With God We Burn

 

With God We Burn

by Joshua Lange

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GENRE: Historical Romance

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BLURB:

 

Julien Allais, a French Catholic, prays for only one thing: to kneel before God in the Holy Land of Jerusalem, far from his home in Constantinople, the capital of the Christian world in AD 1096. Joining the silver-clad Crusaders arriving from the west to free the Holy Land seems like the answer to his prayers.

 

Young and untrained, Julien is soon captured, abandoned by the knights he had trusted. Despite what he was told, his Muslim captors are not Godless fiends. Ahtmar, a boy near his own age, is among his captors, and Ahtmar’s sister Zahra tends to Julien’s wounds. As Julien’s feelings for Zahra and respect for Ahtmar grow, he questions everything he thought he knew. The Jerusalem they describe is a bustling city ruled by the Turks for the sake of all residents, no matter their faith. It doesn’t need to be freed – it needs to be protected from the Crusaders who will destroy it in the name of their faith.

 

As Julien and his captors travel to Jerusalem, a forbidden love between Julien and Zahra is born. This love will change them both. Will it have the power to change a world at war?

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

EXCERPT:

 

Chapter 1 June, 1096 — Constantinople

 

With my hands clasped and my eyes closed, I prayed. Lord, please protect my father and I. Bless us so that we might get by – even if it’s only for a few more months. Please, lift our spirits and ease our burdens. I squeezed my eyes shut tighter, pushed my knees firmly into the cold floor, and sat up straighter, as if that would somehow hasten my communication with heaven. I want to travel to Jerusalem. I want to complete my pilgrimage. Please, dear God, allow this to happen. Allow us to find our way to your holy city.

 

My next thoughts had been my heaviest, and I hesitated in sharing them with God, even though He already knew. Father says I should be content. He says I should simply wait until a path to Jerusalem opens. But it doesn’t feel like it’s that simple. Please, guide me, Lord… Amen.

 

I gazed up at the impossibly high ceiling, which was marked with delicate, colorful paintings of Jesus, and a clear window that was like a view to heaven itself. The dusk sunlight beamed down upon the hundreds of loyal church followers and cast many of us in a deep, orange light. 

 

The church was supported by stunning pillars and walls made of stone and marble, and featured stained glass windows that depicted the miracle that was the life of Jesus. They showed him bearing the crown of thorns, suffering on the cross, healing the sick, and returning to life – they were all a reminder that our pain was nothing in the grand scheme of things. A person-sized crucifix watched over me from the far end of the room.

 

I concluded my prayers feeling energized but unsatisfied. I didn’t allow my impatience to get the best of me, though, especially inside this house of salvation. I darted by the Greek citizens in their brightly colored dalmatic tunics and headed outside.

 

The city had been truly unbelievable. A far cry from France, where things were held together mainly by wood and farmland. Here, the Greeks had a towering fortress surrounded by stone walls and towers, compact and circular. The buildings were largely tall and secure, like ever-watchful stone trees. It was packed with citizens along the bustling main street. 

 

The Greeks visited shopping stalls and restaurants, bought new clothing and loudly made trades. Even after being there for a year, Constantinople had remained truly foreign to me. The noise of shopkeepers hailing potential customers and the nearly blindingly bright colors of clothing in yellows, blues, and purples were enough to distract me on my way home.

 

It was hard not to get absorbed in the beauty of the city, but truly, I had been an outsider to Byzantium, and as part of the Catholic Church, it hadn’t exactly been the warmest welcome for my father and I. Even now, I remember the hostile glares and turned up noses from the purple-wearing nobles. I remember looking down at my own unassuming, tan tunic, picking at it, feeling how ragged it was, and most of all, how inferior I’d felt.

A Word With the Author

1.Did you always want to be an author?

 

Originally, I wanted to be a director. I was moved by people like Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, and Arthur Penn, who were able to turn their visions into sweeping works of cinema. Eventually I realized that I preferred being alone, and not on a crowded movie set, so I turned to being an author instead!

2.Tell us about the publication of your first book.

 

It was a long, but worthwhile process. I finished the book in about six months, and then I went on to search for a publisher. I found Cinnabar Moth on Twitter/X and tried to pitch the book to them – thankfully, we hit it off, and they liked the idea! We went through a steadfast editing process which really honed the book into its best version, and now, here we are, ready for launch!

3.Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

 

Probably Ken Follett. I like his more action-focused books, like Jack Daws. I went to a seminar of his in New York City years ago, and I learned a lot!

4.What's the best part of being an author? The worst?

 

Creative fulfillment makes me happy – and I get it most when I’m writing. There’s nothing quite like it; it’s a beautiful thing. I wouldn’t say there’s a worst part, honestly – though I could see how some people could be rattled by rejection. I certainly faced it my share of times when pitching my books, but many great authors have.

5.What are you working on now?

At the moment I’m working on a biography; it’s my first journey into non-fiction, and so far, according to everyone who has read it, it’s going well!

Thanks very much for your time!

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Born and raised on Long Island, Joshua has had a love for storytelling since he was young. He grew up with the larger-than-life characters and silly stories in pro wrestling and got lost in complex role-playing video games, and finally manifested his love at age 18 when he wrote his first book.

 

Joshua often reflects on the bigger picture in life and thinks most people are good, decent, and worthy. Love, unity, and respect are his core ideals, and they are woven into all of his writing.

 

He currently lives on Long Island with a loving family, which is he truly grateful for.

 

You can follow current projects, or catch up with him on social media; he is always open to making new friends!

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lange170

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshglange/

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014463883655

 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/with-god-we-burn-josh-lange/1144013737

 

https://www.amazon.com/God-We-Burn-Joshua-Lange-ebook/dp/B0CJ87FKP8/ref=sr_1_1

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

Joshua Lange will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway