Christmas fiction, free book offer, Inspirational fiction, The Swaddling Clothes

Today’s guest on Catherine Castle’s Christmas Reads is Amber Schamel, a fellow author from the Stitches Thru Time Blog that I contribute to. Amber will be offering her Christmas Book The Swaddling Clothes free December 15-18 at http://www.amazon.come/dp/B018BBQVCA

To whet your appetite, here’s an excerpt from The Swaddling Clothes by Amber Schamel.

Part One

Chapter One

Circa 980 B.C.

King David drummed his fingers on the arm of his throne. The merchant’s monotone voice had been echoing off the cedar walls of the judgment hall for more than an hour. If he whined the words unfair taxes one more time…

“So you see, your highness, these taxes are relatively unfair when considering—”

“Enough!” David’s irritation boiled over.

The merchant stumbled backward. His scalded pride evidenced by the scarlet flushing of his round face.

Something squeezed in David’s chest. The merchant wasn’t the sole reason for his foul mood, and didn’t deserve to bear the worst of it. “I’m sorry.”

He wiped his forehead. Being the king of Israel was not what he’d hoped. He should be leading his army against the Philistines. Instead here he was, in his luxurious palace, listening to the endless and petty complaints. [1]

Ahithophel clapped his hands. “The king has heard enough of your whining for today. Come back later.”

David stood and ran his hand through his hair. Loose curls twisted around his fingers. He paced for a few moments before looking up. Amnon, his oldest son, glared over his shoulder as the aide shooed him out of the hall.

“Ahithophel, it’s all right. I can…”

“My lord, their prattle is irritating me as well. It can wait until the morrow.”

David ducked out the side exit, into the corridor to the private part of the palace. He stopped, inhaling the comforting scent of cedar, and waited for his aide.

Ahithophel slipped through the door and closed it quietly. His expression was tentative when he faced David.

“I am sorry, Ahithophel, but I am not cut of this pattern. I am the type of king who leads armies into battle, who destroys enemies, a king with a sword constantly by my side.” He motioned to the warrior’s blade hanging from his belt. “I love my people, but I cannot bear sitting here listening to their petty arguments while my army marches.”

“My king, you know we can no longer risk you getting killed in some skirmish. Your sons are still young, and you have not yet determined a successor for your throne. If you were to fall in battle, Israel would be left in disarray.”

David stepped closer to him and whispered through clenched teeth. “I can’t do this. It’s hard enough to stay here cooped up like a child, but listening to their trivial prattle day after day is more than I can stand.”

Ahithophel gave him a sympathetic smile and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Take the remainder of the day to rest. Walk the gardens with your new wife, eat a good meal, refresh yourself. You’ll feel better tomorrow.” He smiled again and disappeared down the hall.

Taking a deep breath, David wandered into the garden and wove through the trees and flowerbeds until he neared the fountain surrounded by pomegranate trees. The rich red fruit contrasted with the soft green of the olive leaves. The trickle of the water fountain and the sweet sound of turtledoves cooing soothed his soul. He should have brought his harp, for a psalm was bubbling up within him.

Standing in the midst of all this beauty was one not to be compared to it. With her emerald eyes set in a complexion of pearl, and ringlets of ruby cascading down her back. Bathsheba. He had loved her since the moment he saw her. His heart had sinned for her, bringing the wrath of his righteous God upon them. But although God had taken their baby, He had not denied him Bathsheba. [2]

Stepping beside her, David slid his hand into hers and gave it a tight squeeze.

“A rough day for my king?”

David groaned. “I am tired of being king. Can’t I be something else for today?”

Bathsheba turned around. Her green eyes met his, and a smile curved her lips. She lifted his hands and placed them on her belly. “Then be Abba today.”

The breath caught in his throat. “You’re…”

Her giggle and nod assured him it was so. Wrapping her in a tight embrace, he lifted her off her feet and whirled around in a circle. Finally setting her down, he placed his hands on either side of her face. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel who has chosen in His great mercy to bless us. The child will be a son, and he will inherit my throne and reign over the house of Israel in peace and prosperity. There will be no one like him in all the world.”

His wife’s eyes sparkled in the light streaming through the trees. “Yes, our son will be a special child.”

“When he is born, I will hold a feast a month long. The armies will rest from fighting to celebrate the birth of the prince of the house of David.”

A frown contorted his wife’s face. “But, if we announce at his birth that he will be your successor, won’t it put him in danger?”

David’s hands fell to his sides. He hadn’t considered that. “You may be right. There must be another way.” How could they appoint this child as the successor without endangering him? He could wait to announce it until later, but what if something happened to him in the meantime? No, wouldn’t do. They had to come up with some sort of symbol. Something that wouldn’t reveal the secret until the proper time. Something almost prophetic.

An idea ignited in his mind. Grasping Bathsheba’s hand, he tugged her toward the palace. “Come. We have lots of work to do.”

“David, what are you talking about?”

“My son will not be wrapped in ordinary swaddling cloth. No, this prince is unlike any other child and must be treated as such. We will have cloth woven for him on the looms of Egypt, Sheba, Assyria, and every nation on the earth. At his birth, we will wrap him in swaddling clothes so magnificent no one will be able to deny his royalty. At my death, I shall decree that the son who possesses that certain cloth will be my heir. It will evade the danger, yet make it clear who I desire my heir to be. Quickly. We must find Ahithophel and have him gather merchants from every corner of the city.”

*****

Maacah pressed her back against an olive trunk. Had she really heard right? All expected this new, young wife of David’s would soon be with child, but how could the child of a commoner—a wife acquired through murder and iniquity—possibly be named the successor to the throne above her own son? Absalom was a beautiful child, beloved of all who knew him, third born, and of royal blood. What disgrace and insolence for David to consider this woman’s son over Absalom. No, this could never be.

She peeked out from behind the tree as David led Bathsheba toward the palace. “Something must be done. That woman’s son will never reign over Absalom.”

Her thoughts raced like wild stallions as she darted toward her son’s chambers. She didn’t know how, but she would blight this plan to usurp Absalom’s throne. Starting with the swaddling clothes.

 

 

About the Author:

Author of over half a dozen books, Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for travel, history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call “historical fiction at its finest”. She lives in Colorado and spends half her time volunteering in the Ozarks. Visit her online at www.AmberSchamel.com/ and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

Newsletter & updates: http://www.amberschamel.com/newsletter-signup.html Blogs – http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/            http://www.hhhistory.com/            http://amberschamel.blogspot.com/

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmberSchamel

Twitter – @AmberSchamel https://twitter.com/AmberSchamel

Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/AmberDSchamel/

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7073165.Amber_Schamel

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Amber-Schamel/e/B00CIXK91M

 

 

[1] 2 Sam 11:1

[2] 2 Sam 11-12

Wednesday Writers Welcomes Biblical Fiction Author Barbara Britton

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Barbara M. Britton, Biblical fiction, book excerpt, book trailer Providence Hannah's Journey, Catherine Castle Wednesday Writers series, Providence: Hannah's Journey

Today Wednesday Writers welcomes Barbara M. Britton, author of the Biblical Fiction Tribes of Israel series which begins in October. She’ll be talking about the origins of Providence: Hannah’s Journey. Be sure to read the whole blog so you don’t miss her book trailer and excerpt. And now, I’ll hand it over to Barbara.

Thanks, Catherine.

While I was teaching chapel to elementary school students on the subject of young people in the Bible who did great things, I came upon the servant girl in the story of Naaman (II Kings 5). We don’t know much about this brave girl. She doesn’t even have a name. But we do know this girl came from Israel, knew of the prophet, and was captured by a band of enemy raiders. She is so confident in the work of the prophet that she tells an enemy army commander’s wife to send her leprous husband to Israel to be healed. Wait? Aren’t these the raiders that captured her? Yet God uses the words of a foreign servant girl to set into motion the spread of His kingdom.

I hated to leave this girl in captivity. The Bible never tells us if her wisdom won her freedom. So I decided to use one of God’s plot lines and write my own story. The servant girl gets a name—Hannah. She is captured because she leaves her home in search of the prophet. And she relates to Naaman because she has her own deformities in need of a healing touch. And of course, there’s a romantic thread throughout the novel. Hannah finds an honorable man, Gilead, to help her on her journey.

“God is in control even in the chaos of life” is the theme for my novel. Little did I know that as I went over the galley for “Providence: Hannah’s Journey” I would battle the chaos of breast cancer. God is always faithful. He was faithful to me during my cancer journey and you will find, despite all the conflict that Hannah endures, God has everything under control in her story too.

Excerpt from Providence: Hannah’s Journey

 

Hannah bit her lip to keep from weeping. She was a fool to think her plans would be fruitful. God had cursed her. Her own people shunned her. Even Gil’s mother refused her.

“Daughter.” Gil’s mother brushed her hand against Hannah’s cheek. “My son is a good man. If you have need of him, he will find you.”

“But how—”

A man bellowed from within the house.

“Shhh.” The woman’s eyes widened. “I must go.”

“May I leave word?” The door closed before Hannah’s request could enter. Hannah wondered if a life with Azor would be filled with such worry. Not ever speaking of her past or of her curses.

Turning the corner into Gil’s alcove, she collapsed beside the barrel where she had taken refuge before. “Come to me Gil,” she breathed. “Did you not speak of hope and mercy?” Her chest constricted as if the bronze hoops of the barrel had bound her ribs.

Her head snapped up on occasion when men’s voices neared the sheet. But Gil’s boisterous laugh never came. Her prayer had fallen on deaf ears. Again.

 

About the Author

Barbara M. Britton lives in Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian Fiction for teens and adults. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Barb kicks off her Tribes of Israel series in October with the release of “Providence: Hannah’s Journey.”

Connect with Barbara at: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads,

Buy her book at: Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Pelican Book Group

 

Biblical Romance Fiction and Teresa Pollard on Wednesday Writers

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article about character names, Biblical fiction, Biblical love story, book research, Catherine Castle Wednesday Writers series, Old Testament judge Deborah, Teresa Pollard, Woman of Light

Woman of Light

Ehud, Israel’s great judge, is dead.  He must have been out of his mind with sickness to prophesy that his granddaughter Deborah would judge Israel.  Just who does she think she is?  Doesn’t she know Sisera’s iron chariots threaten to annihilate the fledgling nation? And Barak?  A poor man who can barely feed his own family.  What kind of a God would choose two such improbable people to lead His people to battle?

 

 

Today we’re welcoming back Teresa Pollard to Wednesday Writers. Teresa will be talking about her upcoming book, Woman of Light, specifically research on a name conundrum she discovered.  Take it away, Teresa!

Hello Everyone,

My newest novel, Woman of Light, is an imagining of the story of Deborah and Barak (aka Lappidoth) from Judges 4 & 5.  I’m sure most of your readers are too young to remember the old TV stories of The Grey Ghost, or Zorro, or Superman that I grew up on in the early ‘50s. But I think maybe they inspired my reasoning when I contemplated this novel.  The idea is that someone might need a double identity to protect their family from the wrath of his enemies.

You see, I try hard to research my novels as much as possible, but this one presented a dilemma from the beginning.  Deborah is described in the Bible as the wife of Lappidoth, but scholars agree that  Lappidoth is a feminine plural noun meaning oil lamps or torches, and is therefore not likely to be a man’s name.  According to the Talmud, Deborah was married to Barak, the general.

When you think about it, the story makes a whole lot more sense this way.  It explains why Barak would insist she come to him, and eliminates the problem of why an upstanding Jewish man would allow his wife to go away with another man for what had to be several months.  The Talmud also explains that Barak was a poor man until Deborah began to make wicks for the tabernacle at Shiloh, and prospered him so much that he became the great general he was.

Nevertheless, I knew this would be a problem for some people.  But did it really have to be?  If he sold oil lamps or torches, wouldn’t some people call him Lappidoth, and wouldn’t that make a great alter ego for a hero?  Israel was a fledgling nation under siege by a conquering tyrant.  That tyrant had a great general of his own in a man named Sisera.  Sisera was ravaging the tiny country for twenty years.  Barak most certainly had a price on his head.  And so would his wife and children.

So, this is a love story of Deborah and Barak, and how they came to be the great judges of Israel that they were. It’s also a story about the power of praise, of singing praise to God even in our darkest hours, and seeing Him work miracles even when we least expect them.   God bless.

Teresa

  About the Author:

Teresa Pollard is from Richmond, Virginia, and was saved at a young age.  She has a Master of Arts degree in English and Creative Writing from Hollins College, and has served as a Sunday School teacher and children’s worker for most of the last forty years. She is the co-author of Not Guilty and Not Ashamed, and the author of Tokens of Promise and Woman of Light, (due out from HopeSprings Books in October). Married for forty years, she was devastated by divorce and the death of her youngest daughter, but God has blessed her with a new home and another grandson, and she now resides in Dacula, Georgia.  She blogs every Tuesday at http://teresatalkstaboo.wordpress.com. Follow her on Facebook at Teresa Pollard, Author.

Want to read more about Teresa and her books? Check out her interview and other posts on Wednesday Writers.