I am pleased as can be to announce that
Jewel of Persia is the pick for an online book club for the month of November! It’s at
Reading to Know, and everyone is welcome to check it out and join in. =)
So to celebrate, my friend Annette (who is responsible for JoP being the November pick–thanks, Annette!) and I decided to offer a joint giveaway and chat about the book. So
here on my blog, I am giving away TWO (2) digital copies of Jewel of Persia. To be entered, just leave a comment below.
To be entered for the one (1) print version being given away, enter on Annette’s blog, This Simple Home.
Got that? Commenting here = entries ONLY for the digitals, and commenting there gets an entry ONLY for the print. You’re welcome to enter for both, but cannot win both, LOL. We will have a total of 3 separate winners; international entries are eligible only for the digitals. All winners will be drawn on Tuesday, October 23. (My little girl’s birthday, as it happens *grins*.)
Okay, technical stuff is complete. =) Now onto the fun!
As my loyal readers undoubtedly know already (all five of you, LOL), I wrote
Jewel of Persia for a few reasons. First, my agent at the time recommended I follow up my first biblical,
A Stray Drop of Blood, with another of the same genre. So as I was contemplating biblical stories I love, I kept coming back to Esther. Esther has always been my absolute favorite Bible story. But let’s face it–it’s been done. And done again. And done some more. And…
I knew that if I was going to write a novel based on Esther, it would have to be different. Very different from what was already out there. So I got to thinking about my way of writing historicals–namely, to have my heroine be fictional, but interacting with historical figures. Why not do the same here? But who else could it be about?
I was in the shower pondering this, thinking back on the Esther story, when a line from a Vacation Bible School skit about Esther that I’d written sprang to mind–about how if she hadn’t gained the favor of the king after her first night with him, she would have gone to the harem as just another wife.
Just . . . another . . . wife. Hmm. That was it! One of the other wives! And so Kasia was born, and her story as Esther’s best friend and Xerxes’ favorite before Esther joined the harem churned its way to life in my brain. Then in a whirlwind two days, I pounded out the first five chapters. And I knew I was in love–but needed to refresh myself on some research.
One of my favorite things about
Jewel of Persia is that it allowed me to join together two awesome things–the book of Esther from the Bible, and one of the Greek histories that I had to read in college but never dreamed I’d put to use afterward,
Histories by Herodotus. Herodotus details the Greco-Persian war as waged by Xerxes, who most scholars agree is same king known as Ahaseurus in the Bible. I wasn’t entirely convinced they were one and the same going in, but as I did my research, it really started to make sense. The timelines clicked together perfectly, and so did the personalities described in both Esther and
Histories. Both kings even had this habit of offering cities to those who pleased him, “up to half my kingdom.” Perfect!
Jewel of Persia is by no means a simple story, nor is it the Esther story you think you know. For any who haven’t read it yet, I’ll warn you of that up front–Esther is an important character, she is a lovable character, she is an upright and inspiring character. But she is not the
main character, and most of the negative reviews I’ve gotten have been from people who didn’t want an Esther story where Esther wasn’t in the spotlight. Which I can respect. But that’s just not what this book is. So be forewarned. 😉
And because JoP has
so much history woven in, I have put together a
Companion Guide to detail where fact ends and fiction begins, delve more into the cultural tidbits, the histories of the factual characters, and as an excuse to post more of the awesome pictures of the cover model in costume. 😉
I was going to list the blog entries where I talk about this stuff too, but it occurs to me that they’re almost identical to the Companion Guide, so I’ll save us all some time. 😉 And instead, share some of the reader feedback that has made many a day for me.
Thank you so much for writing “Jewel of
Persia”! My women’s Bible study group just finished Beth Moore’s study
on Esther and I found your book such a wonderful companion read. The
ties to historical events added even more depth to the Biblical account,
especially as to how events may have lead to Esther’s rise to the
palace – in such a time as this. The ending was true to what we learned
during our in-depth study and I am finding it hard to concentrate on
real life around me now!
Hi Roseanna,
I just wanted to tell you how much your books have blessed me. I
just discovered you as an author and I think these are among the best
books I have ever read! (and I read a lot) I just wish there were more
of them. I read A Stray Drop of Blood and the Jewel of Persia, and now I
am telling all of my friends and family about these books and you as an
author. I cannot wait to go buy your newest book. Thank you so much
for listening to the voice of the Lord as He obviously inspires your
writing. You are a blessing, thank you!!
Greetings Roseanna!! I just finished
reading A Stray Drop of Blood and I have to tell you that I loved it so
much that I was sad when it was over! I so enjoyed being transported
back in time for that wonderful story. It almost felt as if the
characters were a part of my life for the 3 days it took me to read it! I
am now halfway through Jewel of Persia and completely loving it as
well!! Blessings to you and your God-given talent for writing. I told
all of my friends about your extraordinary fiction! PLEASE WRITE MORE
BOOKS!!!
So remember, leave a comment HERE to be entered to win a digital, at
This Simple Home to be entered to win a print, and check out
Reading to Know in November to join in the discussion!
Void where prohibited. Entry into the contest is considered
verification of eligibility based on your local laws. Chance of winning
depends on number of entries. Contest ends 10/23/12. Winner will have one
week to claim prize.
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. 
And our winners are Joanne and Ticia! Contacting you ladies now. =)
OF COURSE PEOPLE LOVE THIS BOOK!!! They love it because you are an amazingly awesomely talented writer! And one day people are going to be saying, "Have you read Roseanna White's latest book? I love all 89 books that she's written. I can't wait for more!!"
HI Roseanna….thanks for the chance to put your masterpiece on my Kindle…it will have a lovely home there 🙂
karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
I love the idea of a companion guide. Count me in for a copy of JEWEL OF PERSIA thank you, it looks wonderful.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Roseanna,
I've been wanting to read Jewel of Persia for a long time, but I haven't gotten around to it. In other words…I would love to be entered in the contest! I hope that your little girl has a Great Birthday!!
-Abby
I would love to be entered – this book sounds amazing! 🙂
I hope I win, I'm entering both places!
I would like to enter! I have been wanting to read this book for a long time.
Don't enter me as I have an e-copy and print already 🙂
I just wanted to say that next to Francine Rivers' Mark of the Lion Series, Roseanna writes the BEST Biblical Fiction! If you haven't read A Stray Drop of Blood or Jewel of Persia, YOU ARE MISSING OUT!
~Anne
I just loved hearing how you came up with how you came up with JoP…AND I really do like the idea of Esther being a secondary character. Can't wait to read it!
Here from Simple Home and this book sounds wonderful. I'd love to read it!
You KNOW how much I loved that book. I actually LOVED that it was not predominantly about Esther. I didn't know there was a companion guide! Definitely checking that out – and please enter me for the ebook. Please.