Fabulous Friday Feature-Mesu Andrews

Today I welcome 

author Mesu Andrews

Enter to win Mesu's 
March 2014 release,

In the Shadow of Jezebel

Scroll to the end of the post to see how to enter.

I met Mesu when reading about her book in an email. It sounded very interesting. I wrote to Mesu and instantly we became friends. She has such a warm heart and desire to serve God. I asked Mesu to visit with us and share how God has led her on her writing journey. Here is what she said:

I Felt the Spirit's Nudge

I never intended to become a writer. In 1996, I was a busy pastor’s wife with two pre-teen girls and a growing speaking ministry. I didn’t have time to be sick, but an annoying flu bug lingered for weeks, then months. Eighteen months later I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and I began journaling for the first time.

A slower pace provided more quiet time with Jesus, and I began sharing weekly e-devotionals with family and friends. About the same time, a Bible study piqued my interest in Song of Songs, and I read all eight chapters every day for a year—and watched an incredible story unfold.

Health concerns limited my speaking engagements to six retreats a year, but Solomon’s Song became the capstone topic. Only one problem—audiences wanted Love’s Sacred Song in written form to peruse at home—and I was a speaker, not a writer.

Feeling the Holy Spirit’s nudge, I bought “how-to-write-a-novel-proposal” and attended a Baltimore writers’ conference. Two editors and one agent begged me to stick with speaking because my writing was so bad. I was crushed. I crawled back into my suitcase, returned home, and filed Love’s Sacred Song under “F” for Failure.

I poured my effort into the weekly e-devotionals, which fulfilled my need to study and unwittingly honed my writing skills. A sudden health crash in 2002 put me in bed for six months, and inconclusive medical tests left doctors shaking their heads.

Those six months, however, were quite conclusive for me. Sequestered in bed, couch, or recliner, my laptop became my world and reintroduced me to an old friend. I rewrote my biblical novel, Love’s Sacred Song, and fell deeper in love with Jesus.

By November of 2003, Mayo Clinic added two more chronic conditions to my already weary body, and daily migraines began in 2005. These were difficult years, wrestling with mortality, purpose, priorities, etc. Through it all, the Lord provided life-lessons to include in the growing e-devotional ministry. Positive feedback poured in, and once again I felt the Spirit’s nudge to seek publication—this time for a non-fiction devotional. I bought another “how-to” book, wrote a non-fiction proposal, and flew to a California writers’ conference.

Editors were again unimpressed, but an agent saw possibilities. For three years, this fabulous, committed woman knocked on every publisher’s door. The answer was still No, but the NEED to become published had waned. Somehow, somewhere in this journey, I’d become totally content with my e-devotional ministry and leaving Love’s Sacred Song in my bottom desk drawer.

Until my critique partner read the rewritten version... “The Lord gave you a powerful story to teach people of His love. You must resurrect this novel proposal.”

“But I can’t write fiction! I’m a teacher. I write Bible studies and devotionals, not stories.”

She stopped all my protest with these questions. “Are you a better teacher than Jesus? Didn’t He teach with stories?”

Ugh. Only the dearest friends speak so boldly. So, I determined to learn the craft of fiction. I packed my bags in 2008 for the same California writers’ conference and registered for the fiction-mentoring clinic. There, Love’s Sacred Song caught the eye of a Revell editor, and a few months later I signed my first contract.

I never intended to become a writer. I didn’t choose daily migraines or chronic illness. And, seriously…who wants to read Song of Songs every day for a year? But, oh—the joy of His Presence, His blessing, His pleasure.

Whatever your journey requires, dear one, take heart—it is SO worth the ride!

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Mesu Andrews lives in the Washington State with her husband, Roy. They have two married daughters and a growing tribe of grandkids. She loves movies, waterfalls, and travel.    

To learn more about Mesu Andrews, visit:

 http://www.MesuAndrews.com

 Or visit me on Facebook: Mesu Andrews

·  Twitter: MesuAndrews

·  Pinterest: MesuAndrews

·  Goodreads: Mesu Andrews

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In the Shadow of Jezebel (available now):

Princess Jehosheba wants nothing more than to please the harsh and demanding Queen Athaliah, daughter of the notorious Queen Jezebel. Her work as a priestess in the temple of Baal seems to do the trick. But when a mysterious letter from the dead prophet Elijah predicts doom for the royal household, Jehosheba realizes that the dark arts she practices reach beyond the realm of earthly governments. To further Athaliah and Jezebel's strategies, she is forced to marry Yahweh's high priest and enters the unfamiliar world of Yahweh's temple. Can her new husband show her the truth and love she craves? And can Jehosheba overcome her fear and save the family--and the nation--she loves?

With deft skill, Mesu Andrews brings Old Testament passages to life, revealing a fascinating story of the power of unconditional love.

Love Amid the Ashes

Readers often think of Job sitting on the ash heap, his life in shambles. But how did he get there? What was Job's life like before tragedy struck? What did he think as his world came crashing down around him? And what was life like after God restored his wealth, health, and family?

Through painstaking research and a writer's creative mind, Mesu Andrews weaves an emotional and stirring account of this well-known story told through the eyes of the women who loved him. Drawing together the account of Job with those of Esau's tribe and Jacob's daughter Dinah, Love Amid the Ashes breathes life, romance, and passion into the classic biblical story of suffering and steadfast faith.

EXCITING NEWS!! Love Amid the Ashes ebook can be downloaded free during this March.

To enter the contest for an autographed copy of 

Mesu Andrew's book: "In the Shadow of Jezebel":

leave a comment (and email address)

AND become a follower of this site, 
if you aren't already.

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Winner announced on my facebook page.

Thank you, Mesu for Joining us This Weekend!

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Mesu said, "Only the dearest friends can speak so boldly." I think God has given those friends the words to say to us.