Meet a Canaanite in
Connilyn Cossette’s
Biblical novel
Wings of the Wind
Bethany House
***
The Story
Alanah, a Canaanite, is no stranger to fighting and survival. When her family is killed in battle with the Hebrews, she disguises herself and sneaks onto the battlefield to avenge her family. The one thing she never counted on was surviving.
Tobiah, a Hebrew warrior, is shocked to find an unconscious, wounded woman among the Canaanite casualties. Compelled to bring her to a Hebrew healer back at their camp, he is soon confronted with a truth he can’t ignore: the only way to protect this enemy is to marry her.
Unused to being weak and vulnerable, Alanah submits to the marriage–for now. As she comes to know and respect Tobiah and his people, however, she begins to second-guess her plans of escape. But when her past has painfully unanticipated consequences, the tentative peace she’s found with Tobiah, the Hebrews, and Yahweh is shaken to the core. Can Alanah’s fierce heart and strength withstand the ensuing threats to her life and all she’s come to love?
Introducing Alanah
Brief physical description
Alanah is known for her curly red hair, a family trait. Since her heritage is from the far north, her skin is more pale than most Hebrews although kissed with gold from the sun as a result of her outdoor life-style hunting and tracking with her bow.
Resembles…
I don’t use photos of actors, since that confuses my imagination when constructing their personalities so I found this photo of a model from Brazil named Cinthia Dicker and I think it captures Alanah’s fierce independence well.
Strengths and weaknesses
Alanah is tough, relatively fearless, and fiercely loyal. She has a keen intelligence and honed instincts that draw Tobiah to her from the beginning. Her weakness would be a lack of trust born of a difficult life in Canaan and a temper that sometimes flares without warning. Thankfully coming to trust both Yahweh and Tobiah soften Alanah’s rough edges but she will always retain the strength and tenacity of a warrior.
Quirk (if any)
Alanah always carries the compound bow her father made for her and feels naked without it. Even without arrows to shoot, she keeps it handy at all times. It’s become an extension of her.
Your inspiration for the character
I imagined Alanah as a little bit Katniss from Hunger Games, a little bit Mulan, and a just a touch of Merida from Brave. I wanted her to be a strong woman with a tough outer shell who lives and loves with ferocity. She needed to be the perfect match for Tobiah the Hebrew warrior who takes her captive, along with her heart.
Background to the story
As I was brainstorming what to write after Counted with the Stars I was chatting with my mom on the phone about her Bible study. She mentioned they were studying Rahab and said she wondered what could have possibly convinced her so thoroughly to believe that Yahweh was God over all that she laid her life on the line to save the Hebrew spies in Jericho. So without giving any spoilers….Alanah’s story was born from that conversation. Thanks Mom.
Thanks Conni!
Relz Reviewz Extras
Connilyn’s Reading Habits
The Inside Scoop! on Connilyn
Visit Connilyn’s website
Buy at Amazon: Wings of the Wind or Koorong
May 29, 2017 at 1:32 pm
I like biblical novels because they make the Bible stories come to life. Instead of seeing the characters as fictional, it reminds me that they were real people who had true struggles.
May 29, 2017 at 11:17 pm
I love Biblical novels because they are refreshing for me. It brings me back to a time when people were more loyal and they really feel life like. They play out before me like something on the movie screen. It’s really a relaxing time for me to get closer to God through Biblical fiction.
May 30, 2017 at 12:16 am
great interview. i love inspirational novels because they are clean keeping my mind from straying where it should not. my husband is number one in my life as far as men. i read harlequin many years ago and found that my mind became full of impure thoughts and i was not happy about this.that is when i discovered inspirational fiction. also, i always learn something about faith along the way. if it is historical at the same time, i am soooo happy.
May 30, 2017 at 1:13 am
I love how biblical fiction helps me view familiar stories with a new perspective.
May 30, 2017 at 2:04 am
I love to see the history behind the biblical accounts. It kind of fills in the story.
May 30, 2017 at 4:25 am
Hi Rel,
What I love most about Biblical novels is how they make the Bible come to life in a way that is more vivid and colorful. I’ve read many Biblical novels and truly feel blessed afterwards. They also seem to draw me closer to God’s Word.
I look forward to reading this series. I have the first book, but yet to read it. With summer coming up I’ll have more time, YAY!
May 30, 2017 at 6:42 am
I have read both “Counted with the Stars” and “Shadow of the Storm” by Connilyn Cossette and have just started reading this third installment of the “Out of Egypt” series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first 2 books and the 3rd is living up to expectations. I love how much research Connilyn has done to keep the story true to the time period – but she also allows her writers imagination to explore how the truths of God’s Word would have impacted situations and the people (both Hebrew and non-Hebrew) of the march of God’s people into the Promise Land. I hope this series will continue for a long while – I’m lovin it!!
May 30, 2017 at 8:02 am
This sounds like a neat heroine!
May 30, 2017 at 2:59 pm
I haven’t read very many biblical novels, but I’m looking forward to reading more of them. I’ve heard so many great things about Connilyn’s books, that I’ve put them on my TBR list.
May 31, 2017 at 2:00 am
While I haven’t read a ton of biblical novels, I like that they are more serious and the characters are more concerned with survival it seems to heighten the tension.
May 31, 2017 at 9:02 am
Having the author bring a Bible story to life!! I especially love Jill Eileen Smith and I’d love to discover other new-to-me Biblical fiction writers. I’ve heard so much good on Connilyn books, thanks for the chance to win a copy of her newest one!
June 1, 2017 at 10:31 am
I love Biblical fiction! I’ve heard that this series can cause a book hangover. Thank you for the chance.
June 2, 2017 at 3:30 am
Thank you so much for spotlighting Alanah Rel! She was such a fun heroine to write! Good luck to all of you in the giveaway!!
June 2, 2017 at 1:05 pm
I haven’t read very many Biblical fiction books. I think that it helps you envision the Word of God and helps you see the historical details in more light.
June 3, 2017 at 12:00 am
I love biblical fiction because it makes that time period and events seem so real. I love feeling like I am actually there!
June 3, 2017 at 1:55 am
I’m excited to read this book! I enjoy biblical stories because they let me further understand the settings and cultures of the time in new and deeper ways.
June 4, 2017 at 2:48 pm
What I love most about Biblical novels is how the story seems to come to life so much more. Often times we forget that these people had emotions too.
June 5, 2017 at 1:30 pm
Because my daughter loves to read and I love for her to read these instead of other books.