I worked in publishing while earning my master’s degree in English, thinking I would eventually teach. Stories, however, were my first love, as was theology. I grew up in the church, but it wasn’t until I discovered how to study the Bible through a cultural lens that Scripture came springing to life in a new way. I was hooked, and I began to see an intersection between my passions—storytelling, teaching, and theology. Now, I pen stories that highlight the humanity of Bible characters and the goodness of the God they serve. My hope is that the Bible will spring to life for others the way it did for me.
I wrote...
Up from Dust: Martha's Story
By
Heather Kaufman,
What is my book about?
The biblical Lazarus is well-known as the man Jesus brought back to life. Perhaps lesser known is his sister, Martha, whom many remember as “worried and troubled” about many things. This book delivers an immersive backstory that plumbs the depths of this often misunderstood woman. The story traces Martha’s growth into maturity as she grieves her mother’s death, raises her siblings, and treasures the beginnings of first love. But when her dreams crumble into dust, so does Martha’s wounded heart.
Years later, Jesus of Nazareth disruptively enters the scene. When Martha discovers that this carpenter-rabbi is connected to her past, she’s not sure she can trust him with her future. But as he performs the miraculous, the invitation to believe becomes harder to resist.
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The books I picked & why
Iscariot: A Novel of Judas
By
Tosca Lee,
Why did I love this book?
The name Judas Iscariot has become synonymous with treachery, but in her novel, Tosca Lee humanizes this man who would eventually betray Jesus Christ.
I loved how this book asked me to set aside my preconceived notions of an infamous man and instead see him as a nuanced, flesh-and-blood person who made thousands of small choices leading up to the big choice we all remember.
This is a haunting and heartbreaking story that continues to linger in my mind.
Tessa Afshar's book is full of grit and honesty that left me rejoicing in the God of new beginnings.
It traces the story of Rahab the prostitute in the Old Testament, contextualizing it with an intriguing “before” and “after” picture of this Canaanite woman who aided the Israelites and eventually became one of them.
I absolutely loved the growth in Salmone and Rahab’s relationship. The author carefully and respectfully depicts how a marriage can thrive even through trauma and hurt. This story tackles hard topics with so much grace, beauty, and hope.
Egypt’s culture jumps vividly to life in this beautiful book by Mesu Andrews.
The book examines the relationship between Joseph and Asenath, the Egyptian daughter of a pagan priest. I enjoyed how the author fills in the cracks of everything we don’t know in the biblical account with a believable story that fleshes out the personal histories of these two characters.
The story manages to feel both epic and intimate, inviting me to view the land and its politics through the eyes of a couple learning to love one another despite their vast differences.
I loved how the author took multiple “minor characters” in the Bible and connected their stories, causing me to take a closer look at these lesser-known individuals.
In this book, Angela Hunt identifies the Lydia mentioned in Acts 16 as the same person called Euodia in Philippians 4 and presents a compelling argument as to why in her Author’s Note. The slave girl Paul liberates from a demon in Acts 16 is also given a prominent role as Euodia attempts to rescue her from a cruel master who seeks to restore her “gift.”
I enjoyed the quick pace and ever-changing setting as Euodia travels throughout Macedonia. Rich cultural details coupled with a marriage of convenience that blossoms into more made this a satisfying adventure!
After reading this book by Stephanie Landsem, I feel as though I’ve lived in the Samaritan village of Sychar, drawn water from the well, sat beneath the wagging tongues of villagers, and experienced the transformative love of Jesus the Messiah.
This immersive story gives a beautiful background to the Samaritan woman in John 4, told from the perspective of her daughter, Mara. The hurt and desperation in Mara were gut-wrenching and pulled me right into the story.
I appreciated how the author focused on all the people surrounding the main character from the Bible, showing how one person’s choices—and transformation—impact so many others. A beautiful book full of heartbreak and hope.
