Today Teresa Thorne talks about her book, Noah’s Wife, her writing process, and generating reader “buzz”. Join me!

Noah’s Wife is Na’amah, a beautiful young girl with Asperger Syndrome, a mild form of autism. She wishes only to be a shepherdess on her beloved hills in ancient Turkey, a desire shattered by the hatred of her powerful brother, the love of two men, and a looming disaster that threatens her world. The Biblical account of Noah’s wife only gives us a nameless woman who bears Noah’s children and is with him in the ark.  T.K. Thorne, an award-winning author, has filled in the story with her imagination based on geological and archeological evidence of a great flood in the Black Sea region 7,000 years ago.

Welcome, Teresa! Noah’s Wife has received accolades including ForeWord Review’s “Book of the Year for Historical Fiction” award. Tell us in your own words what the novel is about.

Any novel worth its salt works on multiple levels.   NW is about Na’amah, a young girl whose mind is different from the “normal;” her unique perspective of the world of 5500 BCE; and how her limitations become her strengths.  On another level, the story challenges the paternalistic interpretation of Biblical literature by setting the tale in the culture that archeology suggests actually existed at that time.  Perhaps, it may also attempt a spiritual awareness of the sacred feminine that is a forgotten part of the heritage of the world’s three dominant religions.  But primarily, it is a literary/historical fiction/adventure novel with a dash of romance and a small sprinkle of fantasy.

What made you decide you wanted to create and tell 15-year old Na ‘amah’s story?

I was looking for a project with a larger scope and impact than previous works.  When I heard a poem inspired by the fact that the Bible only mentioned Noah’s wife briefly and left her nameless, I was also inspired to rectify that situation or, at least explore the possibility of doing so.  I began to hunt for evidence of a significant flood in the Middle East and discovered information about a cataclysmic geological event in 5500 BCE that transformed a fresh water lake above ancient Turkey into a sea, reversing the flow of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and flooding Mesopotamia.  Then I found the origins of the Noah story in a Mesopotamian epic poem (the oldest written story known).  Once I had a date, I began researching the time period and playing with Na’amah’s character and voice.  She was insistent on taking charge from the beginning.

Clearly, you have a solid understanding of the historical time period and region where this novel is set. Where did you get your knowledge?

Most of my four-year research journey was through books, museums, and the Internet (A wonderful resource if one is wondering whether sheep existed in 5500 BCE in ancient Turkey and if so, what color were they?  Think about walking into a library with that question!)  If you are doing historical research, I strongly suggest that you check for the latest archeological findings.  Archeology is making exciting new discoveries every day and transforming what we thought we knew.  I was also fortunate to travel to Turkey at the invitation of the Turkish Cultural Foundation and see the land and artifacts of the culture I had written about.  It was an amazing adventure!

Na ‘amah seems to be an interesting, multi-layered young woman. Tell us who she is beneath the surface. What motivates her?

As a young girl with Asperger Syndrome, Na’amah sees the world through a different lens.  She does not possess a lot of the social interaction skills or filters we take for granted.   In her words, “I speak only truths because lies distress me.” She is uncomfortable with change, possesses an acute sensitivity to sound, takes comfort in routine, and tends to view things from a literal perspective.  On the other hand, as a savant, she has mental gifts that allow her to remember everything she hears and to notice details that others miss.  She doesn’t (or can’t) believe what she can’t personally experience.  As a result, her life is in constant danger just for being who she is.

Every story has some villain. Who or what is that villain in Noah’s Wife and what makes them a formidable force to be overcome?

A dark familial secret turns Na’amah’s own brother into her enemy.  The depth of his hatred, his knowledge of Na’amah’s weaknesses, and his rising influence make him as powerful as the stirring force in the earth itself.

Do you have a personal favorite scene in Noah’s Wife?

If by favorite, you mean one I like to read, it would have to be a scene where Na’amah’s chubby, optimistic friend, Inka, determines to learn enough foreign words to distract one of their captors.  “Let’s start with ‘You are strong, and I like you,’” she says.  Another scene between Na’amah and Noah, which I think is probably one of my best, is very intense and difficult for me to read, perhaps because I live it over with Na’amah every time I read it.  While I was writing it, I had no idea what she was going to do or say and so it came from the depths of my subconscious, both surprising me and moving me.

You have a number of reader reviews for this novel online–that kind of buzz is invaluable to an author. What advice would you give to new authors when it comes to using the internet to promote their work and to garner reader followers?

In the beginning I asked people who had read the novel to comment on Amazon, but now I have no idea who most of the reviewers are.  I’m not a model for marketing, but I would say, don’t hesitate to ask people who give you a good review if they would post it.  Start a newsletter and gather email addresses.  That is something I wish I had started a lot sooner.  Get a web site, if you haven’t got one. Don’t kill yourself trying to post on all the social media sites.  I post a blog or comment only when I have something to say.  Be personal.  Recently, I did an experiment on Face Book.  I ran across a site with an astounding article about scientists finding evidence that other universes may have “bumped into” ours.  At the same time, I noticed a bat had taken up residence between my screen and bedroom window.  I posted a link to the article and a picture of the bat on Face Book.  Our bruised universe got zero comments, while the bat rated a dozen.  Go figure and take heed.

Will you share a little about your writing process? In particular, how does writing screenplays most differ from writing novels?

When I begin writing I usually have an image of the beginning and one of the end (if I’m lucky) and just start writing.  I like to be surprised by my characters and so I stick them in complex situations or dire straits and see what they do and say.  My job is to figure out the next plot complication and theirs is to react to it.

In writing a screenplay, the writer must limit herself.  Settings and context have to be told strictly through dialogue and action (what the camera “sees” and “hears”) rather than narrative.  A lot of writers seem to find dialogue difficult, but I think it is one of my strengths and I enjoy it.

Thanks for joining me today, Teresa! One last question—what can your readers look forward to next?

I’ve jumped several thousand years to the time of Abraham and another important Biblical woman who is given one short line’s worth of text and no name.  My story is Angels at the Gate: the story of Lot’s Wife (the woman who turns into a pillar of salt for the unforgiveable crime of “looking back” at her burning city) and I have just returned from a research trip to Israel—another fascinating land, history and people!  I’m looking forward to sharing this story which, as one may guess, puts Lot’s wife in an historical setting … with my own twists.

About the Author

T.K. Thorne is retired from the Birmingham Police Department as a captain and currently serves as executive director of the business improvement district in downtown Birmingham, AL. Besides writing, Teresa’s current passions include community service on behalf of the homeless, at-risk children, and animals. A proud grandmother, she lives on a beautiful mountain with her family of people, dogs, cats and horse. The first chapter of Noah’s Wife is available on her website: http://www.tkthorne.com