A Peek at the Illustrations in More Sure than the Sun

   Hi friends! I’m taking a little break from sharing stories from history on this blog to share some more about my soon-to-be-released historical fiction book (but, Lord willing, I’ll go back to sharing history very soon). Today, I want to give you a little sneak peek at the illustrations in A Torch in the Empire Series Book Two: More Sure than the Sun. (Read my previous post here for the official back cover blurb and more info about the book). Like the first book in this series, The Fire and the Trial, it’s illustrated by my talented friend Grace Obenhaus, my amazing family, and yours truly.  

   This first illustration is by Grace. Isn’t it lovely? It’s my characters Tryphena and Tryphosa. (Well, I say “my characters,” but they’re actually real historical people. You’ll find their names in the Bible, in Romans chapter 16).

   This great illustration of the insulae (Latin for tenement buildings) along the streets of Rome is done by my father, Keith McCrary.

   This beautiful sunset on the hills and mountains surrounding Rome is drawn by my mother, Debbie McCrary. There are seven hills in Rome— the Palatine, the Aventine, the Quirinal, the Caelian, the Viminal, the Esquiline, and the Capitoline—and many more hills and mountains in the surrounding region.

   This elegant Roman garden is by my sister Sophia.  One of the characters in my story is a slave who helps tend the garden.

   These charming little potted plants inside a Roman house are by my sister Sadie. In my story, my main character Abigail’s favorite room in the house where she is a slave is a room with many potted plants.

   This ferocious lion is drawn by my brother Louis. The early Christians were often thrown to lions and other wild beasts in the arena for refusing to deny their faith in Christ.

   This flock of speckled chickens is by my brother Levi. They’re supposed to be the Speckled Sussex breed of chickens, which originated in Britain in the first century A. D. and likely would have made it to Rome by the time of this book (A. D. 66-67).

  These pretty flowers are by my niece Elizabeth. In my story, the home of a kind elderly lady is the only home on that street where flowers grow.

   And this last one of my main character Abigail is by yours truly.

   Well, I hope you enjoyed this little peek inside the book! Always remember, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it,” (1 Thess. 5:24).
All for Him,
Savannah Jane

P. S. The book releases in June (Lord willing), but you can preorder it now! Click here to preorder.