Blog Archives
Eden, Divided
Steven Marks’s Eden, Divided is a thoughtful reimagining of Adam and Eve’s fall that treats temptation as a slow fracture rather than a single reckless choice. The novel begins with Eden in radiant harmony, where Adam and Eve live without shame, suspicion, or any sense that love might require protection. When the serpent first approaches Eve, she recognizes the deception and refuses it. That refusal becomes the book’s most intriguing decision, since the serpent must find subtler ways to unsettle the couple. Instead of relying on obvious hunger for the forbidden fruit, he introduces comparison, possessiveness, private thoughts, and the idea that a person might keep part of themselves separate from those who love them.
Marks spends much of the novel exploring how these small inward changes reshape Adam and Eve’s relationship. A touch becomes a claim. A private thought becomes something deliberately withheld. Admiration begins to mingle with jealousy, while individuality starts to feel like isolation. Adam and Eve remain loving and deeply devoted, which makes their growing distance more affecting. Their conversations give the story its emotional center, especially when they sense that something has changed but lack the experience to understand it. The book’s version of sin is closely tied to division, not only division from God, but division within the self and between two people who were created to live openly with one another.
The novel recalls C. S. Lewis’s Perelandra, another story that expands the biblical temptation into a sustained psychological and spiritual struggle. Lewis presents temptation as an intellectual siege, while Marks brings it closer to the emotional patterns of a marriage. His serpent succeeds by teaching Adam and Eve to reinterpret love as ownership and vulnerability as danger. The lush, reverent descriptions of Eden also carry something of Lewis’s sense of creation as spiritually alive, though Marks’s style is more intimate and meditative. Readers who enjoy biblical fiction, theological speculation, or character-driven stories about trust will find plenty to discuss here.
At times, the deliberately elevated prose and repeated attention to subtle emotional shifts slow the pace, but that patience is central to the book’s purpose. Marks wants the reader to feel every degree of separation before the fruit is finally taken, so the familiar ending arrives with renewed weight. By the time Adam and Eve hide, blame one another, and leave the garden, their exile feels like the physical completion of a division that has been growing for many chapters. Eden, Divided is ultimately a sorrowful story about how love can remain real after innocence is gone, and how truth, trust, and mercy become choices once they’re no longer effortless.
Pages: 412 | ASIN : B0D6W6LXHK
Redemption Over Shame
A Certain Man is a searing, lyrical reimagining of the woman at the well, following a fierce Samaritan woman’s battle for freedom, faith, and healing in a world that seeks to break her. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Actually, the inspiration came from the phrase that Jesus used to start several parables. “There was a certain man…” There are Bible scholars who teach that this was a sign to those listening that He was about to speak a true story of real people. I began to contemplate who these people would have been and what their back story would be. So the kernel of the story actually began with Samuel. Then my imaginings expanded to who he would have loved.
How did you balance historical authenticity with creative liberty, especially in reimagining familiar Gospel moments?
I never want to sacrifice Scripture for story. So when Jesus is “onstage” in the Bible, I do not add to His words. But, for instance, the Bible says that Jesus stayed in Samaria for two days after He met the woman at the well. So then this period is open for fiction. Even so, I am careful that He does not teach something that is not found elsewhere in scripture. Sometimes, like the encounter with the woman at the well, the narrative is very sparse and seems to jump from topic to topic. So here I used Mara’s thoughts to try to “fill out” the story. Jesus of course knows her thoughts and answers her. The challenge is to stay authentic to the intent and meaning of scripture without making Jesus a two-dimensional character. He was fully human and fully divine… and that is compelling.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The book explores themes of faithfulness, loyalty, and freedom particularly for women in a culture that often considered them chattel. Further, the hero and heroine must learn to forgive others and each other, choose good over evil, and redemption over shame.
Mara’s journey is steeped in trauma and spiritual transformation. How did you approach writing those darker, more intimate scenes?
The times of the Bible were scandalous and treacherous. While I did not want to include any gratuitous violence or sexuality, I did want the story to ring true in a tasteful way that dealt with very real issues. While there are humorous and lighter moments I wanted the reader to be brought into the times as they were. I believe “there is nothing new under the sun” and that the struggles of my characters to speak to hearts today.
The woman at the well has often been considered to be a loose woman, a harlot. But Jesus says she had five husbands. It is only the sixth man who is not her husband. What would make her give up on marriage, give up the security of a husband supporting and protecting her? I tried to read between the lines of scripture and use research of the time period to flesh out a plausible back story for each of my characters.
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Connecting the Ancient and Modern Worlds
Pompeii Fire features two enthralling romances, one set in ancient Pompeii and the other set in modern times. What was the inspiration that created the fantastic journey your characters go on?
Right before the pandemic, in January 2020, I took advantage of an opportunity to visit Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Naples. I realized that there were stories to be told; every character in the ancient part of the book is based on either a documented person (like Stephanus, the fuller) or a set of remains. I wanted to give voices to them. I also wanted to connect the ancient world to the modern one, to show that people are not so very different, no matter what era we’re in. We all want to live safely, have enough food and water, good shelter, and loving relationships. Making Damiano and Stephanus analogous to Drusilla and Suetonius allowed me to make that tie.
What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
Suetonius was difficult; I had to really delve into the world of gladiatorial sport, and it definitely wasn’t a pretty picture. I had to deal with enslavement, violence, and the social mores of Ancient Rome, which are far different than those of the present day. By the same token, I loved writing Drusilla; she lives within the strictures of her time but knows there is more out there. She dares to dream of something more than marrying her father’s friend (most marriages during this time period were arranged, with the bride being as young as 12 or 13 years old and the groom usually much older).
What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
I believe that every character is the hero in his or her own story. No one does things without a reason. So, even when they’re not a good person, such as how I portrayed Stephanus, they aren’t behaving from a place of evil. Now, for all I know, Stephanus could have been the nicest guy in Pompeii; he was a freedman who owned the fullonica, which is where clothes were cleaned, and he had a great deal of money. His motivation is that he doesn’t want to be told “no” ever again. So, he behaves accordingly. The main guideline I followed was “How would an ordinary person have behaved in this circumstance?” After all, these characters are not nobles at court, or senators; they’re merchants and slaves, for the most part. However, I also wanted them to experience a full range of emotions.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
I’m working on two projects right now. “Second Chance in Shalbourne” is the follow-on to my award-winning contemporary romance, “Rose in Bloom.” “Highland Fire,” which will take place in both modern-day and 1690s Scotland, is in the research phase right now. Look for both of them in 2024.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Drusilla was the woman of his dreams. Suetonius swore his eternal devotion to the merchant’s daughter.
A gladiator’s word is his bond.
Present Day
Classics professor Damiano De Luca feels ridiculous in the gladiator costume he wears after losing a bet, and seeing Stephanie Marlowe waiting in line outside the Pompeii Archaeological Park makes him feel even worse. She’s gorgeous … and looks so familiar. Without thinking, the handsome Italian addresses Stephanie in the old tongue: “Salve, Drusilla.”
Her reply? “Salve, Thraex.”
Through untold disaster in the recesses of time and up to the present day, Dom and Stephanie must discover the truth about Pompeii Fire.
Pompeii Fire
Pompeii, a remarkable time capsule, has long captivated historians, archaeologists, and the everyday explorer alike. The city’s haunting remnants, depicting residents frozen in their final moments by a devastating volcanic eruption, have been the muse for numerous tales. Among the throngs of visitors drawn to this poignant destination is Stephanie, a travel journalist, whose adventure in Pompeii leads her to an incredible discovery.
Pompeii Fire, by Sharon E. Cathcart, seamlessly intertwines two enthralling love stories – one set in the modern era, and the other in ancient Pompeii. As Stephanie delves into Italy’s post-pandemic landscape, she finds herself entranced by a charismatic historian. Simultaneously, readers are transported to ancient Pompeii, where a young maiden’s heart is stolen by a dashing gladiator. Is there a mystical thread binding these two romances? Can both couples secure their fairy-tale endings, or will unforeseen circumstances thwart their aspirations?
Cathcart’s evocative language and vivid settings conjure images of a sun-soaked holiday romance. Targeted at young adults, this book can best be likened to the warm embrace of a Hallmark film. While the narrative may tread familiar romantic pathways, it doesn’t detract from its charm, making it an idyllic escapist read. With its emphasis on the nuances of affection over explicit intimacy, it’s a refreshingly chaste romantic tale, perfect for those seeking a gentle, heartwarming journey.
Pompeii Fire is a delightful respite from the everyday hustle, immersing readers in a world of timeless love and enchantment. Highly recommended for those desiring a light, enchanting escape.
Pages: 159 | ASIN : B0CGHPTNCD
