Defending David review and interview

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Defending David by Barbara M. Britton, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Defending David
Series: Tribes of Israel
Author: Barbara M. Britton
Publisher: Pelican Book Group (Harbourlight Books)
Release Date: February 25, 2022
Genre: Christian Historical Biblical Fiction

When a quiet journey to Jerusalem turns tragic, newly orphaned Rimona must flee a kinsman set on selling her as a slave. Racing into the rocky hills outside of Hebron, Rimona is rescued by a Philistine commander journeying to Jerusalem with six-hundred warriors.

Exiled commander, Ittai the Gittite, is seeking refuge in the City of David. Protecting a frantic Hebrew woman is not in his leadership plan. Although, having a nobleman’s niece in his caravan might prove useful for finding shelter in a foreign land.

Rimona and Ittai arrive in Jerusalem on the eve of a rebellion. In the chaos of an heir’s betrayal, will they be separated forever, or can they defend King David and help the aging monarch control his rebellious son?

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Author interview :)

1)     What inspired you to write about the story of David and his men?
A few years ago, my husband preached a sermon about a man who stuck closer than a brother to King David. King David needed a friend because David’s son was trying to steal the kingdom and kill his father. The man who encouraged David and fought for him was a Philistine warrior—Ittai the Gittite. I had never heard of Ittai before, but he has an amazing story to tell. I don’t know why I stalled for a year to write about Ittai, but his book launch is finally here.

2)     What fun or interesting tidbit did you discover while researching for this book?
While Ittai’s allegiance to David is something to celebrate, the position King David gives to Ittai is even more remarkable. David splits his army into thirds and sets Ittai over one-third of the Hebrew army. A Philistine leading Hebrews into battle? This is mind boggling. I believe David would have had a mutiny on his hands except for Ittai’s belief in the One True God which Ittai boldly states in II Samuel 15:21.

3)     We know Ittai is an original character of the Bible, but what or who inspired you to create the character of Rimona? Was she easier or more complex to write about compared to Ittai?
I enjoy placing romance threads into my stories. Rimona gives “Defending David” a romance thread, but I also needed a character to stay in Jerusalem after King David fled the city. With Rimona in Jerusalem, I can show Absalom’s arrival and his scandalous behavior. I tend to write bold women characters, so Rimona fit right in with her flight into the desert and her decision to leave Jerusalem and find King David and Ittai.

4)     If you could tell your readers to take one crucial lesson or idea about this story what would it be?
Ittai has a bold faith in God. The first words from his lips that are recorded in Scripture are, “As surely as the Lord lives,” (II Samuel 15:21). Ittai states that God is alive, and he calls God, Lord. Powerful words. What if we prefaced every statement with praise for the Living God? Ittai also backed up his pronouncement with actions. He went with David even after David tried to get Ittai to stay in Jerusalem and fight with Absalom. I will never figure out David’s wisdom in that thinking. Ittai remains faithful to the king who is God’s anointed sovereign.

5)     If you could time travel to two Bible stories which would they be and why?
I would love to have been with the women who saw Jesus after He had risen from the grave and be caught up in the early enthusiasm of the growing church—the Way.
I would also like to travel to Joshua, chapter three, where God parted the Jordan River and the Israelites walked through on dry ground. What a fabulous show of God’s power and love. The Israelites traveled over dry ground that had been the bottom of a river moments before.

6)     Who was your favorite character to write in Defending David and why?
This one is easy—Ittai the Gittite. I especially enjoyed writing Ittai’s interactions with King David as I imagined them based on the Scripture and the life of David. I joke about Ittai and say, “Big muscles, soft heart.” I would love to know how a Philistine came to have a relationship with the One True God, but we will never know this side of heaven. God uses a Philistine, an enemy of Israel from a pagan land, to bolster the faith and spirit of King David.

7)     How did you get immersed into writing Biblical fiction? Was there a biblical fiction book that hooked you in the genre?
My first work of Biblical fiction was a take-off of the story of Naaman. I kept the theology of the story but changed the names of the characters and I changed the storyline some. I had no idea the book was in the Biblical fiction genre. I thought I was writing a Young Adult novel with a Bible theme for a Mainstream audience. I didn’t know there was a Christian Fiction publishing world.

I wrote my first story set in biblical times because I taught chapel to elementary students. I had finished a session on young people in the Bible who did great things. The servant girl in the story of Naaman was in my lesson plans (II Kings 5). I brought her story to the page in fiction with a few changes and the book sold. I tried to sell the story in the General Market, but no one knew what to do with it. Finally, the story sold to Pelican Book Group, a Christian publisher. I came in the back door of publishing and received my book contract through a mentoring program called Pitch Wars.

8)     Who is/are some authors that have inspired your writing throughout the years?
I wasn’t a reader of Biblical fiction when I was writing my first story. I don’t know if that was helpful or hurtful. Since writing a few books in the genre, I have had my writing style compared to Tessa Afshar. I enjoy Tessa’s books and I do think we write similar with straightforward linear stories that contain a lot of action and emotion. I know so many writers of Biblical fiction now. I belong to Biblical Fiction Buffs on Instagram. Jenna Van Mourik who runs BFB is a Biblical fiction author, and I was introduced to Jenna through biblical author Mesu Andrews. Two biblical authors, Dana McNeely and Naomi Craig administer the Biblical Fiction Aficionados Group on Facebook. There’s also a Readers of Biblical Fiction Facebook group. Our readership and writing community is growing each day.

9) If you could summarize the whole book, Defending David, in one word what would it be and why?
Okay, summarizing the book with one word is difficult. I could go with the Sunday School answer: God. If I had to choose a theme, it would be Faithfulness. Faithfulness to God, and faithfulness in friendships.

10) And lastly, what new stories can we expect from you in the future? Are you currently working on something new?
I recently completed a story, and I am working on the sequel, but the books don’t fall in the Biblical fiction genre. I love writing Biblical fiction, and I will write more, but I decided after some nudging from God to tell a story that encompassed some of the storm damage from my breast cancer journey. I am a breast cancer survivor, but my body and health are not the same. With so many women affected by breast cancer, and the world trying to change what is beautiful in one’s body image, I veered off course and wrote about cancer, self-esteem, and inner beauty. We are wonderfully made by God and spectacularly beautiful in His eyes.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CONNECT WITH BARBARA: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a Defending David Book Box with an autographed copy of Defending David, a CD of harp music, a historic-looking journal, colorful pens, a copy of “Lioness,” and a $25 Amazon gift card, swag!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 28, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on March 7, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. (international winner prize: ebook copies of Defending David and Lioness) Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

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