Mesu Andrews’ deep understanding of and love for God’s Word brings the biblical world alive for her readers. She and her husband, Roy, enjoyed fourteen years of pastoral ministry before moving to the Pacific Northwest, where Roy now serves as Academic Dean at Multnomah Biblical Seminary. Mesu writes full-time, snuggled in her recliner beside a cozy fire on rainy Northwest days. The Andrews’ enjoy visiting their two married daughters and a growing tribe of grandkids. Mesu loves movies, football, waterfalls, and travel.
Biblical fiction is her favorite genre to read and write. Her first novel, Love Amid the Ashes (Revell, 2011), won the 2012 ECPA Book of the Year for a Debut Author. Love’s Sacred Song (Revell, 2012), the Song of Solomon in story form, received a 4 ½ star rating from RT Reviews. And Love in a Broken Vessel (Revell, 2013), the story of Hosea and Gomer, received a 4 ½ star TOP PICK rating from RT Reviews. In The Shadow of Jezebel releases March 4, 2014.
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Welcome to The Engrafted Word Mesu Andrews! It’s wonderful to have you here!
Savanna: In all your studying and researching for your novels, can you name a Biblical figure – besides Jesus, of course! – who you would have liked to meet?
Mesu: Eve intrigues me because I’d like to learn more about what life was like before sin marred our relationship with the Creator, but I think I’d have even more questions for Mary—Jesus’s mother. Not the normal stuff like, “What was it like to potty train the Son of God?” I want to know how it felt to be adored…to be loved as she was so evidently loved. By Joseph when he married her—saving her from humiliation and a possible death. And the tender respect he showed when he didn’t “lie with her” until after Jesus was born. Can you imagine? Walter Wangerin’s novel, Jesus, gives a heart-rending look at Mary’s motherly adjustment to Jesus’s journey from Son to Savior. I’d like to ask her how she let go of her adult child. But even during the pain, she was adored. Just before the Cross, Jesus secured her future by enlisting the Apostle John’s promise to care for Mary as if she were his own mother. A woman like Mary, chosen by God, cherished by those around her. I’d love to meet her—and plan to talk with her in eternity!
Savanna: Has there ever been a Biblical character that was difficult to write?
Mesu: ALL of them! Job (Love Amid the Ashes) was tough because I had to work through my bitterness and pain of chronic illness with Job as I wrote his scenes, but Solomon (Love’s Sacred Song) was probably the most difficult character to date. It was tough to make him “likeable” and convince readers he was faithful to Yahweh while he was building a harem of 700 wives and worshiping pagan gods. Gomer (Love in a Broken Vessel) was difficult because I was a Gomer—though not a prostitute, I was an alcoholic by age nineteen and on the road to destroying my life, when an old high school friend led me to Jesus and married me!
Savanna: What an incredible journey you’ve had! Thanks for sharing a little bit with us. So can you tell us what was your favorite thing about writing In The Shadow of Jezebel? And what was the hardest part about writing it?
Mesu: My favorite part was—as always—the research! I LOVED digging into Scripture, finding nuggets I’d overlooked before. Seriously, who knew King Jehoram received Elijah’s letter ten years after the prophet died? And it’s always fascinating to me when archaeological journals and ancient writings lend cultural context to God’s foundational Truths. Like fitting together a giant jigsaw puzzle, I get to see the whole picture come to life!
The hardest part about writing In The Shadow of Jezebel was grappling with the evil spread through Israel and Judah by Jezebel and Athaliah. When writing a novel, every character must have good and evil qualities to be believable. I struggled to find any good in either of these women. As the story developed, I found myself wrestling under the Shadow of Jezebel myself, weighed down by her abuses and schemes that remain prevalent in our own culture. This story is the foundational battle between darkness and Light—when darkness pervades, can Light overcome it? Praise God! We know the ending of The Book! But writing this book, as is true of life, was quite a journey through the muck—to emerge in His glorious Light.
Savanna: I’m in the middle of reading the book right now and can totally relate. What an incredible story! What will you do to celebrate your new release, which comes out TODAY, by the way?! Congratulations! 🙂
Mesu: Turn in my rough draft for Book #5! Yep, my manuscript for Pharaoh’s Daughter (as yet untitled) is due on the day In the Shadow of Jezebel releases!
We’ll also celebrate the release of Jezebel with a contest (check out my website or Facebook page for more details.)
Also, if you purchase a copy of In The Shadow of Jezebel between March 1-7 from any online retailer, you can send your receipt to receipt@mesuandrews.com and receive a free downloadable copy of The Lost Chapter of Jezebel. It’s an exclusive chapter, cut from the original manuscript due to an over-abundant word count, but it gives some fun extra insight into the main characters. 😉
Savanna: Do you have a favorite book of the Bible? If so, can you tell us why it means so much to you?
Mesu: Solomon’s Song of Songs has been my favorite Book of the Bible since 1999 because it was once so confusing to me. Sounds strange, huh? Well, I hate not understanding Scripture (see my personal testimony for more info). So, for a full year, I read all eight chapters every day. When I tried to get answers from commentaries, they disagreed, so my commentary became waiting on the Lord, listening for His leading, and studying Solomon’s life in conjunction with his Song of Songs. A story emerged in allegory form and completely changed my relationship with Jesus Christ. He is now my Beloved, more precious to me than I can express, and in the words and pages of Song of Songs, I saw the depths of His adoration. It forever changed me.
Savanna: What is one of your most unforgettable moments from your writing career to date?
Mesu: That phone call from my first editor, when she said, “Well, the committee met again and we’d like to offer you a contract…” I think every one of my senses shut down. Couldn’t breathe, talk, see, hear. By the time I could respond, she was saying, “Hello? Hello?” Thankfully, she knew to send me the details in an email because I didn’t remember anything she said over the phone. I called my husband and got his voicemail. The message I left was short and vague. “Call me right away. It’s nothing bad. Call me. Hurry.” That was in 2008, and he still has the voicemail saved. 🙂
Savanna: Thanks so much for being here today, Mesu! Is there anything else you’d like to add? How can readers connect with you?
Mesu: Blessings on ya, dear one! I’d love for my readers to visit my website – www.mesuandrews.com. There you’ll find downloads, sign-ups, and freebies— valuable resources that I hope stir your passion for God and His Word.
GIVEAWAY!!
Mesu has generously offered one free copy of IN THE SHADOW OF JEZEBEL to one lucky winner!
HOW TO ENTER:
-Leave your name and email in the comments below
(You MUST include your email to be qualified)
GET EXTRA ENTRIES:
(Be sure to tell me in the comments below)
-Subscribe to The Engrafted Word
-Like The Engrafted Word on Facebook
-Share this Giveaway on Social Media
Thanks for entering! Contest is open only in the U.S. and Canada
and ends March 11, 2014. Winner will be notified by email.
Looks like a must read.
Thanks for stopping by again, Bonnie! Yep, definitely be sure to read this one. 🙂
Hi Savanna and Bonnie!
Sorry I didn’t make it over yesterday–a crazy day! But what a beautiful blog, Savanna! Thanks for hosting me. I’ll send a few more folks this way…
Blessings on your day!
Love Mesu’s books, and I’ve been really looking forward to this one! Her books always make me see the people and stories of the Bible in a fresh new way. I’d love to win!
followsjc[at]yahoo[dot]com
I agree, Lisa! Her books always bring such a fresh perspective to stories we thought we knew. 😉 Good luck in the giveaway!
I also subscribed to this blog and liked it on Facebook. 🙂
Thanks, Lisa! You’ll receive 3 entries in the giveaway.
I am reading Love Amid the Ashes and love it. Can not wait to read the rest. I follow on Facebook and Pinterest.
Tammy Hudson
HUBTIVOLI1@YAHOO.COM
Thanks, Tammy, for stopping by! I’ve not read Love Amid the Ashes yet, but I sure want to. I bet it’s great! Thanks for joining our writing community on Facebook and Pinterest too. 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway!
Thank you for the chance to win. I am a new subscriber to your blog. I also shared the contest on Facebook, Twitter and Google + as well as I liked your Facebook page. This looks like a good book to me. griperang at embarqmail dot com
Welcome to my blog, Angela! You’ll receive 4 entries in this giveaway. Hope you get a chance to read Mesu’s story! 🙂
Mesu is just fabulous! Love her books!
We’re glad to have you here, Jackie! Hope you get a chance to win her book! 🙂
I’ve enjoyed Mesu’s other books, so can’t wait to read In The Shadow Of Jezebel!
You’ll love it, Mary! Thanks for joining us! 🙂
Hi, Mesu and Savanna!!
Loved the interview and learning more about Mesu and her writing journey – thanks SO much!!
Mary has always been the biblical figure I would most like to meet (after Jesus, of course)!! I would SO love to ask her feelings about being mother to, and raising the Savior of the world – what Jesus was like as a child, and her feelings re: the plan of salvation, etc..
How special that your husband was the one that led you to the Lord, Mesu!! I am one of those ladies with a past – before allowing Christ control of my life – also!!
I love biblical fiction and would love to read “In the Shadow of Jezebel”!! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!!
bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
I am a follower of The Engrafted Word on your blog and on Facebook, Savanna, and have shared this giveaway on Facebook!!
Hello again, Bonnie! It’s always wonderful to have you here. Thanks for sharing with us. I hope you’ll get the opportunity to read “In the Shadow of Jezebel” soon! I know you’ll love it. 😉 You’ll receive 4 entries in this giveaway. Good luck!
Thank you for letting me know that this was going on. I so would love to read your book Mesu.
Blessings
Linda
Hi there, Linda! Thanks for visiting again and entering in Mesu’s great giveaway. 😉 Blessings to you too!
Thanks, y’all for stopping by and for your kind and encouraging comments! And thanks to Savanna for hosting me. Blessings on you, dear one!