A new take on the story of Esther: For Such a Time with Kate Breslin, & Giveaway

Hi, there, fortunate reader friends and fans. 

Today I offer a special new book, author, and giveaway!

Leave a comment about this post to enter a drawing on Saturday morning, April 5, for an author review copy of For Such a Time from Kate.

About the Book:
Powerful Retelling of the Story of Esther

A young, bitter, Jewess-in-hiding must send her own people to Auschwitz in order to survive, or put her trust in God by giving her heart to the man responsible for their doom.

In 1944, Hadassah Benjamin feels abandoned by God when she is saved from a firing squad only to be handed over to a new enemy. Pressed into service by SS-Kommandant Colonel Aric von Schmidt at the transit camp of Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia, her Aryan-like looks allow her to hide behind the false identity of Stella Muller. However, to maintain her cover as von Schmidt’s secretary, she is forced to stand by as her own people are sent to Auschwitz. 

Suspecting her employer is a man of hidden depths, Stella appeals to him on behalf of those in the camp. Aric's indulgence gives her hope even as she risks discovery with every attempt to help the prisoners. When her bravery brings her to the point of ultimate sacrifice, she faces an excruciating choice. God may have brought her to the camp for such a time as this, but how can she save her people when she cannot save herself?

Buy the Book:

Barnes and Noble

Amazon

Watch for my review coming up in a couple of weeks.

About the Author:

A Florida girl who migrated to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Kate Breslin lives with her husband, John, and a very spoiled cat named Coco. Kate has written several travel articles, published award-winning poetry, and her first manuscript, a Scottish historical romance, was an RWA Golden Heart finalist. FOR SUCH A TIME is her debut novel. Kate’s writing journey has been one of faith as well as success; after years spent writing novels aimed at the general romance market, she finally heeded God’s call to write stories of how His love brings two hearts together. When not plotting her next novel, she loves spending time with author friends, reading from her mountain of books, or watching anything Jane Austen on BBC. Kate’s also an avid gardener and enjoys taking long walks in Washington State’s many forests. A traveler as well, she’s toured most of the country at one time or another and also been abroad–Paris, Munich, Rome, Pompeii, Athens, even a day trip to Turkey. She’d love to hear from you so please stop by www.katebreslin.com and say hello! 

Enjoy an interview with the author:

Our Interview:
Lisa, thank you so much for hosting me today. It’s an honor and pleasure to be here!
Lisa says, My pleasure!

Kate, welcome. What do you love about this book?

I love first and foremost that it’s my “coming home” story—when I got the idea to write about Queen Esther in the more modern venue of WWII, I believe God was already at work on me. As I wrote this novel and explored Stella’s journey of faith, I realized how in many ways, it resonated with my own. And in a time when I was trying to “write to the market,” For Such A Time worked to strengthen my conviction—I found the courage to start crafting stories that inspire and show how God changes our lives, teaching two hearts to love more deeply and meaningfully. I also love this story because while writing it I developed a most heartfelt compassion for those who suffered during the Holocaust, and so I became very attached to my story characters—including my hero and heroine!

Two things I learned through the writing and publishing process:

I learned that in order to write this story, it was imperative I do the research—not only on Hitler and the Nazi State, and the camp where this story takes place—but also on the subject of Judaism. I couldn’t afford to sound trite or unrealistic in my characterization, or in the magnitude of what the prisoners went through; the Holocaust remains a sensitive issue to this day, and I strove to be respectful, and as believable as I could be in writing a fictional love story involving a Jewess and an SS-officer.

As far as publishing, while my novel was finished and polished when I sold it, my publisher nonetheless did a triple-check of my grammar, use of foreign words, and some historical details, etc. to make certain we handed the reader a clean copy to enjoy. Of course, if there are still any errors lurking after all of that, it’s my fault! J

What do you hope readers will tell other readers after they finish this book?

Well, Lisa, that they simply must read it! J I do hope they’ll tell others they enjoyed the parallels between the Biblical Esther’s story and Stella’s journey, and how much more they came to understand the Holocaust of WWII. That the relationship between hero and heroine, while a bit different from Queen Esther and King Xerxes, is nonetheless fraught with uncertainty, and there are a few surprises along the way!

Where can people find you on the internet?

Either my website: www.katebreslin.com

Or Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/KateBreslinAuthor

I’m also on Pinterest and Goodreads!

Anything you’d like to add?

If you like, you can sign up on my website to become a “Kate’s Crusader” and receive information on future events, books, giveaways, and/or blurbs from me. There’s also a contact form, or you can email me direct at katebreslinauthor@hotlink.com. I’d love to hear from you!

  

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Rom. 8:28 (NRSV)