Friday, February 1, 2013

Unlikely Sources for Novels


Last month our guest was the wonderful Chris Fabry, and were honored with his insights into the roles persistence and adversity play in the life of an author.

Later this month, we’ll feature NY Times best-selling author Tosca Lee, writer of the critically acclaimed Demon: A Memoir; Havah: The Story of Eve; and Forbidden: The Books of Mortals series with New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker.

Two things you’ll want to know about Tosca (other than the accolades she has received and deserved.)

First: Her first published book Demon: A Memoir was written around 2000. It sold in a 2006 multi-book deal after nearly six years of rejection.

Second: She gives voices to some of the most controversial people/concepts in Christian –or secular—publishing. Like a demon fallen from grace. The first woman, Eve. And now her newest book focuses on Judas Iscariot.

This book, Iscariot: A Novel of Judas, releases February 5. If it’s like her other books, it will be a beautifully-written bombshell.

Here’s a question for our Novel Matters readers:  Which book have you read that gave you the most insight into a character from the Bible? 

16 comments:

Dina Sleiman said...

I read and loved Havah. It had a lot of influence on me because I was really struggling with my marriage at the time. Something about how Tosca portrayed sex and the marriage relationship both before and after the fall really resonated with me and helped me to see issues more clearly.

I also thoroughly enjoyed Demon.

Lori Benton said...

The two that stand out for me are Madman, by Tracy Groot, about the Gadarene man possessed by the legion of demons, and Love Amid the Ashes, by Mesu Andrews, about Job and Jacob's daughter, Dinah.

Latayne C Scott said...

Dina, I know that reactions like yours-- those of redemption after reading a Christian novel-- are why those of us who write them, write them.

Lori, I'm definitely a Tracy Groot fan. Incredible writer. Have you read her newest one? I think you'd like it.

Cherry Odelberg said...

Not insight into a particular character, but; thinking myself a pretty accomplished bible student, when I first read C.S. Lewis' space trilogy, I kept saying to myself over and over, "oh, I never thought of it that way."

Sharon K. Souza said...

I love Tosca's writing. I've read Havah twice, and Demon twice. They were both exceptional in their own way. Havah gave me a new and much broader perspective into life in the garden before the fall, and life exiled after the fall. It's truly a book worth reading. And Demon was just plain intertaining! I look forward to our interview with Tosca.

Lori Benton said...

Latayne, Flame of Resistance was at the top of my TBR pile this year. I finished it a week or so ago. Another great book from Tracy, but I think Madman still holds the biggest impact for me, of her books read to date. She's a wonderful author.

Latayne C Scott said...

Cherry, I loved Perelandra! And I had the same reaction as you to that trilogy.

Sharon, your recommendation means a lot. I think you're a discerning reader, and if you love Tosca's books I know I will too.

And Lori, I think Tracy is just terrific. I'll get to see her again, God willing, at the Breathe Conference in October. Come! You'd love meeting her.

Latayne C Scott said...
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Sara said...

I still remember my college English class and starting in on "Paradise Lost." Our prof stood up, and said with some awe, "He's brilliant!"

It was a moment that helped break me of the pattern of looking at characters or historical figures and thinking "I wouldn't have done that!" No--not only would I have probably sinned in the Garden of Eden--I would have gotten it worse.

Henrietta Frankensee said...

I read The Red Tent by Anita Diamant about Dinah. It gave me insight into Leah and sisterly relations.

Latayne C Scott said...

Sara, I need to go back and read Paradise Lost. And Henrietta, wasn't The Red Tent cool?

Latayne C Scott said...

Sara, I need to go back and read Paradise Lost. And Henrietta, wasn't The Red Tent cool?

Silence said...
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Marian said...

Come to Me by Laura J. Davis gave me insight into Mary the mother of Jesus.

Latayne C Scott said...

Thank you, Marian. I hadn't heard of that one.

Carole said...

I'm going to show my age here and pick a book I read back in the late 60s: "Dear and Glorious Physician" by Taylor Caldwell. Ms. Caldwell was a popular mainstream author, who also wrote what I would categorize as biblical fiction. "Dear and Glorious Physician," almost 600 pages long, told of the life of Luke and Jesus' ministry. I found it very inspiring, never boring.