Writer Elizabeth Jacobson chats with me today about her Biblical fiction, Not by Sight: a novel of the patriarchs.
Bio:
Elizabeth Jacobson lives in sunny California and loves the Bible, fantasy, and science fiction. She got bit by the writing bug at age thirteen and has been frantically putting words on pages ever since. Not by Sight: a novel of the patriarchs is her first novel.
Please tell us about your current release.
My debut novel, Not by Sight: a novel of the patriarchs, is a retelling of the Joseph story in Genesis and was a double Carol Award finalist in 2023 (in both the debut and historical categories). While I emphasized historical accuracy, I approached the well-known story from the angle of analyzing Joseph’s faith journey, rather than simply recounting the story of a young man and his “technicolor dreamcoat” – a story that a good many people could recite in their sleep!
Joseph hits rock bottom multiple times during the course of his life. Over and over. As soon as something starts looking up for him, his world crashes down. Everyone who knows the story knows this. What we don’t talk about often is the very logical question: “Why in the world did he maintain any faith in God through all that?”
Joseph was a real person. He really did maintain his faith, and whatever the truth of the particulars, he serves as an incredible example to us today. His story deserves to be discussed.
My goal in writing Not by Sight was to provide a possible version of his story, and even more importantly, to show how God works through adversity and how faith is rewarded in God’s perfect timing. I don’t claim to speak for Joseph, but I know the love of our God.
What inspired you to write this book?
So many things! Firstly, it is my favorite story in the Bible. It has a bit of everything – drama, providence, romance, despair, new beginnings, faith, doubt, plot twists, you name it! Secondly, I love drama in particular. Haha. Not in my real life, mind you! But I love dramatic events that I can put characters through, and the tension and character growth (or regression!) that results from them. I find it fascinating to get into the psyche of these characters and to figure out how these events will change them, and why. I was truly inspired by the story in the Bible and wanted to reverse-engineer a story that could be the answer to the question I posed above: “Why in the world did he maintain any faith in God through all that?”
What exciting project are you working on next?
I am committing the “big no-no” in writing and switching genres. Haha. I can’t help it – I like writing in so many different genres! Hopefully, the transition goes well. My next project is a fantasy trilogy with a science fiction twist and Christian themes. Over Stars: Book One sets the stage for the trilogy. The kingdom of Sirren has been at war for more than a decade, but when a new threat is revealed, characters from different cultures must overcome tensions and bigotry in order to confront treason, build trust, and unearth an incredible secret.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
It must have been soon after I turned thirteen! At that age, I read The Lord of the Rings at the behest of my mother, and it was the first time I truly realized that there could be a “real” world inside of a book. I was absolutely floored and inspired, and was soon working on writing of my own. I remember desperately needing to get my stories out on paper and feeling like I would go a bit crazy if I didn’t!
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
It’s my goal to eventually be a full-time writer/developmental editor. Up until late 2023, I was working as a teacher, so I tended to write like a maniac over summer break and on weekends. It was a little crazy, haha. In late 2023, I actually fell quite ill and ended up being diagnosed with a chronic illness. I had to quit teaching. It was really unexpected and a big life change. I’m working on getting my health back under control so I can start writing again in earnest. I’m getting closer and closer!
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
If I have writer’s block, a trick that often helps me get “un-blocked” is to go for a walk while listening to music – often the same song over and over (lol, it’s weird, I know). The song has to be a song that would work as the “soundtrack” for the scene I am stuck on. As in, if it were a movie, what would the background music sound like? For some reason, if I listen to the song long enough, I usually get some inspiration that can get me out of my writer’s block!
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
So many things, haha! Two that stand out include a marine biologist and a meteorologist. I still follow weather events pretty closely!
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I just want to thank them for reading! 🙂
Hey Lisa,
Thanks so much for the interview! I enjoyed it!