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Overview
In Temptation, A Sin and a Shame, and most recently, Too Little, Too Late, Jasmine Larson Bush—a scheming, manipulative, man-stealing diva who was “saved” just in time to become a preacher’s wife—entertained fans with her conniving ways and acts of redemption.
In Lady Jasmine, a desperate time from Jasmine’s past threatens the family and the future she worked so hard to build. In order to save her marriage with Reverend Hosea Bush, Jasmine was forced to reveal every secret that remained in her past to him—her real age, her real weight, her real shoe size. She thought she had told Hosea everything. But when Jasmine is blackmailed about a terrible truth from her past that she “forgot” to tell Hosea, more than just her marriage is in jeopardy. Determined to keep the life she fought so hard to save, Jasmine is willing to commit any sin, even murder, to leave her past behind her. No one can know the truth about the First Lady of City of Lights Riverside Church. No one can know that, beneath Jasmine’s veneer of a redeemed Christian wife, there lies a sinner—especially her trusting husband.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781416589174 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Gallery Books |
| Publication date: | 06/02/2009 |
| Edition description: | Original |
| Pages: | 400 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.00(d) |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Death was on her mind, but Jasmine wasn't thinking of her own demise. Her hands still trembled as she looked down at the letter she held.
Would the charge be first degree murder or would it be more like manslaughter? Either way, she would go to jail for both before she allowed anyone to reveal this secret.
Jasmine read the words that she'd already memorized: Get your husband to step down from the pulpit or else everyone will know what you did in the summer of 1983.
Hours had passed since she'd first read the letter last night, and she still trembled. Until a few weeks ago, those days had been totally forgotten; expunged from her mind many years before. The summer of '83 was just a small blip on her life's radar. A mistake. A secret.
But it was a big secret that she'd kept from everyone — including her husband, Pastor Hosea Bush.
Jasmine closed her eyes and remembered the question Hosea had asked her just five months before when they were in Los Angeles.
"Are there any other secrets, Jasmine? Any other lies?"
She'd told him then every truth she could remember, revealed every lie that she'd ever told — how she was forty-three and not thirty-eight. How she'd been married before. She'd even told him how much weight she'd really gained since she'd had her baby. She'd told her husband everything she could think of.
But she hadn't told him this.
"I have to talk to Hosea," she whispered, remembering the commitment they'd both made never again to keep secrets.
She could tell him — convince him — that this was something she'd simply forgotten. But even as she had that thought, she knew that would never happen. There was nothing that would ever make her tell this truth. If Hosea found out about this, she'd lose more than her husband: Hosea might even try to take their daughter, Jacqueline, away from her. This was an unforgiveable sin; at least it would be in Hosea's eyes.
No, she would commit murder before she allowed this to come out. No one could ever know that she'd spent the summer of '83 hanging high and swinging low from a pole.
No one could ever know that Jasmine Cox Larson Bush, the first lady of New York's City of Lights at Riverside Church, used to be a stripper!
Copyright © 2009 by Victoria Christopher Murray
The shocking shrill pierced the black quiet of midnight, but Jasmine had no intention of answering the telephone.
"Don't stop, baby," Jasmine panted when Hosea lifted his head from beneath the sheet.
"Gotta get that," he gasped. "Might be important."
Jasmine glanced at the clock: 12:17. She rolled over, closed her eyes, and, in her mind, returned to the place where she and Hosea were before the telephone rang.
Hosea still knew how to take her straight to heaven. And it was even better now, since he'd stopped thinking about their having a baby. Once conception was taken out of the equation, only pure pleasure remained.
Like tonight. He'd had her singing praises in seventeen languages. And she still had a few native tongues she wanted to test, so whoever was calling, whatever the reason, it had better be worth interrupting some of the best —
"What!" Hosea shouted and clicked on the lamp. "I'm on my way!"
Jasmine sat up straight. "What's wrong?"
"Pops! He's been shot!"
Tossing aside the satin duvet, Jasmine ignored the shock of the cool air as it wrapped around her nakedness. "Shot?" She stood stiff as Hosea leapt from the bed and dashed into his closet.
"That's all Brother Hill said," Hosea yelled back. "He's at Harlem Hospital with Pops now."
The shock finally released her, and Jasmine ran into her own closet. Her mind swirled with questions as she stuffed herself into a pair of jeans, then grabbed a sweatshirt. Shot? By whom? Where? When? By the time Hosea stepped from his closet, Jasmine was ready.
He said, "You don't have to go. I'll call you."
"I'm going with you." Her tone said there would be no further discussion. "I'll check on Jacquie and wake up Mrs. Sloss." She took two steps, then turned back and held Hosea in her arms. "He's going to be okay," she whispered.
His eyes shined with fright, but he nodded like he agreed.
Taking charge, she said, "Instead of driving, let's take a cab. I'll meet you downstairs." She dashed from their bedroom across to the other side of the apartment and tiptoed into their daughter's room.
For her second birthday last month, Jasmine had transformed Jacqueline's bedroom into a princess's pink haven. She peeked into the four-poster toddler cot and straightened the comforter that was bunched around Jacqueline's feet. She kissed her cheek, then knocked on the adjacent door.
"Ms. Jasmine," Mrs. Sloss, their live-in nanny, began the moment she opened the door, "something wrong with Jacquie?" Her voice was filled with sleep, but her eyes were wide.
"No." Jasmine was already rushing toward the living room. "Hosea's godfather just called. Someone shot Reverend Bush."
"Oh, no!" The nanny followed behind her. "Is there anything I can do?"
"Just take care of my baby."
As she waited for the elevator, Jasmine paced and tried to think. But even by the time she ascended to the lobby, she couldn't make sense out of this news.
"Mr. Bush is waiting for you," the doorman said, as he held the door for her. Jasmine stepped outside and paused to say a quick prayer. Then she jumped into the waiting cab and they sped off into the midnight quiet of the February night.
Their steps echoed like rapid fire through the hospital's hallway. Jasmine squeezed Hosea's hand right before they stepped to the nurses' station.
"I'm here to see — "
"Hosea!"
When Brother Hill ran up behind them, Jasmine's eyebrows raised a little at the sight of the man in a jogging suit. She'd never seen the church deacon without a tie.
"Where's Pops?" Hosea asked right after he embraced his godfather.
"He's in the Trauma Unit." With his hand on his shoulder, Brother Hill led Hosea toward a room as if his godson had come alone.
Jasmine took a deep breath and followed the two men. It took everything within her not to be upset with the way Brother Hill ignored her. She had to remember that this wasn't about her — this was about Reverend Bush, a man she'd grown to love.
But the truth: it was hard not to go off. Taking insults from Brother Hill and his band of bandits — the decades-long friends of Reverend Bush who didn't think she was good enough to be Hosea's wife — had become part of her life. These old-timers who'd known Hosea since his childhood were still holding on to her past; they'd never forgotten how Hosea had fallen in love with her while she was secretly sleeping with (and becoming pregnant by) another man. And they certainly hadn't forgiven her for tricking Hosea into believing he was the father of her unborn child.
What was their problem? If God had forgiven her, and Hosea had forgiven her, and Reverend Bush had forgiven her, who were these people to treat her as if she was some kind of sinner?
The sound of her husband's voice brought Jasmine back. "So tell me, what happened?"
Brother Hill started shaking his head before he even began to speak. "We walked out to the parking lot — we'd been at the church late reviewing the fiscal report and he was still working on his sermon for tomorrow. But when I got to my car, I realized I'd left my keys. I went back inside, and that's when I heard the gunshots. By the time I got back to Samuel — " He stopped. "The doctors gave us this room so that we could have privacy."
When they stepped inside, Mrs. Whittingham, Reverend Bush's assistant and one of Brother Hill's bandits, stood and hugged Hosea. The woman hesitated, then gave Jasmine a loose embrace. Turning back to Hosea, Mrs. Whittingham asked, "How you holding up, baby?"
Hosea's eyes blinked rapidly. "This doesn't make any sense. Why would anyone shoot Pops?"
Mrs. Whittingham said, "Detective Foxx was one of the first policemen there," she said, referring to one of the City of Lights members. "He thinks Samuel got caught in the middle of some gang fire."
"How bad is he?" Jasmine asked.
Brother Hill shrugged. "The doctors haven't told us anything. We've been waiting for — here's one of the doctors now."
Jasmine's eyebrows rose slightly as the African American woman clothed in surgical scrubs approached.
Brother Hill made the introductions. "Doctor McCollors, this is Reverend Bush's son, Hosea."
Shaking hands, Hosea asked the doctor, "How's my father?"
"Well, he was shot twice — once in his shoulder. But it's the shot that he took to his head that's the serious problem."
"Oh, my God!" Jasmine whispered the words that were spoken by all of them.
The doctor continued, "It's caused a lot of swelling and bleeding. We're going in to remove some of the pressure."
"I want to see him," Hosea demanded.
"We're taking him into surgery now. It'll be a couple of hours."
"Doctor McCollors?" A policeman, standing outside the room, motioned to the doctor.
"Excuse me," she said, before leaving the foursome standing in stunned silence.
Seconds later, the quiet was broken by, "Hosea!"
The high-pitched woman's voice made Jasmine frown before she swiveled around. She watched Pastor Wyatt, the associate pastor at City of Lights enter the room with a slight woman. The mousy-looking female, whose hair was upturned in a sixties-style flip, handed the tray of drinks she held to the pastor before she rushed to Hosea and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"I'm so sorry," the woman squeaked over and over . "Ivy!" Hosea pulled back and, for the first time since they'd received the call, he smiled a little. "What're you doing here?"
"I'm visiting Sarai," she said, turning to Mrs. Whittingham. "I hadn't been home in a while and decided to take a sabbatical this semester. I'm so sorry about your dad, but I'm glad that I'm here so that I can help take care of you."
Jasmine cleared her throat and crossed her arms.
"Oh, Ivy, you haven't had a chance to meet my wife. This is Jasmine."
The woman smiled, revealing teeth that were far too big for her mouth.
"Jasmine, this is Ivy, Mrs. Whittingham's sister. Ivy and I grew up together."
"It's so nice to meet you finally," Ivy said, reaching for Jasmine's hand. "Sarai told me all about you."
With a quick glance over her shoulder, Jasmine looked at Mrs. Whittingham. If she'd been talking about her, surely nothing good had been said.
Turning back to Ivy, Jasmine said, "I didn't know Mrs. Whittingham had any family." She kept to herself the thoughts being hatched about the woman. "You're her...sister?" That was hard to believe — Mrs. Whittingham looked like she was twenty, maybe even thirty years older than Ivy.
Ivy gave a light chuckle. "People always say that, but she is my sister." Then she faced Hosea. "Any news about your dad?"
Pastor Wyatt tapped Jasmine's shoulder. "Would you like one of these?" he whispered, holding the coffee tray in the air.
"No, thank you."
She tried to turn back to Hosea, but Pastor Wyatt held her arm. "You sure?" His voice was still low, like he didn't want anyone else to hear. "It's going to be a long night."
Jasmine looked down to where he gripped her arm, then slowly inched her glance back to his face. "I said" — she wiggled away from him — "no, thank you."
He chuckled as he strutted away, taking the tray to Mrs. Whittingham and Brother Hill.
Jasmine frowned, wondering again about the pastor. It was never what Pastor Wyatt said, it was his flirtatious tone — he talked as if neither he nor she were married.
"So are you sure you don't want to share some of this java with me?" The pastor was back; he raised the coffee cup to his mouth and grazed the edge of it with his tongue.
Jasmine hated herself when she sighed, but how was she supposed to help it? The man was six feet four inches of pure sex, dangerously tempting with his Terrence Howard looks, his Barry White voice, and his legs that she could imagine...
She snapped out of it, hissed, "How many times do I have to tell you I don't want any of your coffee?"
He squinted and shrugged as if he had no idea what had brought on her attitude.
"Darlin'," Hosea called to her, "do you want to sit down?"
Jasmine took her husband's hand, then sat next to him. On the other side, Ivy planted herself in the chair and chatted away as if Hosea was interested in all the details of her life.
Across from them, Mrs. Whittingham and Brother Hill were in a whispered conversation. And there was Pastor Wyatt — right across from her. When he grinned, the deep dimple in his left cheek winked at her.
Twisting so that he was not in her direct view, Jasmine leaned her head on Hosea's shoulder and closed her eyes.
Like Pastor Wyatt had said, this was going to be a long night.
Copyright © 2009 by Victoria Christopher Murray
Reading Group Guide
This reading group guide for Lady Jasmine includes discussion questions, ideas for enhancing your book club, and a Q&A with author Victoria Christopher Murray. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.
Questions for Discussion
1. The novel centers around Jasmine Larson Bush’s deep secret—one that she is willing to do anything to keep concealed in order to save herself, her marriage, and her family. The reader is let in on the secret very early in the book, however. How does this immediate revelation affect your reading of the story? What assumptions did you make about Jasmine within the first few pages?
2. If you’ve read other books that feature Jasmine—Temptation, A Sin and a Shame, or Too Little, Too Late—what is it about this character that makes for such compelling reading? Do you find Jasmine likable? Do you identify with her in any way?
3. Though Reverend Samuel Bush is in a coma for most of the book, he remains an important and influential figure. How does his absence or presence affect the lives of Hosea, Jasmine, Pastor Wyatt, and the other church members?
4. Is Mae Frances being a good friend to Jasmine by doing whatever it takes to help her out when she’s in trouble, or is she simply enabling Jasmine’s scheming and devious ways? What’s your definition of a good friend?
5. Is Jasmine capable of being a responsible first lady of City of Lights at Riverside Church, or is she interested only in glamour and prestige?
6. What motivates Jasmine? Is she driven by pure motives such as love for her husband and child, righteousness in the eyes of God, a quest for truth, or a desire to change? Or is she driven by temptations like lust, money, fame, and revenge?
7. How would you characterize Jasmine and Hosea’s relationship? What is it built upon? Do you think they will have a lasting marriage? Why or why not?
8. The novel pulls back the curtain on the messiness and divisiveness of church politics. Have you ever been part of a church, workplace, or other organization that was nearly undone by disputes over leadership or direction? Describe that experience.
9. In Hosea’s debut sermon in chapter 12, he speaks of “the audacity to obey.” What does this phrase mean in the context of his story? What does the phrase mean when you apply it to your own life? Provide examples if you can.
10. In her search for her blackmailer, Jasmine seeks to bring down all her potential enemies—Jerome Viceroy, Pastor Wyatt, and Mrs. Whittingham. With a bit of digging, Jasmine discovers that all of them harbor secrets that would shock the church congregation. Do each of these characters get what they deserve? What does Hosea mean when he says, “No one else’s misfortune is God’s blessing to me”?
11. In the end, does Jasmine do anything that surprises you? She has the power to reveal some very dark secrets and destroy people’s lives, but she refrains from wielding that power. Why do you think she holds back?
12. Hosea faces a very difficult decision when he must choose whether or not to keep his father on life support. What would you do if faced with a similar situation?
Enhance Your Book Club
1. For a laugh, use Viva’s method of coming up with your “dancer” name. Like “Pepper Pulaski,” take the name of a childhood pet for the first name, and the street you grew up on for your last name. Share the humorous results with the group!
2. Detective Foxx says, “Blackmailers always mess up.” Check out some other criminals who aren’t so good at covering their tracks at www.dumbcriminals.com.
3. For more information on the novels of Victoria Christopher Murray, visit the author’s website, www.victoriachristophermurray.com. If you’d like a chance to meet the author, be sure to check the tour dates. Murray tours extensively and could be reading and signing at a bookstore near you!
A Conversation with Victoria Christopher Murray
This is your fourth novel featuring the beloved and despised Jasmine Larson Bush. When you wrote Temptation, did you envision her as a recurring character?
Never, never, never! When I first brought Jasmine to life, I never expected to write about her again. Look at her—she’s not very likable. Who would want to revisit her? Those were my thoughts, but those thoughts did not belong to the readers. Jasmine Bush has become my Erica Kane—she’s the woman that most love to hate!
Jasmine’s juicy secrets and schemes seem simply endless. Will there be additional books featuring this intriguing woman?
I can’t tell you that! But truly, how many more secrets can one woman have? Oops, we are talking about Jasmine, aren’t we? Well, the truth—I’m not sure if Jasmine has any more secrets, but there’s something that I have been thinking about: Doesn’t there come a time when one has to pay for their past sins? Hmmmm . . .
How do you relate to Jasmine personally? Is she inspired by anyone you’ve known, or is she a purely fictional creation?
Are you kidding me? I don’t know anyone like her. Jasmine is truly a figment of my imagination.
You’ve had such an interesting and inspiring life, spending many years in the corporate world and as an entrepreneur before giving it all up to write fiction. How do you share your story of faith and courage to other people who may feel a similar calling?
When I left corporate America to venture into this writing life, I never saw it as a big step of faith. That’s because I really believed that I was supposed to be doing this. Plus, I do have a lot of faith and one thing I know is that you don’t need faith when you’re inside the box. You don’t need faith to keep doing what you’re doing. Faith is only necessary outside of the box. So stepping out gave me a chance to exercise my faith. I tell people that if you have faith, use it!
There’s certainly a religious theme to your novels, but it doesn’t seem to be heavy-handed or overly judgmental. What role do faith and religion play in your life, and how have they helped to shape the stories that you tell?
I tell people this anytime they ask this question. I am a Christian and I love the Lord. Period. For me, my Christianity is not an adjective—it’s a verb. It’s far more than a way to describe me; it’s what I do. I always say that if I were a bus driver, people would have said, “There goes that Christian bus driver.” Or if I were a teacher, people would have said, “Have you met the new Christian teacher?” My Christianity goes with me wherever I go.
You seem to love the characters that make the greatest mistakes, always treating them with a sense of humor, often giving them second chances or hope for forgiveness. Where do you get such compassion for “the sinners” in your stories?
I’ve got lots of compassion for sinners—since I’m one of them. I haven’t committed the same sins as my characters, but I sin nonetheless. And I thank God for His compassion and His grace, and His mercy every day. So it’s easy for me to have that kind of compassion for my characters and pass on to them the same forgiveness that God gives to me every moment of my life.
What do you hope readers will take away from a story like Lady Jasmine?
I’m not sure there’s a specific message—I don’t write my books that way. What I try to get across in all of my stories is that no matter what you do, no matter what you’re going through, no matter who you are, God is there for you.
Aside from the story of Hosea and Gomer, do any other parts of Lady Jasmine have subtle biblical parallels?
Hmmmm . . . I don’t know. I didn’t put any other biblical parallels in the story, but you never know what a reader may find.
Do you have a favorite Bible verse? What’s the significance for you?
I have so many favorite scriptures, but there is one that does stand out for me. Jeremiah 29:11. Although I’ve read the Bible completely several times, this scripture didn’t stand out to me until 2001—just days after my husband passed away. I was in a Christian bookstore with my best friend, Tracy, and as she was shopping, I noticed Christmas cards. I was overwhelmed with the thought that for the upcoming Christmas, I was going to sign cards with only my name on them. Grief rolled over me and I told Tracy that I didn’t feel like I had any hope; I didn’t feel like I had a future. Tracy tried to comfort me, but still she decided that we needed to leave. As we stood at the cash register, both of us noticed a poster behind the counter. For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. Tracy and I were both shocked—I had just said those words! From that point, I’ve stood on that scripture. And God has fulfilled His promise. He’s given me mounds of hope. And He’s given me quite a future.
Introduction
This reading group guide for Lady Jasmine includes discussion questions, ideas for enhancing your book club, and a Q&A with author Victoria Christopher Murray. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.
Questions for Discussion
1. The novel centers around Jasmine Larson Bush's deep secret — one that she is willing to do anything to keep concealed in order to save herself, her marriage, and her family. The reader is let in on the secret very early in the book, however. How does this immediate revelation affect your reading of the story? What assumptions did you make about Jasmine within the first few pages?
2. If you've read other books that feature Jasmine — Temptation, A Sin and a Shame, or Too Little, Too Late — what is it about this character that makes for such compelling reading? Do you find Jasmine likable? Do you identify with her in any way?
3. Though Reverend Samuel Bush is in a coma for most of the book, he remains an important and influential figure. How does his absence or presence affect the lives of Hosea, Jasmine, Pastor Wyatt, and the other church members?
4. Is Mae Frances being a good friend to Jasmine by doing whatever it takes to help her out when she's in trouble, or is she simply enabling Jasmine's scheming and devious ways? What's your definition of a good friend?
5. Is Jasmine capable of being a responsible first lady of City of Lights at Riverside Church, or is she interested only in glamour and prestige?
6.What motivates Jasmine? Is she driven by pure motives such as love for her husband and child, righteousness in the eyes of God, a quest for truth, or a desire to change? Or is she driven by temptations like lust, money, fame, and revenge?
7. How would you characterize Jasmine and Hosea's relationship? What is it built upon? Do you think they will have a lasting marriage? Why or why not?
8. The novel pulls back the curtain on the messiness and divisiveness of church politics. Have you ever been part of a church, workplace, or other organization that was nearly undone by disputes over leadership or direction? Describe that experience.
9. In Hosea's debut sermon in chapter 12, he speaks of "the audacity to obey." What does this phrase mean in the context of his story? What does the phrase mean when you apply it to your own life? Provide examples if you can.
10. In her search for her blackmailer, Jasmine seeks to bring down all her potential enemies — Jerome Viceroy, Pastor Wyatt, and Mrs. Whittingham. With a bit of digging, Jasmine discovers that all of them harbor secrets that would shock the church congregation. Do each of these characters get what they deserve? What does Hosea mean when he says, "No one else's misfortune is God's blessing to me"?
11. In the end, does Jasmine do anything that surprises you? She has the power to reveal some very dark secrets and destroy people's lives, but she refrains from wielding that power. Why do you think she holds back?
12. Hosea faces a very difficult decision when he must choose whether or not to keep his father on life support. What would you do if faced with a similar situation?
Enhance Your Book Club
1. For a laugh, use Viva's method of coming up with your "dancer" name. Like "Pepper Pulaski," take the name of a childhood pet for the first name, and the street you grew up on for your last name. Share the humorous results with the group!
2. Detective Foxx says, "Blackmailers always mess up." Check out some other criminals who aren't so good at covering their tracks at www.dumbcriminals.com.
3. For more information on the novels of Victoria Christopher Murray, visit the author's website, www.victoriachristophermurray.com. If you'd like a chance to meet the author, be sure to check the tour dates. Murray tours extensively and could be reading and signing at a bookstore near you!
A Conversation with Victoria Christopher Murray
This is your fourth novel featuring the beloved and despised Jasmine Larson Bush. When you wrote Temptation, did you envision her as a recurring character?
Never, never, never! When I first brought Jasmine to life, I never expected to write about her again. Look at her — she's not very likable. Who would want to revisit her? Those were my thoughts, but those thoughts did not belong to the readers. Jasmine Bush has become my Erica Kane — she's the woman that most love to hate!
Jasmine's juicy secrets and schemes seem simply endless. Will there be additional books featuring this intriguing woman?
I can't tell you that! But truly, how many more secrets can one woman have? Oops, we are talking about Jasmine, aren't we? Well, the truth — I'm not sure if Jasmine has any more secrets, but there's something that I have been thinking about: Doesn't there come a time when one has to pay for their past sins? Hmmmm...
How do you relate to Jasmine personally? Is she inspired by anyone you've known, or is she a purely fictional creation?
Are you kidding me? I don't know anyone like her. Jasmine is truly a figment of my imagination.
You've had such an interesting and inspiring life, spending many years in the corporate world and as an entrepreneur before giving it all up to write fiction. How do you share your story of faith and courage to other people who may feel a similar calling?
When I left corporate America to venture into this writing life, I never saw it as a big step of faith. That's because I really believed that I was supposed to be doing this. Plus, I do have a lot of faith and one thing I know is that you don't need faith when you're inside the box. You don't need faith to keep doing what you're doing. Faith is only necessary outside of the box. So stepping out gave me a chance to exercise my faith. I tell people that if you have faith, use it!
There's certainly a religious theme to your novels, but it doesn't seem to be heavy-handed or overly judgmental. What role do faith and religion play in your life, and how have they helped to shape the stories that you tell?
I tell people this anytime they ask this question. I am a Christian and I love the Lord. Period. For me, my Christianity is not an adjective — it's a verb. It's far more than a way to describe me; it's what I do. I always say that if I were a bus driver, people would have said, "There goes that Christian bus driver." Or if I were a teacher, people would have said, "Have you met the new Christian teacher?" My Christianity goes with me wherever I go.
You seem to love the characters that make the greatest mistakes, always treating them with a sense of humor, often giving them second chances or hope for forgiveness. Where do you get such compassion for "the sinners" in your stories?
I've got lots of compassion for sinners — since I'm one of them. I haven't committed the same sins as my characters, but I sin nonetheless. And I thank God for His compassion and His grace, and His mercy every day. So it's easy for me to have that kind of compassion for my characters and pass on to them the same forgiveness that God gives to me every moment of my life.
What do you hope readers will take away from a story like Lady Jasmine?
I'm not sure there's a specific message — I don't write my books that way. What I try to get across in all of my stories is that no matter what you do, no matter what you're going through, no matter who you are, God is there for you.
Aside from the story of Hosea and Gomer, do any other parts of Lady Jasmine have subtle biblical parallels?
Hmmmm...I don't know. I didn't put any other biblical parallels in the story, but you never know what a reader may find.
Do you have a favorite Bible verse? What's the significance for you?
I have so many favorite scriptures, but there is one that does stand out for me. Jeremiah 29:11. Although I've read the Bible completely several times, this scripture didn't stand out to me until 2001 — just days after my husband passed away. I was in a Christian bookstore with my best friend, Tracy, and as she was shopping, I noticed Christmas cards. I was overwhelmed with the thought that for the upcoming Christmas, I was going to sign cards with only my name on them. Grief rolled over me and I told Tracy that I didn't feel like I had any hope; I didn't feel like I had a future. Tracy tried to comfort me, but still she decided that we needed to leave. As we stood at the cash register, both of us noticed a poster behind the counter. For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. Tracy and I were both shocked — I had just said those words! From that point, I've stood on that scripture. And God has fulfilled His promise. He's given me mounds of hope. And He's given me quite a future.
Victoria Christopher Murray is the Essence bestselling author of the novels Truth Be Told, Joy, Temptation, and Blessed Assurance, a collection of inspirational short stories. She lives with her family in Inglewood, California. Visit her at www.victoriachristophermurray.com.