| As tragedy ravages the camp, can She’erah step up and complete the outpost? She’erahs is a woman trying to leave her mark in a man’s world. Her vision and ability surpasses her father’s, yet she remains second-in-command as they are tasked to build Pharaoh’s outposts in Canaan. She knows she is worthy of the task, but her clan is skeptical The last place She’erah expects support is from her charioteer, but Lateef is the lone voice of encouragement. His integrity and steadfastness is a plumb-line in She’erah’s life and she can no longer deny her growing feelings for him. Acts of sabotage threaten the construction and the shaky foundation of She’erah’s pride. It’s up to She’erah to break generations of rivalry, distrust, and jealousy—if she can learn to rely on the strengths and abilities of those around her to help. |  |
Will she learn to trust God and others before her life’s legacy comes crumbling down around her?
Genre: Historical fiction, Biblical fiction
Release Date: August 15, 2023
Click here to get your copy!
Interview with Naomi
#1. What was the inspiration for this book?
Even though we don’t hear about She’erah and the cities she built til 1 Chronicles 7:20-24, her timeline takes place in between the end of Genesis and the beginning of Exodus. According to my research, She’erah was Joseph’s granddaughter. To set the stage for She’erah to shine, I had to first find out if Joseph’s Egyptian career was mentioned in Egyptian history. There are several viziers speculated to have been THE Joseph, but the most compelling one to me was a man named Imhotep. This foreign vizier was the world’s first recorded polymath (man exceptionally gifted in many areas) and was recorded as building the first pyramid, saving Egypt from a seven-year famine by interpreting Pharaoh’s dream, and many other things that line up with the scriptural Joseph. There is controversy over if he is in the right time period or not, more traditionally, he is much to early, but more recently Egyptologists are thinking documented pharaohs could have overlapped in their reign. That is enough for me to launch this fictional tale.
Even though we don’t hear about She’erah and the cities she built til 1 Chronicles 7:20-24, her timeline takes place in between the end of Genesis and the beginning of Exodus. According to my research, She’erah was Joseph’s granddaughter. To set the stage for She’erah to shine, I had to first find out if Joseph’s Egyptian career was mentioned in Egyptian history. There are several viziers speculated to have been THE Joseph, but the most compelling one to me was a man named Imhotep. This foreign vizier was the world’s first recorded polymath (man exceptionally gifted in many areas) and was recorded as building the first pyramid, saving Egypt from a seven-year famine by interpreting Pharaoh’s dream, and many other things that line up with the scriptural Joseph. There is controversy over if he is in the right time period or not, more traditionally, he is much to early, but more recently Egyptologists are thinking documented pharaohs could have overlapped in their reign. That is enough for me to launch this fictional tale.
#2. What drew you to write in this particular genre?
I love finding interesting tidbits tucked away in a list of Genealogies. A left-handed assassin killing an obese king, an ax head floating, a man coming back to life when his body touching a (very) dead prophet’s bones or a woman building three cities (She’erah). I started wondering if one of the unnamed spies Rahab hid in Jericho could have been her future Biblical husband, Salmah.
I love finding interesting tidbits tucked away in a list of Genealogies. A left-handed assassin killing an obese king, an ax head floating, a man coming back to life when his body touching a (very) dead prophet’s bones or a woman building three cities (She’erah). I started wondering if one of the unnamed spies Rahab hid in Jericho could have been her future Biblical husband, Salmah.
#3. Do you have favorite character(s) in this book?
I like She’erah’s older brother Thelah (Shuthelah). Even though it seems to She’erah like everything he does is directly against her, he really does try to lead the clan with honor. When She’erah calls him out on a mistake, he admits it and does try to adapt to his sister’s big personality.
I like She’erah’s older brother Thelah (Shuthelah). Even though it seems to She’erah like everything he does is directly against her, he really does try to lead the clan with honor. When She’erah calls him out on a mistake, he admits it and does try to adapt to his sister’s big personality.
#4. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
I hope and pray that the readers will actually turn to the scriptures to check the facts. Specifically with She’erah’s Legacy I would love for readers to find their value in the Lord. He gives each of us gifts, and we need to work together with others to bring out the best in the mission as a whole.
I hope and pray that the readers will actually turn to the scriptures to check the facts. Specifically with She’erah’s Legacy I would love for readers to find their value in the Lord. He gives each of us gifts, and we need to work together with others to bring out the best in the mission as a whole.
#5. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that happened involving this book.
She’erah finds herself confined to her tent after undermining her brother’s authority. In order to make use of her time, she takes up painting. However she only has limited supplies and ends up painting her tent pole with malachite (a green eye makeup Egyptians used). Her charioteer comes in later and because she has done a truly horrible job, he thinks it is fast spreading mold---the kind warned about in Leviticus. What a blow to her “I’m going to do everything perfectly” mentality.
She’erah finds herself confined to her tent after undermining her brother’s authority. In order to make use of her time, she takes up painting. However she only has limited supplies and ends up painting her tent pole with malachite (a green eye makeup Egyptians used). Her charioteer comes in later and because she has done a truly horrible job, he thinks it is fast spreading mold---the kind warned about in Leviticus. What a blow to her “I’m going to do everything perfectly” mentality.
More from Naomi
A woman architect in ancient times?
She’erah’s family is mentioned in five verses in 1 Chronicles 7:20- 24. In this brief detour from the list of genealogy, we learn some interesting facts.
She’erah is the granddaughter of Joseph (yes that Joseph with the coat of many colors, vizier to Pharaoh)
Two of her brothers get themselves killed for cattle rustling.
Her father, Ephraim, goes into deep mourning for his sons.
There is a late-in-life baby (as a result of dad’s mourning)
and She’erah built Lower and Upper Beth Horon and Uzzen She’erah.
Then we are right back to the begats.
Wait, hold on. That’s all we get? What is the story behind her building these towns (two of which are still standing today)? What was the reaction of those around her?
Something I find helpful to remember is that when you know about someone’s family, you in a way know the person. With her grandfather being Joseph, suddenly we have opened a whole new world of what we know. She’erah and the clan would have had access to all of Egypt’s knowledge and resources. Where she still might have gotten backlash from her more Hebrew clan, Egyptian women had more independence, managing their husband’s estates, or even their own.
We also know the generational legacy that was passed down of the younger sibling being favored above the older. Ephraim over Manasseh, Joseph over his ten elder brothers, Jacob over Esau, Rachel over Leah, Isaac over Ishmael. I’m sure sibling rivalry could have been present.
So now we can see She’erah’s picture a little more clearly. A brilliantly minded woman determined to prove herself and her abilities. Raised in Egyptian courts, yet also Hebrew. A strange mix of cultures and dynamics that shape She’erah and nurture her gifts.
She’erah’s legacy is not only the towns she builds for generations to come, but also how she starts the work of unearthing the deep-seated rivalry that is entrenched in her family.
I pray you’ll enjoy She’erah’s adventures, as she learns to trust the Lord and those around her.
Best Regards
Naomi
She’erah’s family is mentioned in five verses in 1 Chronicles 7:20- 24. In this brief detour from the list of genealogy, we learn some interesting facts.
She’erah is the granddaughter of Joseph (yes that Joseph with the coat of many colors, vizier to Pharaoh)
Two of her brothers get themselves killed for cattle rustling.
Her father, Ephraim, goes into deep mourning for his sons.
There is a late-in-life baby (as a result of dad’s mourning)
and She’erah built Lower and Upper Beth Horon and Uzzen She’erah.
Then we are right back to the begats.
Wait, hold on. That’s all we get? What is the story behind her building these towns (two of which are still standing today)? What was the reaction of those around her?
Something I find helpful to remember is that when you know about someone’s family, you in a way know the person. With her grandfather being Joseph, suddenly we have opened a whole new world of what we know. She’erah and the clan would have had access to all of Egypt’s knowledge and resources. Where she still might have gotten backlash from her more Hebrew clan, Egyptian women had more independence, managing their husband’s estates, or even their own.
We also know the generational legacy that was passed down of the younger sibling being favored above the older. Ephraim over Manasseh, Joseph over his ten elder brothers, Jacob over Esau, Rachel over Leah, Isaac over Ishmael. I’m sure sibling rivalry could have been present.
So now we can see She’erah’s picture a little more clearly. A brilliantly minded woman determined to prove herself and her abilities. Raised in Egyptian courts, yet also Hebrew. A strange mix of cultures and dynamics that shape She’erah and nurture her gifts.
She’erah’s legacy is not only the towns she builds for generations to come, but also how she starts the work of unearthing the deep-seated rivalry that is entrenched in her family.
I pray you’ll enjoy She’erah’s adventures, as she learns to trust the Lord and those around her.
Best Regards
Naomi
 Naomi Craig | Author of Biblical fiction, avid reader, pastor’s wife, Naomi loves reading the Bible and imagining how things were at the time. When she’s not serving in various areas at church, trying to stay on top of mountains of dishes or convincing her rescue dog, Freeway, to be cute on command for Instagram reels, you’ll most likely find her enjoying a good book and a cup of coffee. Naomi co-hosts #BehindTheStory with Naomi and Lisa, an author interview show on YouTube and your podcast platform of choice. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
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a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
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Texas Book-aholic, September 29
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Connie’s History Classroom, October 2
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The Book Nook, October 3
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 4
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Simple Harvest Reads, October 8 (Author Interview)
Christina’s Corner, October 8
By The Book, October 9 (Author Interview)
Holly’s Book Corner, October 10
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 28
Texas Book-aholic, September 29
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 30
The Book Club Network, October 1
Connie’s History Classroom, October 2
Artistic Nobody, October 3 (Author Interview)
The Book Nook, October 3
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 4
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 5
Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 6 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, October 7
Simple Harvest Reads, October 8 (Author Interview)
Christina’s Corner, October 8
By The Book, October 9 (Author Interview)
Holly’s Book Corner, October 10