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Saturday, July 8, 2017

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Barbara Britton & Building Benjamin

Hello from Packwood, WA!

It'll be a month tomorrow that I started my west coast vacation. You can see where we've been so far by visiting these four posts: #1, #2, #3, #4. I'll be sharing more with you next week.

Meanwhile, Pelican Book Group author, Barbara M Britton is in the spotlight with her newest novel, Building Benjamin. This is Barbara's first visit to my blog so please give her a great big warm welcome!

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 will continue in November with the release of “Jerusalem Rising: Adah’s Journey.” 

Barb is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Romance Writers of America and Wisconsin Romance Writers of America. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate.


You can find out more about Barb on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads, or visit her website.

So very nice of you to drop by Barbara! Tell us more about Building Benjamin....

(fiction from Judges 19-21)

Love Grows Where God Grafts the Tender Shoot.

Naomi desires to dance well enough to catch the eye of a wealthy landowner. Her father needs a substantial bride price due to the deaths of her brothers at the hands of the tribe of Benjamin. But when Benjamites raid the Ephraimite feast and capture young girls, Naomi is bound and carried from her home by Eliab, a troubled shepherd who needs a wife.

As Naomi awaits rescue, she finds Eliab has a strong faith in God and a just reason for abducting her. A reason that affects all the tribes of Israel. The future of the tribe of Benjamin hangs in the balance, but if Naomi follows her heart and stays with Eliab to rebuild his lineage, she must forfeit her family and become a traitor to her tribe.

Excerpt:

Eliab uncoiled the rope. “Isa tended my father’s flocks with my brother, Joshua. His word is trustworthy.”

“Must you bind my hands?” Her wrists ached at the thought of the prickly cords.

“You fled from me into the cave. Do I have your word that you will not run from me again?”

 Should she vow submission to Eliab? What if she had the opportunity to escape? Were they near the border? Near the lands of the tribe of Benjamin? Or still in the land of Ephraim?

Eliab grabbed her hand and tugged her close.

“Wait.” Should she agree? Her confidence began to crumble. “What did I do wrong? Would you not have gone off to help Isa if you thought he were in trouble?”

“Yes, I would have gone.” He snapped the rope and removed the gag from his satchel.

Saliva pooled in her mouth. She would not be bound like an untamed animal. Not again.

“I will not run away.” She spat out the words as if spitting sand from her mouth. “Do not bind me.”

She punched Eliab’s chest. He did not move. Not one step.  

He caught her arm, encircled her waist, and lifted her onto the mule.

“Rest, Naomi. You are a tower of stones. The mule listens to one master.” Eliab’s arms closed around her, holding her next to his body. His tunic wasn’t the most comfortable bed, but his body was warm, and up until this point, he had not harmed her.

She prayed her father would find her before Eliab desired a union and made her his wife.

Wow, Barbara! Great excerpt. I wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your series. Where can we get them?

Building Benjamin as well as, Providence: Hannah's Journey can be purchased on Amazon or Barnes&Noble or your favorite book retailer. 

Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

10 comments:

Tanya Hanson said...

What an interesting time period! How do you do your research? Is the language/dialogue/syntax a challenge to write in terms of authenticity? May God continue to bless your books, Barbara.

Kathryn Albright said...

Loved reading this excerpt, Barbara and am so glad you have another book in the works with your publisher! I have always been a fan of Biblical fiction.

Jacqueline Seewald said...

This sounds like a fine novel! Congrats.

Barbara M. Britton said...

Hi Tanya,
I'm always thinking of how my characters will say something and how to make it sound like it is out of the Bible. That's a challenge as some of our sayings didn't exist way back in the Old Testament. I use the Bible and Bible commentaries for most of my research. The internet helps too. My husband has a Masters in Theology so if I get stuck I can always ask him a question.
Thanks for joining us!

Barbara M. Britton said...

Hi Kathryn,
Thanks for your comments. I enjoy writing Biblical fiction and reading it, too. I taught Bible stories for so long, it's fun to write what I taught. I'm really excited for my story from Nehemiah to launch. Nehemiah is one of my VBS favorites.
Take care.

Barbara M. Britton said...

Thank you, Jacqueline. I had fun discovering this story in Judges and bringing it to life--with a happily-ever-after.
Thanks for stopping by.

Alicia Dean said...

Enjoyed the excerpt. Unique and compelling premise. Best wishes!

Barbara M. Britton said...

Thanks, Alicia. I had not written an enemies-to-lovers (Biblical fiction style) story before and they are difficult to write. Thanks for joining us.

Susan Coryell said...

This sounds like a compelling story. Nice excerpt and the cover is stunning! Best wishes for success!

Barbara M. Britton said...

Thank you, Susan. Nicola Martinez at Pelican does an excellent job on my covers. I love the colors.
Thanks for stopping by.