DYK? A Book is Coming.

“The Prophetess” tells a story about an American teenage girl who is called to join a secret community of Jewish prophets. The story weaves Jewish tradition, mysticism, modern Jewish American life and discovery of Israel into a coming of age story of a girl who discovers her power and purpose in life. This blog series tells the story of the making of “The Prophetess” — my first novel.

Twenty years ago, I had an idea for a book.

I was still in college then, so I had plenty of time to write it. I took an independent study as part of the Writing Seminars program at Johns Hopkins University, and dedicated three credits to working directly with one of the teaching assistants. I had a concentration in fiction so it all made sense. I would write chapters, and she would help me improve them.

I can’t remember much about those chapters now. Up on the shelf in my office, I have a first draft of that book — some 700 pages long. It was written in third person omniscient. The time span was something like seven years. Frankly, it wasn’t great. But it was the kernel of an idea… that I carried with me into adulthood, alongside projects and marriage and career.

In 2003, I made a renewed commitment to writing the book. I drove around Baltimore, identifying the key settings. My husband and I traveled to Jerusalem and Tzfat. I took pictures and put them into an album (this was before digital cameras). I worked on it for a while, and then, like every time, life rushed in. A project I had started began to flourish. I got pregnant. I set the book aside.

But late at night, or sometimes while I was exercising, or taking a walk, the story would come back. I felt I was coming to understand it better. I felt I was becoming the person who could finally write it. And then one day, I was that person and I did.

In spring 2018, after almost four years of consistent work, I signed a book contract. The book, The Prophetess, is due out from Bancroft Press in June 2019. This blog is where I’ll tell the story of turning a twenty-year old dream into a reality.

Want to hear more? Follow me on Medium. You can also follow me on twitter: @StillEvonne. I’m also building a list of supporters to help get the word out about this book. If you want to help, please let me know!