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Saul of Tarsus
Lin Wilder Author Interview
My Name Is Saul follows the life of the apostle Paul and expands his character. What was the inspiration that motivated you to write this compelling story?
I had planned to return to my Lindsey McCall mystery series after publishing, I, Claudia A Novel of the Ancient World, but then Saul-quite literally- showed up in my head.
Saul of Tarsus is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some themes that guided his character development?
It took me a while to recover from the implanted idea of writing a book about the Apostle of the Apostles. I wrote this in the afterword of the book: Upon completing my last novel, I was stunned to “hear” that my next book would be about St. Paul … Apostle of the Apostles. On more than one occasion, I complained to my husband that this was one of the most foolhardy efforts I had ever taken on. I could only console myself with the fact that it was not my idea but Someone Else’s. As I sat reeling from the implanted idea and began to research Saul of Tarsus, I grew more and more enthusiastic …excited, even. Perhaps I could penetrate the obscurity with which the early life of St. Paul is shrouded. How could I manage such a task? Because, as I continued to study, search, think, I realized that Saul of Tarsus is a man I get. Get as in, AHA! I know what certainty tastes like, and Saul of Tarsus was a man of certainty.
I enjoyed the well researched content in this book. What kind of research did you undertake to ensure the books accuracy?
In two words, a lot. But very quickly I realized that no one knew about the early life of Saul other than the barest of details. Most scholars did not even attempt to guess. That left me a vast open field of conjecture. There were a few books which were enormously helpful, particularly on the prayers of the time, Gamaliel and the Sanhedrin. I reference those at the end of the book.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Plausible Liars– A Dr. Lindsey McCall medical mystery, available late this year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
![My Name Is Saul: A Novel of the Ancient World by [Lin Wilder]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51AkxRZYVkL.jpg)
St. Paul the Apostle is a towering biblical figure, but almost nothing is known about his early life as Saul of Tarsus.
As death loomed over him at Mamertine Prison in Rome, under the watchful eye of his jailer and final follower Aurelius, he wrote:
I will die tomorrow. In the morning, around sunrise.
There are two things for which I am eminently grateful: That I have been permitted to have fought the good fight and finished the race marked out for me; and that I will not have to endure another winter in this place.
Starting from that pivotal moment, blending historical fact with audacious creativity, the author of the award-winning I, Claudia propels us back through the life of the man who would become St. Paul. Her vividly imagined, well-founded tale of loss, transformation, and divine intervention will captivate believers and non-believers alike who yearn for the human truth and drama behind the scriptures.
My Name Is Saul
Apart from brief mentions of the lives before, Sunday school and sermons rarely ever delve deep into an apostle’s life outside of his calling. This leaves a question of who the person was before they were called by God. My Name is Saul shines a light on the apostle and his life in prison. We get to see his true personality. He seems to have a handle of bleak humor which is seen throughout especially when he talks about his own death. This book is the biography of Apostle Saul of Tarsus. It is a deep dive into his early life and a chance to see that God will call you despite what or who you are.
One thing that stands out about this book is the depth of research that has gone into it. You can see it from the number of sources provided at the back. You can also see it from the amount of information provided. The author seems deeply invested in the subject with plenty of references to the Bible among other sources. This book gives readers a chance to see different dimensions of Saul before he was Paul. To understand his life as a father and husband. To understand his grief and his circling back to God. To some extent, to understand his astonishment of Aurelius.
The vivid manner in which this book is written has you right there with Saul, experiencing his life right beside him. This book grabs your attention right from the beginning. It keeps you hooked to the story and draws you to Saul both as a character and a person.
While this book can stand on its own, it seems to have the Bible as a prerequisite. It draws a lot from scripture and assumes that the reader has read the Bible. However, despite all of this you will find yourself wanting to know more about the story of Saul.
This is a story about loss, triumph and struggling with one’s faith. As Saul quotes, are we only to expect the good from God? This line right here stands out. It is from the first chapter and it unconsciously prepares you for what is to come. This book may help you understand a little more about loss, grief, acceptance, and everything in between. It will inspire you to appreciate your life for the days you lived and not give too much importance to the sufferings you underwent. In this and many other ways, Saul is inspiring. His story will renew your purpose and appreciation for life.
In these difficult times, a book like this is exactly what we need. A refreshing way of telling biblical stories. It lets you see Saul for the man he truly was.
Pages: 242 | ASIN: B0855GVTBW
Echoes of the Oracles
Lin Wilder Author Interview
I, Claudia follows the life of Claudia Procula wife of Pontius Pilate. What was the inspiration that made you want to write this book?
This book was not my idea. In fact, I planned to write the fifth in the Lindsey McCall series. Until a March day last year when this title and overall story appeared in my head. Pilate is a man with whom I began to feel a powerful affinity once I started praying the prayers of the Catholic Church. Not only could I sympathize with his awful dilemma, I felt that I could “stand under” it, having faced my own.
When Pilate was confronted with an impossible choice, he was wholly clear on the right action to take— and what was at stake if he didn’t— yet he was entirely incapable of bringing it to fruition. In his case, this was because of an oath. In my own, it was because of a promise.
You are able to weave fact with fiction in this book so well that it all seemed possible. How did you fill in the historical gaps with your story?
In bringing Pilate— and especially his bride— to life, I was moved to allow my imagination to embroider upon the little that is known about them. From the moment I began to conceive of this book, Claudia was Greek— a Delphine. Like anyone who has had the privilege of visiting Delphi, I found the place haunting and holy. There is mysticism in each pebble and echoes of the Oracles in the ruins of the temples. On a journey there alone, I could literally hear the whispered prayers of the ages as I made my way down through the crumbling ruins of the shrine. It is a sacred place. Claudia Procula could have been from no other place on earth. Giving Claudia a bit of a philosophical bent provided me with an excuse to revisit friends from a time when I believed in nothing.
The story is very well told and the world seems so vivid. What research did you undertake for this novel to keep things accurate?
The research necessary for this story, actually for every one of my books is considerable. Because I need to study and read enough to convey authenticity of character, place and time. Somewhere around a dozen books, scores of articles and many, many online virtual ‘tours’ of the ancient Roman, Israeli and Greek architecture, travel, geography, dress and cuisine.
Do you plan on writing other books in this blended fiction and historical fact format?
Yes, My Name is Saul; A Novel of the Ancient World is my next novel scheduled for release at the end of the year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
![I, Claudia: A Novel of the Ancient World by [Wilder, Lin]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51mVG37W5UL.jpg)
Claudia Procula–wife of one of the most controversial figures in ancient history–comes alive to twenty-first-century readers in a groundbreaking new novel by the award-winning author of the Lindsey McCall medical mystery series.
For decades, the daughter of the last Oracle at Delphi has suppressed the secrets of her birth, extensive education, and marriage to the notorious Fifth Prelate of Judea–Pontius PIlate. Now, at age seventy-nine, she feels compelled to leave behind her story for the world and set the record straight about the beginnings of modern history.
He has had his arms raised for how many hours now? Shouldn’t there be a Joshua to help this Moses? I suppressed a smile at my wittiness, knowing better than to voice the thought aloud. My ladies would be shocked by my allusion to the great Jewish prophet. Well aware of my reputation as an empty-headed nitwit among those who served my husband, such low expectations had served me well. Best to maintain the fiction.
In a surprising change of genre and style, Wilder brings her extensive research and wide-ranging imagination to bear on the seminal story of our time: the passion of the Christ. The result is a compelling and harrowing love story replete with historical figures such as Seneca, Socrates, and Pilate himself. It is sure to captivate both believers and skeptics alike, and remain in readers’ minds long after the last page is turned.
The Story is Apocalyptic
Lin Wilder Author Interview
Malthus Revisited is a genre-crossing novel with elements of science fiction, thriller, and religion as well. Did you start writing with this in mind, or did this happen organically as you were writing?
It’s interesting that you see elements of science fiction in Malthus. I have not been read that comment from another reviewer nor did I see it as science fiction while writing it. When I began the story, the main character, Dr. Lindsey McCall was well established because this is the 4th in the medical mystery series. The antagonist had been very briefly introduced in the previous novel, A Price for Genius. To me, the story is apocalyptic, ergo the title, even dystopian. The religion… well, I am a midlife convert and know well what life without faith feels like, so religion is a part of every story I write.
Some things in the book come off as possible, if not already happening. Did you take any inspiration from real life when developing this book?
My background is academic medicine and public health so yes much of what is in the book is not just possible but probable.
How did you create Lindsey and Rich’s characters in a way that contrasted yet still supported the characters development?
Although I never planned to write a series when I wrote the first Lindsey and Rich novel, The Fragrance Shed by A Violet, that first story cemented them in my mind. In each of the subsequent books they have enjoyed taking me on their roller coaster lives.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be published?
I, Claudia A Novel of the Ancient World was published in December of last year.
Currently I am writing, My Name is Saul also a novel of the ancient world. I expect it to be published by the end of this year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
![Malthus Revisited: The Cup of Wrath (Lindsey McCall Medical Mystery Book 4) by [Wilder, Lin]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51uB8Ideo9L.jpg)
Eighteen-year-old Morgan Gardner did not seem like someone who could save the world—unless you took the time to notice her eyes. And most people didn’t.
Morgan’s exceptional gifts were known only to her and to the animals she could understand better than people. For a long time, she told no one about her nightmares. Embarrassed and afraid that no one would believe her, Morgan waited until it was almost too late. Then she confided in her mom’s best friend, Dr. Lindsey McCall.
Lindsey and her husband Rich had worked hard to reestablish their lives and careers after their last harrowing escapade. Relocated in a beautiful California home and newly reunited with Lindsey’s biological daughter LJ, all seemed to be going smoothly—until an enemy from their past returned with as deadly a plan as they could imagine.
The fourth novel in Lin Wilder’s popular Lindsey McCall series is her best one yet—combining the innovative medical research her readers have come to admire with a new and terrifying threat to the world’s population: a biological timebomb. Vivid characters old and new rampage across the continents of Europe, Asia, and the U.S. to stop the contagion, picking up steam as they head toward a life-or-death climax in the remote Qinghai province of China.
Malthus Revisited adds a dystopian element to Wilder’s evolving Lindsey McCall mystery series, and is guaranteed to captivate both her loyal fans and eager newcomers to its last riveting page.
I, Claudia: A Novel of the Ancient World
The somewhat untold fictional story based on real historical events during one of the most infamous times in human history. This novel explores the story of the persecution of Jesus Christ from the perspective of the wife of the man who ultimately sentenced him to death, Pontius Pilate.
This story does a fantastic job of showing that despite history painting Pilate as a villain, he was actually a very wise and valiant man who, with the support of his patient and earnest philosophical wife Claudia, did everything to try and save Jesus from the High priests.
This story is a fantastic retelling of one of the most famous times in history. You get to explore the rise of Pontius Pilate and see the human side of him that the gospels leave mainly untold. Plus, much of the story focuses on his wife and her upbringing and events that led her to becoming the woman beside one of the most vilified rulers in the bible.
This story goes into the heart and mind of the man history has held responsible for the fall of the son of god, and the woman who many believed sat idly by and allowed it to happen. Whilst being technically historical fiction, the plot line and events are very believable and with the fantastic background stories of the main characters being explained properly, you begin to really connect with Pontius and Claudia very early on.
There is a good dose of suspense and romance sprinkled through the adventure and by the end of it you actually feel genuine sorrow for Claudia and Pontius Pilate because the author did such a remarkable job of making these historical villains into suffering humans just like all of us.
With the weight of the world on their shoulders, they managed to make the right decisions time after time and you are rooting for them the entire way through the story, hoping for them to succeed and not let the problems of the Empire destroy the idealistic world they created.
Pages: 301 | ASIN: B07LB8NKN4
Malthus Revisited
A threat that most readers can see as a real possibility considering how far science and technology has progressed. Coupled with down to earth characters that you feel a real connection to make this book an outstanding ‘end of world’ saga that has your heart racing right till the end. While overtly spiritual in it’s plot, even the most atheist person could come to enjoy this story because it is a masterful blend of science and religion. With horrifying villains and inspiring heroes plus a few characters who you are never quite sure of which side of the good versus evil fight they stand on, this story is well worth the read.
This book takes a little while to explain how the prologue fits into the narrative but after you see how it all comes together and with various chapters outlining the back stories of the various characters, you begin to understand why the author took time in slowly building toward the most eventful parts of the story.
Once you understand how everything fits together, it takes you on an edge of your seat ride where you wonder how things will turn out. Each character has their part to play and readers get to see both the best and worst aspects of each character, which allows you to become invested in their adventure more deeply than you usually would for a fictional story.
There are a few repeated phrases and words that could have been left out or replaced with a simplified explanation but the intensity of the plot line and anxiety inducing obstacles that are thrown in the way of the main characters do enough to make you forget these minor annoyances.
If you want a thrilling story that takes you to the depths of what an evil mind can cause in this world with the excitement of whether the heroes can triumph. This is a book for you.
My best piece of advice to any would be reader is to make sure you don’t give up on the slow build up toward the real plot because it is well worth the wait and actually helps you understand and feel more invested in the entire story.
Pages: 317 | ASIN: B078LWJ632
LITERARY TITAN 