Today @ 11.30AMEST Tracy L. Highley, author of "The Queen's Handmaid", visits The G-ZONE

An Interview with Tracy L. Higley

Author of The Queen’s Handmaid

Sometimes the loudest voices in our lives are the ones we need to silence the most. In Tracy L. Higley’s latest novel, The Queen’s Handmaid (Thomas Nelson/March 18, 2014/ISBN: 978-1-4016-8684-0/$15.99), the author explores the importance of finding our identity in God and not in the opinions of others — no matter how large of a presence those people are.

This search for true identity is the foundation for The Queen’s Handmaid, a story that will take readers on an adventure through an ancient world and give them a unique understanding of the culture and setting into which Jesus was born. Set in Alexandria, Egypt, in 39 BC, The Queen’s Handmaid connects the history we learn in school with the Bible stories of childhood, giving readers a peek into a lost world. 

Q: The Queen’s Handmaid is set in Egypt, Rome and Jerusalem in 39 B.C. How did you first become interested in this time period?

I find so much of ancient history to be fascinating — and I especially love connecting the world history we learn in school with the Bible stories of childhood. I loved researching this period for a previous book that featured Cleopatra, and it was fun coming back to it, to explore her relationship with Herod the Great.

Q: What kind of historical research did you do in preparation for writing this book? Have you been able to travel to Egypt and/or Jerusalem where the story takes place?

My research is done on a variety of levels, from quick overviews to get story ideas to deep research once I have the period, setting and historical events nailed down. And yes, the best part of my research has been travel! I’ve visited Egypt, Rome and Jerusalem, exploring the sites and getting inspired!

Q: Is it difficult to create the settings in which your characters live, given that the story takes place more than 2000 years ago?

I love creating the settings! One of my favorite parts of writing is being able to take readers on a journey through the sights, smells, sounds, colors and textures of the ancient world.

Q: Can we expect to see biblical characters throughout the pages of this story, and if so, what was it like to bring them to life?

The main biblical character readers will encounter is Herod the Great. We know him from the stories of Jesus’ birth, but for me, getting to peek behind the scenes at palace life and the mind of this man who was both a great leader and a murderous madman was challenging and exciting.

Q: In The Queen’s Handmaid, your heroine is “chosen and marked for this purpose.” Do you feel everyone is marked for a purpose, and how can we determine what that purpose is?

I absolutely believe each of us has a unique calling, a grand adventure planned out for us before the foundation of the world. Staying open to our own hearts and the way God both whispers and shouts His plan to us is so important. In my experience, most people have a sense of their own unique calling, but fear keeps us from it.

For more information about Tracy L. Higley and her books, visit www.tracyhigley.com, become a fan on Facebook (tracyhigley) or follow her on Twitter (@tlhigley).

The link for today’s show is: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gelatisscoop/2014/05/21/tracy-l-highley-author-of-the-queens-handmaid