Please join me in welcoming Barbara M. Britton to the blog today to share a playlist for her new book Lioness: Mahlah’s Journey!
LIONESS: MAHLAH’S JOURNEY
SERIES: Daughters of Zelophehad #1
GENRE: Inspirational Biblical/Historical Fiction
PUBLISHER: Harbourlight Books
RELEASE DATE: October 18, 2019
PAGES: 224
While the Israelites struggle to occupy the Promised Land of God, Mahlah bat Zelophehad is orphaned and left to care for her four sisters. But daughters of the dead are unable to inherit land, and it will take a miracle for Mahlah to obtain the means to care for her sisters and uphold the vow she made to her dying mother.
Mahlah must seek Moses, the leader of her people, and request something extraordinary—the right for a daughter to inherit her deceased father’s land. A right that will upset the ox-cart of male inheritance and thrust her into the role of a rebel.
But, God is the protector of the orphan and the widow, and five orphaned daughters need His help. With God, anything is possible. Even changing man’s tradition.
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Barbara M. Britton’s Playlist for “Lioness” and Life
I am not a singer, but I love music. I have music playing in my car while I’m driving, and I always find a song that goes with the theme of the novel I am writing. Before I sit down to type, I play the theme song for my book to get into my characters and setting.
The theme song to my latest novel “Lioness: Mahlah’s Journey” is Oh My Soul by Casting Crowns.
How did five orphaned sisters have the courage to go to Moses and ask to inherit their deceased father’s land? The daughters of Zelophehad are listed as Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. Mahlah is always listed first so we can assume she was the oldest sister. Was Mahlah afraid to lead her sisters into an assembly of male elders? If so, she trusted God’s provision more than man’s provision. This lyric helped me feel what it must have been like to be countercultural in Biblical times.
“Oh, my soul,
You are not alone,
There’s a place where fear,
Has to face the God you know”
God supported the daughters of Zelophehad. When Moses asked God what he should do about the girl’s request for land, God said the girls were right. If a man died without a son, his daughters inherited his land. Wow! This was a big change to life in the Israelite camp.
The Daughters by Little Big Town got my ire up. God showed up for the daughters of Zelophehad and God brought me to him when I was a young girl. This lyric made me write my series on the daughters of Zelophehad faster:
“I’ve heard of God the Son,
And God the Father,
I’m still/just looking for a God for the daughters”
We all know there is only one God, so this song has bad theology and it also makes it seem like God is not a champion of women. While the song is catchy, it made me sad that girls might believe God isn’t championing them as much as boys. This song makes me shout “I found Him.”
I have a mute shepherd in “Lioness.” Jeremiah’s song is The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel. “People talking without speaking.”
It took me eight years to sign my first publishing contract. “Lioness: Mahlah’s Journey” is my fourth book to launch. I don’t do this alone. God blesses me with creativity. My family believes in what I’m writing. My editor perfects my words. My publisher releases my books. I have a critique partner who keeps me going on the right path. Fellow authors and friends shout out my books and encourage my spirit on my writing journey. All this love makes me think of Hills and Valleys by Tauren Wells.
“When I’m standing on the mountain,
I didn’t get there on my own.”
Amen!
When you’re reading a book, do songs come to mind that fit the story?
Thank you, Barbara! I’m now singing the songs from this list that i know – in my head, anyway lol
Barbara M. Britton writes Christian Fiction for teens and adults. She enjoys bringing little-known Bible stories to light in her Tribes of Israel series. Barb is published by Harbourlight Books, an imprint of Pelican Book Group. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Find out more about Barb and her books at www.barbarambritton.com.
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Barbara Britton is offering a print copy of Lioness + some swag from her Tribes of Israel series to one of my readers! (US only) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? When you’re reading a book, do songs come to mind that fit the story?
The power of music to fuel our writing is unmistakable. My main characters each have their own theme song. Listening to it when I write evokes powerful emotion. I also keep my cell phone beside me and play select tunes on Spotify playlist for motivation. Great post, Barb!
Thank you, Mary. Music is so inspiring to me as an author. I’m glad God has gifted people with musicality.
So many hymns come to mind when I’m reading books or writing emails that speak about God. My middle name is Tirzah.
Hi Rachel. You have a wonderful middle name. I love the old hymns. The choruses stay with you forever.
Thanks for joining me on RIMSP.
I was very excited to see you post about this particular book! I had read a couple of sample paragraphs and had hoped to come back and purchase it. Thanks to your post, I found it without too much trouble!! Yay! Just what I am in the mood for! Thank you and Ms. Britton both!!
Hi Becky. I am thrilled to bring this Bible story to light. I hope you enjoy Mahlah’s story–and her sisters’ story too. I’m glad you stopped by.
Not usually. Pretty cover.
Hi Nancy. My publisher designs my covers and I have liked every one of them. I send in an information sheet and then my publisher goes to work. Authors usually can’t change their cover art once it’s designed, so I’m happy I have liked them all. Thanks for commenting.
Looks like a book I’d be interested in! Thanks for the opportunity to enter a giveaway! Would love to win a print copy! God bless!
Thanks for joining us, Lual. There’s a lot of Scripture about these sisters and they have been overlooked in church materials. I hope more lessons are written about them. Blessings to you, too.
No I don’t have songs come to mind while reading.
Hi Caryl! I have theme songs for my own books, but when I read other people’s books, I don’t think about music much. I have noticed some books have song titles in them that the characters like. I just finished a Christmas story and now I’m hearing Christmas songs. Thanks for joining us.
i don’t have a song in mind but am reminded of the freedom we have in Christ and he will always take care of us.
Hi Vivian! Yes! The freedom we have in Christ is life-changing. Where would we be without His gift of eternal life and the giving of the Holy Spirit. I’m glad you joined us.
Sometimes song do come to mind, especially faith based/Christian book
Hi Ms. Barb. I listen to K-Love all the time when I’m driving. You see the themes of forgiveness and faithfulness and God’s love in Christian Fiction, and there are so many songs with that theme. Even hymns pop into my head when I read the Scripture they are taken from. I love the reminders about God. Thanks for commenting.
No, never happens.
Hi Lori! Thanks for joining us. Sometimes I wish I could keep songs and literature separate.
Music is a big deal for me, so yes, when I’m reading, or doing anything really, a song will pop into my head related to that activity or circumstance. I think music is one way God speaks to me. Thanks for offering the giveaway, this looks like a really awesome book, can’t wait to read it!
Hi Amy Jo. I love to have music playing around the house–and in the car. Many songs come from Scripture, so it is a great way to remember God’s Word. My children still remember Bible verses set to rhyme from their third grade teacher. I’m glad you joined us.