Welcome to the Blog Tour for Anna of Bethsaida by Susanne Blumer,
hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
This interview takes a deep dive into what it looks like to write Biblical Fiction. We discuss approaches to Bible study, how to handle Biblical Scripture in fiction, and for fun, we discuss Susanne’s bookstores. Regardless of where you are on your walk with Jesus (or if you are not at all), this interview has something for every book lover.
About the Book
Anna of Bethsaida by Susanne Blumer
Series: The Arimathea Chronicles – Book 2
Publisher: Sutton Avenue Press
Release Date: March 16, 2026
Genre: Biblical Fiction
Anna believed choosing Andrew meant gaining a home. Instead, she finds herself on the dusty roads of Galilee, under the watchful eyes of hostile Pharisees, walking ever closer to miracles that both heal and unsettle.
As a healer traveling with Jesus’s ministry alongside Andrew, Anna takes her place among the women who follow, forming bonds that offer strength as the journey grows harder. While crowds press close to hear the Teacher’s words, a different kind of attention gathers. In Jerusalem, her father Joseph of Arimathea, walks an impossible line within the Sanhedrin, and with each miracle Jesus performs, the net draws tighter around them all.
The cost of discipleship, Anna discovers, is not counted in miles walked or comforts surrendered. It is measured in the space between what she hoped following Jesus would be and what it actually demands.
Some journeys test what you believe.
Some reshape who you become.
Anna’s does both.
This is Book 2 of The Arimathea Chronicles. Begin Anna’s journey from the beginning with Book 1, Anna of Arimathea, where a scarred, isolated young woman discovers healing, first love, and purpose in the footsteps of Jesus.
Anna of Bethsaida is perfect for readers who love:
Character-driven narratives where personal loss intersects with world-changing events
Deeply researched biblical fiction with authentic period detail
The untold stories of women in the early church – Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and the community that sustained Jesus’s ministry
Love stories tested by faith and dangerous callings
Political intrigue woven through spiritual transformation
PURCHASE LINKS:
Goodreads | Signed Copy from the Author| Amazon
Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub
More in This Series
About the Author
Susanne Blumer lives her life surrounded by stories—some she writes, and some she sells. As the CEO and Founder of Sassafras on Sutton LLC, she is the owner of three magical indie bookstores nestled in the North Carolina mountains of Black Mountain and Waynesville and Beaufort, South Carolina. One even has a full coffee bar. Oh, happy day!
She is the author of The Arimathea Chronicles, a series set in first-century Judea and centered on the life of Anna, the daughter of Joseph of Arimathea. The first two books, Anna of Arimathea and Anna of Bethsaida, are available now. The third book, Anna of Calvary, will be available later this year. She’s also written several children’s books, including the award-winning Bell Tower Bible Adventure series she co-wrote with her husband. Her new children’s picture book series, The Story of You, will release its first book late Spring 2026 called Before Your Story Had A Name.
When she’s not writing or doing other entrepreneurial tasks, you can usually find her hanging out on the floor of one of her stores, drinking coffee and learning the stories of her customers or spoiling her eight chickens. Susanne splits her time between Waynesville, NC in her beloved mountains and Beaufort, SC on the enchanting Lowcountry coast.Connect with Susanne by visiting susanneblumer.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates
Author Q&A
CB: Susanne, thank you so much for taking the time for this interview. I appreciate it so much. I think you might be living the book lover’s dream. Not only are you an author, but you’re a bookstore owner with multiple locations. That’s wonderful. How do you find time to read, write, and run your bookstores?
SB: Thanks for having me! You’re right! It is a book lover’s dream. I am very fortunate to have an amazing staff with strong management in place at all of my stores. That affords me the time to read and write. As the CEO, I primarily take care of the “big picture” stuff and guiding the company through the year. My staff handles the day-to-day things and do it really well. I’m so proud of all of them! I love being on the sales floor though, chatting with customers, seeing what’s new, drinking coffee… it’s definitely my happy place!
CB: You mentioned that you wish more indie bookstores realized how wonderful Christian fiction is. It’s wonderful that you have a large selection in your stores, but how can those of us not in North or South Carolina encourage our indie stores to start providing this genre?
SB: That’s a great question. A lot of books in my stores come from customer recommendations. Thousands of books come out every week. We can’t possibly stay up on everything that’s releasing. So when a customer asks if we have a book and we don’t, we check to see if it might be a good fit for our stores. Each store is different with a different reader base, so some work and some don’t. I would encourage readers to special order books through their local indie, or at least see if they are in stock. That would at least show an interest from an actual customer in them. That said, a lot of indie bookstores will never carry Christian fiction just based on their store’s beliefs and ideologies. But you never know! It’s a start at least.
CB: Given the depth of your Biblical writings and the fact that you deeply research for your books, like you have for Anna of Bethsaida, how do you approach Bible study? How does that work for both your personal walk with Jesus and get incorporated into your stories?
SB: I’m in a wonderful weekly in-person Bible Study where we go through books of the Bible. That’s been so fun to dive in for weeks at a time with fellow believers. For me personally, I focus on what God is calling me to that day. The Holy Spirit knows what I need better than I do, so I let that guide me. And I love The Bible Recap for my yearly read through of the Bible. My books are set in the New Testament, so for those, the Gospels are where I spend my time.
CB: What types of resources do you use, besides the Bible, to do the research for your books?
SB: I have entire shelves full of resources! From early Church writings to books of maps to books about early First Century customs. And of course, the internet is full of amazing information. Just investigating the history of Joseph of Arimathea was a wealth of interesting facts and stories. I have another series planned focusing on him and what happens after the book of Acts. And Anna and Andrew will be there too!
CB: Anna of Bethsaida is the second in The Arimathea Chronicles. In this book, Anna has chosen to go with Andrew of Bethsaida to follow Jesus. However, she finds herself in a situation that wasn’t quite what she expected. What first inspired you to explore the tension between calling and expectation?
SB: Anna finds that many things aren’t what she expected! Not only the physical difficulties of traveling on the road, but the emotional journey too. Jesus warned us that we will face troubles in this life, and it was no different for the ones who followed Him closely. They faced opposition and upheaval quite often, but they also experienced healing and miracles and the opportunity to bask in the nearness of our Savior. So many times we think following Jesus will be easy and a glorious ride (and it is that sometimes!), but it can be hard in so many ways. We face that today. Anna faced it then. I wanted to be realistic on what it would mean for a sheltered, newly married young girl to walk the roads of Judea with Jesus. I hope I did it justice.
CB: Anna travels within Jesus’s ministry alongside Andrew. How did you approach portraying real biblical figures while still giving Anna her own distinct emotional journey?
SB: This is Anna’s story first and foremost. So the people, places, things and events need to reflect that. The biblical figures in the book are real people in her life, and they interact like anyone would on a daily basis. And also, Anna doesn’t know they will be biblical figures. They are her family, her friends, and her Rabbi. Anna is an ordinary girl living through an extraordinary time and has a close up and very personal part of it all. I loved walking through this with her!
CB: This story also continues to look at Anna’s father, Joseph of Arimathea, who is a secret disciple of Jesus. What added responsibility do you feel when writing a historical biblical figure such as Joseph?
SB: Writing any of these people into my story carries a lot of responsibility. My ultimate goal was to stay true to the Scriptures at all times and to make these people come to life. Sometimes it’s easy to forget the Bible “characters” were real people with real flaws and real hurts and real lives. At the beginning, I spent a lot of time thinking about each character: how do I bring them to life while staying true to their story? We know more about some of them like Peter and Judas, and less about others like Nathanael and Philip. So for some characters, I had a little more creative license than others. Little is written about Joseph of Arimathea in the Scriptures beyond he was wealthy, just, from Arimathea, and a secret follower of Jesus. But it was enough to make him become real.
CB: In your account of the women who follow Jesus, it appears as if they form their own community within the larger ministry since they are separated from the men. What can women today learn from having a strong sisterly bond after reading your book?
SB: Community is so important, as much today as it was back then. Having women who support you, love you and understand what you’re going through helps us navigate this life. Anna relies on the other women many times in this book. They carry her through some devastating and beautiful moments and are her emotional support throughout the pages. We all need that.
CB: What do you hope readers carry with them overall after reading Anna of Bethsaida?
SB: Ahhh…. I hope readers feel part of First Century Judea. I try hard to immerse the reader in the details of what it was like back then. I hope they fall in love with Anna and root for her and Andrew. I hope they fall more in love with Jesus. I hope they learn more of the Bible and experience some of the stories they know so well with fresh eyes. I hope they tear up and smile and laugh. And I hope they want to continue the journey with them. This is a love story about Anna but also about Jesus.
CB: Thank you so much for joining me here on what I consider my ministry, Susanne. How can readers support you in your ministry?
SB: I’ve been overwhelmed with how the Lord is using these books. A reader told me they “awakened something insider her she thought was dead”. Just that one statement makes all the lonely hours in front of a computer worth it. People are giving the books to non-believers which thrills me. Of course, readers can buy the books and give reviews. That helps the series continue on! Share them with others who maybe need a little boost in their faith. I have a friend who orders the books through Amazon and sends them to people all over the country. She said they are what all of her friends are getting for their birthdays this year! 😊 I pray God takes these words and uses them to touch the hearts of those still searching, still looking, still hurting, still wandering. In the end I write for Him. Thank you to everyone who has supported the series so far. I’m blown away!
CB: I wish you continued success with your books and stores. I pray that the Lord continues to shower you with blessings.
SB: Thank you! It’s been fun chatting with you!
Thank you to JustRead Publicity Tours for connecting me with author
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $25 Bookshop gift card and a signed copy of Anna of Bethsaida!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 17, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 24, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
The interview was as much for me as it was for you. I thoroughly enjoyed learning from Susanne. It’s always a joy to talk with an author about their whole lives and not just about their books. Although that last part is the best. Books, books, books!
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Comments are my love language.