 Today, I'm thrilled to introduce you to an author I've grown close to over the last year. First, by editing her first novel, a gorgeous Biblical fiction woven around the Samaritan woman and the Good Samaritan. Second, when we got to meet in person last month at ScrivCon. You guys! She's so much fun and I know you're going to love her too. Without further ado, let's chat with Linda Dindzans. Linda, what inspired you to give up your scalpel and take up a pen? Since childhood I have been an avid reader of all genres, but particularly drawn to historical and biblical fiction. I’ve also been fascinated with the study of the Bible and facilitated and taught Bible studies. Prior to my retirement I had a story coming to me that would not let go. I found myself writing chapters in my head. That story grew, became a trilogy and got out of control. I set it aside but one day will pick it up again. At first, I planned to take a sabbatical to write, but after a couple of months I realized that this was retirement–– a new calling, a new direction. If you had asked me at the beginning how long it would take me to write a book, I would have guessed about two years. I was either very naive or a little bit arrogant. Probably both. Before I felt I had mastered the level of writing I was willing to submit, my writing journey was twelve years to publication and involved many writer’s conferences, online courses, critique groups and coaching. How does a doctor become an author of Biblical fiction? Many people ask me if I miss medicine. I can honestly say that I loved it when I was practicing, but when I stopped I felt the “anointing had lifted” and shockingly, I did not miss medicine at all. Though when we are traveling and someone has a medical emergency, my husband and I both click into “doctor mode.” When deciding what genre to write, what made you choose Biblical fiction? Biblical fiction was what was coming to me. As I was learning the craft of writing, I had several people say that I was a good writer, but perhaps I should try to break in with a genre that was more in demand. For now, this is the genre I believe I am called to write. For instance, I admire romance writers but am convinced I don’t have a romance in me. You never know though. God has a sense of humor. He may one day call me to write a romance… beats and all. What is the hardest thing you've discovered in writing your stories? Trying to make sure I have dug deep to the character’s truth. I am a plot-driven writer, but adding depth of character makes the story ring true! Also, Biblical fiction requires research, and I make every effort to research carefully and thoroughly––but there will always be the fact that “you don’t know what you don’t know”. This is where critique partners and beta readers are invaluable and may catch things. Let me give you an example. Writing this next book, I have a character that is threatened with stoning. Mesu Andrews was critiquing a chapter for me during a fiction intensive she taught at Florida Christian Writers Conference 2023. She wrote in the margin research methods of stoning. Huh?! Didn’t people just take the victim outside the city walls and throw rocks? Turns out there were two methods. Fortunately, I was warned before a mistake got incorporated into a book. So, this is the moment when I pray for grace and hope my “mistakes” don’t take the reader out of the story. What is one of the most interesting facts you've discovered when doing research? The phrase “there was a certain man” was like “once upon a time” to the first century listener. But also, many scholars believe it was an indication to the audience that Jesus was about to tell a real story based on a real person. Now that you've released your first book, what is one thing you're most surprised about in being an author? #1 Several personal stories from friends of how my book has impacted readers they know. It is so encouraging to get this feedback! #2 How much work a book launch entails. How much the continued promotion on social media matters. How much learning and time is involved in the non-writing aspects of being an author. Does your medical history ever show up in your writing? Yes. I’ve always been fascinated with the history of medicine and there are a couple of scenes in A Certain Man where medical emergencies are involved. Can you give us a sneak peek into what you're working on next? I am working on Book 2 of A Certain Future series. This book is entitled A Certain Mercy. While there are new main characters, certainly characters from the first book will be present, and some of their loose ends resolved. A peek into my Google search––were there arenas in ancient Jerusalem? Hippodromes? Were Jews ever gladiators? You just never know what rabbit holes research will take you down. Last but not least, what is one interesting fact about you that very few people know? I was a violinist through college. While at Harvard I played with both the small student-conducted Bach Society orchestra and the large Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra. Leonard Bernstein was Norton Professor of Poetry and gave lectures at Harvard. Yo-yo Ma, concert cellist, was a member of my class. I had the privilege of performing as an orchestra member with them both. I was also a cox’n for crew for two years. Think Boys in the Boat. LOL Okay, that is too cool! I hope if you ever quit Biblical fiction, you'll write a story about a violin-playing cox'n. ;) Readers, keep reading for more information about her beautiful novel and how to keep in touch with Linda. She's obviously got great things coming down the road!  A Certain Man Mara is a young Samaritan beginning to discover her love for Samuel—and his for her. Soon she will be deemed mature enough to marry. Her hopes are dashed when her greedy father brokers a match with the cruel son of the wealthy High Priest of Shechem. When her loathsome betrothed is killed, her beloved Samuel must run for his life. Mara and Samuel struggle to survive and reunite during the treacherous and scandalous times of the Bible under the merciless rule of Rome. Along the way, they are entangled within the snares of such notable figures as King Herod, Herodias, Pontius Pilate, Caiaphas, and Salome. The heartrending tales of Mara and Samuel are interwoven with their desperate love story. Before either meets Yeshua the Nazarene face to face. Before He sets the political, religious, and spiritual landscape on fire. And before either Mara or Samuel are immortalized in the gospels. Linda Dindzans, M.D. is a writer with the heart of a healer. She offers readers stories of redemption and restoration. And her compelling characters inhabit the treacherous times of the Bible. But Linda believes there is nothing new under the sun. The hopes and struggles of her cast of characters still speak to hearts today. Yet only a profound encounter with the Son transforms her characters from victims to victors.
Linda is a retired ENT surgeon with a longstanding fascination with God’s Word and commitment to in-depth Bible study. She has been a guest speaker at medical conferences, national and regional Christian conferences, and a facilitator for church and home Bible studies. She is grateful for this time to lay down her scalpel and pick up her pen as she follows a call to write. During her free time, Linda can be found on the pickleball court. She has no aspirations to win a trophy but remains content to supply the comic relief. Linda and her husband, a fellow physician, have been blessed with three adult children, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren. Wisconsin is home, but they travel across the world enjoying photography, birdwatching, and singing in choirs. FB: Linda Dindzans,Author X: @lindadindzans Website: lindadindzans.com
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