LONGWOOD, FL-Noah and the ark is one of the most beloved stories of the Old Testament. But whatever happened to the untold stories? Genesis tells us there were four men and four women on this famous voyage, yet only the men are named. Even though the Bible is silent about the women, Jean Holmes has attempted to paint their portrait in The Women of the Ark ($13.99, paperback, 1-60034-674-X), a book about this earth-changing event told from the feminine perspective. The vivid events that unfold will captivate the reader. The wickedness of the antediluvian people and the building of the ark provide an astounding view into an ancient world. The diverse personalities of those on the ark, the entrance of the animals, the closing of the great door, and the cataclysmic destruction caused by the flood will keep the reader spellbound.
"Few if any authors have dealt with this vital Old Testament story of salvation from the viewpoint of the four women who were on the ark," says Holmes. "It portrays the men and women of the ark not as mythological figures of an ancient tale but as very real people who had their share of strengths and weaknesses. They struggled with personal problems and often imperfect interpersonal relationships and still survived the flood experience. Sadly, some lost their faith and turned their hearts to evil ways, but Noah, his son Shem, and both of their wives were strengthened by their ark experience."
The story seamlessly interweaves fiction and history in a literary tour-de-force for seasoned author Holmes, who has more than 300 fiction and non-fiction works to her name. The story of The Women of the Ark was inspired by a monodrama titled "The Story of Mrs. Noah," which was performed by professional actress Mary Margaret Buss. Though Holmes had seen excerpts of her portrayal of "Mrs. Noah" before, this particular performance was so riveting she felt called to write a fictionalized version of her own.
"The ark experience of the Family Noah is still so vital today, so many centuries after the flood, for '...As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man,'" explains Holmes. "To fulfill His divine plan of salvation, God needed those women of the ark as much as He needed the men. They should not be forgotten."
Jean Holmes lives with her husband, Lucien, two cats and one dog in Delray Beach, Florida. She is a physical therapist, picture framer, and a freelance writer. She has authored more than 300 fiction and non-fiction stories and articles on history, nature, science, and Bible studies. She is the author of the children's books Norah's Ark and Sea Island Sanctuary. Her five-book Weldon Oaks Series for young adults offers a thrilling account of the Gullah people of the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia. An active member of the National League of America Pen Women, she currently serves on the league's executive board as its third national vice president.
Xulon Press, a part of Salem Communications Corporation, is the world's largest Christian publisher, with more than 3,900 titles published to date. Retailers may order The Women of the Ark through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. Salem Communications is the country's leading Christian communications company with interests in radio, Internet, and magazine publishing.
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2007