Interview with Sheryl Stahl at the Association of Jewish Libraries Nice Jewish Books podcast:

“A lot of the final layers of the book came from walking the land itself during my Israel tour guide studies. I was literally standing in places like the ones I was writing about, able to picture the roads, the layouts, the terrain, and the kinds of structures people would have known. That experience gave the novel a much more tactile and grounded sense of reality... One of the great strengths of the biblical idea of the city of refuge is that it insists life is too important to be judged in the heat of anger. There has to be a pause, a process, and a recognition that not everything is black and white. That idea — resisting snap judgment and making space for nuance — is one of the deepest messages behind the book."

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Meet Taga, my favorite Philistine, in this  Excerpt in The Poison Well.

Followed by a fantastic Q&A

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Q&A with the Jewish Book Village:
"In ancient Egypt, Assyria, and Babylonia, an accidental killer could pay off the family or “trade” a relative to get absolution. What I found fascinating is that our version doesn’t allow you to be absolved. You’re accepting responsibility."

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Podcast with Eve Harrow, the Land of Israel Network (audio)

"Through the lens of biblical archaeology and historical fiction, the discussion explores justice, mercy, and survival during the early monarchy period. Jay’s novel offers readers thoughtful insight into ancient legal systems, honor-based societies, and the realities of life in the biblical world while reminding us how far humanity has evolved from practices such as honor killings."

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Video Interview with Yehudit Singer

"For about 20 years, I've really only read historical fiction. I'm in awe of an author who can sit down and say, " 'Not only am I going to create characters and a backdrop, and I'm going to create a story and a plotline that ...feels satisfying at the end and isn't cliche – on top of that, I'm going to create an entire layer of historical texture.' That just blows my mind." 

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