J-The Woman Who Wrote the Bible - Softcover

Burns, Mary F

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1545384584 ISBN 13: 9781545384589

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017

Synopsis

Like the women of the Red Tent, even the daughter of King David lived in a world ruled by men. But this woman was born to break the rules of both men and God in order to learn the art of writing, and with it, a power that could reveal the hidden truth, or slay a man with a single word. Secretly initiated into the magic of writing, Janaia finds she must master the sublime powers and visions that come with this "knowledge of good and evil" -- a journey that reveals the secrets of life and death through heartbreak and sacrifice.

About this title

About the Author

Mary F. Burns is the author of several books of historical fiction: EMBER DAYS (2016) ISAAC AND ISHMAEL (2014) J-THE WOMAN WHO WROTE THE BIBLE (2010) THE SPOILS OF AVALON (2014) PORTRAITS OF AN ARTIST (2013) The last two books above feature the celebrated portrait painter, John Singer Sargent and his best friend, writer Violet Paget (aka Vernon Lee). Mary is a member of and book reviewer for the Historical Novel Society and a former member of the HNS Conference board of directors. She has been a regular panelist and speaker at the North American Historical Novel Society Conference. Ms. Burns was born in Chicago, Illinois and attended Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, where she earned both Bachelors and Masters degrees in English; she also holds a J.D. from Golden Gate University. She relocated to San Francisco in 1976 where she now lives with her husband Stuart in the West Portal neighborhood. Ms. Burns may be contacted by email at maryfburns@att.net. For more information please visit Mary Burns’s website at www.maryfburns.com. You can also connect with Mary on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads, or read her blog posts at: www.maryfburns.wix.com/emberdays www.jthewomanwhowrotethebible.com www.literarygracenotes.blogspot.com www.portraitsofanartist.blogspot.com www.sargent-pagetmysteries.blogspot.com www.genesisnovel.blogspot.com

Review

"A fascinating debut ... this richly imagined novel is vivid and complex; an engrossing story with a strong-minded, strong-hearted heroine. Rich in poetic language."  --India Edghill, author of Queenmaker and Wisdom's Daughter

"Quick-paced and full of intrigue, rife with unexpected twists and turns, J will keep you turning the pages, whether or not you're familiar with the age-old tales." --Elissa Elliott, author of Eve, A Novel of the First Woman

The novel presents a wondrous and entirely convincing account of how significant parts of the Bible came into being through the good offices of one scholarly and strong woman. It is full of suspense, mystery, and tragedy as well as delightful surprises. I was immediately caught up in its magic and could not put it down from the first page, until the dramatic and wholly unexpected ending. The tale of the heroine and that of King David and the Israelites are skillfully and seamlessly interwoven to form a sparkling, colorful tapestry. The novel is enchantingly told, full of beautiful poetic language and magnificent imagery. This is a book in which love and friendship, jealousy and strife, forgiveness and heartache, wisdom and devotion rapidly overtake each other, to form an enthralling whole. Steeped in deep understanding of the Bible, it makes the world of ancient Israel come vibrantly alive, while also building bridges across cultures and civilizations. -- Eva Etzioni-Halevy,author of the Song of Hannah, The Garden of Ruth and The Triumph of Deborah

In her captivating debut novel, Burns has crafted a lush and poetical story of how the Hebrew Bible came to be. Harold Bloom may have introduced us to J (the woman scribe who lived during the Solomonic courts of 960-922 B.C.), but Burns has put flesh and bones on her, clothed her in emotional finery, and imagined her as King David's daughter--royalty we can relate to. Quick-paced and full of intrigue, rife with unexpected twists and turns, J--The Woman Who Wrote the Bible will keep you turning the pages, whether or not you're familiar with the age-old tales. -- Elissa Elliott, Author of Eve, A Novel of the First Woman

A fascinating debut challenging the tradition that men wrote the Bible, this richly imagined novel is vivid and complex; an engrossing story with a strong-minded, strong-hearted heroine. Rich in poetic language, "J" gives us a woman's undaunted quest for both knowledge and love in the treacherous world of King David's court. -- India Edghill, Author of Queenmaker and Wisdom's Daughter

About this edition

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 1545384584
• ISBN 13: 9781545384589
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 320