Category Archives: Novel nitty gritty

The lyre and the music of the ancients

What did the ancient liturgies of the Hebrew temple sound like? We have some likely lyrics of early Christian hymns, but what about the musical accompaniment? These questions came up earlier today as my publisher began to create a “trailer” for my novel’s website consisting of images and background music evocative of the first century world of Paul.

The easy answer is that we don’t know much about the music of our Judeo-Christian ancestors. But then we happened upon the website of Michael Levy (www.ancientlyre.com). Michael has recreated instruments that are likely quite similar to those used by temple musicians. His website is replete with musical samplings that attempt to recreate the music of the first century and earlier, together with in depth historical background supporting his work. He offers three albums of his musical recreations entitled, King David’s Lyre, Lyre of the Levites, and An Ancient Lyre.

Michael has graciously consented to allowing us to use his music for our “trailer”. Check out his website and his music!

A Wretched Man novel release date set

Regular followers of this blog know that I have penned a novel entitled A Wretched Man, a novel of Paul the apostle. For those who didn’t know this but are interested, you can click on the Wretched Man tab above for prior postings about the novel.

Here are abbreviated versions of the advance reviews we have received:

a stunning fictional account of the early church…the most authentically historical novel ever written about the lives of the apostles…presents the apostles as real flesh and blood human beings…this is a story that will both shock and inspire any Christian who is truly searching to find and follow the historical Jesus.

From review by Professor Jeffrey Butz

a powerful recreation of the world of Paul, James and Peter that pulls no punches…highly readable novel, based on contemporary scholarship…Paul comes alive as a complex individual…this book opens up the reality of the world of Paul and his contemporaries in a way no other work does…real individuals, with passions and agendas, step on to the world stage.

From review by Professor Barrie Wilson

a compelling exploration of the Jewish and Gentile movements in the first century…A Wretched Man will help you to imagine your way into Paul’s life and times…Holmen definitely captures the “feel” of first-century Roman territories…well-versed in contemporary progressive scholarship about Paul…these characters leap off the page and into our imaginations.

From review by Christian education consultant Tim Gossett

In meetings with my publisher last week, March 1st was set as the official release date although the actual date when copies are available may vary by a few days. We also discussed the process of becoming listed with Amazon and Barnes and Noble for online purchasers. For the past month or more, I have been working with the publisher’s web designers, and a robust website should soon be functional, which will include ecommerce capability for purchase directly without a middleman.

Of course, we will do traditional marketing as well, including book signings/readings. The publicist is beginning to set these up, but if any local followers of this blog want to contact me directly to arrange an event, feel free to do so: obie (dot) holmen (@) gmail (dot) com.

A Wretched Man novel: the first review is in.

Writing can be a solitary endeavor, but when we share our words with the world, it can be as scary as dropping one’s pants in the midst of a crowd (thanks to fellow Loft writer Jim Lundin for the simile). My novel is now at the point where others are reading it, and that is daunting.

My publisher has been busy sending out “galley copies” (which they refer to as ‘”advance reader” copies) to potential reviewers. With a novel release set for next February, we are hoping to generate buzz and to obtain some favorable comments to use in marketing. Yesterday, the first comment arrived. Here it is:

A Wretched Man is a powerful recreation of the world of Paul, James and Peter that pulls no punches! In this highly readable novel, based on contemporary scholarship, Paul comes alive as a complex individual. What accounts for his visceral attack on Torah? What was behind his careful avoidance of James and Jesus’ first followers in Jerusalem? What drove him on to the ends of the earth, setting up the infrastructure of a new religion? It’s all here as Holmen explores Paul’s inner turmoil and the likely motivation behind Paul’s beliefs and actions. Agree or disagree, this book opens up the reality of the world of Paul and his contemporaries in a way no other work does. Real individuals, with passions and agendas, step on to the world stage.”

Barrie Wilson, Professor, Religious Studies, York University, Toronto. Author How Jesus Became Christian.

Whew. That wasn’t so bad.

A Wretched Man: novel to be released soon

The edits are finally done, and the manuscript has been formatted for printing. Front and back cover designs are in place for the galley copies that have been ordered. A limited, preliminary print run will produce galley copies (also known as advance reader copies) that will be provided to reviewers. The publication process slowly chugs along, and now I must wait nervously and hope for a favorable review or two …

A Wretched Man: Front cover design picked

My publisher has been working on front cover designs for a few weeks. The novel is still a few months away from the bookstores, but this is what the cover will look like:

New Title: A Wretched Man, a novel of Paul the apostle

Based upon discussions with my publisher, I have decided to drop The Jewish Gentile as my novel’s title. The new title is A Wretched Man, a novel of Paul the apostle. This is based on the famous line in Paul’s letter to the Romans, “Wretched Man that I am! Who will save me from this body of death?”

The publisher is performing the final edit, and we are discussing cover designs.

Writing my novel: Part 4 (the daily process)

Sometime around 6 am most days, I bounced off the walls on my way to the kitchen, spilled coffee grounds, splashed water, and finally flipped the switch on the drip brew coffee maker. Then I impatiently stole a mug of black coffee long before the whole pot had dripped through the grounds.

Writing my novel: Part 3 (learning craft)

Dad, you write like a theologian. Or, a historian. Or worse yet, like a lawyer.

So said my eldest daughter, herself a poet and free lance writer, upon reading the first pages of my first draft.

Writing my novel: Part 2 (the research)

In an earlier post, I summarized a few events of my life that brought me to 2006 and the decision to write the historical novel that had long been fermenting in my mind. Around Labor Day in 2006, the time was right – I closed an online business and began to devote full time efforts to the novel.

“Few born Angels” and Paul the Apostle

Paul will be a frequent guest/contributor/subject in this blog. Next to Yeshua of Nazareth, Paul is undoubtedly the most important person in the history of Christianity. And, apart from his importance, the apparent complexities and conflicts in his personality, as suggested by his writings, are fascinating subjects for speculation. I will indulge my own speculations in my forthcoming novel, A Wretched Man, which features Paul as the main character.