All my books have a romance thread. In any great romance, I want to see the heroine and hero marry. For me, it’s Novel Writing 101.
Several years ago, I pitched a story to my publisher–before I did a lot of research on character ages–and then found myself in a terrible fix when it came time to write the book. It was for the story eventually titled, In the Shadow of Jezebel.
Great Pitch, But . . .
Scripture records the horrendous tale of Jezebel’s daughter–Judah’s pagan Queen Athaliah–in 2 Kings 11. Athaliah introduced Baal worship to Judah and then killed her own grandchildren in an attempt to snuff out the line of David.
Her step-daughter, Princess Jehosheba, married Yahweh’s high priest (Jehoiada). They saved one baby from the royal lineage by hiding him in the Temple for six years. Gripping story, right?!?!
My publisher agreed and gave me the contract! In my mind, Jehoiada was this dashing, strong, hunky, “knight-in-shining armor” high priest who rushed in to marry the Hebrew version of Cinderella, saving her from the wicked step-mother, Athaliah.
But when I started doing the biblical research and adding up the birth dates and death dates of the characters involved . . .
Elephant In the Room
I discovered Jehoiada had to be older than ninety! And Princess Jehosheba was probably around sixteen! Eeeeeewwww! Totally creeped me out!
I called my best friend in tears and said, “I can’t write love scenes between a 90-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl!” (There had to be something going on because Scripture says they had a child!)
My friend asked, “Are you committed to remaining true to Scripture–even when it’s uncomfortable?”
My answer was then and will always be, “Yes.”
Her reply? “Well, friend–their age difference is a BIG elephant in the room. You’ll just have to put a bow on it!”
So I “put a bow on it.” Everyone in the story of In the Shadow of Jezebel (my Amazon aff link) is put off by the age difference between the high priest and the beautiful, young princess–especially the high priest and the princess! So I made their relationship more about the emotional and spiritual connection.
I’ve gotten feedback from readers that this was the most romantic book I’ve written–because there’s so little physical affection in the book. I think it might be all the more tender because of that “elephant with the bow.”
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5–6
Round Two With Old Husbands!
I’d wanted to write a Joseph trilogy for many years. Three words kept ringing in my heart that described his life:
Chosen. Chained. Champion.
I knew there were three books to write about this great hero of the faith–but which women should accompany him on each part of his life journey? After much prayer and a little research, I knew the “heroines” who were to partner with Joseph in each story:
- Leah (Jacob’s first wife; Joseph’s biological aunt)
- Potiphar’s Wife (Joseph’s master’s wife)
- Asenath (Joseph’s Wife after he becomes vizier in Egypt)
I Can’t Claim Ignorance
I groaned a little when I committed to write, The Reluctant Rival: Leah’s Story, because I knew Jacob was at least eighty-five when he stole Esau’s blessing and fled to Haran (Gen. 27-28). And, yes, this old geezer kissed young Rachel at the well and fell in love with her at first sight. Ewwww, again! But it was somehow easier to write because no one really knows or cares about those details in this story. Why?
Because it’s Jacob. It’s familiar. His age seems irrelevant since he lived to 147 years old! Eighty-five was just “middle-aged.”
The Last Two Books
I always thought of Potiphar’s Wife (my Amazon aff link) as sort of an ancient Egyptian version of a Beverly Hills housewife. Middle-aged and bored, she just liked to stir up trouble. But as I dug deeper into her character, she became so much more than a spoiled, bored, rich woman. In my version of the story . . .
Zuleika was a young widow. She’d known real love. Intimacy. She’d flown on hope’s wings and allowed herself to plan for the future–only to have it suddenly and completely ripped away. Then she prepared her heart to marry Pharaoh. A giant–literally–a descendant of the Rephaites (Deut. 3:13).
But those plans were changed as well, and she found herself married to a crotchety old bachelor who loved only two things: his mother and being a soldier. Yep, Potiphar was 20+ years older than lovely Zuleika, and this story had another “older vs. younger” hero and heroine to deal with.
Asenath’s Story
In the third book about Joseph’s life journey, In Feast Or Famine, Joseph is the “older” man who marries the younger wife. He’s thirty when he’s appointed Egypt’s vizier, and I’ve chosen to make Asenath nineteen.
There wasn’t any historical data that gave me her real age, so I could have chosen to make her older or younger. In fact, I’d planned to make her younger–but other story elements dictated her age at nineteen when she and Joseph married. (To reveal why would be a spoiler!)
Do All Plans Change?
Are you noticing a theme in all this research, plotting, and writing? I research a little. Plot and plan. Write a little. Research some more. Then I change everything! Aaagh! 😳
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” Psalm 127:1
Since becoming a writer, I don’t plan nearly as much as I used to–for anything.
Life Changes Us
I used to ALWAYS make plans. In high school and college, I was that dorky girl that color-coded her calendar with rainbow highlighters in a three-ringed binder.
I still make plans–when compelled by sheer volume and velocity of workload and the condition of my aging brain. (Young people’s brains are like a wetsuit. Ain’t nothing gonna leak outta there!) My brain has turned to Swiss cheese. It’s developed giant holes into which details fall and are never seen again.
SO, have I stopped holding so tightly to my plans because my brain is Swiss cheese or because my plans seldom work out? Umm, yes…and no. Wait, what?!?!?!
Joe and Others Go With the Flow
I’m trying to learn from my characters–and the Lord–as I’m getting more and more gray hair. If there was ever a biblical character who could give an effective seminar on how to adjust life plans, it would be Joseph! Take a look at Genesis 37-50 if you need a reminder of how God turned all of Joe’s plans upside down–and saved the world in the process.
Actually, isn’t it the heroes and heroines who overcome the most challenging “changes in plans” that we love the most? The hero’s journey wouldn’t be worth reading–nor would our journey with Jesus be worth living–if we didn’t have to hold our breath through a few close calls or struggle through a little quicksand to reach the prize. It’s through those struggles that we draw closer to our God and enter into the deeper chambers of His heart.
“Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.” Isaiah 38:17
Today’s Questions:
- How have changes in your life plan worked out for your good?
- What changes in plans are currently making your life more difficult? How can you actively remind yourself of God’s past faithfulness and strengthen your faith for the current struggle?
