Silent Resolve
​and the God Who Let Me Down

This book is very well written and expresses the feelings one gets when they lose a loved one perfectly—​no matter under what circumstances they have lost them. The fact that these circumstances were 9/11 makes this book more poignant. The journey back is told with such honesty and depth of feelings. 
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— Shirley Chappell
Mohave Valley, AZ​​

I almost didn't buy this book! So thankful that I did!
As I just put this book down, I feel as if I am recovering from the emotional reaction I had from it. 
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— Deborah O. Barton 
Arlington, TX

Heartfelt, uplifting, and sincere.
This book gives us a look at life, death, dealing with major loss, and staying connected with God. Thank you Susan Van Volkenburgh."

— ​Sandra 
Cascade, CO

I read this book in a single night, unable to put it down. Ms. Van Volkenburgh's story is intense and personal. She gives us a glimpse into her own personal pain and how this tragic loss changed her life forever.
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— ​​​D. Clark

Many of us lived through the shock and horror of September 11, 2001, but we lived it one step removed. We watched TV recordings of the twin towers falling and the smoke rising from crashed planes. Perhaps we prayed for the fallen, only names on a list to us, and for their families. We shared a heightened national awareness of evil among us and of our human vulnerability. 
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— Judith Ingram

We all remember (at least those of us who were alive that day) where we were and what we were doing on 9-11, but I have not had the privilege of knowing the intimate story of one of the survivors of that event until I read this book. I’ve never talked with or read the story of anyone so profoundly affected by that day as Susan was.
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— ​Barbara

The author's depiction of events along with articulating her feelings enables you to not only walk hand in hand with her through her journey but ultimately gain an overwhelming understanding of your personal trials. Anyone reading Susan Van Volkenburgh's book will walk away with solace, peace and a level of sorrow healing not anticipated. You'll cry, laugh, and be humbled. 
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— Sharon Kane

Armed with her personal faith and a passion for prose, Susan Van Volkenburgh approaches one of the greatest tragedies to affect our nation, and one which deeply touched her personally, with candor and grace. Within the pages of Silent Resolve and the God Who Let Me Down, Susan walks the reader through the catastrophic events of 9/11 in a way that brings each individual back to his or her own personal anguish as the events of that fateful day unfolded. 
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— ​​Karen S.

Susan's love for her father, Stanley R Hall, is palpable in this 9/11 story. A painful reminder that the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon (where Mr. Hall died) and Shanksville, Pennsylvania took so much in collateral damage. The hundreds of thousands of "holes" left in hearts, empty places at holiday gatherings, years of shared future gone in the ashes. 
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— ​​Kathy C.

I've recently read this book. I really enjoyed it and appreciate the way the author really gives a personal and honest look into her emotions. This book gives hope and shows that GOD is still in control even if we don't understand why we go through hard times."

— ​​​​Stephen Kline

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. The emotions portrayed years after this horrific event are still so very raw and authentic. The battle in the heart and the mind is intriguing; thought provoking. To have such stability and security stripped away...we all felt it.
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— ​​​​JD White

I found it hard to put down Susan's book once I started reading it. She is gifted in so many ways and her extremely honest look into the grief of 9-11 was portrayed in a beautiful manner. There were so many facets to this heart wrenching experience that we "outsiders" could not possibly imagine. 
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— ​​​​C. Wiegman
Texas

Having lived through the events of 9-11, this book took me back to the pain, the grief and the horror we all shared on that day. Susan Van Volkenburgh takes those feelings and remembrances and turns them inside out, examining everything behind them. 
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— ​​​​​Stefanie Wyres

This book is an emotional trip through the author's personal journey as she deals with the death of her father, who died during 9/11. She does not hold back her sorrow but gladly shares it with those willing to read her book."
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— ​​​​​​hennaginkid

This is an excellent Book, Personal Story of a Lady who lost her Father on 9/11. Very well written. I attended her Launch Party and Book Signing on Sat. the 7th of July at the Keller Library in Keller, Texas. Very Interesting, enjoyed."

— ​​​​​​gingin

What can I say....this book was absolutely stunning. Very well written and so full of emotion. To read the view of a 9/11 survivor was honestly refreshing. Can I say that? I think so. Read More...

Susan writes deeply about her dark mourning moments after the death of her father who lost his life on American Airlines Flight 77. Anger flooded her spirit, hurt, depression...but also hope.
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— ​​​​​​Valerie King

The Stone of Ebenezer
​(Trilogy of Kings Book 1)

Think Tolkien. An ancient land and people with a proud heritage are threatened by sinister forces. Their one hope—their sacred relic—is captured by the enemy, and their soldiers retreat, defeated and humiliated. Shadows overtake the land as bright dreams fade and hope wanes. Enter a young hero, eager to prove his mettle, who finds himself tested for more than courage in battle. 
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— Judith Ingram

Vividly descriptive tale of biblically-based historical fiction. Inspired by her love of antiquity, archaeology, and biblical history, Susan Van Volkenburgh employs prose, to which she lends an archaic flair, to recount the stories told in the Book of First Samuel. Within her novel, "The Stone of Ebenezer", she weaves characters, both fictional and historical, together in a biblically-based fictional story, while including touchstones of historical events to set the scene for vivid battles, treacherous journeys, lives affected by the ravages of war, and even a touch of romance. 
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— ​Pepperman92

I loved reading this book! It was so exciting to read about what happened in the book of Samuel in a way that I could vividly imagine the scenes. 
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— Deborah O. Barton

This is an amazing, accurate, novel. It is filled with excitement and intrigue. I gleaned much from reading this book. Susan is a gifted writer and I wait with anticipation for the next part to arrive at the bookstore."
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— ​Rev. Judi Wiegman

​Begin a journey with Susan Van Volkenburgh back to the time of 1 Samuel in her debut novel The Stone of Ebenezer. Tread the ancient lands of the Israel and Philistia through a novel replete with descriptive prose. Before you begin, let me say, I've yet to come across a biblical fiction novel so saturated with scripture and biblical history.
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— ​Shelf-Esteem

The Stone of Ebenezer by Susan Van Volkenburgh is an historical, Biblical fiction story. Susan did an excellent job of writing the story true to scripture and simply adding some specific characters that the reader can care about and cheer for. She did an excellent job with her setting and keeping the real Biblical characters true to form.
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— ​K F Barr

Great biblical fiction. Very accurate and well-researched. I cannot wait to read the next in the series."

— ​Chris Allaire

The thing I loved the most about this book was they way it incorporated scriptures from both earlier and later timeframes (even using New Testament scriptures) to show the unity and overarching principles and to deepen the story and revelation of Yahweh's nature. The book is so well written that as the characters grow in deeper understanding of who God is and who they are in him, you grow alongside them."

Wow! Exciting, spiritual, adventure, great imagination put into place. Totally enjoyed this book!"
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— ​Aneita

Old Testament history is not really my field--I am much more at home in the Roman Empire and the New Testament era--but I do appreciate good historical fiction when I come across it, and the field of Christian fiction is littered with so many genuinely bad works by well-meaning people who just don't have enough understanding of the era they are writing about! Suzan Van Volkenburgh understands the world of the Old Testament; she is steeped in the geography and history of the region, as well as what archeology has recently revealed to us about Canaanite culture. She brings the twilight of the era of the Judges to life, much as I tried to bring First Century Judea to life in THE REDEMPTION OF PONTIUS PILATE, my second novel. The clamor and noise of battle, the heartbreak of death on the battlefield, and the anguish of losing the Ark of the Covenant are portrayed with accuracy and heart.
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— ​​​​​Lewis Smith

The Anointed One
​(Trilogy of Kings Book 2)

I liked this volume even better than the first one of the series. Although I am familiar with the stories of Samuel and Saul and David, I learned a great deal just about Hebrew thinking and customs. 
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— ​Barbara McClanahan

Clever and credible.
This second volume in the Trilogy of Kings Saga follows the rise of Israel's first king and the emergence of Israel as a monarchy. Through a fictional account that closely follows the biblical record, the story details the life of Saul, a humble farmer from the tribe of Benjamin, who reluctantly accepts the crown when the people demand a king. As the anointed one of Yahweh, Saul at first feels the empowerment and wisdom of God's Spirit as he takes up the mantle of leadership and saves his people through heroic deeds. Pride, however, gradually usurps his pledge to serve Yahweh, and when God takes away his Spirit from Saul, the king begins a descent into malicious jealousy and paranoia. The volume ends with a crazed King Saul pursuing David, the shepherd-turned-warrior who slew Goliath and now bears the favor of Yahweh, setting up conflict that will take readers into the third and final volume of the series.
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— Judith Ingram

An historically accurate account of King Saul, David and Jonathan on their epic journey... With vivid imagery, a deep passion and authentic love of Scripture, each chapter comes alive. You will engage amidst the action of the characters not wanting the book to end; longing for more."
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— Rev. Judi Wiegman

By the Waters of En Gedi
​(Trilogy of Kings Book 3)

Biblical fiction is a difficult genre of literature to create. Writing biblical fiction presents an author with numerous high hurdles to clear. Since the biblical story can often be quite sparse, the writer must attempt to expand the narrative so as not to simply restate the scriptures. The larger problem is that, while expanding the narrative, the writer must take great pains not to do harm to the original text. While developing a story that is interesting, it is too easy to take liberties with the scriptural narrative. In doing so, the writer will either force the story in a direction the scriptural author never intended, or worse, twist the primary meaning of the text into something foreign to God’s purposes. The difficulty in maintaining this balance is why, in my opinion, most biblical fiction is insipid at best, or worse, dancing on the rim of heresy.

All that being said, it is an honor to introduce the reader to By the Waters of En Gedi. In this wonderful work, veteran biblical history author Susan Van Volkenburgh deftly tells the story of King David and his flight from the enraged King Saul up to Saul’s tragic death. Van Volkenburgh does not simply re-tell the story. She grabs the reader by the collar and drags them with her as she follows David’s ragtag band of soldiers as they flee the fury of King Saul and his army.

From the first page, you find what separates Van Volkenburgh from other writers in this genre. She puts the reader into the story as though they were fleeing as well. Her writing is sensual. You hear the footsteps of your pursuers. You smell the salty air of the Dead Sea. You taste the food by the campfire. You see the barrenness of the bleak desert. You feel the chilly night air as it wraps you up. By the Waters of En Gedi moves with the speed and urgency of a prison break.

Van Volkenburgh also takes the reader into the emotional experience of the story. Tension rises as you experience the anxiety and fear that David’s compatriots felt as they fled. You find tears welling up in your eyes as your own heart breaks with David’s as he comes to terms with Saul’s sin and God’s judgment. You do not just read about; you experience David’s heartbreaks as well as his joys.

Van Volkenburgh manages to bring this oft-told story to life all the while keeping the integrity of the biblical text. In doing so, she brings honor not only to David, but more importantly, to David’s God and Israel’s true King."

— ​Robert L. Webb, Ph.D.
Sr. Pastor
Calvary Baptist Church,
Kaufman, Texas

Susan Van Volkenburgh is a consummate storyteller. It’s not that we don’t know the story she is telling. It’s that we hang on every word that pulls us into the story.

As a young child, I grew up with the stories of David and Saul, through the Bible stories my mother read to my brother and me, through Sunday School felt board stories, and perhaps that was the problem. They were too familiar. I thought I knew them quite well and there was little else I could learn from them. I was wrong.

As I read By the Waters of En Gedi, the final volume in the Trilogy of Kings series, what had been familiar and comfortable became strange and new; Susan‘s ability to situate us, almost literally, within the landscapes and villages, tents and battlefields where the events took place gave me a clear understanding how the land, this odd Promised Land, played a such vital role in the problems these familiar characters faced and in decisions that they had to make. Her descriptions of the characters—David and Saul, of course, but also those we often dismiss as minor and less important, or those that had to be “created” for the story to flow—these descriptions make us feel as if turning and talking to them would be as natural as breathing. And we want to do that—to ask questions of them that Susan tantalizes us with yet never verbalizes. We come to understand that these are not just stories in a dusty old book. They are the lives of real people who were struggling to figure out how to navigate a fallen and often very violent world.

So, yes, this storytelling gifted me with fresh eyes, and I could, then, return to Scripture and see now what I had missed. Reading the books of Samuel, the Chronicles, and the Kings is filled with greater meaning, gained from Susan’s painstaking and historically and biblically accurate storytelling. Her gift for writing Biblical historical fiction is simply phenomenal; I relived these stories and came to a deeper understanding as to what the real issue was, for the characters and for us, that is, whether and how we can trust God in circumstances that don’t seem to be of His making and certainly don’t seem to benefit us as we expect or think we deserve. With Susan’s experiential insight, we come to understand that the question really is, “Are You God or not? How can I trust You when You allow me to suffer what I don’t think I deserve, when You don’t give me what I think I’ve earned?” We come to see the character of Saul clearly and understand why he was rejected as king. And we see David, faltering but remaining faithful even in his failure to seek God with his whole heart, chosen to be Saul’s replacement. Certainly, there was a larger plan to make it plain to Israel that in demanding a king at all they had failed, as Susan points us to. But in the end, it was the choices that these two men made—whether to trust God or trust self—that was the difference in their stories. This is the truth that, as we experience this storytelling, we cannot ignore.

You can certainly read By the Waters of En Gedi as a stand-alone novel, but I think it may be more meaningful if you read Volumes I and II in the series first. This major theme we’re talking about culminates in this third volume, but it simply picked up the threads from the first two. I may be misstating that. The story of David and Saul ends with this book, but the theme continues. It’s one we must consider daily.

​— ​​​​​​Barbara McClanahan, EdD