The author of more than 100 published books and with nearly 5 million copies of her books sold worldwide, Angela Hunt is the New York Times bestselling author of The Note, The Nativity Story, and Esther: Royal Beauty. Romantic Times Book Club presented Angela with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. In 2008, Angela completed her PhD in biblical studies in theology.
In this interview, Angela talks with us about her latest Biblical fiction novel, The Apostle’s Sister.
FF: Can you please provide a summary of your new novel The Apostle’s Sister?
This novel, the fourth in the Jerusalem Road Series, is about Paul’s sister. The Bible mentions her, so I imagined what her life must have been like. Did she also follow Jesus? Or did she remain skeptical like so many others?
FF: What research did you have to do to write in this era?
I’ve written quite a few first-century novels now, so the only additional research I had to do was more about Paul . . . and ancient music, because Paul’s sister is a singer.
FF: What inspired you to write about a character torn between the battle of two faiths?
I’m always interested when the Bible speaks of women because it often overlooks their activities. Paul’s sister and nephew took action that saved his life, so that was the starting point for me.
FF: How did your faith impact writing about such an intense time in Biblical history?
As always, writing about these characters challenges me. We have it so much easier than they did—we have the New Testament, we are generally familiar with the story of Christ, but so few were in those days. They were just beginning to understand the theology behind Christ’s life and mission, and it’s fascinating to see how the Spirit led and taught them.
FF: What do you hope your readers take away from this story?
First, I hope they’re entertained. A novel seeks to evoke emotion and involve the reader first and foremost. Second, I hope they enjoy learning about what life was like in the years after Christ’s resurrection.
FF: As Aya is someone who loves an apostle but does not share his faith, what do you hope the fresh perspective of the character brings to the story of the apostles?
Too often modern readers don’t understand why some of the first-century Jews were so slow to come to faith. We forget that the Jews at the time, so entrenched in the form of their religion, couldn’t see the reason why Jesus came along and broke so much of the form while keeping the intention pure. He turned their worlds upside down.
FF: What do you love most about writing novels in the Biblical fiction genre?
I love learning new things.
The Apostle’s Sister
Jerusalem Road Series #4
Angela Hunt
Bethany House
Genres: Historical Romance, Biblical Fiction
Release Date: June 7, 2022
ISBN-10: 0764233874
ISBN-13: 978-0764233876
Book Summary:
She’s always longed for more, but what if the path she’s chosen requires more than she’s willing to give?
Aya, daughter of Zebulun of Tarsus, does not want a traditional life. After years of being overshadowed by her brilliant brother Sha’ul, she wants a chance to use her own gifts beyond being a wife and mother. When her father insists that she marry a Torah student, she reluctantly agrees.
A dedicated scholar, Sha’ul, or Paul, returns to Tarsus to follow the instructions of the Law and wed the woman his father has chosen to raise his profile and help him earn a seat on the Great Sanhedrin–the highest religious court in the land. But when the Nazarene, Yeshua, and his followers bring trouble to the Holy City, Sha’ul will stop at nothing to silence them.
After moving to Jerusalem with her husband, Aya expects to be bored in her role as wife to a Torah student. Instead, she finds herself fascinated by his studies. Then her brother makes a life-altering decision, and she must face a troubling question: Can she remain true to her beliefs and still love her blasphemous brother?
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