Moses in the Lion’s Den

If you know your Bible stories, my blog title probably made you stop and think. Moses? Don’t you mean Daniel? Well, it might make a catchy book title.

I have been on a one-year hiatus from writing. I certainly haven’t followed the rules. My writing mentor, Joyce Magnin, who was responsible for my having good content in my first book, gave me this advice, “As soon as you finish one book, start on the next.” This is great advice for anyone pursuing a career as an author. Unfortunately, I didn’t follow her words of wisdom. Two reasons come to mind: I had serious health issues that sapped my energy, and I lacked self-discipline.

I am actively pushing those two obstacles behind me. My health is improving, and I am sitting my butt in the chair to write every day, whether I feel inspired or not. I also am taking an on-line course by James Patterson. He has been just the catalyst I needed to get started. The class isn’t overwhelming, and he presents writing as fun.

He asked his students to write out three plot ideas. My three were the following:

1. An orphan is conscripted as a cabin boy on the Mayflower, where William Bradford befriends him and gives him fatherly love he’s never known.

2. During the Revolutionary War, a Quaker boy finds a letter that has a hidden message when put up to candlelight that tells where and when the British troops will strike next. He decides to take the message to General Washington, even though his parents will object to his participating in the war since it is against their beliefs.

3. Sequel to Dark Enough to See the Stars: Runaway slave Moses has escaped to Canada and now attends a school for blacks. His teacher hands him a letter from his mother. He has not known her location since she was sold from their plantation in Maryland. She reveals that she is now owned by a Tennessee senator, lives in Washington DC, and sews ball gowns for Washington society. Now that Moses knows where she is, he determines to go back to America and bring her to freedom in Canada, knowing he might be arrested and sent back into slavery.

As I mulled over which book to begin, I started to write about Moses. My readers are eager to hear what happens to Moses and his mama. I began an outline for the sequel and called it Moses in the Lion’s Den because of the danger he faces going back to America.

Which book  do you think I should start? Let me know which idea you prefer and why.