I’m so excited to introduce you to the lady that opened the door for our current resurgence of quality biblical novels. When I took my first book proposal to a writer’s conference in 2001, I had a small component of biblical fiction buried within a Bible study.
The editor shook his head and, among his myriad of objections, said: “Biblical fiction doesn’t sell.”
Fast-forward seven years, when I’d given up publishing non-fiction and had finally realized the most effective way (for me) to teach was through story. My agent said, “You should submit your proposal to Revell. They’re going to try some biblical fiction and see if it sells. They just signed Jill Eileen Smith to a three-book contract, The Wives of King David.”
And the rest, as they say, is history…
Thanks, Jill, for visiting with my readers. Can’t wait to read A Passionate Hope, the story of Hannah! For more information on Jill and all her books, visit her at https://www.jilleileensmith.com.
Comments 15
Love Biblical fiction! Great interview! Thanks for sharing.
Author
Thanks for stopping by!
What a wonderful way to begin my Monday with a conversation with Jill Eileen Smith. I was comforted by your discussion of absolute surrender and praying with open hands.
Author
So glad it ministered to you on this Monday morning. Hugs to you, friend!
Mesu, thank you for interviewing Jill Eileen Smith on your blog! Two of my favorite biblical fiction authors in the same space on the web! 👍👏 1 Samuel 2:1-10, Psalms 133 & 150👍👍
Author
Thanks for giving us part of your day, Emily! What’s our time difference? Isn’t it significant?
Enjoy and look forward to books by both of you. Have read many, many. May God bless you and keep up the good work. Thanks for your dedication.
Author
Thank you for the encouragement, Sue! Blessings!
So much wisdom!
Author
I always learn something from talking to another author. Good for the soul!
My two favorite authors in one video!
Such wisdom. It was such a blessing when you spoke about surrendering our problems and placing them into God’s hands. That is something that I needed to be reminded of today. So encouraging. You reminded me of the time when I bought a Biblical fiction book Michael by Jill and I had not read that genre in a quite a few years. The novel Michael brought me back to reading Bibilical fiction and to my great joy I have discovered your books Mesu Andrews which I love. I am totally loving this resergence of Biblical fiction which has given us readers so many novels to enjoy. I am now reading Isaiah’s daughter which I am loving. One thing I love about biblical fiction is the way the biblical characters are brought to life you can see the characters struggles or joy. It gives me a deeper understanding of the Biblical characters. It draws me to the Bible to read the Biblical stories again. So thank you Mesu Andrews and Jill Eileen Smith for writing novels that encourages me and touches my heart.
Author
Hi Elise! Thank you so much for such encouraging words for both Jill and me. It sounds like you’ve been a biblical fiction fan for a long time, so I’m thrilled you could speak to the resurgence Jill brought back with her first novel. Blessings on you for being such a support to the genre and to authors like Jill and me. We soooooo appreciate you!
I’m late to responding to all of you, but I want to thank Mesu for having me on her blog and for the fun idea of sharing interviews! I’m so glad you all found it enjoyable. (We don’t say y’all in Michigan.)
And may I say that Mesu and I appreciate all of you for reading our books! You inspire us to keep writing and doing what God has wired us and called us to do. May each book be a blessing to each one of you.
In His Grace,
~JIll
Hi Mesu and Jill. I just want to say how pleased i was when i was informed i had won Jill’s latest book A Passionate Hope , i kept reading the email to make sure i had read it properly ha ha, I received my book yesterday 7th march i am thrilled with it, so looking forward to reading about Hannah, i have to admit she is one of my favorites, i wonder when the Lord comes to take us home if we will meet the likes of Hannah? and the many others who have gone on before us. You and Jill are my two favorite authors. i am getting quite a collection going between you both 🙂 The Lord i believe has given you both such a precious gift in being able to write the way you do, you give the like’s myself such encouragement when we read them. The Bible is the best of all! but your books come next ha ha With much love and many blessings. Marie.
Author
Hi Marie!
I’m so glad Jill’s book arrived safely, and what a joy that Hannah is one of your favorite characters! Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement. Jill and I have been friends a long time and so enjoy what we do. It’s such an honor to know you’ve been blessed by the very thing that gives us such great joy.
Happy reading! 😉