 Q&A with Miriam Feinberg Vamosh and Eva Marie IversonHere it is! The interview with the authors of Ahōti, and their journey of discovery. Listen in as they tell us how it all came about. . .it's a story many women can relate to. How did the two of you meet? Miriam: The first time I saw Eva Marie at Ben-Gurion Airport in June 2002. Eva Marie had arrived with a small group of women journalists who had been hand-picked to tour Israel with me with an itinerary based on my book, Women at the Time of the Bible, which I had written a few years before. Then, the Ministry of Tourism came up with the idea of aspecialized tour of sites in the Holy Land where you could find the women of the Bible and focus on their story. It was such a privilege to put together what I had learned in writing Women at the Time of the Bible with an itinerary where I could actually show all the places where the female characters in the Bible were the “stars of the show.” And what a time we had. . . Eva Marie: Like Miriam said, what at time that was! Of course, our “famous” story is that when a few of us went down (literally, one had to crawl down and then back up) to the newly discovered ancient palace of King Jabin (Joshua 11), I experienced a little “fall.” From that moment on, everything looked different to me . . . I experienced Israel from so many different levels. At one point I said to Miriam, “We should write a book together!” We began to talk about what that would look like and, as God would have it, that book released in 2008 (Reflections of God’s Holy Land: A Personal Journey Through Israel, Thomas Nelson). One of my favorite moments in Israel in ’02 was when we were in Beersheva. Miriam told us the story of Rebekah coming to be the bride of Isaac (Genesis 24). The English version of verse 64 that reads: Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel. BUT! Miriam explained . . . in the Hebrew text Rebekah doesn’t GET off her camel . . . she FALLS off her camel. I replied to the group, “When was the last time your bridegroom made you fall off your camel? Ha--what a fun detail! How Did Ahōti's Story Begin?My readers would like to know—what is the background of the "Ahōti" project? Tell us more about the ancient document that led to the writing of the book: Miriam: My scientific adviser on the book I wrote about the daily life of children in the Bible was Prof. Meir Bar-Ilan, an expert on the subject. At the launch dinner for that book, I was to discover that he was an expert in another area – an ancient document called the Book of Gad the Seer. It’s actually mentioned in the Bible (1 Chron. 29:29) but was believed to have been lost, like the other books mentioned in that same verse. But as it turned out, it wasn’t lost. A copy of this book had been preserved by the ancient Jewish community of Cochin, India, whose elders said it had been brought to them by the Jews of Yemen, who had come to Yemen when they were exiled from their homeland by the Babylonians after the destruction of the First Temple. There it remained, unrecognized, until Western scholars first laid eyes on it in the 18th century. Eventually, when the Scottish theologian Claudius Buchanan, became head of the Anglican Church in India he traveled to Cochin, captivated by the idea that the Jewish community there might be descended from the original Twelve Tribes. He was shown the document, which he recognized for the treasure that it was, and took it with him to England in 1809. It’s there to this day, at Cambridge University. And that’s where Prof. Bar-Ilan began his research, in the 1980s, which culminated in the publication of his definitive book on the subject The Words of Gad the Seer in 2015, introducing to a wider audience the commentaries of the author on various Bible stories about the reign of David. It was at that launch dinner that Prof. Bar-Ilan leaned over and whispered to me: “I have a story that needs telling, and I think you’re the one to tell it.” It was the story of Tamar, David’s daughter, who was raped by her half-brother Amnon (2 Sam. 13) and later remained “a desolate woman in her brother Absalom’s house.” But “Gad the Seer” takes the story much further. And so, based on the words of this ancient author, I believe Eva Marie and I are the first to turn one of its ancient tales into a contemporary novel with a resonant message for men and women today. Fascinating!  Ahōti's Journey Has Contemporary SignificanceSo, as you researched the story, what stood out the most to you about Tamar? Miriam: My research led me to contemporary scholars who saw Tamar not only as a victim of sexual violence, as if that were not enough, but the pawn in a grand palace intrigue, the likes of which we can only imagine from hints in Scripture but make perfect sense once these scholars tied it all together. So I’d say what struck me most about Tamar was the enormity of what she had to overcome. In addition to the sexual violence,she endured at the hands of her half-brother, her father’s inaction and her brother Absalom’s grand plot, which led to her having to flee the palace and everything she knew and loved. But overcome she did, and her story, as Eva Marie and I imagined, can be our story – the story of every woman who faced insurmountable odds on the way to vindication. Eva Marie: The moment that struck me the hardest was when we got to the part of Absalom’s death at the hands of their uncle, Joab. The Scriptures tell us that he had raped his father’s concubines (2 Samuel 16) and that David, upon returning to the palace (after running from his own son), had declared that he would take care of them for life. I said to Miriam (and we included this in the book), “How is it that King David took care of his concubines, but not his daughter?” Hmmm. Good question! An Author's CreativityPlease—tell us more about the Wise Woman of Abel and how you worked her into the story. Miriam: Eva Marie and I put Tamar on an actual journey through the Holy Land, from Jerusalem, through the hill country of Samaria, past the Sea of Galilee, to a city that bore the same name as her mother, Maacah, David’s wife, whom David had, as we imagined it, exiled from the palace when Tamar was almost too young to remember her. This city is called “Abel Beit [Beth] Maacah” in the Bible (2 Sam. 20). There, a “wise woman” lived who plays a major role in the story of the rebellion of one Sheba son of Bichri against David. According to the story, Sheba hid in Abel and David’s general Joab was sent to capture him. My idea was that the “wise woman of Abel” was none other than Tamar herself, who had reached the city and begun a new life there in disguise, until it would be safe to continue her journey – to her mother’s home in Geshur. And why not? We don’t know her identity, and as Eva Marie pointed out, Scripture shows that she recognized Joab right away. What we did with that part of the story I think might be one of the most dramatic parts. Yes, I agree!  Takeaways from Ahōti's Story I'd like to know—was there a moment in the story that took your breath away as you were writing? Miriam: And that excellent question allows me to continue the previous answer. How we pictured Tamar, as the “wise woman of Abel” diffusing the situation with planning, wisdom, and yes, a good dose of shrewdness – all characteristics that the heroines of the Bible used to save themselves and often the lives of others. Eva Marie: The end. But I won’t give it away! What do you hope is the takeaway from Ahōti? Miriam: After reading Ahōti (ahotibook.com), I hope readers realize that Tamar’s story of despair, though it happened thousands of years ago and thousands of miles away for most, is still the story of so many women today who are victims of sexual violence. To this day, despite all the advances society has made, we still have to find within ourselves every bit of fortitude and determination we can to survive and thrive. Her story is our story. Eva Marie: While rape and abuse and even betrayal is a part of too many women’s stories, it is only a small portion. We are women. We are strong (we have to be). So many see us as the “weaker sex,” but anyone who has ever lived as a woman knows that is just not true. We. Are. Strong. When I speak to women about the effects of rape, I reiterate: “You are not a victim. You are a victor. This is a moment in your life. It is not the moments of your life. Grab hold of what God has given and not what life has taken away.” Amen, ladies!!  Who Are The Authors Behind the story of Ahōti?So now that we know Tamar’s story, can you tell us more about your families? Miriam: What comes now is the short version, believe it or not: My Feinberg grandfather came from a village near Bialystok on western edge of what was then the Russian Empire, arriving New York in 1901. My grandmother, Dora (nee Garfinkel) came over in 1893 from Novogrudok (Novardok). Today both of these towns are in Belarus. Both sides of my father’s Milton (Mordechai) Feinberg’s family(and see below, my mother’s family as well) emigrated to the United States to save their lives from anti-Semitic pogroms of the late nineteenth century. Think Fiddler on the Roof. My mother’s name was Danessa, a name her mother invented to commemorate her father, Daniel Bachrach, who died before she was born. My grandmother, Rachel Friedlob Bachrach, was born in Przasnysz, Poland, and came to the U.S. in 1886, when she was about 4 years old. My mother was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and my father was born in New York. Together with my older sister and brother, I was brought up in Trenton N. J., where my father was a Jewish community social worker, and my mother was a housewife and social activist. I moved to Israel as a teenager (another story for another time). I have two daughters, Maya and Nili, who together with their lovely husbands, brought our five cherished grandchildren into the world. I must add here a little about the family of my late husband Aaron (who was a wounded warrior of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, and who died on Israel Independence Day 2023). His mother, Tamar – yes, another connection – and his father Moshe, were from Hungary. After surviving the Holocaust, they came to Israel in 1949, made their home in Jerusalem and raised their two wonderful sons here. My eldest granddaughter Tamar, 13, was named for her grandmother and for Tamar of the Bible, both of whom exemplified strength, courage and will to survive. Eva Marie: I was born and reared in a small Southern town (Sylvania, Georgia). Picture Mayberry. I had a wonderful life growing up. Not perfect, but good. One baby brother, mother, father, me. The quintessential family of the 1950s/1960s . . . going on into the 1970s. I was raised in church and my whole life I loved God but in the early/early 1970s I came to Christ during The Jesus Movement. I married my husband Dennis in 1979. With him came two wonderful children, then we brought Jessica into the family. All three are now married and we have 9 grandchildren between us. The Authors' Journeys Continue. . .What's next after Ahoti? Miriam: When I wrote Prof. Bar-Ilan that the seed he planted of the story of Tamar in Gad the Seer had borne fruit, he was thrilled, and immediately emailed me back the next stories he wants us to tell! https://miriamfeinbergvamosh.com/ Eva Marie: I’m excited to see what happens next with Miriam. Working with her is simply amazing. I do have another work of Southern fiction that I’m about to sign a contract for (Title: Beth Bettencourt). And, as soon as we’re done with all the promotion for this book, I’m gonna take a long nap! https://evamarieeversonauthor.com/ Ha! A well-deserved rest, I might add.  Okay, those of you that have read to the end are in for a treat! Comment below and tell me what surprised you the most in this interview. I will enter you in a drawing (those of you who are living in the USA) for a paperback copy of Ahōti(https://ahotibook.com/). I will mention the winner in my next newsletter at the end of May, so keep in touch--I'll need your contact info.
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 Many have asked about our journey to Brunswick Forest and the North Carolina Coast, so I was compelled to write about it! This first appeared in our Brunswick Forest Living magazine, but highly edited. Here is the full story. . . It all began with a tiny house. I'm smitten with them. No, fascinated. I know I'll never live in one, but one can dream, right? I got to wondering where I would place a tiny house if I wanted to live off the grid. Not Arizona or Florida—too hot. And certainly not Minnesota or New England (as much as I love Nantucket)—too cold and snowy. That's when North Carolina came across my radar. And it stuck.  How Our Journey BeganHaving inherited my mother’s osteoarthritis, I was longing for warmer weather, and a one-level home. Ours in a suburb of Chicago was beautiful, and served us well as we raised our kids. But, including the basement, it had three levels and many stairs. And I was ready to downsize. The trouble was, most townhomes in our area were two or three levels. Go figure. Then I heard the ultimatum from my hubby’s lips: “I refuse to buy another piece of property in Illinois.” The politics and taxes had finally gotten to him. Well, okay then, I thought to myself, I’m certainly not staying in the Midwest with its severe winter weather. A place with seasons and more temperate weather would be more suitable for the two of us. And a place that would draw family and friends. Then I remembered my tiny house dream. Of course—North Carolina! It was the perfect choice.  But it wasn't until Covid hit, and we were stuck inside for long periods, that we took advantage of an online relocation seminar. My hubby was considering a move overseas: Argentina or possibly the Cayman Islands. Although it would have been a beautiful location, it was too far from family and friends. So we concentrated on the East Coast. Florida, Georgia and North Carolina offered communities with townhomes, but only two in NC had townhomes on one level with more that two bedrooms. Since we love to host friends and family, it fit. At the time we booked a tour at a 55 and older gated community in Brunswick County, which had the model we wanted, but something didn't feel right to me. It wasn't the peaceful surroundings I was looking for. Residents were zooming by on a Sunday afternoon in their golf carts—and not because they were playing the game!  The Middle of our JourneyAs we were leaving, an author friend texted me and asked if I had heard of Brunswick Forest. I hadn't, but I assured her we would check it out. One call to the office got us an appointment with a BF realtor, Brett. Our journey towards home had begun. I truly felt it was God guiding us here! From that time on, for the next year and a half, we would text, call or fly in to check with Brett about the progress of the Trusst builder’s plans for a new townhouse community. Each time we were in town, I would peruse the shops to get a feel for the “coastal look” at Crabby Chic, Custom Home and Local Living Furniture, Home Again (great source of gently used coastal items), and High Tide Home. I also vowed to get started on doctors' appointments nearby, since many were shutting their doors to new patients due to the 10% growth in Leland and beyond. I realized most of my insurance, medical, food and banking needs could be met within biking or short driving distance of our future home. Yay!  Moving Closer: The End is in SightFinally, the day came when a lot in the Brunswick Forest development was ready to purchase. It was late fall of 2022, and we had sold our home in May that year, with no place to live. Things were moving forward! What a delight to fly in early January to choose the accouterments that would make our house a home. In the meantime, we spent our nomad months volunteering at various Christian camps and ministries, first in Illinois and Wisconsin, then in January 2023, we made the big move to NC (Taylorsville). The wonderful and welcoming staff at Hickory Cove Bible Camp helped us move into their double-wide trailer called “The Lodge”. Our 4 months there (me in the office, and my hubby serving in maintenance) were full of steady work and laughter. We felt loved. For the next 5 months, we volunteered at Caraway Camps in Asheboro and Fort Caswell on Oak Island. Each camp offered us a place to lay our heads and a way to use our time wisely. Whether in the mountains or by the seashore, we have sweet memories of our times with the staff.  The End of Our Journey and the Beginning of Another!October 17th arrived before we knew it, and after our second walk-through, we received keys to our long-awaited townhouse! Upon move-in, all we had was our bedroom furniture, folding card table and chairs. There were no blinds on our windows, no neighbors and no internet! We were living amidst construction, hearing the sounds of progress from early morning to late evening. But we were home! After one month, the neighbors began moving in one by one, our internet was hooked up, our PackRat emptied and belongings (mostly) put away. Come Thanksgiving, we were truly grateful to God for His tender mercies during our 16-month journey of nomad living! Ahōti: Another Kind of JourneySpeaking of a major journey and change in life circumstances, check out the trailer below. It's a biblical fiction account of Tamar, King David's daughter, who was raped by her half-brother, Ammon. She never expected to move so far from home. Next month, I will have an interview with Miriam Feinberg Vamosh and Eva Marie Everson about their well-researched book, Ahōti (my sister.) ahotibook.com You will find more info when you click the link below! Have you taken a long journey, either physically or figuratively? I'd love to hear about it below!
 Rest for the Weary of HeartI came to a complete stop last week. I mean, a screeching halt. I was going like sixty in my writing career, doing all the things. Well, the things I thought I was supposed to be doing, or was told I needed to be doing by the wise writers of the world (WWotW). Those things included writing blog posts, newsletters, and devotions, attending writer’s conferences to pitch, network and learn (the latter I could do all day and every day, but I wouldn't have the chance to implement what I learned). And that's not to mention social media posts, and faithfully putting pen to the—I mean fingers to the keyboard. Every day! Oh, and looking for speaking engagements and creating courses and. . . If even a couple of those things lead to furthering my career in some way (small connections, likes and comments on social media, a few reviews on Amazon, or big things like agent representation, a publishing contract or speaking engagement) I would know all my efforts were worth it. But in the last year, it's been crickets. In every case. Except one. My top-of-the-wishlist agent asked me to do some rewrites last summer, and compile a list of 20 titles for my WIP she was interested in. She also wanted a detailed marketing plan showing all the ways I would get my book noticed, including possible speaking engagements. Although she wa sold on my book idea, her client list was full, and ultimately chose not to take me on. Now I've done the work and joined speakers groups I would never have considered. I can honestly say in retrospect, I was grateful. Yes. God is good. All the time. Now, I’m thankful for all the writers (big name and small) I've come to know and follow. It's always been my policy to help them in any way I can. I share their stories, repost their images, join their launch team and review their books. And I must say, there is always growth in a small way in my writing career, but I'm not in my 30s anymore. Only God knows how many more years I have left on this earth. And I want them to matter. I want my words to leave a legacy. But I'm exhausted!!  I Need a Break!I don't mean to be complaining (although I am). It's just that it's hard work to be an author. And I’ve been told that countless times. So it's no surprise. ‘Starving artists’ was not only a phrase used 250 years ago, but a reality today. Unless you are J.K. Rowling or Suzanne Collins, you cannot live on royalties alone. That's why many authors write courses, do school visits and are featured on podcasts. Does that mean I want to give up?? Absolutely not! Does it mean God is telling me to quit? I don't think so. I know God has gifted me, so I want to be wise in using that gift. Could it mean I need to take a rest? Yes! And you know what? The thought occurred to me that maybe I'm taking it upon myself to market my books and find an agent without consulting my Heavenly Father. Talk about draining! Doing things in my own strength never works out for good. Especially as I age.  Rest & RefreshSo, I'm going to REST and REFRESH. I'll take a break from social media posts and conferences—from feeling I need to perform—do all the things. This time, I will LISTEN—to God’s voice. I’ll ask Him what He wants me to do. I’ll wait for him to act on my behalf—to make the connections for me. Just a few nights ago, when I was reflecting on my current situation, I reached out to the Almighty with tears. “Lord, what do YOU want me to do?” His answer came quite clearly (not audibly, but clearly): “Cease striving and know I am God.” Psalm 46:10 NASB That's it! I will rest, and let Him work on my behalf. I'll go about my day calmer and more confident that my Heavenly Father is working behind the scenes. I will SAVOUR what He brings my way moment by moment without a heavy ‘to do’ list. And maybe, just maybe, I smile a bit more.  Speaking of rest, I am reading an advanced copy of The Rested Soul, and it's just what I needed. It's not your ordinary devotional. Each entry makes you stop and ponder, and I am touched with Tessa’s transparency here. You can preorder The Rested Soul today! Do you need a rest this season? In which area? Please let me know in the comments below so I can pray for you!
 When Dreams are DashedEveryone has disappointments—dreams dashed to the ground, along with their hopes. Not fun, is it? "Why me?" you and I say. Why not? No one is immune. We live in a sinful world with sinful people. But hold on. Sometimes, our dreams are smashed not because of an evil influence or mishap, but because God is orchestrating our lives, and has a better idea. ***Please excuse the link format. For some reason, the website would not allow me to embed the links, but in retrospect, it fits with the theme of my post. Enjoy. . . This happened to me last week. I was attended the NRB modules.marriott.com/leisure/bnago-gaylord-opryland-resort-and-convention-center (National Religious Broadcasting) Convention with high hopes that I might make good connections with podcasters or radio personnel who wanted to interview me about my middle-grade biblical fiction, The Heart Changer, or my work-in-progress for silver sisters who are stuck and need help moving forward as they age. I tentatively entitled it Flourishing and Fragrant: Living Abundantly in Your Seasoned Years. I also thought I might interest one of the four publishing houses, but only one showed any promise. But, that’s one!  God’s Plan is Far BetterSo, what happened?? Well, since no-one seemed interested in booking me for an interview, God nudged me to give away the 10 books I’d brought with me to a Representive at each booth featuring Israeli ministries. After all, my MC was an Israelite captive, wrenched from her home in a time of war, and forced to serve Naaman, commander of the Syrian army—well—brought to serve his wife, whom I named Adara. My desire was to bless some middle-grade Jewish/Israeli girl with a story of hope. So, although humanly speaking my dreams were smashed, God will bring a blessing from my book. While perusing the booths, I stopped at one giving samples of Beantage https://www.beantage.com/, coffee grown in Thailand. The girl was so sweet to talk about her product, then ask me why I was at the conference. When I shared my book, she suddenly became animated. I could read joy all over her face! Ruth was an educator who loved reading, and desired to have good literature put in the hands of young students. In fact, she was a budding writer herself. I immediately encouraged her to look up AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association—the organization I was with at the conference) https://awsa.com/ where she could find support. As we finished our conversation, promising to connect in the future, I walked a few booths away, and then God nudged me (again) to give her my last copy of The Heart Changer. https://ambassador-international.com/books/the-heart-changer/ She was thrilled! It brought joy to my heart to encourage another educator who desires to put good books into the hands of young students, whether by purchasing or writing them. I just had to take a photo of this God moment!  Another Rude AwakeningAlthough the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville https://modules.marriott.com/leisure/bnago-gaylord-opryland-resort-and-convention-center was a gorgeous hotel with tropical gardens, high-end shops and restaurants, the floorplan left something to be desired. For someone like me who has difficulty walking up and down stairs, this was not a user-friendly environment. Even though there were elevators available, one never knew which levels were accessible. There were maps, but the atrium with its footpaths and bridges, made it a challenge to navigate. The Final StrawDreams of a smooth trip home were dashed when our first flight to Charlotte was delayed, thus making me late to my next connection, even though I walked fast, and used the moving walkway. So—I was routed via Myrtle Beach, a 1.5-hour journey from our home, where my husband met me at 10:30 pm. Oh, and did I mention my luggage didn't accompany me? Nope. It was arriving at midnight, so I told the agent I would not be waiting for it. Thankfully, they are prepared and brought to my home the next morning. Who knew? God did. And I was grateful He brought me safely home, albeit exhausted. One never can anticipate what will happen at any one time. But, I have a heavenly Father who cares, and works all things together for good.  One fun note—Former President Trump was speaking at the NRB (I was not able to attend), so it was a treat to see his jet at the airport as our plane taxied out. I have a window seat passenger to thank for this photo! What about you?? Have you had your dreams dashed lately? I'd love you to share your experience below. We can't expect everything to go smoothly in this life, but, if we belong to God’s family, He will turn it around for our benefit—and others!
 Savoring Life in GeneralIt took me longer than usual to find my word for 2024. It was a few days before the New Year when I asked God to reveal it. By the time the “ball dropped,” it came to me: SAVOR. Was it an ad for a restaurant (we do have a breakfast place by that name in Wilmington) that brought it to mind? Maybe it was a devotional. I don't remember. But what I do recall was an “ahhhhh, yes—that’s it”!
Lately, I've noticed I'm slowing down. I think it's part of the normal process of aging. I can't multi-task anymore. I have a need to accomplish my tasks one by one, not three at one time. Normally, that would stress me, but lately, I'm enjoying that ‘one thing’ I’m working on at the time. There’s a calm in my day, and a spring in my step. It's a joy to accomplish those tasks because I don't feel pressed or rushed. Partly because I've learned to space out my appointments, tasks and errands. I try not to be out around the town more than once a day—or once every two days.  And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38 Joseph and Mary began their long journey to Bethlehem with an old donkey, a basket of bread, and a flask of water. And, yes, a small bag of coins. Joseph hoped there would be enough to pay the taxes Rome required, with a small amount remaining for necessities along the way. The journey was long and arduous, extending over hills and across the river Jordan. Being close to delivering her baby, Mary found travel difficult as she bounced and joggled along on a scrawny, aging donkey. But walking would have been out of the question.
I can't even imagine what that would have been like. Creature comforts are usually taken for granted. But not for Mary and Joseph. It was a way of life. So, on with the story. . .  Thankful for THAT??? This year, I’m going to be grateful for all the things I didn’t get or didn’t happen as I wished. And for the prayers God answered in the negative. I’m going to thank the Lord for the hard times — the low times — that knocked the wind out of me or caused me to slip and slide. I'll be grateful for those times I would categorize as disappointments or dead ends, and for people God surrounds me with who keep me humble — those who withhold praise, give criticism, or are uncomfortable to be around.
Why, you ask? Isn’t that a bit unorthodox? Or unconventional? Yes. Well . . . No. |
Good News!My MG Biblical fiction "The Heart Changer" debuted in 2019 with Ambassador International. Categories
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