Why would two seasoned writers who have written mostly nonfiction decide to write a novel? A novel that included the search for Noah’s Ark?

Because the captivating mystery of Noah and his family—their determination to follow God’s plan no matter the difficulties—grabbed hold of our imaginations.

When Carol moved to Sedona, Arizona in 2019, four years after we’d met, she was greatly inspired by the beauty and majesty of the mountain formations. Could they be the result of Noah’s Great Flood? A visiting friend mocked that idea which spurred Carol to begin researching.

Carol began developing the main character, Marissa (Rissa) Dorian. Royalene began making notes on a possible supporting (main) character, Sean Kelly. But could we write a novel together with such a distance between us?

Carol and her husband, Scott, settled into their new home and Carol became the owner of not one but two small businesses. Royalene and her husband, Woody, enjoyed retirement while Royalene continued working with nonfiction authors to prepare their books for publication. Our lives were full, and God walked with us and carried us through deep valleys where we almost lost sight of the novel.

But where God’s plans intersect with life on earth, His ways work together to guide us. We anticipated doing a lot of research. What we couldn’t anticipate was how the Holy Spirit would inspire the changes that research would bring to our lives and the lives of our characters.

In 2021, Carol sent me the rough draft of the 1st chapter. It began, “Marissa Dorian is on a mission. Not a life-or-death mission.” That line remains in the novel.

To be continued…