This novel was published in 2016. During my MFA studies in 2008 I stumbled across the account of a 16th century Englishwoman. It became my thesis novel. Writing about Anne Askew was painful but I’m glad that I did. She was a woman of deep conviction who valued scripture more than her own life. She became caught in the middle of political factions who used people’s religious ideals for their own power and gain. Her story changed how I view history and also my own time. Human nature does not change.

“Uplifting and powerful. I could not put this book down. I felt uplifted and encouraged with the powerful message of hope. This was a love story I didn’t know I needed.”

Amazing Book “This is one that I am sure I will re-read many times. Excellent work by an amazing author. Kudos Carol Pratt Bradley!”

In 2016, when my historical novel, Fire of the Word, was released, I wrote a post about writing it for Colleen Story’s blog, Writing and Wellness. She retweeted it today, so I reread it. Interesting how our own words return to us, reminding us of what we reflected on in the past:

“Is writing a spiritual practice for me? Yes.

There are many terms associated with the word spiritual: sacred, inner dimension, bliss, search for meaning, supernatural, the soul, sense of self, to name a few. For me, spirituality is searching for something larger and wiser and better than myself, to be able to comprehend with more than my own limited ability.

I want to combine the physical and spiritual to enable me to reach higher, dig deeper in my search for understanding.

To write with power and wisdom, I must search deep inside myself, reaching for a place not seen but only felt.”

That is still my goal….

The whole blog post is here: http://www.writingandwellness.com/2016/09/13/writing-to-find-the-hero-in-ourselves/

Here’s the link:

It’s hard to see, but I just had to take a picture. My books are going to be in the library of the school where I received my MFA in 2009. I am thrilled!

My novel was listed as #9 in Carmel Reviews Things Top Ten List of favorite books for 2017:

“This historical fiction novel is about Anne Askew, who was also the main character of Alison Macleod’s The Heretics, my top novel of 2016. While The Heretics leans more on the political side of Askew’s martyrdom, Fire of the Word is clearly a religious novel. And rarely is religious fiction written so well. Bradley’s writing is exciting and detailed, and the sermons are sparse. Nothing is written that does not push the story forward. It is also relatively unbiased towards Catholicism; freedom of religion is repeatedly emphasized. Though it’s clear who the antagonists and protagonists are, Anne comes off more of a human martyr than a glorified saint, making her all the more inspirational. Heck, the whole book is inspirational, and I’m agnostic. Simply put, this book is a shining example of religious historical fiction.”

Thank you!

https://carmelreviewsthings.wordpress.com/2017/12/31/top-10-books-ive-read-in-2017/

I found this beautiful  song this morning, sung by Nathan Pacheco, entitled “Tears From Heaven.” It conveys what I felt as I wrote Anne Ayscough’s story in my newest book, Fire of the Word.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/10/31/500057532/in-show-of-unity-pope-francis-marks-500th-anniversary-of-protestant-reformation