I had the incredible privilege of being part of the launch team for Natasha’s second book, The Wanderer Reborn, and was able to interview her about her writing. you can listen to our conversation in two parts below.
“You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” (Genesis 4: 12B NIV). God gave this pronouncement when Adam and Eve’s firstborn Cain killed his brother Abel because “The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour.” (Genesis 4: 4B-5A NIV). The first murderer was destined to be a Wanderer Scorned, and Natasha woodcraft picks up on this theme in her debut novel, where she puts her readers inside Cain’s head, examining events and ideas that may have led up to his drastic actions. It is a beautiful and thought-provoking work of biblical fiction, influenced in part by the teachings of Jesus, where he reminds us that harbouring anger towards a brother or sister in our hearts is akin to committing murder. So, we have all been Cain. He is not as difficult to relate to as we might think. Resentment and anger are emotions that build up over years of shared experiences and disappointments, and Natasha turns the mysterious Cain into a fictional character with whom we can empathise.
In her sequel, the Wanderer Reborn, the narration switches from Kayin (Or Cain) to his sister Awan. She picks up the story following the loss of her two closest brothers, and we learn about the complex emotions of a family reeling after such an unprecedented tragedy.
This book has many differences to its prequel, due in part to the fact that it is being told from a woman’s point of view. Unlike Kayin, Awan is a totally fictitious character, this may well have given Natasha more scope for her imagination, but the two books flow seamlessly from one into the other, thanks in part to the so-called sandwich story of Kayin’s ancestors which begins and ends both novels
Awan is pictured as one of the first songwriters. She expresses her love for Yahweh in music, yet even that becomes more difficult following the loss of her brothers. WE travel with her on a journey from despair to hope, and from unforgiveness to peace. She takes both a physical and spiritual pilgrimage and learns more about God and herself than she ever could have imagined.
I love the title of this book because we primarily think of rebirth as a New Testament theme. Yet, it is found throughout the Bible because we serve a God of second chances. The scorned man or woman who repents can be reborn, and our God can triumph through tragedy.
I cannot write enough positive words about this series of books, even though I am not always a fan of Biblical fiction. I often find that in their attempts to be true to the text, authors leave us with characters who seem flat or unrealistic, but Natasha does not do this with Cain. I also appreciate the way she tackles other Biblical characters such as Adam and Eve and imagines their struggles after their banishment from the garden. Although in both cases the story is told in the first person, this does not take away from the impact of the other characters. Natasha somehow gets us into their heads too, even though we are seeing them through the eyes of Kayin or Awan.
I am definitely looking forward to reading more by this author.
You can find out more about Natasha by going to her website
natashawoodcraft.com
Many of the songs from her books have been recorded, and you can enjoy them on
Natasha’s YouTube channel