Stephanie Landsem {Writer Wednesday}

A little bit about Stephanie...

Stephanie Landsem, author of The Living Water Series, writes historical fiction because she loves adventure in far-off times and places. In real life, she’s explored ancient ruins, medieval castles, and majestic cathedrals around the world. Stephanie is equally happy at home in Minnesota with her husband, four children, and three fat cats. When she’s not writing, she’s feeding the ravenous horde, avoiding housework, and dreaming about her next adventure—whether it be in person or on the page.

How to connect with Stephanie...

Website: www.stephanielandsem.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6509583.Stephanie_Landsem
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephanielandsem  
Twitter:https://twitter.com/#!/stephlandsem
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/slandsem/
Purchase: The Tomb: A Novel of Martha (The Living Water Series)

Author Interview | Stephanie Landsem

You and Writing

What is one book or resource you would recommend to other writers? Why?
...I love using maps in my research. I’m very visual and maps—whether a modern arial view of the Jordan river or an ancient hand-drawn map of Jerusalem—give me a firm grounding in my setting. I couldn’t visualize my story without them. 

...I just found a great map website that I could explore for hours, The David Rumsey Historic Map collection can be found here http://www.davidrumsey.com/home. Another fun map website is Old Maps Online: http://project.oldmapsonline.org/ I’d highly recommend spending some time with them as you plot and write.

Your Writing

Tell us a little bit about your book.
...I like to describe the Tomb, A Novel of Martha, as a surprising story of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. As I say in an introductory letter at the front of the book:

The Tomb: A Novel of Martha is not an attempt to recount the historical events that took place in Bethany two thousand years ago. Instead, it is a re-imagining of how Martha, a woman who was “anxious and worried about many things,” might have been transformed into the faith-filled woman of John 11:22, who said to Jesus—as her brother lay in his tomb—“Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”

We’ll never know Martha’s true story. Instead, I hope to bring to you her message: no matter what sins and doubts haunt our pasts, we can lay our worries and anxieties at Jesus’ feet, and he will, in return, give us “the better part.”

Who is your favorite character and why?
...Like many women, I’ve always identified with Martha—the worrier, the worker—and as I suspected, she was my favorite character to write about in The Tomb. I loved exploring what made her so anxious because many women have some of the same hurts and worries in their lives that they try to alleviate with busyness. We find it hard to ‘sit at the feet of Jesus’ and truly accept the better part from him.

What is one take-away from your book that you hope readers identify with?
...I hope that my readers can see themselves in Martha. Martha was like many women: full of doubt, worried, and haunted by her past. Jesus met her where she was—in her doubt and pain and anxiety. Through him, she was able to grow in strength and faith and finally profess her firm belief in Jesus even in the face of her brother’s death.

You

Favorite writing snack: 
...Peanut Butter M&Ms

Book you’re reading right now: 
...The Crimson Cord: Rahab's Story by Jill Eileen Smith

If you could go anywhere in the world for one month (for free) where would it be and why?
...My dream trip is a month-long tour of New Zealand with my family. We are huge LOTR nerds!

Leave a comment below to enter to win a copy of The Tomb, A Novel of Martha! 

(US entrants only, winner announced April 6)

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Thank you so much for being on the blog today Stephanie! I love your advice about maps. I've found myself working on a little side project working on what I'd call a "light" historical and I'm searching for maps all over the place! I'll need to take a look at those links. I also love your take on Mary and Martha's story (and let's not forget Lazrus). It's the beauty of fiction to take something that was and write what could have been! And, I am 100% with you on the New Zealand choice! I myself am a huge LOTR fan so I identify there ;)

Stephanie Landsem {Writer Wednesday}

A little bit about Stephanie...

Stephanie writes historical fiction because she loves adventure in far-off times and places. In real life, she's explored ancient ruins, medieval castles, and majestic cathedrals around the world. Stephanie is equally happy at home in Minnesota with her husband, four children, and three fat cats. When she's not writing, she's feeding the ravenous horde, avoiding housework, and dreaming about her next adventure - whether it be in person or on the page. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and was a finalist for the ACFW Genesis contest in 2011. She then received a 3-book contract with Howard Books a few months following that.

How to connect with Stephanie...
Check out her Facebook author page
See her style and creativity on Pinterest
Follow her on twitter
Connect with her on Goodreads

Author Interview | Stephanie Landsem

You & Writing
Tell us a little bit about yourself: How did you start writing? What has kept you writing?
...The answer to both questions is: my kids. When my youngest daughter went into kindergarten, my oldest girl said, “Mom, what do YOU want to do?” I told her that I’d always wanted to write historical fiction, but I didn’t even know how to begin. She said, “Just figure it out, like you’re always telling us to do.” And she was right. It took many years, and I’m still figuring it out every day. And I’d say the kids keep me writing. They are a great encouragement and my biggest fans.

Your Writing
Tell us a little bit about your book or what you’re working on currently? Why are you/did you write it?
...I’m currently working on the second book in The Living Water Series, titled The Thief. Like The Well, I wanted to write about an encounter with Jesus, told from the viewpoint of a fictional character. The Thief is about a Roman centurion looking for peace and a prickly Jewish woman hiding a dangerous secret. An encounter with Jesus at the pool of Siloam, where Jesus gives a blind man his sight, changes both their lives.
Do you have a favorite character in this work? If so, why?
...I’d say my favorite character in The Thief is a Roman centurion named Longinus. We meet him in The Well, and he is pretty unlikeable. It was a challenge to develop his character and turn him into someone we grow to love by the end of this book.

Writing
Where do you find inspiration for your story/characters? Are they based on real life or pure imagination or both?
...I find great inspiration in the Bible, of course. So much is left out that it just begs me to fill in the blanks, and that’s where my imagination comes in. Many of my characters are drawn from people I’ve met in my travels, and some from my friends. I have a huge family, so I enjoy writing about the ups and downs of familial relationships.
When you write, what is your overall intention with your stories?
...My greatest wish would be for my readers to gain an authentic perspective of what it would have been like to live in Biblical times: to see the places Jesus walked, taste the food he might have eaten, and meet the people of his time. I’d love to help readers look at the familiar Bible stories with new eyes.

You
What is one thing you like to do to relax when you aren’t writing?
...I enjoy cooking, which is a good thing since I have four kids at home and three of them are teenagers! I love to try new recipes and my current favorite is Middle Eastern flavors. Lamb, couscous, feta, hummus, and olives are staples at my house this summer.

Thinking of Fathers Day, is there a story you’d like to share with the readers about your father?
...My dad is pretty awesome. For example, when I was in college, I called him and told him I wanted to change my major from chemistry to history. Dad, a man of few words, didn’t say what I knew he was thinking. What kind of job can a history major get? No, what he said was, “Do you love it?” And I answered, “Yes, I really love it.” After a long silence, in which I’m sure he was wondering if I’d be moving back in with him and Mom in three years, he said. “Then do it. Worry about the rest as it comes.” I’ve always been grateful to him for that.

What is one thing you are looking forward to for the Summer?
...I have one child finishing her first year of college and so I’m looking forward to the whole family being together again for a few months. Teenagers are busy, but we’ll have plenty of family time: going to church together, meals, movies, and plenty of time outside after a long Minnesota winter.

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Thank you so much for this great interview Stephanie and congratulations on your first release - The Well June 4th. I love that your kids were the influence it took to get you (and keep you) writing! How wonderful! I also love what you said about our dad. My dad is the same way - always supportive and encouraged me major in Music and Youth Ministry even though the obvious question was What job will you get? Can't wait to hear more about your future writing and thanks for being my guest!