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The Gilded Chamber: A
Novel Of Queen Esther
A summer 2004
selection for Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers
Hardcover published by Rugged Land in 2004
Paperback published by Penguin Books and Penguin UK in 2005.
The story of Esther-- whose mesmerizing beauty
was matched only by her clear-eyed wisdom-- has inspired women for
centuries. Now her suspenseful tale comes to life. Capturing the
passionate longings and political danger that have made Esther's legacy
so timeless, The Gilded
Chamber blends meticulous research with gripping storytelling to
transport us to an ancient time in the far-flung Persian Empire.
Orphaned and terrified, Esther journeys across the River Tigris to start
a new life with her cousin-- a man well positioned in the court, and to
whom she is betrothed. Her transformation from girl to woman unfolds
against a lavish backdrop of the royal court and harem, rife with
intrigue and daring alliances. Esther wins much of what she seeks: the
heart of a king, and the deliverance of her people. But her rise to the
role of queen is not without a price; she must turn her back on all that
she ever wanted, and give her body to a man she can never love.
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Seven Days
to the Sea: An Epic Novel of the Exodus
The future of a people lies in the
hearts of two women
Seven Days to the
Sea is the story of the Exodus, from before the birth of Moses
through the first two years of life in the wilderness. It is told from
the point of view of Moses's sister, Miryam, and his wife, Tzipporah.
Through alternating narratives, these two women offer different
perspectives of the critical episodes--including the plagues, the
crossing of the Red Sea, and the Golden Calf--as well as their own
difficult, but ultimately close relationship. This is the story of two
women who made a difference in the most important event from biblical
history. As a child, Miryam
foretells the birth of a leader who will save their people from
oppression---a vision so vivid that she dedicates her life to seeing it
fulfilled in her brother, Moses. But after many years, she wonders in
the deepest confines of her heart if her sacrifices mean anything, if
her calling is real.
Tzipporah, a desert shepherdess who knows nothing of her husband's
divine purpose, suffers as he is torn from her by a strange god, a
foreign people, and an unforgiving sister. In her heart, she harbors
terrible secrets that haunt the love she shares with Moses and threaten
her tenuous peace
with Miryam.
Together, Miryam and Tzipporah weave a narrative that
gives voice to the women of Exodus---their lives, their community, and
ultimately, their sisterhood.
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