BookView Review

Welcome to BookView Interview, a conversation series where BookView talks to authors.

Recently, we talked to Femi Martin about his writing and his recently published book, Jesus: The Egypt Years, a poignant exploration of faith, survival, and the enduring power of divine protection. (Read the review here).

How often do you base your character on real people?
Not often

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I spend the early stage of my plotting on research about the topic i’m writing. i search through internet and this i do before plotting my story.

Do you find writing therapeutic?
Yes, very therapeutic.

How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
It makes me want to write more.

Do you read your book reviews? Do they please you or annoy you? Do you think you can learn a lot from reading criticism about your work?
Yes,I do read my book reviews and so far they’ve pleased me. Truly you can learn a lot from criticism of your work and that’s if they’re professional and true.

What is your favorite childhood book?
As far as i can remember since i know how to read by myself, i’ve always love
reading James Hadley Chase.

What’s more important : characters or plot?
They’re both important, in fact you can’t have one without the other.

Would you rather read a book or watch television?
I would rather read a book.

Are you a feeler or thinker?
I am a thinker because there are times i don’t feel, so i think.

Tell us some more about your book.
Jesus the Egypt years is the story about our lord Jesus Christ when he was a baby. The story starts from where the bible stopped. after the angel of the lord lead Joseph and Mary out of Bethlehem and set them on their way to Egypt. We do not know what happened next when they reach Egypt. What is King Herod doing during this time? Did he find out that the holy child has escape his massacre? All these question is what the book answer.

Tell us a little about how this story came to be. did it start with an image, a voice, a concept, a dilemma or something else?
Jesus the Egypty years came to be, just one day i was thinking in my kitchen
after reading the bible. then it occur to me that the life of our lord has not fully been examined. I see the story there and i said to the Lord. “Lord there’s story about you and i think I should be the one to write it.” then i went to my desk and start to plot the story. I came out with
three books that same day after my plotting.

What do you hope readers will take away from this story?
I hope readers will understand and see that the Holy family couldn’t have had a pleasant time in Egypt. Our lord Jesus grew up amid this terror against his life right from babyhood and yet he lives to save the world.

How does your faith life /ethical outlook inform your writing?
I believe writers should be rational in judgement. An irrational person can not write or judge rationally in story.

What makes this book important right now?
This book is important right now because of the storyline it explores. we get to see the relationship between Mary and Joseph. We get to see what Jesus Christ mindset could have been when he was growing up from the story. It capture our lord Jesus Christ with a Christian view that gives glory to God. it’s really a must read for believers and any enquiry minds.

 

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