About the Book

Book: Winds of Ruach

Author: D.M. Griffin

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Release Date: October 18, 2022

Winds of Ruach is a compilation of five novellas fictionally traversing a period in Israel’s history that spans three hundred years. God used the prophets to speak to His people during a tumultuous time when faith was challenged and spiritual discipline was necessary. Five prophets lived out the message of God in a way that girded their faith and inspired those who truly listened to God’s voice. Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Obadiah, and Malachi were God’s chosen spokesmen.

Book One: Jonah felt he had every right to be angry when tragedy struck his household. He would soon learn that anger was a barrier to a right relationship with God no matter how justified the source of that anger. What happens when Jonah realizes that his deep-seated anger might cost him everything? Will he learn to embrace his forgiving God?

Book Two: Nahum was a victim of God’s wrath as it fell on the land of rebellious Israel. Intimidated for the majority of his life with little memory about his origin, Nahum struggles to trust God for vindication. Grappling to understand why everything keeps going wrong, will Nahum surrender to the only One who can truly defend him?

Book Three: As a child, Habakkuk’s faith was pure and unadulterated. As a priest serving in the Temple, however, Habakkuk realizes that something is keeping him from experiencing the fullness of that faith. He doesn’t truly trust God’s heart toward him. Will he learn to be brave despite the circumstances that threaten the very existence of the Temple?

Book Four: Obadiah lived in two worlds while feeling as if he spiritually belonged to one. Born to an Edomite father and Jewish mother, he was constantly at war with his brother. How long would it take for Obadiah to learn that the Lord was with him in the battle? Even if he lost it all, would having God be enough?

Book Five: Malachi wrestles with what he knows to be true about God and how his life is unfolding in contrast to that knowledge. What does it mean to worship with a pure heart, not with ulterior motives? As God has the final say with His people, will they listen and faithfully wait for the promised future of redemption?

Explore the themes woven into the books of the minor prophets through these fictional journeys that reveal how mighty the Winds of Ruach (Spirit) truly are as they blow across history into today.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

D.M. Griffin currently resides in Northern California with her husband. They met in middle school a few days after she was transplanted to the West Coast at the tender age of twelve. She has three adult children who have been an endless source of delight and inspiration. She also has a precious new grandchild who brings her joy.

As a native New Hampshire girl, she fondly remembers spending her summers there as a child. Thick accents, small towns, and fascinating weather stirred the imagination of her young heart. She has always had a fondness for stories thanks to her imaginative mother who would make up wild, adventurous tales to tell her while tucking her into bed as a child.

She truly believes that a book that sits on a shelf unread is like a planted seed that never blossoms. Nothing delights her more than sharing a story.

More from D.M.

I am a creature of habit who thrives on predictability. That being said, Winds of Ruach fell outside my comfort zone. If you have ever heard the phrase – if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans – you get the idea. I was deep in the throes of researching and writing a twelve-book series on the disciples of Jesus. My schedule was set. The routine was fixed. I had spent two years dedicated to The Follower Series. In between writing the first draft of book seven and editing book one, I was divinely halted. I didn’t exactly hit a block, so to speak. Instead, I was inspirationally diverted. It frustrated me for a short time.

Looking back on it now, I realize it was a blessing in disguise. At the time, my daily bible reading took me through the book of Jonah. Jonah 4:4 snagged my attention like a burr clinging to a pant leg. “Is it right for you to be angry?” That single phrase snared my heart with a compulsion to self-reflect. That meditation took me to places I had not been before. I followed the thread of anger woven throughout my life. Not the anger that manifests itself in hot, fiery outbursts but the hidden, silent anger that can turn into deadly pride or unrecognizable prejudice.

Anger wears many disguises. Some of those are loneliness and grief. I began wondering what might have happened in Jonah’s life to make him, a man of God, so angry that he would directly and blatantly disobey the Lord. The first short story was the beginning of a five-month diversion in my predetermined writing schedule.

I was inspired by other verses as I walked the landscape of Scripture through the books of the minor prophets.

With Nahum, I pondered how tragedy affects the trajectory of a life. With Habakkuk, I explored the difference between authentic worship and disingenuous faith. Obadiah is a short and sweet book of the bible, but it packs a punch. The theme of the resulting short story is about claiming one’s true identity as a child of God. Finally, Malachi wove the final thread into the fabric of this anthology which is ultimately about the Spirit of God moving through history to accomplish His will and purpose. Malachi is a story about knowing when to remain silent and when to ask questions of God. As I wrote Winds of Ruach, I thought about the importance of destiny and promise.

Some of my early readers asked me which was my favorite prophet. Honestly, the only way I could answer that question is to say that it is whichever story I am reading at the time. I was greatly blessed while writing Winds of Ruach, drawing out biblical themes I had never noticed before. These five prophets are near and dear to my heart. Truly, the imagination is a gift from God. And yes, I did go back to the ‘routine’ in writing. It took three and half years (half a year over my schedule) but the series I was working on prior to Winds of Ruach is now complete. God is good even in the distractions.

Author Interview

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?

The most surprising thing I learned in creating this book was how beautiful the overarching sovereignty of God is as it weaves through history – the good seasons and the bad. My research added dimensions to the minor prophets which I had never considered before. Wrapping it all up in a narrative gave me an anchor of application to my current place in history as I pondered some of the messages the prophets brought a long time ago and noticed how relevant they are today.

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

Getting feedback from readers is so important. I cherish those who take the time to let me know how a story I wrote impacted them. Some of the things my readers say –

I appreciated the character development and could relate to the struggles. This book left me with much to think about long after I closed the final chapter.

Each novella was full of imaginative surprises woven in heart-wrenching and heart-warming storytelling. When the last line of the last novella of ‘The Winds of Ruach’ was read I felt a warm love for reverence in the storytelling while sad that it was over.

I loved this book! I got so swept up in Ruth’s story and all that she was able to overcome. It is a tale of enduring strength. As always, this author does not disappoint. I enjoyed this story so much. The author transports you back to biblical days as you share the journey of characters who seem to have immortal souls.

This is one of my favorite books by D.M. Griffin. I love the character development of the main characters in The Torn Veil. The Biblical characters come to life in interesting ways. I also love seeing recurring characters in the various books she has written. I’d recommend these Biblical historical fiction books to all who are interested in the Biblical characters and imagining what their lives were like.

Do you read the genre you write? Why or why not?

Yes, I love to read biblical fiction as well as other Christian fiction. I find that pondering the depths of Scripture by opening up the imagination often reveals to me things I need to work on. The spiritual parallels available when defenses are down offer insight I might not have noticed otherwise.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?

The most valuable piece of advice I have been given about writing is: Don’t give up. Writing is a process that transforms the writer as well as the reader if it is done right. I am easily discouraged so that advice has helped me push beyond the obstacles of my own frustrations. It is also extremely valuable when completing an especially long series.

How did publishing your first book change your writing process?

Publishing my first book, a devotional, changed my writing process because I only intended to write the one book. It was supposed to be a gift for a dear friend of mine. I had no idea at the time that it was only the beginning of many more titles. Regardless of what I thought, a spark was ignited. I never imagined writing novels. My first novel ended up becoming a series. I started thinking in terms of creating book series instead of single stories. With each series, I learned more and grew as a writer. I had no idea there was so much to learn about being an author. The last decade has truly transformed my writing. There is a huge difference in style between the first devotional I wrote and the fiftieth book I published this last month. It has been a journey I am grateful for.

Is your writing space pristine or organized chaos?

My writing space is a soft, cushy chair in the corner with a side table for tea and a foot massager for my feet. My research books are in a compartment under the table. My laptop snuggles nicely into a lap desk that fits between the arms of the chair. Not exactly pristine, but definitely cozy and comfortable.