Author Interview: Dead Sea Conspiracy by Jerry B. Jenkins

She is the first woman to be awarded a permit to lead a dig in Saudi Arabia and believes what she hopes to discover has the power to rewrite history. She assembles a team that will ultimately surprise – and in some cases – betray her. In a parallel storyline, readers are launched back to ancient Ur where young Abram is sent to learn from his forebears, who tell him firsthand stories of being on the ark during the Great Flood.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jerry B. Jenkins‘ books have sold more than 73 million copies. Twenty-one of his titles have reached the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal best-seller lists. The phenomenally best-selling Left Behind series inspired several movies, one starring Nicolas Cage and another starring Kevin Sorbo. Jenkins has been featured on the cover of Newsweek and his writing has appeared in Time, Reader’s Digest, Guideposts, and dozens of other periodicals. Jenkins owns the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, through which he trains thousands of aspiring writers. He is a member of the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame and chairs the Creative Writing major at Colorado Christian University. He and his wife, Dianna, have three grown sons, including Dallas, creator and director of The Chosen TV series.

Connect with Jerry by visiting jerryjenkins.com to follow him on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW JERRY B. JENKINS

What did you do before becoming a writer? 

Very little. I’ve actually been a professional writer since age 14. I was paid a dollar per inch that made it into the local paper from my coverage of high school sports.

When you came up with the idea for the Dead Sea Chronicle series what character plot did you start first?

I wrote the novel in the same order the reader reads it, beginning with the modern-day story and alternating with the ancient biblical story every other chapter. 

Do you outline your stories/series before you start writing?

I don’t. I’m what’s known as a Pantser, one who writes by the seat of his pants. Of course, I have a rough idea where I’m going and what I want to accomplish, but I try to do what Stephen King suggests – put interesting characters in difficult situations and write to find out what happens. So I write as a process of discovery and am often as surprised as the reader.

I know you write in a variety of genres, is there one you enjoy writing more than another?

Almost always it’s the genre I’m not writing in at the time! When writing fiction, I’m thinking nonfiction would easier, and vice-versa. But in the end, I write about two-thirds nonfiction, and it is my favorite.

Is there a question you wish someone would ask you that has never been asked?

Sure, I wish someone would ask how thrilled I am to have won the Nobel Prize for Literature. For some reason, no one has ever asked that, and I’m not holding my breath. 😊

Did you learn anything new about archeology while researching for the Dead Sea Chronicles? 

Everything about archaeology was new to me, and my writing was informed by biblical/archaeological consultant Dr. Craig Evans of Houston Baptist Seminary. His input was invaluable and spurred even more plot ideas. 

Do you enjoy writing the character development or story background more? Which one is the hardest for you?

Hmm, I’ve never thought about those as separate elements. They go hand in hand, and because I’m a Pantser, I think these come to me intuitively. 

What is your favorite book that you have written (published or unpublished), and why?

Fortunately, I have no unpublished books. My favorite is my novel Riven, the idea for which I nursed for years before finally writing it. It seemed to gush from me when I finally got to it, and I was thrilled with the result and the job the publishers did with it.

What is your favorite genre to read?

I very much enjoy historical fiction. 

What is your favorite genre to write?

Contemporary fiction.

And why are they your favorites?

Historical because I love to learn. Contemporary because I love to entertain. 

Do you have a favorite author? Or someone whom you would say has influenced your writing style?

Rick Bragg. His memoir, All Over but the Shoutin’, is my favorite book ever. 

What are your hobbies other than writing?

Reading (dozens of books a year) and binge-watching true crime TV shows and British dramas with my wife.

Do you have a genre that you would never write? (In the Christian genre sphere i.e. speculative, historical, contemporary, etc.) 

I don’t write romances – though I include romance in most of my stories, and I’m not a sci-fi writer either. I do, however, appreciate both those genres and respect those who excel at them.

What is one thing in your life that you would say has had the greatest impact on your writing? Or in your life in general?

My wife Dianna has been an incredible support for me all these years. There’s no way I could have written what I have without her. She’s neither critic nor analyst, but she is an encourager and manages everything at home so I’m free to create.

Lastly, what was your favorite book growing up?

Little League Champs. I dug it out recently and was surprised how elementary it was, but it captivated me as a child.

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive signed & personalized copies of Dead Sea Rising (paperback), Dead Sea Conspiracy (hardcover), and a $50 Visa gift card. 

(9) additional winners will receive signed & personalized copies of Dead Sea Rising (paperback) and Dead Sea Conspiracy (hardcover).

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight August 16, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 23, 2022. Winner 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 the policies found here.

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