Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Barbara Britton!

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Back,Barbara M. Britton!

I'm thrilled to be hosting Barbara Britton again as she is one of my favorite authors. It's hard for me to pick my favorite. Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and get to know this talented author.

What was your inspiration for the story?

I’ve made a career of writing about little-known Bible stories, so when my husband preached on a Philistine friend of King David’s, I should have been all ears. It took me a year to finally write about Ittai the Gittite. Ittai is an exiled Philistine commander with hundreds of men. How they marched across Israel to King David’s palace in Jerusalem without starting a war is a mystery.

Ittai arrives as prince Absalom is plotting his father’s downfall. King David appears weary and weak when the rumors of rebellion reach him. Ittai is the perfect friend to King David and Ittai’s faith in God is surprising and breathtaking. I knew I had to craft a story with this little-known Bible hero.

King David has become popular due to the Amazon Prime series House of David.

I hadn’t seen the series until a friend raved about the episodes. My husband and I watched the first season. Streaming services like drama and tension, and I found a few times where the powers that be took liberties with the Bible. For example, Goliath was a tall man at around nine feet tall, but he was not the size of King Kong. Amazon makes Goliath taller than what we read in the Bible.

The series hasn’t arrived at the end of David’s reign, so I will be curious to see if Ittai the Gittite is in the cast. I have noticed a few Bible studies about David have been updated in 2025.

How does your job prepare you for being a novelist?

Teaching chapel lessons about Bible stories has helped me immensely in finding storylines. I discovered

new-to-me Bible heroes and heroines. I found wonderful young women who asked Moses to inherit their deceased father’s land (The daughters of Zelophehad) and daughters who helped Nehemiah rebuild Jerusalem’s wall (Daughters of Shallum). I don’t teach as often anymore since I am writing, but I find time to return to school and Sunday school to teach children about the Bible. I love when children and adults learn something new about the Bible or Jesus.

What are common traps for aspiring authors?

The traditional publishing business is slow. I received my first contract in 2015, and the novel wasn’t released until the end of 2016. Many people would ask me when my book was coming out because they believed the process took a few months--not years. Make sure to do the proper editing and revising to launch the best book possible.

After a book is released, there are months of promotion. My advice to authors is “It’s not a launch day, but a launch year.” Sometimes authors are tired of their stories after all the editing, reading, promoting, and speaking about the same characters and story. We still must market the book and engage with readers.

Enjoy the journey of launching a new book. Celebrate the success with family and friends because publishing is a stressful business.

Indie-publishing goes much faster than the traditional route because the author is the publisher and they can set timelines and release dates.

Why do you write in your genre of Biblical Fiction?

My love of discovering new Bible stories and learning more about God keeps me writing in Bible Times. You would think that in Christian Fiction that Bible stories would be a huge genre, but that’s not the case. Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Historical Romance rule the day. Fantasy and Science Fiction are on the rise. Biblical Fiction is becoming popular with the release of The Chosen.

Early on in my writing career, selling Bible stories was difficult. I’m thankful that the genre is receiving more love and readership.

What was the best money you spent as a writer?

Becoming a member of professional writing organizations and getting involved in the organizations was crucial to my career. I met fellow writers who became my friends, critique partners, readers, reviewers, and my cheering section. Professional organizations offer opportunities for learning the craft of writing and the business side of publishing. These organizations shine a light on your books and have leadership opportunities to further your knowledge of the industry. Networking is a key benefit of writing groups. Christian groups offer prayer support and encouragement in your faith walk. Christian groups also acknowledge our talent is given by the Creator.

What does your writing space look like?

My computer desk is cluttered with free notepads that come in the mail. I have story ideas and task lists strewn over the top of my desk. My cat sleeps in the corner and she is a cutie. When I feel stressed, I glance at Ginger.

What is your next project?

I am thrilled to be launching a Biblical Fiction Bible Study/Devotional on January 6, 2026. I write about stories from the Gospel of Mark showing how amazing Jesus is. I visited the Sea of Galilee in March of 2023 and was inspired by the ruins and history. Jesus walked and lived where I had the privilege to visit. “Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee” was one of the most rewarding, yet challenging, projects to write.

About Defending David:

When a quiet journey to Jerusalem turns tragic, newly orphaned Rimona must flee a kinsman set on selling her as a slave. Racing into the rocky hills outside of Hebron, Rimona is rescued by a Philistine commander journeying to Jerusalem with six-hundred warriors.

Exiled commander, Ittai the Gittite, is seeking refuge in the City of David. Protecting a frantic Hebrew woman is not in his leadership plan. Although, having a nobleman's niece in his caravan might prove useful for finding shelter in a foreign land.

Rimona and Ittai arrive in Jerusalem on the eve of a rebellion. In the chaos of an heir's betrayal, will they be separated forever, or can they defend King David and help the aging monarch control his rebellious son?

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092DVQ659

About Barbara:

Barbara M. Britton is a multi-published author of Christian Fiction. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. You can also travel to Whispering Creek, Tennessee with her sweet romance duology. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website: http://www.barbarambritton.com

Follow Barbara on BookBub and be notified of her upcoming release: “Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee.” Arrives on January 6, 2026.

BookBub Link: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/barbara-m-britton
X: https://x.com/BarbaraMBritton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063699481102

Photo credits:

Author Photo and book image: Barbara Britton

Bible: Pixabay/Petra Riddell

Group of people: Pixabay/StartUpStockPhotos