Beginning in October, we’re hitting on all cylinders for my favorite season of the year–FALL! In both my newsletter featured articles and blog posts I’ll begin sharing more of the spiritual impact and behind-the-scenes writing information about my May 2023 release, In Feast or Famine (my Amazon affiliate link).
Last month I offered surveys in both my blog and newsletter asking what interests you about: research, biblical insights, and/or behind-the-scenes info on my writing/publishing process.
Today, I’d like to share the great feedback you gave me with a little road map of our journey toward the May 23, 2023 release of In Feast or Famine, the sequel to Potiphar’s Wife.
Joseph’s Story In The Bible
Many who read the beginning of Joseph’s story in Potiphar’s Wife have told me they can hardly wait to see how it ends in the sequel, In Feast or Famine! Of course, we know the end of Joseph’s story from Scripture:
- He’s released from prison to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams.
- He’s made vizier of all Egypt–the second highest official in all the land.
- Pharaoh gives him a wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera–the priest of Ra whose main temple was located in the city of On (later called Heliopolis).
- Seven years of “feast” comes in which Egypt stores copious amounts of grain under Joseph’s wise direction–so much it can’t be recorded.
- When the famine begins, people from surrounding nations come to buy grain from Joseph in Egypt–Joseph’s brothers with them.
- Joseph tests his brothers by keeping Simeon in prison. Two years into the famine, his brothers return with Benjamin (Joseph’s younger brother, the only other son of Rachel, their mother).
- After Joseph is convinced by Judah’s changed heart, Joseph clears his courtroom and reveals his identity to his brothers privately.
- Pharaoh’s household hears of his brothers’ arrival and sends carts for Joseph’s family to leave all their possessions in Canaan and come to Egypt where they will depend only on Joseph and Pharaoh’s provision.
- Jacob and his family arrive in Egypt, appear before Pharaoh, and are given the land of Goshen.
- Jacob blesses Pharaoh.
And the Survey Says…
And that’s In Feast or Famine from Scripture. However, if you’ve read Potiphar’s Wife, you know there are a few questions–based in fiction–left unanswered that might be burning in your heart. Let’s look at September’s survey feedback to see what questions y’all want answered in blog and newsletter articles…
Newsie Input for In Feast or Famine Blog/Newsletter Articles |
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| …the pharaoh whose dreams Joseph interpreted? | …Egypt during the 7 years of feast and 7 years of famine? | …Joseph and Asenath? | …Potiphera, Asenath’s father, and how Joseph might have interacted with him? | …Joseph and his brothers who were reconciled in the 2nd year of the famine? | Are you interested to know how we arrived at the final cover? | What other questions do you have about Joseph, Asenath, or this period in Genesis 41-47? |
| How did they store the grain to preserve it? What types of grain were stored? | How will you handle Joseph’s love interest from previous novel? [Ahira–the Hebrew slave he loves] visits him and they proclaim their love for one another in the jail where he is kept. | Do they have a relationship? Does Potiphera come to know the Lord or reject him? What would it mean for his position if he rejected Ra? | Yes | Joseph’s relationship with Potiphar and his wife after being released from prison. | ||
Since only three people responded to the survey, I’m assuming y’all trust me to come up with interesting stuff to tell you about Joseph, Asenath, Egypt’s feast & famine, and the relationships between the key characters. But that question in bold has come up A LOT in reviews, interviews, and even casual conversations.
Joseph’s Romance Conundrum
How could Joseph EVER marry someone else after the love he and Ahira shared in Potiphar’s Wife?!?!?!?!
I know y’all love Ahira. I love her too! Let me reassure you–without giving away any spoilers for In Feast or Famine–I believe y’all will be VERY EXCITED to see how everything works out for both Joseph and Ahira in the sequel!
My editor was equally concerned when I started writing In Feast or Famine. “How will you ever get me to believe Joseph could truly love anyone but Ahira?” But when we finished the line edits, and one of her friends asked the same question in a panic, here’s what my editor said:
“Even I was shocked at what happened to Ahira.”
And she would not have let me finish that edit if the outcome wasn’t something palatable for my readers.
October Is Contract Time!
Contract time brings love/hate emotions to the surface for me. I love researching many possible stories, but I hate the decision-making process with my publisher. My agent is FABULOUS and takes much of that pressure off, so it’s a pleasure to be able to offer readers the opportunity to give YOUR feedback on which characters you’d like to see written about. Here are the results so far:
Biblical Novel Ideas – Old Testament Only |
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| Suggest an Old Testament character worthy of a whole book. | Suggest an Old Testament situation worthy of a whole book. | Other Old Testament suggestion worthy of a whole book (Scripture reference optional). |
| Haggai (Haggai 1-2; Ezra 5:1, 6:14) | Vashti (Esther 1-2) | Hegai, king’s harem eunuch (Esther) |
| Hagar | Eve | |
| Hagar | The tribal culture of Abraham | Maacah, mother of Absalom |
| Hannah | ||
| Eve, Zipporah (Moses’ wife) | Jael killed General Sisera who was known for his cruelty toward the young and old. (Judges 4:17-22) | The Daughters of Zelophehad- Mahlah, Noa, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. From the tribe of Manasseh, they were the first women to inherit property when the father died leaving no son as an heir. (1 Chron 7:14-15; Numbers 6:52-56) |
| Noah’s wife | ||
| Eve | Mother of King David | Noah |
| Jael | Tamar and Judah | King David’s Daughter Tamar |
| Bathsheba | Eve | |
| Hannah (1 Samuel) | Hannah (1Samuel) | The woman who was cut up into 12 parts in the book of Judges |
| I know the main character is not a woman but I would love to read a book about a man who was wicked. Then died (since he was wicked, went to hell). Then came back to life after his body touched Elisha’s bones. See his journey as he comes to repentance. | ||
These results were compiled on 9/22/22, so there may be some feedback not included here that WILL BE DOWNLOADED on the actual spreadsheet. If you filled out the form, I WILL consider your suggestion! ❤️
It’s Not Too Late!
If you’d like to submit your ideas for either a blog/newsletter article or a future novel, please use the links below to register your feedback through one of the Google forms. I can then download the answers in a spreadsheet to easily analyze them. (Unfortunately, I won’t be able to include comments on social media or suggestions by email in the final analysis.)
To submit feedback for future blog/newsletter articles about In Feast or Famine, CLICK HERE.
To submit character/situational ideas for future biblical novels, CLICK HERE.
If you’ve already submitted an answer but don’t see it listed here, don’t worry! I grabbed just a few early answers for examples because the full table wouldn’t fit in this space! Deadline for suggestions on both Biblical Novel Ideas and Newsletter/Blog Articles is October 9th (next Monday).
Newsletters, Blogs, & Cutbacks, Oh My!
As I close this post, let me thank y’all for your faithful prayers as Roy and I have considered ways I can lighten my work load. Though I so enjoyed writing my Patreon FictionFix each month and the short time I shared Wednesday Deep Dive Facebook Lives, they tipped the proverbial scales and overwhelmed my already substantial deadline list.
After MUCH prayer, tears, and antacids, Hubby and I have made some painful but necessary cuts in all three vital parts of our world–family time, church commitments, and work load–to create what we pray is a more manageable schedule and lifestyle.
I’ll begin the journey into In Feast or Famine in October’s blog post next week!
