My first close reading of David and Bathsheba left me with so many questions. The debate as to whether their coupling was consensual felt incredibly modern and #metoo. What was more striking to me, however, was that Bathsheba did not have a voice in the story. I was inspired to give her one.
Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg – 2 April 2024
The Back Flap
Days after graduation, Betsabé Ruiz’s life in New York is turning out to be nothing less than cinematic. Although her first job at a white-shoe, Wall Street investment bank is the opportunity of a lifetime, she is not prepared for the magnitude of wealth swirling about her, the long hours and close quarters that infuse her professional relationships with intimacy, nor an unexpected attraction to her boss. And like all great films, Betsabé’s New York dream comes with a twist that challenges her to find a balance between where she came from and where she’s going.
Narrated in the retrospective as a letter of wisdom to her unborn son, Daughter of a Promise captures not only Betsabé’s coming of age but also her journey to understand that deep-seated forces such as desire and love are more complicated than she ever could have imagined.
About the book
What is the book about?
Daughter of a Promise is a love story portraying a young woman embarking on her adult life and the genesis of an unorthodox romance. It is a modern retelling of the David and Bathsheba tale from the Book of Samuel.
When did you start writing the book?
I began writing in earnest weeks after the Coronavirus shut down. My writing practice gave structure to some otherwise anxiety-prone days, and the virus ended up featuring prominently in the novel!
How long did it take you to write it?
Three to four years give or take. This is a big acceleration for me! Eden, my debut, took about 10 years and my second novel, The Nine, took about six.
Where did you get the idea from?
I have been studying Torah for about twenty years with a group from my temple. My first close reading of David and Bathsheba left me with so many questions. The debate as to whether their coupling was consensual felt incredibly modern and #metoo. What was more striking to me, however, was that Bathsheba did not have a voice in the story. I was inspired to give her one.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
When writing novels, what isn’t a struggle? But for me, the question was how to reveal the story, in what order should it be told, and explaining the why in a nuanced manner– as in why did my narrator find it pressing to tell her story in this moment.
What came easily?
I wrote the book in the first person. Betsabé Ruiz is narrator and protagonist. Happily, her voice and her spark came easily to me.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
My characters are fictitious, however my life experience working on Wall Street and having adult kids in the city now in their first jobs are things I was able to draw on.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
My favorite authors are Barbara Kingsolver, Joyce Carol Oates, and Meg Wolitzer. I admire their ability to tell a compelling story with a greater message woven in for the reader. I aspire to their nuance, not needing to bang people over the head, but having their novels be culturally important and topics of conversation.
Do you have a target reader?
My reader is an intelligent, well-read person. I like to imagine a person who appreciates a page-turner but wants to come away from reading a novel feeling as if something deeper was also going on.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I write every day, I read every day. Eventually I will outline and figure out where a project is going, but I am motivated to start with bite-sized scenes, snippets of dialogue, and a character’s inner-wound. A juicy plot is what I struggle to come up with and I often layer that on last.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I outline in Scrivener once I have a dozen or two scenes written.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
Most edits wait until the first draft is completed.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I love nothing more than pure silence.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
Yes. I had an agent with first two books, but decided to go without one this time.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I have found great success working with She Writes Press and looked forward to replicating the model I was already familiar with.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
She Writes Press.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
Well-devised plan.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Hire a publicist and if you are uncomfortable with the internet, hire an assistant.
About You
Where did you grow up?
All over, but my high school years were spent in Newport Beach, CA.
Where do you live now?
I split my time between Park City, UT and our farm in Verona, WI.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I am a mother to three adult children, a novelist, and most recently the steward of a regenerative farm. A common theme? I like to create things, specifically things that can be shared with the world.
What are you working on now?
I am writing fiction, portraying one of the minor characters in Daughter of a Promise as well as journaling our farm journey with a series of personal essays.
End of Interview:
For more from Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg visit her website and follow her on Instagram and Substack.
Get your copy of Daughter of a Promise from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
