Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Isaiah’s Daughter
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 12/12/1963
WEBSITE: http://mesuandrews.com/
CITY:
STATE: NC
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
agent, Tamela Hancock Murray, at tamela@stevelaube.com; married with two daughters
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born December 12, 1963; married, 1984; husband’s name Roy; children: two.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
RELIGION: Christian.WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Mesu Andrews is a writer based in North Carolina. She writes novels based on stories found in the Bible. In an interview with Brock Eastman that appeared on Eastman’s self-titled website, Andrews asserted: “My ONLY genre is biblical fiction. My first love is the study of God’s Word. Biblical novels give me an excuse to keep my nose buried in the Bible and research books! What a joy to share with others both the passion and pleasure of my heart. I am most blessed.”
Love Amid the Ashes and Love's Sacred Song
Love Amid the Ashes is Andrews’s first novel. This retelling of the story of Job finds God and Satan betting against one another on Job’s ability to withstand tragedy without cursing God. The book received mixed reviews. “Andrews fails to breathe humanity into her characters, though she gives it a good effort. Her purpose here seems more didactic,” wrote a critic on the Historical Novel Society website. Joanne Renaud, reviewer on the Dear Author website, commented: “Love Amid the Ashes is a fascinating and frustrating book.” Renaud added: “As a debut novel, it’s an impressive achievement, and a great example of what midrash can accomplish. But there are a lot of problems with it. I’m not sure if the problems originate from the heavily patriarchal nature of the Old Testament, and the evangelical desire to take the original text literally. Or perhaps the problems originate from the passive nature of the protagonist. Or maybe it’s all of the above.”
In Love’s Sacred Song, Andrews takes on another section of the Old Testament of the Bible, the Song of Solomon. She focuses on the transition of power from King David to King Solomon. Other characters include Jehoshaphat, his daughter Arielah, and David’s concubine, Abishag. A contributor to the Historical Novel Society website remarked: “This novel is a beautiful, dangerous, and romantically fictional portrayal of the world around this love of all loves.” Ruth Anderson, writer on the Booktalk & More website, suggested: “Rich with atmosphere and historical detail, including fascinating glimpses into everything from wedding customs to court protocol and intrigue, Love’s Sacred Song is sure to delight historical and biblical fiction lovers alike. With lead characters who send sparks flying from the page and a host of well-drawn supporting players, Mesu Andrews’s second novel is a rich, meaty read that will not only entertain, but if you’ll let it, challenge and grow your faith, inspiring a deeper appreciation for the texts from which Song draws its inspiration.”
Love in a Broken Vessel and In the Shadow of Jezebel
Andrews retells the Biblical story of Hosea and Gomer in Love in a Broken Vessel. The two were childhood friends, but they lost touch. After a message from God, Hosea finds Gomer in Samaria and marries her, despite the fact that she has been working as a prostitute. “The author provides an engrossing and believable take on the biblical story with its universal themes,” suggested a reviewer on the Historical Novel Society website. A critic on the Good Book Reviews website remarked: “This is one of the best examples of modern Christian fiction written primarily for women.”
A young woman named Jehosheba prepares to take the throne as Queen of Destiny in In the Shadow of Jezebel. According to a writer on the Historical Novel Society website: “Andrews’ latest novel is packed with political intrigue and the clash of two religions.” Amanda Geaney, contributor to the Christian Shelf-Esteem website, commented: “This intriguing novel never slows but continues to draw the reader in through it’s entirety. Prepare to be transported back in time through vivid descriptions. … The well researched details are truly insightful and enrich the storyline without becoming arduous.”
The Pharaoh's Daughter and Miriam
The Pharaoh’s Daughter tells the story of the title character, tracing her life from childhood until the fateful day when she discovers a baby in a basket floating in the Nile. In the same interview with Eastman, Andrews discussed the theme of the book. She stated: “Each of my books has had an overarching theme. Job’s story (Love Amid the Ashes) spoke to those who suffer. Gomer and Hosea’s story (Love in a Broken Vessel) challenged readers to God-sized forgiveness and the promise of God’s grace. The Pharaoh’s Daughter tackles that nagging—sometimes debilitating—emotion of fear. On September 11, 2001, our entire nation experienced fear, but fear was daily reality for the Hebrews in ancient Egypt. Personally, I have grown up afraid—why? I have no idea.” Andrews continued: “I remember being afraid of the dark. Afraid a fire would burn down our house. Afraid of dogs. Afraid of… you name it. As I’m writing this, I’m afraid I’ll run out of coffee creamer. We’re all afraid of something. When The Pharaoh’s Daughter pulled a Hebrew baby from the Nile, I believe she was motivated by fear. This book explores the choices that grew out of her fear and leads the reader through the consequences and victories, the joys and sorrows of those choices—and the faith that frees her from fear’s prison.” In a review of the book on the Historical Novel Society website, a contributor remarked: “Andrews grounds her story in the Biblical tradition and in the historical record and creates well-drawn, interesting characters.”
Moses’s sister is the star of Andrews’s next Bible-based novel, Miriam. “This novel is biblical fiction at its finest,” asserted a Publishers Weekly reviewer. A writer on the Historical Novel Society website commented: “This book propels the reader along to its climactic ending.” The same writer described the book as “a thoroughly delightful read.”
Isaiah's Daughter
In Isaiah’s Daughter, Andrews retells the story of Ishma. Born a slave, she is ultimately adopted by Isaiah and marries Prince Hezekiah.
A Publishers Weekly critic offered a favorable assessment of Isaiah’s Daughter. The critic commented: “Andrews’s excellent tale invites readers to have a new appreciation for the time of the prophets.” “Andrews, known for providing voice to women typically in the margins of biblical stories, paints a beautiful tale with heartfelt characters,” asserted a contributor to the Historical Novel Society website. The same contributor described the book as “a very well-researched and deeply felt novel. Recommended.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, February 8, 2016, review of Miriam, p. 56; October 30, 2017, review of Isaiah’s Daughter, p. 65.
ONLINE
Booktalk & More, http://booktalkandmore.blogspot.com/ (March 20, 2012), Ruth Anderson, review of Love’s Sacred Song.
Brock Eastman Website, https://www.brockeastman.com/ (February 23, 2017), Brock Eastman, author interview.
Christian Shelf-Esteem, https://christianshelfesteem.wordpress.com/ (May 21, 2014), Amanda Geaney, review of In the Shadow of Jezebel: A Novel.
Dear Author, http://dearauthor.com/ (May 5, 2015), Joanne Renaud, review of Love Amid the Ashes.
Good Book Reviews, http://www.goodbookreviews.org.uk/ (September 3, 2014), review of Love in a Broken Vessel.
Historical Novel Society, https://historicalnovelsociety.org/ (August 1, 2011), review of Love Amid the Ashes; (May 1, 2012), review of Love’s Sacred Song; (August 1, 2013), review of Love in a Broken Vessel(May 1, 2014), review of In the Shadow of Jezebel; (August 1, 2015), review of The Pharaoh’s Daughter; (May 1, 2016), review of Miriam; (February 1, 2018), review of Isaiah’s Daughter.
Mesu Andrews Website, http://mesuandrews.com (March 21, 2018).
Novel Reviews, http://novelreviews.blogspot.com/ (March, 2016), Sarah Meyers, review of The Pharaoh’s Daughter.
About Mesu
Greetings! The About Mesu Andrews page is a little overview of my life and offers shortcuts to certain pages on the website. So grab your mouse and start clicking!
Mesu Andrews
I’ve been married to Roy Andrews since 1984—who I’ve known since we were both third-graders. You can read more about our story in my Personal Testimony. We have two grown daughters. They’re married now and presenting us with adorable grand babies—our reward for not killing them when they were children. Family adds the spice to my life and keeps my nose buried in my Bible!
During my younger years, I was an over-the-top extrovert; however, in 1997 My Chronic Illness Battle began a transformation that changed the core of my being. I once thrived on people, teaching, speaking. DO-ing ministry of every kind, but when I could no longer DO ministry they way I’d once done it, I had to learn a new way to BE content. You can download a free copy of the Daily Scripture Prayer that helped me through that transition.
God never wastes our suffering, and it was during those long hours, days, and weeks in bed that my passion for biblical novels awakened. Now I love to read it AND write it. I’ll share frequent book reviews of those books I love to read, and the biblical novels I write are listed in Mesu’s Books. Just click to each book’s individual page, and you’ll find various goodies: downloadable Bible studies, group discussion questions, free bookmarks, and more!
I hope you can see this is your website as well as mine. Please visit often and subscribe to receive my newsletter directly in your inbox! (I’ll never share your email with anyone.)
My Name
Mesu AndrewsMesu is a nickname…
I’ve often been asked the origin of my name. My mom is a creative lady and gave me a long, melodic first name that I couldn’t say as a toddler. My given name came out “Mesu” and became my lifelong tagline. My husband loves to embellish the story, saying my parents were missionaries in China. (Orneriness leaks out of that man.)
My parents were NOT missionaries, but I come from a patchwork quilt of theological heritage. Phrased a little less delicately…I’m a spiritual mutt. If you’d like to hear more about how Jesus transformed my life (I used to smoke like a chimney, cuss like a sailor, and drink black-label Jack like a Tennessee hillbilly), check out my Personal Testimony page.
Personal Testimony
Personal Testimony - Mesu AndrewsConfusion led to rebellion…
When I was growing up, God was a central figure in most discussions. But I saw theology as a battlefield and Scripture as a weapon. In my confusion, I rejected God and His Word but was rescued by an old high school friend, who discovered and shared Jesus with me—the life-transforming Savior.
Life changed rapidly indeed. A month later, that friend asked me to be his wife. Roy and I were married six months later. Nine months and two weeks later, our first daughter was born. Soon after, our second daughter came along, and we began attending a small church. Suddenly, my desire for God’s Word exploded. So I began scouring the only theology books a young mother has time to read—children’s Bible stories and my Bible.
I devoured God’s Word during my days as a full-time mom, but when our family moved to seminary, my husband became Mr. Mom, and I went to work. Roy became the one saturated in God’s Word, and he was the one our daughters ran to when they scraped their knees. Though I knew we were in the very center of God’s will, these were hard days for me. When my husband graduated from seminary and received his first call to ministry, I promised the Lord I would forever cherish His Word and never again take for granted the blessings of motherhood and marriage.
Our daughters are now grown and telling their own stories of journeys with Jesus. No doubt, they had joys and sorrows in a pastor’s family, their mom’s speaking ministry slowed by chronic illness and their personal questions for the Creator. It is my prayer, however, that those children’s Bible stories we used to read together have matured into the biblical novels and devotional studies I now write. In a way, I still tell Bible stories to my girls. We just include a host of other folks who enjoy relating to the real people in God’s Word.
QUOTED: "Each of my books has had an overarching theme. Job’s story (Love Amid the Ashes) spoke to those who suffer. Gomer and Hosea’s story (Love in a Broken Vessel) challenged readers to God-sized forgiveness and the promise of God’s grace. The Pharaoh’s Daughter tackles that nagging—sometimes debilitating—emotion of fear. On September 11, 2001, our entire nation experienced fear, but fear was daily reality for the Hebrews in ancient Egypt. Personally, I have grown up afraid—why? I have no idea."
"I remember being afraid of the dark. Afraid a fire would burn down our house. Afraid of dogs. Afraid of… you name it. As I’m writing this, I’m afraid I’ll run out of coffee creamer. We’re all afraid of something. When The Pharaoh’s Daughter pulled a Hebrew baby from the Nile, I believe she was motivated by fear. This book explores the choices that grew out of her fear and leads the reader through the consequences and victories, the joys and sorrows of those choices—and the faith that frees her from fear’s prison."
"My ONLY genre is biblical fiction. My first love is the study of God’s Word. Biblical novels give me an excuse to keep my nose buried in the Bible and research books! What a joy to share with others both the passion and pleasure of my heart. I am most blessed."
Q&A with Mesu Andrews: The Pharaoh's Daughter
2/23/2017 0 Comments
Picture
Interview by Brock Eastman
Featuring The Pharaoh's Daughter
Long before Moses would lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery, he was a three-month-old baby, placed in a basket and set adrift on the dangerous Nile River. That precarious journey led a Hebrew slave child into the arms of the Pharaoh’s daughter. Who was the woman who drew this child out of the water? What transpired in her life and what influence would she have over the man Moses would become?
In The Pharaoh’s Daughter, award-winning author, Mesu Andrews answers these questions as she weaves an intricate tapestry of Egyptian history, biblical fact and her own artful imagination to describe fundamental truths that transcend time and culture. Experience a familiar Old Testament story, for the first time, through the eyes of the Egyptian mother who loved Moses as her own.
Andrews begins this epic with a single, haunting image; a girl, terrified and trembling hides alone in a dark closet. Her name is Anippe. She is the daughter of a Pharaoh and the sister of the boy King. Yet with each new identity, she continues to hide among shadows of fear and doubt, while never understanding her true worth.
Devastated by the death of her mother during childbirth, Anippe is terrified to conceive a child and an heir for husband Sebak. Yet she still yearns for motherhood. When she discovers a Hebrew child stowed in a basket on the river, she believes her prayers are answered.
Her story has only begun. Her life of royalty is suddenly bound with the fate of the Hebrew slaves, as she struggles to conceal Moses’ true heritage.
In The Pharaoh’s Daughter, Andrews invites readers to step back into time and experience a world ripped from the pages of the Bible. With an absolute reverence for scripture and a meticulous examination of historical records, Andrews illuminates the truth of God’s Word in this complex and mesmerizing tale.
Discover how God calls out to those who hide in the shadows. Watch as He draws them out of watery depths and into His eternal family. Examine how He changes their names and with it, their hearts. Stand in awe of a hope that can never be lost or stolen. In this beautifully conceived story, Andrews beckons readers to come out of hiding and meet face-to-face with a name-changing, covenant-keeping God.
Mesu Andrews’ deep understanding of and love for God's Word brings the biblical world alive for her readers. Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year for a Debut Author. Her three subsequent novels, Love's Sacred Song, Love in a Broken Vessel, and In the Shadow of Jezebel all released to great reader enthusiasm. Mesu has been married to her husband Roy for 30 years and they live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. They have two adult daughters.
Brock: Mesu Andrews is carving out a niche for herself with Biblical fiction. The Pharaoh’s Daughter is the first novel in her Treasures of the Nile series and her fifth book to date. Mesu answered our questions about her inspiration, her intriguing characters and her passion for Biblical fiction. What was your inspiration for writing this book?
Mesu: Of all the great Old Testament characters, Moses stands alone as the friend of God (Ex. 33:11). That intrigues me. What further intrigued me were the women in Moses’s life—four specifically mentioned. The ancient world was a man’s world, so when women are recorded in written text, I get curious. I suppose it wouldn’t be unusual to mention his mother, but he gave detail about Jochebed’s motivations and thought processes. He elaborated on his sister Miriam’s courage to approach Pharaoh’s daughter in the bulrushes and boldly revealed his Egptian mother’s defiance of Pharaoh’s edict. Later, Moses mentioned his wife, Zipporah, and described her heated reaction when Moses neglected to circumcise his sons. The transparency with which Moses describes these women and the underlying respect—by their mere inclusion in the text—made me want to dig deeper into their history and tell their stories.
Brock: Tell us about the main characters. Who are they? What makes them unique?
Mesu: We first glimpse Anippe hiding alone in a dark closet, traumatized and trembling after witnessing the death of her mother during childbirth. She’s the daughter of a Pharaoh and sister of a boy who would soon become king. Anippe is plagued by debilitating fear throughout her life, and it builds layer upon layer as she grows into each new role of her life. Terrified to conceive a child and heir for her husband Sebak, she believes the gods answered her prayers when she discovers a Hebrew child stowed in a basket on the river. Her life of royalty is suddenly bound with the fate of the Hebrew slaves, as she struggles to conceal her child’s true heritage.
The fertile Nile Delta is home to Egypt’s fiercest military family—the Ramessids. Centuries ago, the Ramessids assisted Pharaoh in ousting the Hyksos—a Canaanite band of tribes—and were rewarded with lush, green estates. They forced the remaining Canaanites, called Abiru (Hebrews), to forced labor on building projects and in the fields. Much of the harvest produced flax for Egypt’s most lucrative export—linen. Mered is the Chief Linen Keeper on the Avaris Estate, where he grew up as slave and companion to the young Master Sebak when Sebak’s parents died in a sweeping plague. The whole estate rejoices when the young master marries King Tut’s sister, but Mered has misgivings about his new mistress, recognizing her little deceptions as warnings of heartache for his master and a dark future for the Hebrews.
Brock: Give us one fact about each main character that no one else knows.
Mesu: Anippe, though young and impulsive, has a unique talent for designing the exquisite linen robes produced by the Avaris estate. She sketches beautiful designs that the weavers expertly craft into their linen creations.
Mered was a Hebrew male slave that smelled like ben tree oil—an Egyptian cosmetic oil to soften dry skin. It was one of his many dichotomies—his need to appear Egyptian for the sake of trading Avaris’s linen and yet remain thoroughly Hebrew in faith and commitment to Yahweh.
Brock: In a few sentences what is this book about?
Mesu: Experience the story of Moses through the eyes of The Pharaoh’s Daughter who found him. Meet the brave midwives who protected the sons of the Hebrews, the talented young Miriam whose singing soothes the heart of Pharaoh’s grandson, and the young prince who must choose which god he will follow.
Brock: How do you believe this story relates to the lives of readers?
Mesu: Each of my books has had an overarching theme. Job’s story (Love Amid the Ashes) spoke to those who suffer. Gomer and Hosea’s story (Love in a Broken Vessel) challenged readers to God-sized forgiveness and the promise of God’s grace. The Pharaoh’s Daughter tackles that nagging—sometimes debilitating—emotion of fear. On September 11, 2001, our entire nation experienced fear, but fear was daily reality for the Hebrews in ancient Egypt. Personally, I have grown up afraid—why? I have no idea. I remember being afraid of the dark. Afraid a fire would burn down our house. Afraid of dogs. Afraid of… you name it. As I’m writing this, I’m afraid I’ll run out of coffee creamer. We’re all afraid of something. When The Pharaoh’s Daughter pulled a Hebrew baby from the Nile, I believe she was motivated by fear. This book explores the choices that grew out of her fear and leads the reader through the consequences and victories, the joys and sorrows of those choices—and the faith that frees her from fear’s prison.
Brock: What is your favorite genre to write?
Mesu: My ONLY genre is biblical fiction. My first love is the study of God’s Word. Biblical novels give me an excuse to keep my nose buried in the Bible and research books! What a joy to share with others both the passion and pleasure of my heart. I am most blessed.
Brock: What is the biblical background or basis for the series?
Mesu: Exodus 1:1-2:10. The Pharaoh’s Daughter gives a brief background of how Jacob’s family came to dwell in Egypt, but most of the book focuses on Exodus 1:15-2:10, the story of Pharaoh’s edict that the Hebrew midwives kill all Hebrew male babies and Moses’s rescue from the Nile by Pharaoh’s daughter.
Brock: How many books are planned for this series?
Mesu: Two book are planned for Treasures of the Nile series: The Pharaoh’s Daughter and a book on Miriam, Moses’s sister (as yet untitled).
Brock: Any certain research required for the book, or is it all from your imagination?
Mesu: LOTS of research, and I LOVE it!!! I must confess, I hated history in high school and college, but I can’t get enough of the historical and biblical research for my novels. It’s actually hard to start writing the book because I enjoy the research so much. I always include an Author’s Note at the end of each book to share how the research helped form the story. Many folks have commented it’s one of their favorite parts of my books because it helps define what’s fact and what’s fiction. Of course, my foremost goal is to send readers back to Scripture to read the Truth. Biblical novels are fiction, after all, and are only intended to stir curiosity for more of God and His Word.
Brock: How do you strike the right balance in your book?
Mesu: My process is always the same: biblical Truth is foundational, historical fact provides the next layer, and creative fiction fills in the holes. When forming characters (especially the biblical characters), I try to take into account the full counsel of Scripture. Solomon was especially difficult (in Love’s Sacred Song) because he was supposed to be the wisest man who ever lived, but he sure made some stupid life decisions, right? When forming characters and circumstances in The Pharaoh’s Daughter, I had to be especially cautious because there’s so much conflicting historical data regarding Egypt, its kings, its gods, etc. I finally had to choose a few vetted resources and use them exclusively for my historical facts. My editor is a huge help in this area, offering her years of experience as a guide for how Christian readers might receive my interpretations of characters and events. I’m so thankful for the talented team of folks who work alongside to publish my books.
Brock: How does it feel to have your work published?
Mesu: I’m on book #5, and it’s still surreal to walk into a store and see my name on a book on the shelf.
Brock: Why did you choose to focus on a female protagonist?
Mesu: Because my editor told me to. ;) Seriously, I struggle to write in a male POV because I struggle to think like a man. My sweet hubby reads all my manuscripts and helps with this area, making sure I don’t have men giggling or doing other ridiculously female things.
Brock: Are you working on the next book in the series?
Mesu: Yep! The rough draft of Miriam (working title) is currently with my beta readers and will (hopefully) be in my editor’s hands by March 1st.
Brock: Can you give us a hint at the next book in the series?
Mesu: For all her eighty-six years, Miriam has found complete contentment in her relationship with El Shaddai, but when her brother Moses returns from exile proclaiming God’s new name—Yahweh—troubling doubts plague her. Yahweh no longer speaks in her dreams and the underpinnings of daily routine are shattered by revelations of His power. Her quiet home becomes Moses’s center for Yahweh’s activity, and Miriam begins to yearn for more of God, more of life, more of love. How could it be that Yahweh would ask a faithful, influential woman to stretch beyond her belief—and bless her with uninvited yearning?
Brock: Do you plot or outline the entire series before you begin writing, or do your books take on lives of their own? Or is there a combination?
Mesu: I’ve now written six novels (including the rough draft, Miriam), and each process has been completely different. The first book was by the seat of my pants—the characters told the story as I typed. With each book, I’ve done more plotting and outlining, but the characters still change the outline as I type, usually necessitating a new outline halfway through the rough draft process.
Brock: If your book changed as you wrote it, how is it different than how you originally planned?
Mesu: Several of the plot twists come to me as I write. I wouldn’t dare share them here and ruin the surprise. ;)
Brock: Were any scenes or characters cut from the book? Can you give an example?
Mesu: Actually, about 20% of the book was cut. Yep, it was pretty painful—but necessary. In its final form, The Pharaoh’s Daughter stops when Moses (Mehy—his Egyptian name) is eighteen years old. Originally, the story continued through Exodus 2:11-15, when Moses was forty and defended the Hebrew slave by killing the Egyptian slave master. My editor said telling that part of the story was more about Moses than The Pharaoh’s Daughter. Though I hated to lose all that work, she was absolutely right, so we cut it. It’s a far better story.
Brock: How much leeway do you gives yourself with facts in a Historical Genre?
Mesu: None. If there’s a discrepancy between my story and Scripture, it’s an oversight, and I apologize. God’s Word is Truth, and it stands as the unalterable foundation of every story. If historical research ever contradicts, I pray it through and often find a reasonable explanation for the seeming contradiction. For instance, when figuring Moses’s age, he would have been born in 1330 BCE. The Pharaoh during that time was King Tut—who was too young when he died to have a daughter. How could I write a story about Pharaoh’s daughter when historical fact made it impossible? Historical data showed that King Tut had sisters—who would have been daughters of Pharaoh Akhenaten. King Tut’s sister is The Pharaoh’s daughter in my story, and I didn’t have to skew history to write God’s Truth. My books aren’t textbooks. They’re fiction. However, I keep the biblical Truth and historical facts as precise as possible.
Brock: How do you hope parents will use this book with their kids?
Mesu: I’ve had teachers contact me for the free bookmarks on my website because they were using my books in their Lit. classes and wanted to pass out the bookmarks to their kids. Some parents may not feel the subject matter is appropriate for teens under sixteen (Love in a Broken Vessel is about the prophet Hosea marrying the prostitute Gomer). It’s up to the parents to make that call, but The Pharaoh’s Daughter tells about a fourteen-year-old princess who is forced to make some pretty terrifying choices. Our kids are forced to grow up pretty fast these days. Fear is something they’ll face all their lives. I hope this is a story that can help parents and their kids openly discuss how to deal with their fears in a way that honors God.
Brock: What do you hope kids take away from The Pharaoh's daughter?
Mesu: "Fear is the most fertile ground for faith." Anippe’s fears cause her to deceive and push away those closest to her. All kids lie. Many times it’s because they’re afraid of the consequences that will follow a truthful answer. I pray that Anippe’s story will give kids the courage to trust the Lord—and the love of those around them—enough to live a life of faith.
Brock: Where do you like to write?
Mesu: In my recliner by the fireplace with a cup of coffee in hand.
Brock: Are you a full-time or part-time author/writer?
Mesu: I’m a full-time writer. (It still feels funny to call myself an author. It’s too much fun to be a real job.)
Brock: How long does it usually take you to write a single book?
Mesu: My first book took twelve years. Now, it takes me a year from the time I begin researching the topic to the time my rough draft is complete—and usually another year before the book releases.
Brock: What do you hope readers take away from the series?
Mesu: I think in both stories of Treasures of the Nile, God is enigmatic to the Hebrew people. He’s been nearly silent for four hundred years, speaking only occasionally through a girl (Miriam) who matures into a faithful prophetess. When Moses returns from exile, proclaiming Yahweh’s new name and His promise of deliverance, the true “Treasures of the Nile” become God’s character and power revealed to His people.
Brock: Expound on the spiritual themes in The Pharaoh's Daughter.
Mesu: Much of Anippe’s fear stems from a life devoid of real love. 1 John tells us perfect love drives out fear, and this is an important lesson for The Pharaoh’s Daughter. We see the antithesis in Mered, whose love and faith give him a steadfast quality throughout the ups and downs of a Hebrew slave’s existence. Themes of worth, wealth, and true value are also explored, while young Moses (Mehy) must decide which of the many “voices” he’ll listen too—the loudest or the ones proven by peace.
Brock: What is your "how I got published" story?
Mesu: I was a pastor’s wife from Indiana who spoke at a few women’s conferences a year, and I wanted to publish one Bible study—on Song of Solomon. When I attended my first writer’s conference with this singular goal, I was told by an editor, “I wouldn’t publish a Bible study on Song of Solomon if Billy Graham wrote it, let alone a first-time author without a platform.” That was the kindest feedback I received at that conference. A good friend of mine suggested I write the study as a biblical novel, teaching through a parable—as Jesus taught. She suggested it again, and again, and again. Finally, in 2008 I listened and attended the Mount Hermon fiction mentoring clinic taught by Gayle Roper. I didn’t even know what POV was, but the Revell editor was looking for biblical fiction at that conference and was willing to take a chance on a VERY unproven author. The rest, as they say, is history. No one will ever convince me that getting published is anything but God’s direct intervention. The odds of me getting published—especially in fiction—were astronomical. But my God is out of this world.
Brock: When did you realize you wanted to become a writer?
Mesu: I’ve never wanted to become a writer. I was compelled to write, and it became my joy. I used to be an off-the-charts extrovert, teaching God’s Word in Bible studies, adult small groups, and women’s conferences. In 2002, my health took a downward turn, and I spent six months in bed. I still needed to share the Word of God somehow, so my laptop became my best friend and the avenue God provided for sharing what He taught me. Sometimes His greatest gifts are those we don’t realize we want.
Brock: What are some of the strongest influences on your writing?
Mesu: When I started reading biblical novels, there weren’t many to choose from in the Christian market, so I found what I could in the general market. Though the Red Tent isn’t a Christian novel, it is superbly researched and written and made me long for true-to-Scripture biblical novels. I soon found Lynn Austin’s Chronicles of the Kings series and Francine Rivers’ Mark of the Lion series, which are still some of my favorites.
Brock: What are your hopes for your future as an author?
Mesu: I want to maintain my passion for God’s Word for as long as I write. If my passion for the Word gets lost in the publishing mire or daily stresses of marketing/social media, I’m done. I write to glorify the Word, Who became flesh. If I ever lose that focus, I have nothing worth saying.
Brock: In what ways does your faith impact how you approach writing?
Mesu: I must personally embrace the lessons my characters experience. If my characters are doing or saying things that the Lord hasn’t made real in my own life and heart, they come off as preachy and fake. Their journey is my journey—not in specific detail, of course. I’m not a shepherdess or prostitute or princess, but I learn the lessons of love, forgiveness, and faith as surely as each of my protagonists learned them.
Brock: Coke or Pepsi?
Mesu: Diet Pepsi (once in a great while)
Brock: Favorite place to vacation?
Mesu: Anywhere my kids/grandkids are! Or in our friends’ mountain cabin.
Brock: Favorite season?
Mesu: Pacific Northwest summer—July-September. Perfection on earth.
Brock: Do you have a particular drink or food you consume when you write? Like coco, raspberry tea, animal crackers?
Mesu: Coffee w/ hazelnut creamer in the morning. Roasted soy nuts for an afternoon snack
Brock: Do you have a favorite Bible verse?
Mesu: Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Brock: Favorite pasta dish?
Mesu: Any pasta with alfredo and marinara sauces mixed.
Brock: Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what are some examples?
Mesu: Not anymore. Menopause has become mental-pause, and now I do one thing at a time.
Brock: If I could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Mesu: I’d go back to Israel. Hubby and I went with a tour group in 2000, but I’d love to go back with a private guide on a research tour of my own.
Brock: What do I read for pleasure?
Mesu: Biblical novels. I love to see which biblical characters other authors choose to write about. It’s fun to stay current on new releases to share with my readers and exchange opinions about their favorites and mine.
QUOTED: "Andrews's excellent tale invites readers to have a new appreciation for the time of the prophets."
Isaiah's Daughter: A Novel of Prophets
and Kings
Publishers Weekly.
264.44 (Oct. 30, 2017): p65.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
* Isaiah's Daughter: A Novel of Prophets and Kings
Mesu Andrews. Waterbrook, $14.99 trade paper (400p) ISBN 978-0-7352-9025-9
Andrews (Miriam) continues her mission to explore the lives of lesser-known women of the Bible in this
thrilling account of Hephzibah, the wife of King Hezekiah of Judah. She begins her life as Ishma and is
orphaned as a girl when her family is killed by Israelite soldiers. After a treacherous flight, she is welcomed
into the prophet Isaiah's home. There she meets the young prince Hezekiah, who has also suffered: he
watched his brother be sacrificed to a pagan god. The two children form a friendship rooted in their shared
pain that develops over the years into a lasting love. Isaiah adopts Ishma and bestows on her a new name
given by Yahweh: Hephzibah, which means "delight of the Lord." Together, she and the newly crowned
King Hezekiah face many challenges as they strive to be obedient to Yahweh, aided (and sometimes
constrained) by the prophecies of her biological father that she and "the king of Judah" will end up together.
Andrews's excellent tale invites readers to have a new appreciation for the time of the prophets and to
reconsider what trust in God truly means. (Jan.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Isaiah's Daughter: A Novel of Prophets and Kings." Publishers Weekly, 30 Oct. 2017, p. 65. General
OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A514357772/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=cd1998e5. Accessed 3 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A514357772
QUOTED: "This novel is biblical fiction at its finest."
3/3/2018 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1520125331873 2/2
Miriam: A Treasures of the Nile Novel
Publishers Weekly.
263.6 (Feb. 8, 2016): p56+.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
* Miriam: A Treasures of the Nile Novel
Mesu Andrews. WaterBrook, $14.99 trade paper (320p) ISBN 978-1-60142-601-7
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Andrews (The Pharaoh's Daughter) offers her unique brand of in-depth Bible knowledge and storytelling
flair in this tale of Miriam, sister of the famous Moses and Israel's prophetess during the slavery of Israelites
in Egypt. Miriam's strong faith comes into question when she begins to experience her gentle husband, ElShaddai,
as Yahweh, God of Moses, as well as plagues and death. Before the story ends with the Israelites'
miraculous freedom after the final, horrible plague, Andrews offers readers a beautiful and nuanced picture
of Miriam and other characters: Eleazer, Miriam's beloved nephew and slave soldier; Taliah, his young and
headstrong wife; Hoshea, Eleazer's right-hand man, of gigantic faith; and even stubborn Pharaoh Ramesses
himself. Andrews is gifted at bringing the past to life, and readers will thrill at God's victory even as they
struggle, as Miriam did, to understand God's plan. This novel is biblical fiction at its finest. (Apr.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Miriam: A Treasures of the Nile Novel." Publishers Weekly, 8 Feb. 2016, p. 56+. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A443654566/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=390d14c1.
Accessed 3 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A443654566
QUOTED: "Andrews, known for providing voice to women typically in the margins of biblical stories, paints a beautiful tale with heartfelt characters."
"a very well-researched and deeply felt novel. Recommended."
Isaiah’s Daughter
BY MESU ANDREWS
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In 732 BCE, five-year-old Ishma witnessed her family being murdered by Israel’s soldiers. After the prophet Oded’s words free her and other captives from slavery, she finds her way into the home of Isaiah, God’s prophet, who has fallen out of favor with King Ahaz. In a pagan ceremony, King Ahaz sacrifices his oldest son to the god Molek. The memory of that day leaves Prince Hezekiah tormented, and he suffers daily. When Ishma and Hezekiah meet, the two form a bond of healing and hope. Over the years, this friendship blossoms into love. So that Ishma can be considered for a royal betrothal, Isaiah adopts her and gives her the name Hephzibah, meaning “delight of the Lord.” But Hephzibah and Hezekiah face many challenges to their faith. Can they rely on God during great hardships affecting both their family and their country?
Andrews, known for providing voice to women typically in the margins of biblical stories, paints a beautiful tale with heartfelt characters. While this is jarring at first, readers can easily adapt to the narrative switches from first person (Ishma/Hephzibah’s voice) to third person from chapter to chapter.
Ishma’s point of view hooked me from the get-go, despite her being only five years old. Andrews skillfully develops Ishma from orphaned child to the young queen renamed Hephzibah. I also loved how Andrews dives into how difficult prophecy can be, both to interpret and to give. Isaiah’s inner turmoil, Hezekiah’s difficulties trusting God, and Ishma’s reluctance to accept that she is loved are all sensitively explored issues. Historical details are woven into the narrative flawlessly. I particularly loved Andrews’s choice for metaphors (one example refers to standing a camel’s length away). These details really authenticate the story. This is a very well-researched and deeply felt novel. Recommended!
QUOTED: "This book propels the reader along to its climactic ending."
"a thoroughly delightful read."
Miriam
BY MESU ANDREWS
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Miriam is the sister of Moses. She watched her infant brother be rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter, and later wept when he escaped as an adult to sanctuary in the land of Midian. This novel begins with the return of Moses at the age of eighty back to Egypt, and how Miriam, the prophetess of the Hebrew slaves, learns to overcome her spiritual uncertainties and trust completely in God once again.
Miriam is now an old woman, and it is through her narration that we witness the devastating plagues that finally forced Pharaoh to allow the Hebrew slaves, led by Moses and Aaron, to leave Egypt. Through the story we come to know the details of Miriam’s extended family, including her brothers Moses and Aaron, her nephew Eleazar and his wife Taliah, and Hur—the love of Miriam’s younger years and finally her husband in old age.
Told by interweaving facts of ancient Egypt with the biblical text of Exodus, this book propels the reader along to its climactic ending with the parting of the Red Sea and the Hebrews’ ultimate escape from bondage. A thoroughly delightful read.
QUOTED: "Andrews grounds her story in the Biblical tradition and in the historical record and creates well-drawn, interesting characters."
The Pharaoh’s Daughter
BY MESU ANDREWS
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The character many may know as Bithiah from the film The Ten Commandments gets her own story in Andrews’ latest novel. She is born Meryetaten-tasherit, a daughter of Pharaoh Akhenaten of Egypt. Traumatized by witnessing her mother’s death in giving birth to a stillborn son, Mery is adopted, along with her sister Ankhe, by powerful General Horemheb and called Anippe. Eventually married off to the honorable Sebak, a Ramessid captain in her brother King Tut’s army, she moves to an estate in the Delta, and seeks a way to avoid the danger of pregnancy and still give her husband an heir. When Pharaoh decrees that all Hebrew infant boys must be drowned, and Anippe discovers a baby floating on the Nile in a basket, she sees her opportunity. But at what cost?
As the years pass, constantly shifting politics, warring factions, and several nasty characters create tense moments for Anippe and her son Mehy, also known by Anippe’s handmaid Miriam as Moses. After Sebak is killed during a mission, other horrors occur at the new Pharaoh’s celebratory banquet, and Anippe finds her life in peril when her deception is discovered and more brutal violence is triggered. Aided by friends, she disappears into a new life as the wife of the chief Hebrew linen keeper, Mered, and is renamed Bithiah. But what further plan does the Hebrew god El-Shaddai have in store for her and for Mehy/Moses?
Andrews grounds her story in the Biblical tradition and in the historical record and creates well-drawn, interesting characters. She excels in her descriptions of the magnificence of the Egyptian court and the abject poverty of the Hebrew slaves, never flinching from portraying the cruelty, violence, and bloodshed that overshadowed ancient Egyptian society.
Mesu Andrews's The Pharaoh's Daughter ~ Reviewed
THE PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER
Mesu Andrews
Series: Treasures of the Nile
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (March 17, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1601425996
Description:
“Fear is the most fertile ground for faith.”
“You will be called Anippe, daughter of the Nile. Do you like it?” Without waiting for a reply, she pulls me into her squishy, round tummy for a hug.
I’m trying not to cry. Pharaoh’s daughters don’t cry.
When we make our way down the tiled hall, I try to stop at ummi Kiya’s chamber. I know her spirit has flown yet I long for one more moment. Amenia pushes me past so I keep walking and don’t look back.
Like the waters of the Nile, I will flow.
Anippe has grown up in the shadows of Egypt’s good god Pharaoh, aware that Anubis, god of the afterlife, may take her or her siblings at any moment. She watched him snatch her mother and infant brother during childbirth, a moment which awakens in her a terrible dread of ever bearing a child. Now she is to be become the bride of Sebak, a kind but quick-tempered Captain of Pharaoh Tut’s army. In order to provide Sebak the heir he deserves and yet protect herself from the underworld gods, Anippe must launch a series of deceptions, even involving the Hebrew midwives—women ordered by Tut to drown the sons of their own people in the Nile.
When she finds a baby floating in a basket on the great river, Anippe believes Egypt’s gods have answered her pleas, entrenching her more deeply in deception and placing her and her son Mehy, whom handmaiden Miriam calls Moses, in mortal danger.
As bloodshed and savage politics shift the balance of power in Egypt, the gods reveal their fickle natures and Anippe wonders if her son, a boy of Hebrew blood, could one day become king. Or does the god of her Hebrew servants, the one they call El Shaddai, have a different plan—for them all?
Review:
The Pharoah's Daughter is a fictionalized telling of the story of Moses' adopted mother. This book calls her Anippe, and tells her story, from growing up as Pharoah's daughter, and later, King Tut's sister. She is terrified of Anubis, the god of the afterlife, after seeing him take her mother and baby brother during childbirth. She is married to a man she doesn't know at age 14, and is terrified to give birth, but after finding a Hebrew child floating in a basket while her husband is away at was, she decides the gods are favoring her so she does not have to bear a child of her own.
This book was interesting, as the author did use Biblical and historical truths for the story, but other parts were clearly made up and not scriptural. I think we have to be careful, as I said in a review for another book, that we don't let the fictionalized story replace the Biblical truth we know in our minds. As a story, this was interesting, but I just don't like liberties taken in a “Biblical” story that aren't in scripture.
Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers
QUOTED: "Andrews’ latest novel is packed with political intrigue and the clash of two religions."
In the Shadow of Jezebel (Treasure of His Love, Book 4)
BY MESU ANDREWS
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Princess Jehosheba was reared to be a Queen of Destiny, following in the footsteps of her domineering mother, Athaliah, Queen of Judah, and tyrannical grandmother, Jizebaal, mother of the King of Israel. Living in the shadow of these powerful women, Jehosheba fears their manipulative ploys to establish a stronger king on the throne and their iron-fisted control over her future destiny. In a ploy to increase the worship and dominance of Baal Melkart, Jehosheba, a priestess of Baal, is ordered to marry and seduce the high priest of Yahweh.
Andrews’ latest novel is packed with political intrigue and the clash of two religions striving for dominance in Israel. Interspersed with references to the Bible and a character chart and family tree, Andrews provides guidance for the reader to the historical connection and a much-needed explanation of who the major players of the book are, since so many character names are similar. The pairing of Jehosheba and the high priest (two completely opposite personalities) and their respective struggles with faith and healing make for a powerful look at what life may have been like in 843 BC in the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
QUOTED: "This intriguing novel never slows but continues to draw the reader in through it’s entirety. Prepare to be transported back in time through vivid descriptions. ... The well researched details are truly insightful and enrich the storyline without becoming arduous."
In the Shadow of Jezebel by Mesu Andrews
May 21, 2014Amanda Geaney
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Christian author Mesu Andrews displays her literary prowess in her fourth historical fiction work “In the Shadow of Jezebel.” Although Jezebel makes a cameo appearance in the book the story speaks more to her far reaching influence over the Southern Kingdom of Judah through the arranged marriage of her daughter Athaliah. Once King Jehoram is struck by illness, Athaliah seizes power through fear and manipulation and attempts to dismantle the worship of Yahweh in Solomon’s Temple. By arranging a marriage between Jehoram’s daughter, Jehosheba, and a priest of Yahweh, Jehoiada, Athaliah plots to lead a nation into idolatry. However, God’s love for His people and His promise to keep a descendant of David on the throne will not be thwarted.
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This intriguing novel never slows but continues to draw the reader in through it’s entirety. Prepare to be transported back in time through vivid descriptions of Temple architecture, palace decor, city landscapes, and Old Testament feasts. The well researched details are truly insightful and enrich the storyline without becoming arduous. I was captivated by the characters – chilled by the calculating and evil persona of Jezebel and Athaliah, distressed by the brokenness of Jehosheba, and warmed by the passion and devotion of Jehoiada. These characters are relatable because they struggle with the common problems of fear, insecurity, anger, and budding faith. Readers are reminded of how God pursues our hearts, that He is always in control, and always faithful to fulfill His promises. Mesu has done a remarkable job of glorifying God through a fictional retelling of the story.
Find it in scripture: 2 Kings 11 and 2 Chronicles 20-23
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Note: Available on the authors website is a bible study to accompany the book. Though not necessary, I felt it enriched the reading experience. By starting with scripture you are able to discern the parts of the story that are factual from those that are created. Also available is a discussion guide. I personally will be recommending this book to our Women’s Ministry summer reading club.
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About The Author:
Mesu Andrews is the award-winning author of Love Amid the Ashes, Love’s Sacred Song, and Love in a Broken Vessel. Winner of the 2012 ECPA Christian Book Award for New Author, she has devoted herself to passionate and intense study of Scripture, bringing the biblical world vividly alive for her readers. She lives in Washington.
QUOTED: "The author provides an engrossing and believable take on the biblical story with its universal themes."
Love in a Broken Vessel
BY MESU ANDREWS
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When the prophet Hosea was told by Yahweh to marry a prostitute, he never imagined the outcome. Accompanied by the elder prophet Jonah, Hosea found his childhood playmate, Gomer, working in Samaria as a prostitute, abused and unloved. Hosea offered her an escape from her sinful existence, and she agreed, in love with Hosea, but viewing herself unworthy of that love. However, just as Israel is given many chances by Yahweh to abandon its wickedness and return to the fold, the damaged Gomer, resentful of Hosea’s many prolonged absences in Yahweh’s service, is continually given chances to lead a godlier life and repeatedly rebuffs them. Andrews, using the biblical story as her guide, is adept at showing how even those who are offered second chances continue making bad choices when they believe themselves unworthy. It’s only after years of anger and pain and with Hosea’s patience and love that true understanding dawns on Gomer and a life of happiness begins. With her excellent storytelling skills and historical detail, the author provides an engrossing and believable take on the biblical story with its universal themes of forgiveness, love, and redemption.
QUOTED: "This is one of the best examples of modern Christian fiction written primarily for women."
Love In A Broken Vessel
A Novel
by Mesu Andrews
Jacket
Paperback
Price: £8.99
Publisher:
Revell imprint of Baker Pub from Lion
Published:April 2013
ISBN:978-0-800-72169-5 Review:
Many people have read and loved
'Redeeming Love' by Francine Rivers
, which relocates the story of Hosea and Gomer in the American West. Mesu Andrews’ book recounts the same tale, but does so within the context of the Israel and Judah of the time.
I really liked the way that each chapter begins with a quote from Scripture, which helped me to remember that the story we read in the Bible is one that happened to real people. Mesu Andrews obviously did a huge amount of research into what life was like at that time, which comes across in the events she describes and the descriptions she includes.
The book became a little repetitive, but then the book of Hosea is a litany of repeated turning away from the Lord followed by reconciliation and forgiveness. Because large portions of the book are written from Gomer’s point of view the reader gets a real feeling for how she must have felt to be taken from her life as a prostitute to become the wife of a prophet of the LORD.
Mesu Andrews has included several other characters in her story, such as Amoz and Uzziah.
While there is no biblical foundation for this, their presence is historically justifiable and adds to the overall picture of a people who are struggling to remain faithful to God in an increasingly pagan world.
This is one of the best examples of modern Christian fiction written primarily for women.
QUOTED: "This novel is a beautiful, dangerous, and romantically fictional portrayal of the world around this love of all loves."
Love’s Sacred Song
BY MESU ANDREWS
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King David, renowned Israeli king, is lying on his deathbed, comforted by Abishag, the woman taken from the Northern Tribe of Shunem to be his bride but kept as a concubine, a fact proving to be the linchpin of division between the soon-to-be King Solomon and the Northern Tribes of Israel. Solomon, however, proves to be a just king as he is blessed with the one thing he asked of the Lord God, wisdom. Afar in Shunem, Jehoshaphat is proving to be wise, with a plan to reunite the Tribes, with the gift of his daughter as a wife to the new king. The plot of this remarkable story concerns the integrity and wisdom displayed by Jehoshaphat, his daughter Arielah, and Solomon, with all of their own strengths, weaknesses and overall huge faith. They meet intense conflicts fostered by the plotters known as the Lions of Judah and the Daughters of Jerusalem, who will stop at nothing to acquire the crown of Israel. Written after multiple readings of the Biblical Song of Solomon, this novel is a beautiful, dangerous, and romantically fictional portrayal of the world around this love of all loves.
QUOTED: "Rich with atmosphere and historical detail, including fascinating glimpses into everything from wedding customs to court protocol and intrigue, Love's Sacred Song is sure to delight historical and biblical fiction lovers alike. With lead characters who send sparks flying from the page and a host of well-drawn supporting players, Mesu Andrews's second novel is a rich, meaty read that will not only entertain, but if you'll let it, challenge and grow your faith, inspiring a deeper appreciation for the texts from which Song draws its inspiration."
Review: Love's Sacred Song by Mesu Andrews
Love's Sacred Song
By: Mesu Andrews
Publisher: Revell
ISBN: 978-0-8007-3408-4
About the book:
Wisdom came as God's gift, but sacred love was forged through passion's fire.
Standing in the shadow of his famous father, young King Solomon wavers between fear and bravado, longing for a love that is true and pure -- a love that can be his cornerstone.
A shepherdess in the northern city of Shunem, Arielah has known since she first laid eyes on Solomon that it was her destiny to become his bride. When her father secures a promise from Solomon to marry Arielah as a treaty bride to help unite the kingdom, it seems her dreams will come true.
But how can this simple shepherdess live as part of Solomon's harem? Can Solomon set aside his distractions to give himself completely to just one woman? Or will he let duty, deception, and the daily routine divide his heart?
Mesu Andrews expertly weaves the words of the Song of Solomon into this touching story of the power of love from a master storyteller.
Review:
When Arielah was a child she accompanied her father Jeheosephat, a respected judge of Shunem, to Jerusalem, where she spied the young prince Solomon. And ever since that day she's carried in her heart the certainty that they would one day wed. Years pass, and the great King David lies on his deathbed, comforted by the prize of Shunem, the beautiful Abishag (1 Kings 1& 2), who serves as his "belly-warmer," an intimate but platonic relationship. Abishag's lack of any official status in the royal household becomes a lightening rod, symbolizing the northern tribes' discontent with their favored southern brethren, the tribe of Judah's, rule and dominance in Israeli affairs. With the once-mighty warrior king near death, the time is ripe for conflict to erupt between those who favor a united Israel and David's chosen heir, Solomon, and those who would usurp God's anointed and seek to advance the pre-eminence of Judah. Into this politically volatile climate steps Solomon, a prince of privilege possessing the promised gift of godly wisdom with which to govern his people -- but with an equally competing temptation to succumb to the paralyzing fear of failure. When Arielah is offered as a treaty bride in an attempt to appease the simmering temper of the northern tribes, Solomon accepts, but is wholly unprepared for his unconventional bride and the surrender the love she offers him requires. While the cost of the pure love Arielah offers seems impossible to grasp, with the future of his kingdom and very character at stake, can Solomon afford to reject the hope of love's sacred song?
After Mesu Andrews brought Job's story to life in her debut, Love Amid the Ashes, I was left eagerly awaiting her next novel. I must confess that beyond a rather rudimentary knowledge of Solomon's reign and his famous wisdom, I don't think I've ever given the man his due (I've always been more of a David girl). :) And while the Song of Songs is among the most passionate of texts, I never really connected with it -- perhaps because that slim book always seemed to lack context, a place in the greater narrative of the Old Testament that would put faces to the passionate declarations in those short eight chapters of verse. But ever since I began reading Love's Sacred Song, I feel as though God has been whispering the intent of that book to my heart, birthing within me a love and understanding for this book within the context of my faith. Through Andrews' intricately plotted, brilliantly recreated, colorfully evocative portrait of ancient Israel, the purpose and passion of Solomon and his Shulammite bride spring to life on the page in such a way that -- if one is willing -- you cannot help but be changed and inspired by the journey.
Love's Sacred Song is epic in its scope, embodying everything I love about biblical fiction, making characters on the pages of scripture once again living, breathing people full of passion and life, leaving you cheering for their victories and heart-broken over their (all-too relatable) mistakes. Andrews restores Solomon's humanity, much needed as his legendary wisdom too often leaves him seemingly unrelatable. Here Andrews gives us Solomon early in his reign, a young man attempting to establish himself outside the shadow of his famous father, often paralyzed by the fear of failure and subsequently blinded by pride and the trappings of position. Arielah is a woman you'd like as your friend, a window into the world of a royal harem and its politics and heartbreak, incomprehensible by today's standards. Yet, such was the reality she faced -- and that makes the challenge and victory of the love illustrated in Solomon's sacred song all the more powerful.
More than a love story, though, Love's Sacred Song speaks to the heart's cry of the Father and the unfathomable depth of the love He longs to lavish on each one of His children -- if we but accept it. If the marriage relationship is a gift, an earthly expression of the relationship God desires with mankind -- then the Song of Songs is much more than a picture of God-ordained, sacred love between a man and a woman as outlined in the Song. Since the church is the bride of Christ, the Song of Songs and the love that inspired it point back to the giver of every good and perfect gift, the only one, ultimately, who is capable of offering a lasting love because He knows us best, as He is the one who fashioned us in our mothers' wombs (Ps 139:13). And because He so loved, because the sacred passion He harbored demanded no less, His Son was sent to earth to suffer unspeakably at the hands of His creation, in doing so offer the ultimate bride-price -- His precious blood, covering our failings and reconciling mankind with the creator.
Rich with atmosphere and historical detail, including fascinating glimpses into everything from wedding customs to court protocol and intrigue, Love's Sacred Song is sure to delight historical and biblical fiction lovers alike. With lead characters who send sparks flying from the page and a host of well-drawn supporting players, Mesu Andrews's second novel is a rich, meaty read that will not only entertain, but if you'll let it, challenge and grow your faith, inspiring a deeper appreciation for the texts from which Song draws its inspiration. An intricately plotted page-turner, I particularly appreciated how Andrews seamlessly wove the scriptures that head each chapter into her narrative -- by giving a face and voice to the scripture, the words and their potential impact take root in your soul in a powerful, fresh way. This is fiction at its best, a masterfully crafted work that challenges, inspires, and will break your heart with its beauty all the while encouraging your faith even as tears threaten to fall -- because at its heart this masterclass in biblical fiction points straight back to the Master Storyteller. This novel is an extraordinary gift, one I won't soon forget.
POSTED BY RUTH ANDERSON AT 12:23 PM
QUOTED: "Andrews fails to breathe humanity into her characters, though she gives it a good effort. Her purpose here seems more didactic."
Love Amid the Ashes
BY MESU ANDREWS
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Mesu Andrews’ debut novel is ambitious; she sets herself the task of retelling the story of Job, the “good” man over whom God and Satan have a bet. In the fable-like Bible story, Satan says if Job wasn’t so blessed, if he had hard times, he would curse God. God suggests Satan try Job, do anything Satan wishes, but spare Job’s life. Thus begins the trial of Job: he loses his wealth, his children, his wife, his friends and is plagued with sores all over his body.
Unfortunately, what reads like a fable in the Bible becomes more difficult to accept in novel form. By sticking faithfully to the story, Andrews creates what is, basically, an unbelievable tale. In this retelling, the story is told from the points of view of two women: Job’s wife, Sitis, and his future daughter-in-law, Dinah. In an effort to re-create a story thousands of years old, using many names for Yahweh in a way that is confusing and bringing Sitis’ pagan beliefs under scrutiny, Andrews fails to breathe humanity into her characters, though she gives it a good effort. Her purpose here seems more didactic: she is more concerned with converting her characters to the “true” faith than with the story and the story’s ramifications. The book has promising moments and, hopefully, Andrews will feel more free next time to veer into her own story.
QUOTED: "Love Amid the Ashes is a fascinating and frustrating book."
"As a debut novel, it’s an impressive achievement, and a great example of what midrash can accomplish. But there are a lot of problems with it. I’m not sure if the problems originate from the heavily patriarchal nature of the Old Testament, and the evangelical desire to take the original text literally. Or perhaps the problems originate from the passive nature of the protagonist. Or maybe it’s all of the above."
May 5, 2015
GUEST REVIEW: Love Amid the Ashes by Mesu Andrews
JaneB- REVIEWSHistorical / inspirational / Middle East4 Comments
In lieu of our regular opinion piece, we bring you a review from Joanne Renaud. Joanne is an author/illustrator who graduated in illustration from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. She studied both graphic design at Central Washington University and art at the University of Ulster in Belfast, Northern Ireland. You can visit Joanne here and read a previous review from Joanne of Celtic Storms by Delaney Rhodes.
• • •
Love Amid the Ashes ( Book #1): A Novel Mesu AndrewsDear Mesu Andrews,
I have complicated feelings about your debut novel, Love Amid the Ashes.
I first saw it in an upscale grocery store in the greater Atlanta area, where so-called “bonnet rippers” (Amish romances) and inspirational romances (aka “inspies”) were big sellers. Love Amid the Ashes jumped out at me because of the intriguing setting– early Bronze Age Israel– and the characters of Job and Dinah. It seemed worth a look, so I made a mental note to check it out some day.
The other day I finally had the chance to read it. I was pleasantly surprised in some ways; but in other ways I was less than thrilled. Ashes is a fascinating combination of great and terrible storytelling. It’s a solid read with some fun world-building, the religious aspect didn’t bother me too much, and it had some really interesting characters with an intriguing feminist subtext. That said, Ashes has some big issues. Unfortunately, it kind of falls apart in the end, which made me a bit sad, because I got into it more than I thought I would.
What we have here is a retelling of the Book of Job from a woman’s perspective. The main character is Dinah, who is brought to Job’s city to marry one of his sons; when the son is killed, she stays because, as a shamed woman, she doesn’t have any other place to go. Job’s first wife, Sitis, is also an important character, and her fall and redemption is probably the most interesting and compelling part of the story. Dinah and Sitis start out as rivals, but they eventually become friends, and I really liked seeing this.
There’s also Job, but he’s kind of not that interesting. He starts off as a really nice rich guy, one of the few guys to ever treat Dinah well or stick up for her; but then he loses everything, and he ends up on a dung pile arguing with God (at great length). I could see, in theory, why Sitis and Dinah were so invested in him, because he’s a decent dude in a land of macho Bronze Age assholes, but his suffering was just… so tedious. I think the author was going for the horrific, nauseating gravitas that G. R. R. Martin invests his suffering characters and their circumstances, but somehow the mark was missed. (I think possibly the story wasn’t grounded enough in the harsh realities of the Bronze Age Near East to achieve this, but more on this later.) Job has so many injustices piled upon him that, instead of horrifying, it eventually becomes ridiculous, a bit like a Monty Python skit.
So, what worked? I have to say, I really liked the depiction of the women in the book. Unlike some other Biblical-era inspies I’ve read, Ashes has strong female characters and relationships. Dinah is the heroine, but there’s no slut-shaming or othering of the other female characters (such as in One Night With the King). Since it’s clear that Job/Dinah was the endgame from the back copy alone, I was afraid how Sitis the wife would be depicted, especially since its clear she has pagan sympathies at the beginning (and this is not the kind of genre that is particularly forgiving to goddess worshippers). However, the depiction of Sitis ended up being, I thought, one of the strongest aspects of Ashes. Sitis starts out as pampered Ishmaelite princess, proud, touchy, temperamental and fond of luxury, who adores her children and her room of billowing linen curtains equally. She’s not the most likable woman, but she’s vulnerable and complex; she suffered from years of miscarriages before finally giving birth; and she loves her husband, but she’s drawn to her childhood friend Sayyid, who accommodates her goddess-worship without condemning her, like her husband Job. I expected Sitis to discard Job, and be seduced by Sayyid, and to come to a nasty end (because women always do in books like this). I liked her, and was afraid for her.
But it wasn’t quite that simple. Sayyid, rather than God, causes Job’s downfall, because he’s obsessed with Sitis. He then offers to marry Sitis, but she refuses him repeatedly because she really loves Job. Sayyid then forces her to become a servant, hacks off her hair, and separates her from her beloved elderly servant Nada. All the while Sitis struggles with her rage against God, her rage at Job, and eventually– once she discovers the true nature of Sayyid, and his conspiracy against her husband– reconciles to Job and God in what I found to be a pretty moving emotional arc.
But then– AND THEN– after three fourths of the book was done—she’s poisoned by Sayyid and dies offstage, conveniently making room for Job to move on to a new girl. Yeah, there’s some token hand-wringing from Job about his wife having just died, but it’s just so preemptory. It’s weird that this character is give so much weight and importance, but once she dies she’s pretty much discarded. The Job/Dinah relationship felt incredibly rushed, especially since it happens right after Job’s wife and Dinah’s friend dies this agonizing death. So Job and Dinah found “love amid the ashes,” and they get a happy ending funded by the Egyptian treasury, courtesy of Dinah’s brother Joseph and his new job. That’s… nice, I guess. But what about Sitis? Nah, it’s cool, you seemed to say. Don’t worry about her. She’s dead!
Dinah is officially the protagonist of Ashes, but she’s not much to write home about. She starts off as a promising character; a talented healer, but broken and bitter over her mistreatment by her horrible family after her lover was murdered over fifteen years before. Then Job comes in, dashing, wealthy, charismatic and copper-haired, a genuinely good guy who believes in God (or as El Shaddai as he’s called in the book), and who brings her back to God with his kindness and understanding. So she has a small redemption arc of her own which climaxes early on in Chapter Four– but once she’s brought to Uz she loses whatever agency she has (which doesn’t really seem like much at any rate), and becomes a witness to the horror show that is Job and Sitis’s life. Her relationship with Sitis does become interesting, but I think Sitis does most of the heavy lifting in that.
Physically, Dinah is described as a gorgeous blue-eyed blonde (the white-washing of what is basically an all Middle Eastern cast is also problematic; practically everyone in this book has blond or red hair, with the exception of Sitis, Sayyid and Dinah’s black maid). In the end all she seems to do is tend the sick and cry a lot. (Her tears are repeatedly described as “rivers.”) Even though an intriguing backstory is hinted at for Dinah—she’s dishonored as she’s no longer a virgin, and her true love Shechem was killed by her brothers in a traumatic bloodbath, a la The Red Tent— the Dinah in the story, all things considered, is pretty insipid. She’s a passive bystander who cries and prays as she watches all the crap go down with Job, Sitis and Sayyid. It seems to me that you really missed the boat in making Dinah the heroine, when actually the real protagonist was Sitis. Sitis’s actions drive the story. She’s the one with the real, meaty redemptive arc, from spoiled and wealthy idolator to abused serving-girl to loving and accepting wife. Job/Sitis is a way more interesting relationship than what Job has with Dinah. Unfortunately, Sitis also has to die, while Job ends up marrying again.
Honestly, I’m not sure what you could have done to make your current story work, but what you have now is pretty flawed. I understand why it happened, though. It’s often hard to write an active female protagonist whose actions drive the plot in a historical retelling like this; instead, stuff just happens to people around Dinah, and she reacts. But Sitis, in contrast, is just so compelling. It’s a hell of a thing, I think, when the main character ends up being someone you don’t even realize IS the main character.
So, there’s that. But what about everything else?
I really liked the depiction of Uz (Job and Sitis’s city) which was inspired by Nabatean Petra. There’s many beautiful descriptions of grand palaces carved out of the mountain rock, amid oases and gardens. I loved the scenes set in Sitis’s bedroom, with its billowing linen curtains. While not strictly historical, it was cool. You could smell everything too, from the mint and spice of the early scenes, to the wretched manure heaps when Job is sick and shamed. You have a vivid turn of phrase, and I was never entirely sure what was going to happen next, which is always a good thing.
Now, earlier I said that I think possibly Job’s suffering was not strictly believable because the story was not particularly grounded in the realities of the age in which it was set (the 1880s BCE, as far as I could tell). A lot of inspies don’t have the best track record with historicity, since a lot of them seem to force this Evangelical Protestant viewpoint onto this historical setting where Evangelical Protestantism (as we now know it) didn’t even exist. In this regard, Ashes isn’t any different.
Evangelical Protestantism asides, there are some weird things going on in this book. For starters, all the patriarchs are the ages stated in the Bible, so you basically have these guys who well over a hundred years old still arguing with each other. Job is one of the younger generation, so he’s a handsome, virile, middle-aged man at the age of… sixty. Dinah, however, is thirty-five, and early on she thinks: “Thirty-five was well past honey and cream and dangerously close to curdled milk.” Meanwhile, Sitis is fifty-three, and she’s described as being curvaceous, with long black hair, and still very desirable. And a man of thirty is described as far too young and immature to be married. It’s just… bizarre, especially all the descriptions of Bronze Age material culture seem somewhat realistic. Yet it’s 2000 BCE, in a world where lives are nasty, brutish and short, with leprosy and no outdoor sanitation and maggot-infested wounds and constant warfare and death lurking around every corner, but everyone is as long-lived and healthy as if they had great medical plans in an upper-middle class neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley.
It really doesn’t make any sense, and there’s really no sense of there being any real peril for Job or Dinah, since we know they’re going to be fine. Death happens conveniently offstage, or in a flashback, and sex also is kept far away from the reader. Sitis, as far as I could tell, is the only character who actually wants to have sex at any point in the story, but Job shuts her down because he’s in mourning. Okay. Dinah’s maid Nogahla ogles her boyfriend’s muscular back, and she’s embarrassed to even think that she might possibly find him desirable. (I’ve read my share of Sumerian and Assyrian literature, and I gotta say, shyness about sex is not something you see. At all.) And later on, Dinah tells Job:
“I have loved you, Job,” she said, “since the day I met you.” She must have glimpsed his uncertainty because she quickly explained, “I didn’t fall in love with you until after Sitis died, but I loved the ideal of you, the man of God that you are.” (Mesu Andrews, Love Amid the Ashes [Kindle Locations 4895-4897]. Revell. Kindle Edition.)
Um… man, that’s awkward.
Love Amid the Ashes is a fascinating and frustrating book. It’s kind of a love letter to Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent, which is really admirable in a lot of ways. I like the ideas in it. I think, in its way, it’s sympathetic with feminism, and it deals with women fairly. I don’t think I’ve ever read another inspirational set in this period where the women have so much depth and are so sympathetically portrayed; in contrast, the patriarchs who judge and condemn both Dinah and Sitis are awful people who are implicitly denounced for their hypocrisy, manipulation, and violence. Job is held up as an example of a more sensitive, honest, less sexist believer in God, and throughout his trials it’s Dinah and Sitis (and other women too) who help him out the most. It’s ambitious and long, but it was a fast read for me, and I was always entertained. As a debut novel, it’s an impressive achievement, and a great example of what midrash can accomplish. But there are a lot of problems with it. I’m not sure if the problems originate from the heavily patriarchal nature of the Old Testament, and the evangelical desire to take the original text literally. Or perhaps the problems originate from the passive nature of the protagonist. Or maybe it’s all of the above.
I’m kind of waffling whether I should give it a C+ or a B-; the bad parts are bad, but the good parts are really good. I’ll give it a B-. And now I can’t wait to check out your other books!
— Joanne Renaud
The reviewer purchased the Kindle edition on Amazon.