WELCOME AUTHOR BARBARA M. BRITTON

WELCOME AUTHOR BARBARA M. BRITTON
11/11/2017 1:40:00 AM by: Patti Shene

FEATURED BOOK: Jerusalem Rising: Adah’s Journey

AUTHOR: Barbara M. Britton

PUBLISHER: Harbourlight Books, an imprint of Pelican Book Group

GENRE: Biblical Fiction

STAND ALONE OR SERIES: Stand Alone from Tribes of Israel series

TARGET AGE: 13 and up

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR BARBARA M. BRITTON TO PATTI’S PORCH. BARBARA TALKS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NOTICING THE OFTEN OVERLOOKED DETAILS IN THE BIBLE.

BARBARA IS OFFERING AN EBOOK GIVEAWAY! SIMPLY LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER THE DRAWING FOR A COPY OF JERUSALEM RISING: ADAH’S JOURNEY.

NEHEMIAH SHATTERS THE GLASS CEILING

Barbara M. Britton

You can’t turn on the television nowadays without seeing an advertisement for unlocking your DNA or discovering your ancestry. Plotting genealogies has become big business. If lists of ancient names are fascinating, how come we do a rapid scan of name listing in the Bible? Maybe it’s because we don’t know these people, but perhaps we should look a little closer.

I have taught the story of Nehemiah rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem many times over the years. I had my Vacation Bible School students kick over brown paper wrapped boxes and restack them. I dressed like Nehemiah and told of his bravery going before King Artaxerxes to ask for an extended leave and supplies to rebuild the wall. I had my classes “Boo” Sanballat and Tobiah for bullying Nehemiah. But I totally missed the list of builders in Nehemiah, chapter three, where the daughters of Shallum are listed as builders of the wall. Are these the first female construction workers listed in the Bible? How come the daughters of Shallum weren’t in my Sunday School materials? Well, now they have their own novel.

We don’t know how many daughters of Shallum worked on the wall. No husbands are listed for these girls, so they are most likely young, unmarried women. I gave them the names Adah and Judith and brought to life what it might have been like working alongside men to raise the wall of their city. Men and women didn’t co-mingle much in public in Bible times, so this is a pretty big deal to have women recognized for all of us to see—many, many years later.

Nehemiah allowed the daughters of Shallum to labor on the wall. He noted their achievement in his writing for all of us to see. Kudos to Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah, for highlighting these “Wonder Women.”

And the next time I see a list of names in the Bible, I’m not going to race through the pronunciations. There just may be another book in those lists.

Book blurb for Jerusalem Rising: Adah’s Journey

When Adah bat Shallum finds the governor of Judah weeping over the crumbling wall of Jerusalem, she learns the reason for Nehemiah’s unexpected visit—God has called him to rebuild the wall around the City of David.

Nehemiah challenges the men of Jerusalem to labor on the wall and in return, the names of their fathers will be written in the annals for future generations to cherish. But Adah has one sister and no brothers. Should her father who rules a half-district of Jerusalem be forgotten forever?

Adah bravely vows to rebuild her city’s wall, though she soon discovers that Jerusalem not only has enemies outside of the city, but also within. Can Adah, her sister, and the men they love, honor God’s call? Or will their mission be crushed by the same rocks they hope to raise.

“Jerusalem Rising” is out in e-book and will hit shelves in print on December 1^st.

Amazon link

DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE PLACED IN THE DRAWING TO WIN AN EBOOK COPY OF JERUSALEM RISING: ADAH’S JOURNEY BETWEEN NOW AND TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST AT MIDNIGHT MST.

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 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. She has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate.

Connect with Barb online:

Comments

Barbara M. Britton From Wisconsin At 11/19/2017 8:22:27 PM

Hi Lori! I hope you are enjoying "Jerusalem Rising." I learned so much from Nehemiah 1-8. Besides the daughters of Shallum, I learned there is a prophetess in the book of Nehemiah. Something else I didn't know when I taught this book years ago. And Noadiah is not very nice! Thanks for stopping by.

Lori Parrish From Lexington Kentucky At 11/19/2017 6:21:59 PM

Very nice blog!! I love how everything comes up. I'm reading this book now. Taking my time though

Reply by: Patti Shene

Hi Lori. I'm glad you like the blog. I must attribute it's design to my web designers - SKWD! I have Barbara's book on my TBR list, which gets longer all the time. Thank you for stopping by.

Barbara M. Britton From Wisconsin At 11/19/2017 2:19:43 PM

Hi Sadie! Thanks for joining us. I overlooked these girls for many years. I'm glad you like Biblical fiction, too.

Sadie Slater From Chamois MO At 11/19/2017 9:00:49 AM

I love Biblical fiction books. This looks like a great read. That passage has always intrigued me.

Reply by: Patti Shene

Hi Sadie. You are way ahead of me. I never even noticed the women in that passage! Guess I better start paying a lot closer attention when reading the Word! Thank you for stopping by.

BarbarM. Britton From Wisconsin At 11/17/2017 1:30:42 PM

Hi Becky, I enjoy writing Biblical fiction, so I’m glad you like to read it. Nehemiah has been a story near and dear to my heart. I learned so much about the book as I wrote Jerusalem Rising. Thanks for joining us.

Becky From Dothan, AL At 11/17/2017 9:48:14 AM

This sounds so wonderful! I love biblical fiction, especially when it comes from passages that I haven't been able to digest fully!

Reply by: Patti Shene

Hi Becky. Biblical fiction brings those sometimes difficult to understand ancient times into much sharper focus. It is a blessing to have authors like Barbara who can do this! Thank you for stopping by.

Barbara M. Britton From Wisconsin At 11/16/2017 10:12:25 AM

Hi Lynn, Isn't it amazing how the Bible is new every time we open its pages? I am constantly learning to go deeper in Scripture. Thanks for joining us.

Lynn From Bartlett, TN At 11/15/2017 10:32:22 PM

I always love uncovering the little details so often missed. My devotional books include some that we don’t always think about. This sounds like a great read.

Reply by: Patti Shene

Hi Lynn. Thank you so much for stopping by. Yes, I agree with you. I can read a passage for maybe the eighth time and come away thinking, "I didn't know that!"

Barbara M. Britton From Wisconsin At 11/12/2017 9:40:20 PM

Hi Becky, I missed the daughters of Shallum for many years. The book of Nehemiah gives a nice timeline for events, so I followed the chapters when I write my story. I appreciate you joining us.

Becky From Missouri At 11/12/2017 6:05:04 PM

I love that you can create stories out of just the mention of the names. I actually knew the daughters of Shallum were mentioned, but I have read the Bible through for years. I have loved the idea that Shallum's daughters helped him rebuild the wall, so it will be fun to read your book.

Reply by: Patti Shene

Hi Becky. I have read through the Bible several times and never realized the daughters of Shallum helped rebuild the wall. Guess I better start paying closer attention wieh I read the Word! Thank you for stopping by.

Barbara M. Britton From Wisconsin At 11/12/2017 1:40:42 PM

Thanks for joining us, Sherrie. I am thrilled to bring the story of the daughters of Shallum to light. They have been overlooked for so long.

Sherrie LaGalante From Chicago At 11/12/2017 8:47:58 AM

This book sounds absolutely intriguing! I will be getting it for sure. Lately ive been seeing how in Israel, even now there are many women in every aspect such as in the Israeli army and then there was Deborah so why not carpenters and builders! Barb you are amazing to notice these women!