Putting the Chariot Before the Horse

(Above image:  Judith Calls for the Attack.  From the Apocrypha Online)

I invite you to check out a new website, by my friend and fellow PNWA (Pacific Northwest Writers Association) member, Robin Cohn:

http://www.robincohn.net/index.html 

Robin's site serves as the platform for her debut novel, Judith:  Wise Woman of Bethulia. 

The book is about the biblical heroine Judith, who manages to beguile her way into the camp of the Assyrian army beseiging her town and kill its commanding general, Holofernes.  She makes her way through the siege lines with Holofernes's head and once back in Bethulia, organizes a counter attack, that drives the Assyrian army from the field.

Sounds like a cool story to me!  Although, I don't remember Sister Callista, or any of the other nuns at St. John's, mentioning this story during our religious education classes...

Anyway, if you think this story sounds half as cool as I do, then you may even want to buy the book.

Oh yes, the book. 

Unfortunately, you'll have to wait until Robin's manuscript is actually published...

Now, before you accuse Robin of putting her chariot before the horse, let me say this:

Welcome to the world of 21st Century publishing.

As I mentioned earlier, Robin's website serves as her platform--or foundation--for the novel she's finished writing.  In this way agents and editors will be able to examine Robin's credentials, her writing and her marketing strategy.  In the meantime, Robin will be publishing a Biblical Women Week by Week newsletter, which readers can sign up for.

Gone are the days where a writer could live the life of a recluse like J.D. Salinger.

Robin, of course isn't the first author to start off this way.  The movie Julie and Julia is based, in part, on Julie Powell's blog Julie and  Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen, that landed her a book deal, which then led to the movie.

Robin's website is easy to navigate and contains all the information anyone would need to get to know the author better.  I was most impressed with Robin's extensive bibliography.  The 43 subdivisions within this section is a good indicator to an agent, editor or historical fiction fan, that the story of Judith is well researched.

In fact, as an "embarassing" aside, I own only 3 of the 40 books listed under Warfare in Ancient Near East. 

So when Robin's book hits the shelves, then it will be time to gird thy loins and head to the nearest bookstore!  (Or, click "Buy," when your boss isn't looking over your shoulder).