Monday, July 14, 2014

Rachel Starr Thomson talks about childhood favorites, Olde Testament prophets, and much more

Rachel Starr Thomson
HA: Rachel, welcome back to Homeschool Authors.
Rachel: Thanks, Sarah! It’s always great to be here.

HA: What inspired Abaddon’s Eve?
Rachel: I was doing a heavy Bible reading schedule that had me going through the Old Testament prophets regularly. The prophets are always amazing, but one day I was really struck by the book of Joel and its terrible prophecy of destruction and corresponding offer of mercy if the people would only respond to God. I got thinking about how it would feel to have such a prophecy over your nation, and how you might try to communicate it to others. The Prophet Trilogy was born out of that, with Abaddon’s Eve the first of three books (“Abaddon” means “Destruction”).

HA: When you are not writing, what do you enjoy doing?
Rachel: I keep really, really busy with my editing business and touring with a Christian arts company I co-founded (I’m a speaker, singer, and spoken-word artist with them). When I’m just relaxing, my favourite things to do are enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, go for a walk, or read a truly wonderful book. Or go to Disney World, but that last is a little pricy.

HA: What do you plan to read this summer?
Rachel: I’ve got a shelf of theological books, one of Bryan Davis’s dragon trilogies, and Patrick W. Carr’s marvelous novels waiting for me. If I can get through all of that, I’m hoping to go back and start rereading some of my childhood favourites.

HA: What are some of your favorite books of all time?
Rachel: Those childhood favourites still hold a lot of sway: among them, C.S. Lewis’s Narnia Chronicles, Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain books, Susan Cooper’s The Dark Is Rising Sequence, The Jungle Books, The Lord of the Rings, and books by George MacDonald. But I can never really pinpoint favourites. There are just too many of them.

HA: Can you give us a sneak peek into your work-in-progress?
Abaddon's Eve (The Prophet Trilogy)Rachel: I’m currently writing Book 2 of The Prophet Trilogy, Comes the Dragon. It picks up where Abaddon’s Eve leaves off and naturally, gets our heroes into much deeper trouble. As the story opens, Alack is far from home, prophesying to a pagan king; Flora is still a captive; and Rechab is finding out just how unprepared she is to handle power and wealth. But the uncovering of a terrible plot will draw them all together in the Holy City, where they must inspire their people to listen to the message they carry or be consumed by the enemy within.

HA: What should readers expect when they read Abaddon’s Eve?
Rachel: A quasi-historical Middle Eastern setting, prophecies and dreams, wild men and wealthy women, austere desert communities and fugitives running for their lives. With a little romance thrown in as well.

HA: Do you have any final thoughts?
Rachel: It’s great to be here in this community of authors and readers. Thanks for this opportunity!

4 comments:

  1. Can I just say that Rachel has PHENOMENAL good taste in her childhood favorites? All the lovely books. They should be everyone's childhood. <3

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  2. Thanks, Deborah! I think I had a pretty fantastic childhood that way. (Other ways too.)

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  3. Ok, so I bought Exile instead of Abaddon's Eve by Rachel Starr Thomson... Do I just not review a book by this author then, since I didn't get the right one?
    Kind of confused... but I think I have it almost figured out now! ;p

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    1. I am sorry it was confusing. Abaddon's Eve is the book to review.

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