You may not know the name Mark J. Ferrari… but you will soon. His debut novel, The Book of Joby, has been released to critical success and is as unique as it is controversial. A standalone fantasy, set in our world, retelling the Book of Job with a comical twist? God and Lucifer are characters? What’s not to like?
Here’s the synopsis pulled from his web site:
Lucifer and the Creator have entered, yet again, into a wager they’ve made many times before, but this time, the existence of creation itself is balanced on the outcome. Born in California during the twilight of a weary millennium, nine year old Joby Peterson dreams of blazing like a bonfire against the gathering darkness of his times. Instead, he is subjected to a life of crippling self-doubt and relentless mediocrity inflicted by an enemy he did nothing to earn and cannot begin to comprehend.
Though imperiled themselves, the angels are forbidden to intervene. Left to struggle with their own loyalties and the question of obedience, they watch Lucifer work virtually unhindered to turn Joby’s heart of gold into ash and stone while God sits by, seeming unconcerned.
Grown to manhood, Joby’s once luminous love of life seems altogether lost, and Lucifer’s victory assured. What hope remains lies hidden in the beauty, warmth, and innocence of a forgotten seaside village whose odd inhabitants seem to defy the modern world’s most inflexible assumptions, and in the hearts of Joby’s long lost youthful love and her emotionally wounded son. But the ravenous forces of destruction that follow Joby into this concealed paradise plan to use these same things to bring him and his world to ruin.
As the final struggle unfolds, one question occupies every mind in heaven and in hell. Which will prove stronger, love or rage?
Mark was kind enough to drop by and give us a little bit of insight into exactly what to expect from The Book of Joby. You might be surprised by what he has to say (it’s not a piece of Christian literature, for instance) and wait until you hear the story of how he got knocked into being a novelist!
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Recent A Dribble of Ink interviewee Daniel Abraham (check the interview HERE) has been detailing his experiences at the mysteriously named “The Symposium”, where he sat in with authors such as George RR Martin, Ian Tregillis and Melinda Snodgrass.
