Please welcome
Jill Ellen Smith
Her debut novel
Tell us a little about your book?
What author’s books do you enjoy reading?
What one bit of advice would you give to aspiring writers?
What inspired you to write this particular book?
Tell us what we have to look forward to in the future. What new projects are you working on?
What message do you hope readers gain from your novel?
I’m a wife, mom, novelist, cat owner, aspiring Bible scholar, lover of history, musician, dark chocolate connoisseur, and first and foremost a follower of Jesus.
I co-taught a Bible study on David’s life and fell in love with his story. I wanted to read a complete novel on him after the study ended but couldn’t find one that satisfied. So I started writing.
Most—writing the first draft - there is something wonderful about that first bout of creativity - and then editing it until it finally pleased me. If a scene didn’t stir me or wasn’t a favorite, it needed reworking or it needed to go.
Least—working through those difficult scenes trying to decide what could stay and what couldn’t. I cut 18,000 words out of it at one point. That was tough.
Write what you love, not what you know. You can always learn what you don’t know now. I learned a ton about David and his wives and ancient Israel in my many years of study. But I would never have studied David’s life in the first place if I didn’t love David and his story in Scripture. You will spend years on a book before it goes to print—time spent in research and writing and editing and marketing and answering questions about why you wrote the story, etc. If you don’t love your story, you’ll get sick of it fast. And if you don’t love your story, the writing quality will reflect that. Don’t write just to be published. Write because you love the subject.
I read many authors and have several favorites. Historical novelists whose work I love are: Tamera Alexander, Angela Hunt, B.J. Hoff, Francine Rivers, Maureen Lang, Julie Klassen, Siri Mitchell, Ginger Garrett (to name a few). Contemporary novelists whose work I also love are: Deborah Raney, Kathleen Fuller, Jill Stengl, Meredith Efken, Colleen Coble, Denise Hunter…there are too many to name! I have a few favorite young adult authors whose work is not yet in print yet – but one is nearly contracted, so soon!
Women today deal with many of the same issues the women of the Bible faced. Many of us have control issues. We all want to be cherished by our man in a loving marital relationship. We don’t like conflict (except in the books we read!) Yet, how many have suffered the fate of betrayal, of sharing a man they love against their will? Abuse, polygamy, adultery…these things still happen today. I think we can learn a lot from the lives of these women. In the end, every sin against us or committed by us still needs to be forgiven, and we will never know God’s peace until we surrender our wills to His.
I also hope my readers take away a new appreciation for Scripture, that they will be drawn to the Bible to read what really happened, that they will see these people were real and that realization can have a distinct impact on our perspective.
There are three books in The Wives of King David series. Book two is Abigail’s story, which is in house now (going through the pre-publishing process). I’m currently writing Bathsheba’s story. After this series ends, I have another contract for three books on The Wives of the Patriarchs – Sarah, Abraham’s wife; Rebekah, Isaac’s wife; and Rachel, Jacob’s wife. Of course, other characters like Hagar and Leah will come into play, but these are my working titles.
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Jill, thanks for sharing with us!
Many blessings on your writing.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book? Least?
Tell us a little about yourself?
The title of the book is Michal: A Novel, Book 1 in The Wives of King David series published by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Here’s the back cover blurb:
Can their epic search for true love survive a father's fury?
The daughter of King Saul, Michal lives a life of privilege--but one that is haunted by her father's unpredictable moods and competition from her beautiful older sister. As a girl, Michal quickly falls for the handsome young harpist David. But soon after their romance begins, David must flee for his life, leaving Michal at her father's mercy in the prison that is King Saul's palace. Will Michal ever be reunited with David? Or is she doomed to remain separated from him forever?
You can read more about The Wives of King David, particularly about Michal: A Novel by visiting the website: http://www.thewivesofkingdavid.com. There are Book Club and Bible Study questions available for free download. You can also read chapter one to see if you might like the book.
Demands on my time have increased, and I’m learning to balance it all. Sometimes I can’t answer emails as quickly as I used to, or I have to put off doing something I might have done right away in the past. I try to keep my priorities straight, but my family and writing the actual contracted books need to come before other things. I’m busier than I’ve ever been!
What has been the most unexpected challenge you've had with becoming a published author?
Tell us a little about your main character and how you developed him/her?
Michal is the first wife of King David. The story is taken from the pages of Scripture mixing what is said there about her, about David, her father Saul, among others, and mixing imagination to try to understand how she might have perceived the events going on around her. It’s got romance, intrigue, and drama as Michal falls in love with young David with no idea what that love will cost her.
I developed Michal’s character as I got to know David and studied his life. Understanding Michal took years and a lot of pondering.
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