I’m so excited to officially introduce you to Covenant of the Heart, my first biblical fiction novel (and my 16th novel!). The research for this book was just as compelling as writing the book itself.
For this novel, I dove into the book of Jeremiah, creating a fictional daughter of Pashhur, the priest in charge of the temple (Jeremiah 20). Pashhur “had Jeremiah beaten and put in stocks” after he prophesied unfavorably against the leaders and the city of Jerusalem. I thought it would be interesting to create a daughter, Odelia, who did not agree with her father’s stance on Jeremiah. What if she explored the underground tunnels beneath the Holy City as a child, and what if she was asked to smuggle the ark out of the city before the Babylonians are able to break through the city walls–all against her father’s wishes?
I’ll be the first to admit that there’s a lot of imagining going on in this story. But like all my historical fiction novels, I have sought to ground that fiction in historical truth. The writing of this story helped me dive deeper into this ancient time period and better understand the complexities of the struggles the ancient Israelites faced at the prospect of the Babylonian siege. It helped me glimpse what the Israelite exiles faced as well.
I hope you appreciate it. I hope the journey not only entertains you, but encourages and inspires you. ♥️