Golden Keyes Parsons and Free Books!

Four nameless women in the Gospels encounter Jesus, and their lives are radically changed.

Before we visit today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Wishing on Buttercups, by Miralee Ferrell, is:

followsjc@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll email you today to get your mailing address, and we'll get your book to you right away. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's revisit with Golden Keyes Parsons, author of Hidden Faces: Portraits of Nameless Women in the Gospels (WhiteFire Publishing, April 2014).

Golden Keyes Parsons writes historical fiction, and is also a popular retreat/conference speaker. Her highly acclaimed Darkness to Light Series (Thomas Nelson Publishing) chronicled the journey of her French Huguenot ancestors in 17th century France. Her fourth novel, His Steadfast Love, is a Civil War novel set in Texas. Her latest release is a compilation of biblical fiction novellas, Hidden Faces: Portraits of Nameless Women in the Gospels.

Golden lives in Waco, TX, with her husband, Blaine, where they enjoy their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and are avid sports fan of their alma mater, Baylor University.

Please tell us three random things we might not know about you.

-- I am legally blind in my left eye.

-- I was a major tomboy growing up.

-- I am a classically trained pianist, and wish I’d had the privilege of playing in an orchestra.

A tomboy pianist. I like that.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Hidden Faces.

In the Gospels we find Jesus ministering life and healing to various women who have remained obscure and nameless for two thousand years. However, the life-changing encounters between Jesus Christ and the adulterous woman, the woman at the well, the woman who anointed Jesus’s feet, and the woman with the issue of blood contain timeless truths and offer eternal hope for women today who may feel obscure and nameless as well.

What is it about your lead characters that will make your readers care about them?

Since this is a compilation, there are four lead characters, so that presents a somewhat of a challenge to answer your question. ☺ However the one thread that runs through the stories of the four women in Hidden Faces is the fact that although they were nameless, anonymous, their stories of how Jesus met their needs are some of the most beloved accounts in the Gospels. Each one of them had flaws common to all of us—sickness, poor choices, victims of life’s circumstances, even immorality.

But when they brought those needs to Jesus, He gave their lives meaning: forgiveness for the adulterous woman who made poor choices; acceptance for the woman at the well who had lived a lifetime of rejection; approval for the woman who crossed cultural lines to worship Jesus and anoint Him; and healing for the woman with the issue of blood.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

I‘ve heard authors say they hate this question, but I love thinking about this. I suppose it’s because I am a visual learner. So thank you for asking.

I loved what Jim Caveziel did with role of Jesus in The Passion of Christ, so I would pick him to play Jesus.




To play, Anna, the adulterous woman, I think I would pick Scarlett Johansson. My Anna is young, and being a betrothed virgin, I picture an innocence about her. To me Scarlett Johansson has that unique combination of sultry and innocence, which she played so well in The Girl With The Pearl Earring.


For Marah, the woman at the well, who had to be older since she’d had five husbands, I’d like to see someone like Sigorney Weaver



or Susan Sarandon.



Julia Roberts would be perfect as Tirzah, the woman who anointed Jesus’s feet.



And Sandra Bullock as Zahavah, the woman with the issue of blood. (By the way, Zahavah in Hebrew is my own name, Golden.) ☺



What kind of brainstorming do you do for your stories, and whose help do you incorporate?

I ask all the “What if…” questions I can think of, usually to my husband. I brainstorm with my critique group and beta reader. And I read other historical fiction authors, and watch movies. I get a ton of ideas from movies.

What is the last novel you read that you would recommend?

I am just now reading Diana Galbadon’s Outlander series. So many people have remarked that I write much like her, and our youngest daughter is such a fan and had urged me for years to read it, that I finally relented. I’m flattered that the comparison has been made of my writing to hers.

I would recommend the series because Galbadon creates such vivid characters. I really care about Claire and Jamie and want to know what’s going to happen to them.

And it’s a time travel, which I always find intriguing—trying to make sense out of something that makes no sense!

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a Christmas story that is not your usual “feel good” holiday story. It has a bit of intrigue and mystery, but a good ending. It’s almost finished and hopefully my agent can start shopping it soon.

Where else can readers find you online?

My website is www.goldenkeyesparsons.com. Please visit. It’s new, and we’ve been working really hard to get it up and running. I’d love your comments.
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Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

I’m really interested in what your readers consider makes Christian fiction Christian. What do they want in Christian fiction that they don’t find in the general market? Do they read only Christian fiction, or do they read general market as well?

Thanks for the opportunity to be with you, Trish. Blessings!

Thank you, Golden, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Golden has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, May 19. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Golden's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interviews with James Rubart and Katy Lee, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of the post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of the book.

Also, I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.