Barbara Britton and Free Books!

When Adah volunteers to rebuild Jerusalem’s wall, she soon discovers not all of Judah’s enemies lie outside the crumbling rocks.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the e-copy of Christmas Trinkets, by LoRee Perry, is:

mommystuck1@...

Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's chat with novelist Barbara Britton, author of the Biblical novel, Jerusalem Rising: Adah’s Journey (Harbourlight Books, December 2017).

Barbara M. Britton was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but currently lives in Southeast Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches.

Barb writes romantic adventures for teens and adults in the Christian fiction and Mainstream markets. She is published in Biblical fiction and enjoys bringing little known Bible characters to light in her stories. Barb’s debut novel, Providence: Hannah’s Journey, released in October of 2016 from Harbourlight Books and kicked off her Tribes of Israel series. Her second book, Building Benjamin: Naomi’s Journey, released in April of 2017. Her Biblical fiction series continues with the release of Jerusalem Rising: Adah’s Journey.

She 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.

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I love to dance. I grew up during the Disco-era and belonged to a teen disco called The Quake.

Oh my, yes. That was definitely my life! I still love to dance. I break out into dance all the time at home. I wish all exercise was that fun. 

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Jerusalem Rising.

I stumbled upon Nehemiah 3:12 which mentions the daughters of Shallum who helped Nehemiah rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. I decided to bring their story to light.

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.

What is it about Adah that will make your readers care about her?

Adah loves her family and wants her father to remembered with all the other builders of the wall. But Adah’s father has no son. Adah volunteers for a difficult task to bring honor to her family, even though it puts her life in danger.

How much prep work do you usually do before you start writing a novel?

I review the Biblical story and see if there is enough information for a full-length novel. I am married to an ordained minister, so my basement is a theology library. I research for a week to see why this story is in the Bible and what themes I can develop. It takes me about nine months to write and edit a book before I submit it to my publisher.

That's very cool about your resources!

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

I finished a Middle Grade trilogy by my friend Sandy Brehl. Mari's Hope tells the story of teenagers who were part of the Norwegian resistance to the German occupation of Norway during WWII. My husband is Norwegian, and it is very hard to find clean fiction for young readers.

That sounds like an amazing story topic for teenageers.

What are you working on now?

I am working on another Old Testament Bible story and I have a Historical Young Adult novel going before a publication board.

Where else can readers find you online?

Readers can find out more about my Biblical fiction on my website, or on my Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter pages.

The book can be purchased online via this button:



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

In Jerusalem Rising Adah creates perfumes, a craft she learned from her mother. Do you have a favorite perfume?

When I was battling breast cancer, a friend sent me Clinique’s Happy. I still use it.

Thank you, Barbara, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Barbara has offered to give away a free e-copy of her novel. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to Barbara's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. Many commenters are left out of the drawing because they forget to include a way for me to notify them of their win (their email).

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