Joyce DiPastena's Blog, page 67

Susan Dayley: Author Interview and Book Giveaway

It's been awhile since I've had a new author interview and giveaway to share with you. Today, Susan Dayley has kindly consented to talk to us about her novel, Redemption , based on the Biblical story of Jonah, followed by...yes!...a giveaway for a gently used copy of the same title. (USA ENTRIES ONLY)

JDP: Welcome to JDP NEWS, Susan. Please tell us a little about Redemption .
Susan: Redemption is the story of Jonah from his early beginnings as a lad in Zarephath to his tutoring with Elisha and finally his call to go to Nineveh. The story takes the reader into the cargo hold of the ship of Tarshish, along the caravan routes across the desert, and through the massive gates of Nineveh.
JDP: Redemption is set in ancient Mesopotamia, in approximately 785 BC. What did you find most fascinating about this time period?
Susan: How long it took to get anywhere. There is a reason the known world was so small then. Also I admired the freedom of trade and travel where men accepted the risks—storms, bandits, marauding armies—for the profit and ability to be their own master. I was intrigued with the architecture and literature. Records of battles became palace artwork and scribes held positions of honor at court.
JDP: I'm always interested in how authors research their historical novels. I know you address this subject in an endnote to your novel, but for those who have not yet read Redemption , could you tell us a little about how you researched your novel's historical background?
Susan: A few years ago, I taught at American Heritage School of Spanish Fork. The first three years I taught Kindergarten and among the lullabies, Aesop's Fables, Little House in the Big Woods, and others, the curriculum included the story of Jonah from the Bible. To teach background and setting, I researched at the time from the school library, online sources, and my own collection of history books that have long since been donated to the school. I did not record sources then because, after all, they were kindergarteners. We focused on writing captions under pictures like: "Jonah repented and chose to obey."

When I gathered my notes together to write a book I expanded what I had. My favorite sources came from archeological digs, particularly the published works of Sir Austen Henry Layard. I also became intrigued with Jewish sites and still receive a weekly Jewish Newsletter. (No cravings for Matzo ball soup yet though.) A couple of my details such as: Jonah being the son of the widow of Zarephath and Jonah being ordained a prophet by Elisha come from the Mishnah.
JDP: Can you share with us your top three favorite research books or other resources?
Susan: In addition to the above, The Bible. (I'm a believer in original sources. :-) )
JDP: Are there any historical figures from the era of Redemption who particularly intrigue you? (Aside from Jonah, of course. ;-) ) 
Susan: Elisha and Elijah. Though mostly I focused on Jonah.
JDP: What inspired you to write Redemption ?
Susan: The book of Jonah was part of the literature curriculum at the private school where I taught. Part of that included researching background and setting. While studying about Ships of Tarshish, the ancient Assyrian Empire, and the vast city of Nineveh, I realized that Jonah was more than another "big fish story" or a story only for children. I also loved the poetry of chapter 2 (book of Jonah in the Bible). Sooner or later, heroes all go through the "belly of the fish."
JDP: Are you working on any new projects?
Susan: I am (hopefully) in my final rewrite of the story of King Hezekiah. Talk about epic! I had no idea what I was getting into. He is definitely one of my favorite historical people now. Like Jonah, Hezekiah becomes a man who changes a piece of the world he lives in.
JDP: I love the story of Hezekiah in the Bible. I'll be looking forward to that! Thank you so much for joining us today, Susan.
You can purchase copies of Redemption through Susan's website and blog, or click on the Amazon link at the end of this post.

Okay, now for the giveaway! If you would like to win my gently used copy of Redemption: the Story of Jonah, do one, two, or all three of the following. Each counts as a separate entry, so please do NOT combine your answers into one email, or you will only be counted once.


(1) Leave a comment on this blog, then email your NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS to jdipastena@yahoo.com and type "#1: Boy, that was a big fish!" into the subject line.


(2) Visit Susan Dayley's blog, click on the About Susan tab, find her favorite sweet treat (in her bio, not a blog post), and email the answer WITH YOUR NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS to jdipastena@yahoo.com. Type "#2: Yum!" into the subject line.


(3) Visit Susan Dayley's website, click on the Books tab, read the summary of Susan's upcoming book, Yesterday's King, and tell me the name of King Hezekiah's father. Email the answer WITH YOUR NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS to jdipastena@yahoo.com. Type: "#3: I love Bible stories!" into the subject line.


Deadline for entries is November 9, midnight PST. The winner will be announced here at JDP NEWS on November 10.

Birthday Celebration on Ashley's Bookshelf

It turns out the winner of my Spooktacular Book Blog Hop, Ashley of Ashley's Bookshelf, is holding an amazing giveaway of her own to celebrate her upcoming 20th birthday. Ashley is giving away a prize every day from November 1-14 on her blog. It's worth checking out!

Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop: WINNER!

Congratulations to Ashley of Ashley's Bookshelf! Ashley is the winner of the Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop on JDP NEWS! (Drawn by Random.org)
Thank you to Inspired Kathy of I Am a Reader, Not a Writer who organized this wonderful blog hop.
And thank you to all of you who entered. Reading what each of you loves best about Halloween made my own Halloween extra-specially-fun this year! :-)
Didn't win this time? All is not lost! Come back on November 17th for the start of the Gratitude Giveaway Hop. 132 blogs are participating this time! (And there may be more by November 17th.) I'll be posting a list of my own giveaways for the Gratitude Giveaway Hop in my sidebar soon, so stay tuned!

November 17-27

Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop

It's finally here! Just in time for Halloween...the wonderfully fantastical  Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop!

87 blogs are signed up to participate, each offering a unique giveaway on their blogs. I'll share the links for you to find all the giveaway blogs in a moment, but first, here's a list of what you can win right here at JDP NEWS:
An autographed copy of my sweet medieval romance, Loyalty's Web An Illuminations of the Heart tote bagA Loyalty's Web mugAn Illuminations of the Heart notebookA 14.5 oz Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin candleAnd assorted Halloween candy
Yep, that's all included in one giveaway.
How can you enter to win this bounty? Leave a comment with your email address on this post and tell me what you love best about Halloween.
You can win bonus entries by doing any or all of the following. Be sure to leave a comment with your email address telling me which of these you have done:
+1 Bonus: Become a follower of this blog. If you are already a follower, leave a comment letting me know and it will count towards a bonus entry.
+1 Bonus: Join my email list via the "subscribe by email" box below the "followers" box. If you are already subscribed (via the Feedburner box), leave a comment letting me know and it will count towards a bonus entry.
+1 Bonus: Spread the word about this JDP NEWS Spooktacular Giveaway on Facebook. Include the direct link in your comment.
+1 Bonus: Spread the word about this JDP NEWS Spooktacular Giveaway on Twitter. Include the direct link in your comment.
+1 Bonus: Blog about this JDP NEWS Spooktacular Giveaway. Include the direct link in your comment.
Note: The above giveaway is open to USA entries only
Deadline for entries is 11:59 PM EST/8:59 PM EST on October 31st
See below for links to the other 86 Blogs participating in the Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop!

What Am I Reading for My 2010 New/Old Reading Challenge?

I greatly enjoyed Flame-Colored Taffeta by Rosemary Sutcliff. My only complaint was that I wish there had been more of it, but it was probably just the right length for a children's book. I enjoyed the author's writing so much, though, that I've ordered three more of her titles. I'm looking forward to sharing them with you when I read them!
Now back to an "old read". With the first installment of the final Harry Potter movie coming up this fall, I've decided it's time to re-read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling, to refresh my memory a bit before the movie. I suspect that most of you are already familiar with the story, but just in case some of you accidentally missed it, here's the back cover blurb. (Hmm, okay, so my copy doesn't appear to have a back cover or dust jacket blurb. So here's a description from Goodreads.)
The heart of Book 7 is a hero's mission--not just in Harry's quest for the Horcruxes, but in his journey from boy to man--and Harry faces more danger than that found in all six books combined, from the direct threat of the Death Eaters and you-know-who, to the subtle perils of losing faith in himself. Attentive readers would do well to remember Dumbledore's warning about making the choice between "what is right and what is easy," and know that Rowling applies the same difficult principle to the conclusion of her series. While fans will find the answers to hotly speculated questions about Dumbledore, Snape, and you-know-who, it is a testament to Rowling's skill as a storyteller that even the most astute and careful reader will be taken by surprise.
I will share a Tuesday Teaser from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows  on Tuesday.
If you would like to join my 2010 New/Old Reading Challenge, it's not too late! Click here and here for more information. And remember, there are prizes involved if you join us!

Tuesday Teaser

Tuesday Teaser is a weekly bookish meme (rhymes with "cream"), hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. (I've borrowed it from LDS Women's Book Review.) Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab your current readOpen to a random pageShare at least two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!
I'm adapting the rules slightly. I'll be quoting some random lines from the last chapter I read before I post of teaser. I'm a slow reader, so you may get multiple teasers per book. 
Actually, I have two Tuesday Teasers for you this week. Thanks to too many sleepless nights in a row, I finished Redemption  a few nights ago and started another new read, Flame-Colored Taffeta . So I'll share a tease from each of them with you.
Teaser from Redemption: The Story of Jonah :
It came up out of the sea and gaped open a black cavern before him. Then Jonah had felt himself falling with a great rush of water into the cavern. All turned black...and silent.
From Redemption , by Susan Dayley, p 97















Teaser from Flame-Colored Taffeta :
Damaris saw a heart roughly shaped in wax, about the size of the palm of her hand or maybe a little larger. The thing looked innocent enough, but Genty had something else in the hollow of her other hand. Five long blackthorne spines. She picked up the heart and deliberately and precisely drove the thorns into it.
From Flame-Colored Taffeta , by Rosemary Sutcliff,
p 74
If you'd like to share a teaser from a book you're currently reading, I'd love you to do so in the comment section. And you don't even have to share it on a Tuesday! Be sure to include the title, author, and page number in case others would like to check out the book you're reading, too.

What Am I Reading for My 2010 New/Old Reading Challenge?

Thanks to several sleepless nights this week, I finished reading Redemption in record time (for me). I hope to share an interview with the author, Susan Dayley, soon. While we're waiting, I've moved on to my second "new" read: Flame-Colored Taffeta , by Rosemary Sutcliff. Flame-Colored Taffeta is a historical young adult novel. Here is the back cover blurb:
When twelve-year-old Damaris discovers a young man who has been shot in the woods near her house, she doesn't stop to worry that he may be a smuggler or a spy wanted by King George's Customs House men. Instead, she turns to those she can trust--her best friend, Peter, and Genty Small the Wise Woman--for help in saving his life. And after Tom Wildgoose recovers enough to be able to talk about himself, but chooses to be evasive when answering Damaris's questions, she doesn't really mind. What is important to Damaris is that he will be leaving soon, taking away all the adventure and mystery he had suddenly brought into her life.
But then Tom is captured by Mr. Farrington, who threatens to turn him over to the authorities. In a true act of loyalty, Damaris jeopardizes her own safety to try to rescue the mysterterious young man and set him free once again.
I will share a Tuesday Teaser from  Flame-Colored Taffeta  on Tuesday.
If you would like to join my 2010 New/Old Reading Challenge, it's not too late! Click here and here for more information. And remember, there are prizes involved if you join us!

Norman Conquest Day 2010

Before the battle

The Norman cavalry attacks the Saxon foot soldiers across the field of battle(You understand this cake is representative only?)




After the battle


Happy Norman Conquest Day 2010!
Visit my past Norman Conquest Day celebrations for 2008 and 2009.

What Am I Reading for My 2010 New/Old Reading Challenge?

Okay, I've selected my new read! It's Redemption: The story of Jonah , a historical novel by Susan Dayley.

Here's the back cover blurb:

It is the eighth century BC. No Hebrew will purposely venture into the Assyrian Empire, whose practice of barbarous slaughter casts a shadow of fear over all of Israel. But God calls Jonah, an Israelite prophet, to cry repentance to the evil empire's capital--the great and terrible city of Nineveh. Fearing the Assyrians and doubting the wisdom of the divine call, Jonah flees in the opposite direction. But in a series of miracles, God gives Jonah a second chance to obey.


Journey with Jonah in a wealth-lade ship of Tarshish, hear his prayers inside the belly of a great fish, witness his struggles working in a desert caravan, and feel his terror as he finally arrives in Nineveh. And while Jonah does eventually preach in the great city, the prophet still has some lessons to learn...


With historically accurate details, Redemption is a story of repentance, trust, and God's love for all his children.

I will share a Tuesday Teaser from Redemption on Tuesday.

If you would like to join my 2010 New/Old Reading Challenge, it's not too late! Click here and here for more information. And remember, there are prizes involved if you join us!

Tuesday Teaser

Tuesday Teaser is a weekly bookish meme (rhymes with "cream"), hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. (I've borrowed it from LDS Women's Book Review.) Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab your current readOpen to a random pageShare at least two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!
I'm adapting the rules slightly. I'll be quoting some random lines from the last chapter I read before I post of teaser. I'm a slow reader, so you may get multiple teasers per book. Here's my third teaser from  These Old Shades :
"Well, ma mie, what now?"
"Now it is just as it used to be," Léonie said wistfully, and sat down on a low stool beside the Duke's chair.
His Grace poured out a glass of wine, and looked down at Léonie with a questioning lift to his brows.
Léonie clasped her hands about her knees, and stared deep into the fire.
From  These Old Shades , by Georgette Heyer, p 241
(Actually, I finished this book Monday night. I probably could have finished sooner, but I kept re-reading my favorite parts over and over again. :-) I haven't picked my next read yet, so that's why you get a third teaser from this one.)
If you'd like to share a teaser from a book you're currently reading, I'd love you to do so in the comment section. And you don't even have to share it on a Tuesday! Be sure to include the title, author, and page number in case others would like to check out the book you're reading, too.