Welcome to the Blog Tour for Return of the Son by D.M. Griffin, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Series: The Encounter #4
Author: D.M. Griffin
Publisher: Independently published
Release Date: October 10, 2024
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Her life was perfect. At least her childhood was. Eve never wanted anything except her father's presence. As a prominent advisor to the evil King Herod, Eve's father was split between his duties to the king and his duties as the only living parent for his daughter. With no heir to claim his family's land, Eve's father did what any loving father would do. He arranged for her betrothal. But this wasn't just any betrothal. Her potential husband was related to the king she despised. With a rough marital journey ahead of her, she tenuously clings to the promises of God.
Not sharing her father's enthusiasm or respect for the Herodian dynasty, Eve acted like the spoiled child she was upon first meeting her betrothed. With faulty expectations and prejudiced opinions, she did what she would to ruin the marriage before it began. It wasn't until it was almost too late that Eve's eyes were open and she saw the opportunity to experience love for the divine intervention that it was.
Fraught with political intrigue and personal challenges, would Eve be able to fully surrender to the life God wanted her to live by loving a man she thought she could never love? When that man's shadows chase the family into the future, would Eve's son pay the ultimate price? Or would God intervene there too? Could He? Only a single, unforeseen encounter could answer Eve's impossible question. Does love truly conquer death?
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So the king’s son brought servants with him? That should have come as no surprise. Even Antipas traveled with an entourage. All of Herod’s young sons did. Not that the king would have been the least bit upset if his sons met untimely deaths. Rumors circulated Herod had family members murdered if they became an inconvenience.
Eve clenched her fists, angry at herself for letting her assumptions get away from her again. The judgments were like dark clouds in her soul.
“The thoughts we think determine the steps we take in life, my daughter.” Her father’s words rose to the surface of her mind with the power of rebuke. “Be careful to let the Lord Almighty direct your assumptions or else the enemy’s subtle deception will easily lead you astray. Wisdom is the robe of the Spirit that cloaks us in prayer. Deception is the net of the enemy that lingers hidden like a trap beneath our own private expectations.”
Struggling to regain her composure, Eve clenched her fists and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The sound of Antipas’s voice echoed through the room as he kept talking.
“They are servants, Enoch. They will not dine with us.” The arrogance in Antipas’s tone grated. He should show her father more respect. He served Herod for years, after all.
“Of course.” Her father’s sharpened tone drew her admiration.
Enoch was a man who respected individuals based on their image-bearing status in the Lord. Disapproval wasn’t something her father easily engaged in. Once lost, however, it was hard to retrieve his respect. Antipas bordered on losing her father’s respect and earning his disapproval.
More Books in This Series
Excerpt from Return of the Son
So the king’s son brought servants with him? That should have come as no surprise. Even Antipas traveled with an entourage. All of Herod’s young sons did. Not that the king would have been the least bit upset if his sons met untimely deaths. Rumors circulated Herod had family members murdered if they became an inconvenience.
Eve clenched her fists, angry at herself for letting her assumptions get away from her again. The judgments were like dark clouds in her soul.
“The thoughts we think determine the steps we take in life, my daughter.” Her father’s words rose to the surface of her mind with the power of rebuke. “Be careful to let the Lord Almighty direct your assumptions or else the enemy’s subtle deception will easily lead you astray. Wisdom is the robe of the Spirit that cloaks us in prayer. Deception is the net of the enemy that lingers hidden like a trap beneath our own private expectations.”
Struggling to regain her composure, Eve clenched her fists and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The sound of Antipas’s voice echoed through the room as he kept talking.
“They are servants, Enoch. They will not dine with us.” The arrogance in Antipas’s tone grated. He should show her father more respect. He served Herod for years, after all.
“Of course.” Her father’s sharpened tone drew her admiration.
Enoch was a man who respected individuals based on their image-bearing status in the Lord. Disapproval wasn’t something her father easily engaged in. Once lost, however, it was hard to retrieve his respect. Antipas bordered on losing her father’s respect and earning his disapproval.
About the Author
D.M. Griffin lives in California but grew up in beautiful New England. As a married woman with three adult children, she enjoys spending her time crafting novels that enhance the truth of Scripture. Her characters are biblically based and entirely captivating. She launched Devoted Steps Ministry in 2016. Besides keeping up with the daily prayers and devotionals on the devotedsteps.com website, she works at a local church. She is an avid reader as well as a writer. Long walks around the lake offer her space for inspiration. Besides biblical fiction, she also writes speculative Christian fiction novels.
Connect with D.M. Griffin by visiting devotedsteps.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Author Interview
Q: What inspired you to write Return of the Son?
D. M.: The unnamed characters in the Bible have always intrigued me. When reading about the encounter between Jesus and the widow from Nain, I felt captivated by her story. She never speaks. Jesus only says three words to her: Do not weep. Yet, as brief as that interaction is, I couldn’t help but feel the poignancy of it tickling the edges of my imagination. Developing her character, and writing her backstory, proved to be a fitting way to finish up The Encounter Series.
Q: How long did it take to write this book?
D. M.: That is a difficult question to answer. Typically, a first draft takes about two to three weeks (and lots of sleepless nights) to complete. Then I spend two years editing, refining, and completing the series. I don’t like to release a book until the entire series is complete. That being said, I have been working with David and Eve for over two years. It is bittersweet to let them go.
Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?
D. M.: I had some soul-sifting moments while writing Return of the Son that truly surprised me. I have shed ‘story tears’ when writing a book before, but as I wrote this story, it tapped into a childhood reservoir that I thought had long since dried up. I had the odd experience of being both a reader and a writer as Return of the Son was birthed on the page. I truly appreciate some of the spiritual takeaways because they spoke to me on a deep level.
Q: Do you have a favorite quote from Return of the Son?
D. M.: Yes. One of my favorites is: “Sometimes in life, our time is better spent seeking how the Lord wants us to respond to a situation rather than finding out what caused it and who we can blame.” Wise, challenging words from Eve’s father, Enoch.
Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
D. M.: In second grade, I had barely learned to put letters on a page when I wrote a story that spanned six legal-sized yellow pads of paper. While other kiddos were outside playing, I was inside with my pencil, scratching away a story called The Fog People. Do I still have it? No. It would be funny to see it. But I never wanted to write, so I usually destroyed what I wrote when I read it back to myself. I sort of wrestled with writing more as a compulsion than a true desire. During my younger years, my creative outlet inclined toward music. Once music shrunk to the background in my life, writing re-emerged. I wrote children’s books for fun when my kids were growing up. I kept journals and wrote poetry, and family stories. Eventually, that moved into writing novels. My intention was just to write one for fun, but…umpteen novels later, I finally realized my ‘intentions’ give God a good laugh.
Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?
D. M.: Oooh! Secrets. Well, if I learned anything from writing Return of the Son, it was how freeing it is to reveal a secret…Most readers would not know that I spent most of my growing-up years straddled across the US. I lived on the West Coast during the school year with my mom and stepdad and spent summers on the East Coast with my dad and stepmom. While it wasn’t an ideal situation, it taught me to be flexible and drove me to find stability in books. No matter where I was, I always had stories to offer me refuge.
Q: What are you currently reading?
D. M.: I have read some amazing books lately. One of my favorite things is supporting other independent authors by joining ARC teams. I read A Struggle for Courage by Marilyn Parker (comes out in November) which was amazing. I also just finished Brave by Mesu Andrews and Shield of the Mighty by Connilyn Cossette. I just started reading an ARC copy of A Light Undimmed (releases in December) by April Gardner, one of my favorite authors.
Q: What is your favorite genre to read?
D. M.: While Historical Fiction set in the Biblical era are among my favorites, I also like general historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery. I am especially fond of Civil War-era fiction.
Q: What is your favorite hobby?
D. M.: While my current writing habits do not permit much time for hobbies, I enjoy crocheting and drawing. I haven’t picked up my flute for years but still have a strong appreciation for music. I take daily walks around the lake by my house, finding that time to be inspirational.
Q: What is your favorite season and why?
D. M.: I am a spring girl. I find the promise of spring inspirational and the extra light rejuvenating after a long winter. It is the most productive season of the year for me. I always feel so sluggish in winter. But I have a gentle appreciation for fall’s coziness.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card, signed paperback of Return of the Son, and a prayer shawl!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 15, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 22, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
