Christy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who have learned to expect the unexpected in novels from this versatile author. With nearly four million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 100 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to non-fiction books, to novels. For more, visit her at www.angelahuntbooks.com
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Savanna: Welcome to the blog, Angela. I’m so honored to have you here! Congratulations on your newest release of Bathsheba. I can’t wait to read it!
What would you say you’ve learned the most from the women of your “Dangerous Beauty” series – Esther, Bathsheba, and Delilah? (Looking forward to Delilah’s story too, by the way!)
Angela: I don’t know if I’ve learned this, because I knew it going in. But one of the things I want to teach in this series is that beauty is not the be-all that our culture would have us believe. First, it’s fleeting. Second, it can hurt you as much as help you. And thirdly—anyone could be beautiful if they had a year of beauty treatments!
Savanna: Which of the three stories were you the most excited to begin and how long did it take you to write it?
Angela: I usually spend about four months on a novel, so I spent about that long on all three books. I was excited to begin Esther, though, because I wrote that book “on spec,” meaning that I didn’t have a contract for it. Because I didn’t have a contract, I just wrote the book the way I wanted to write it—tremendous freedom that way. No deadline, no one waiting for it, no one wanting to guide the story (not that that is always a bad thing). But I rarely have that kind of freedom.
Savanna: I enjoyed reading on your website about your love for photography and animals. I especially loved the story of your famous mastiff who was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly for being the second-largest canine in America. How fun is that?! 🙂
Can you share with us one of your favorites pictures from your local animal shelter?
Savanna: Love this picture! That puppy could not be more adorable! 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
With over 130 books to your name, what is your favorite genre to write? Can you tell us why?
Angela: I really don’t have a favorite genre. But if I had to eat spaghetti—which I love—all the time, I’d get sick of it. Human beings crave variety, and in the same way I love writing in multiple genres. (I do the same thing with my photography—family photos, headshots, nature, children’s, babies—I love it all!) Each kind of writing demands a different approach, method, and sometimes a different voice, so I get to flex different creative muscles. It’s what keeps me going after so many years . . .
Savanna: So true! 😉 That is really cool you get to do that, Angela. Sounds like such fun!
Do you remember the first time meeting one of your favorite authors? Who was it and can you tell us a bit about it?
Angela: I’ll do something better. My favorite novel has always been THE NUN’S STORY, by Katherine Hulme. I read that book as a kid and have read it many times since—it’s wonderful. It’s the story of a nun who served as a nurse in the Congo and finally left the convent after seventeen years.
Many years later I was working and saw an article on the Religious News Service—Katherine Hulme had passed away. But the article said that she had been living with Marie Louise Habets, the nun she collaborated with while writing THE NUN’S STORY. I was thrilled, not having known that the nun was a real person (it’s a novel). Anyway, I wrote a letter to Ms. Habets and told her how much the book meant to me, and she wrote back. “Katherine would have loved you,” she said. I still have that card . . . a treasure.
Savanna: Wow! I love that! What an incredible gift. Thank you so much for taking the time to be with us today, Angela. Is there anything else you’d like to share with us? Any upcoming projects?
Angela: Yes! I am currently working like a fiend on RISEN, the novelization of the movie that will release in January. It’s about a Roman tribune who is assigned to find the body of the “missing” messiah after the crucifixion. I am loving the research, and the movie is going to be great. Very excited about that.
Savanna: Sounds and looks amazing!! Hope the writing continues well. Can’t wait for the release! Many blessings on your work, Angela.
GIVEAWAY!!
Angela has graciously offered to give away a copy of one of her books to one lucky winner. Enter below and the surprise giveaway could be yours!
Thanks for entering! Contest is open only in the U.S. and ends November 3, 2015. The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!
Hey Savanna, Thank you for the great interview with Angela! I also enjoyed learning about her famous mastiff. I am a dog lover too. I am looking forward to reading Delilah.
I’ve shared the giveaway and follow your blog.
psalm103and138 at gmail dot com
Hi Caryl! Glad you enjoyed our interview. I love dogs too! I never really took myself as a cat person until a little kitten showed up at our house one day and I just couldn’t ignore her. 😉 Needless to say, she stayed.
Good luck in the giveaway! Thanks for sharing.
I would like to read Deliliah ! ! All of her books are so good.. Just finished Esther.. good!
dkstevensneAToutlookD otCoM
Doesn’t it sound amazing?! Thanks for joining us. Good luck and happy reading!
I would be most interested in reading Esther next!
They’re all on my reading list! 😉 Appreciate you stopping by, Beth. Have a great weekend!
I think this book would be so interesting and I would love to read it!
mauback55 at gmail dot com
I hope you get the chance soon, Melanie! Have a good day!
I wish our culture had more desire for inner beauty rather than outer beauty. Great interview.
I agree with you, Jan. Thanks for stopping in and commenting. Good luck in the drawing!
Would love to win a book! And the “Risen” book/movie looks like it’s going to be great!
It looks incredible, doesn’t it, Ann? 😉 Hope you get to read Angela’s book soon!
I love Angela’s books! Delilah sounds so interesting – definitely not a featured Biblical woman. I’d love to win Esther to start out the series(o:
I’m the same way, Kathryn. I like to start from the beginning too. Sometimes, though, I have jumped into the middle of a series and still enjoyed it. Hope you get to read Angela’s books (all of them!) real soon. 😉
I am new to Angela’s books but have wanted to read one for awhile now. Thank you for the chance to win one
We’re so glad you could join us, Angela! Good luck in the giveaway too! 🙂
I think I would pick Bathsheba to start with. I have really liked what I’ve been reading about it. Thanks for the interview and giveaway!
Thanks for stopping by, Loraine. Here’s hoping for a win! 🙂
I love the statement “Beauty is not what our culture would have us believe.” So true. I love Angela’s books.
Me toooooo, Laurie! 😉 Thanks so much for visiting. We appreciate it!
She is a new author for me so I have not read any of her books yet.
Well, then, Kim, it’s time to get started! 😉 Maybe this giveaway will give you the chance. Have a great weekend!
Any of the books in this series would be a good choice. I’d love to win this one. Thanks for the chance. I enjoyed the interview.
Brenda in VA
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Brenda! I always appreciate you stopping by. Good luck!
I am most interested in reading Bathsheba.
Great choice, Heather! Hope you get to read it soon, one way or another. 🙂
I would love to read Bathsheba or Delilah next.
Love her books.
Awesome! Good luck to you, Virginia. (Love your name, by the way!) 😉
Oh my if I had to choose one of her books just by the cover, I simply couldn’t, they’re all just gorgeous!! And I think every one of these stories would be a delight to read, especially fashioned after biblical women. I think it would be fun to delve deep in scripture for your research, I know I’d learn so much from that 🙂
Thanks for sharing with us today, Angela! I just love that picture of the dog, I’d surly pick him/her in the shelter if I had seen this photo first. I think it would be a terrific idea for shelters to have professional photos of their animals done, I think it would draw positive attention to them and they could be adopted easier/faster! Especially if the photos showed them in a playful or cute way!
Thank you for the chance to win one of your books, they sound really good. I have a couple of biblical fiction books on my shelf yet-to-be read so this would be a delightful addition!
Blessings Savanna and Angela, loved reading today’s post!
Hi sweet Trixi! I’m always happy to scroll through and see you’ve commented. Isn’t that puppy absolutely precious? I agree, I love the idea of photographing them to encourage adoption.
I hope you get the opportunity to read Angela’s books soon. Biblical fiction is such a unique genre and can tell a story so powerfully! What are some of the other Biblical fiction books you have on your shelves?
Well hello Savanna! I always enjoy your posts too, whether it’s a giveaway or a review of the books you’ve read. You’re always so positive about them even when you didn’t quite enjoy them as you would have liked.
The two books I have sitting on my shelf are “Pharaoh’s Daughter” by Mesu Andrews and “The Tomb” by Stephanie Landsem. I just recently read a three book series by Lynne Gentry called the Carthage Chronicles (Healer of Carthage, Return to Exile & Valley of Decision). While not labeled Biblical fiction, she does take you to third Century Carthage where the persecution of Christians & the church first started. Think of the Romans throwing early Christians in the arena to die at the hands of big cats or by beheading if you didn’t renounce Christ. It was very bloody and considered a sport. Everyone would attend & cheer the “gladiators”. It really brought that time in Biblical history to life for me & touched me in a deep way! It also centers around Cyprian Thascius, who I learned was a real person & how the ending of persecution came through him. It was a very fascinating history lesson done very well through fiction writing. Oh, and they are time slip story….bringing a 21st Century doctor of modern medicine into 3rd Century trying to fight ancient plagues (typhoid and measles). Which is a whole ‘nother layering of this series! 🙂 If you have time, you really should invest in reading these books, I highly recommend them!! They are raw emotional stories that feel so real you can see and taste everything that’s going on. And the depth makes you feel like you are in the middle of the action!
So I hope that answers your question 🙂 And maybe a book recommendation or two. I know, like me, your TBR pile is out of control…haha! There are just some books that stand out more to me than others and Lynne’s were certainly that! 🙂
Hi Trixi! Sorry it took me a few days to respond. Thank you SO much for these book recommendations. Adding them to my list now. 😉 Yes, it’s a long list, but I don’t mind. It never hurts to dream, right? I like having so many wonderful stories to choose from when I pick up a new book to read. And these sound great. I’ve only read a few Biblical fiction stories so far, but each one still stands out to me even now. They’re hard to forget! Plus, you know me… I love historicals and books that tell a story through two different time periods are especially gripping. 🙂 So happy to share similar reading tastes with you. Thanks again, my friend. Take care!
I would interested in reading Delilah. I love Esther’s story. You are correct in stating Beauty is so fleeting. I have to constantly remind myself of who I am before God. It does not matter what the world thinks only how God defines you.
So true and so important, Sonnetta. Thanks for sharing. Have a blessed day!
I enjoy reading a variety of genres. I get tired of the same thing and want a change.
It is fun to mix it up, isn’t it, Joan? What are you reading right now?
Thanks for stopping by!
I plan to read all these books, and can’t wait for the movie!!!
Awesome, Vicki! Glad to hear it. Happy Reading! 😉
This series is good – really good! I’ve read Esther and Bathsheba, so I’m looking forward to Delilah.
Your post was the first time I had heard about RISEN the movie or the book. I’ve added RISEN to my Goodreads tbr as well.
@AmandaGeaney
Wonderful, Amanda! I hope you’ll get to check it out soon. Thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend!
I am eager to read this novel. I love historical Christian fiction and I will enjoy reading Angela’s perspective
Hi Connie! You and me both. 😉 Thanks so much for visiting. Good luck!
I just finished Judah’s Wife: What a book!!! Plz let me know of any other Maccabees books. I have looked, are all the Silent year.books seqals to it? I am so in love with your work, I have skipped the.library and bought several!! They would tell you that’d a fest in itself, Im a fixture there! Keep my books coming. Ty!