Republished Bestseller Joins Author Paula K. Parker’s Biblical Fiction Titles Glory Revealed and Grace Extended to Complete the Sisters of Lazarus Trilogy at WordCrafts Press

Top 10 Amazon bestselling playwright & author Paula K. Parker is celebrating the rerelease of her bestselling debut novel, Beauty Unveiled, from WordCrafts Press. When it was originally published by the UK’s Authentic Media in 2013, the title caught fire, propelling Sisters of Lazarus: Beauty Unveiled onto multiple bestseller lists at several major retailers. The novel reached the #2 spot on both Amazon.com’s “Books – Religion & Spirituality,” and “Kindle eBooks Religion & Inspirational Fiction” categories. The Kindle version climbed to #44 among all Paid Kindle books and the trade paperback edition hit #9 on Amazon’s Bestsellers in Biblical Fiction list. On the same day, Sisters of Lazarus: Beauty Unveiled reached #59 on Apple iTunes’ Paid Books chart, and over at Barnes & Noble the novel cracked the Top 20, peaking at #14 on the retailer’s Top 100 NOOK Books chart.

“When I wrote Beauty Unveiled, it was intended to be a stand-alone novel,” Parker recalls. “My original plan was to explore the biblical story of sibling rivalry between Mary and Martha, the two sisters of Lazarus, the man Jesus raised from the dead, and take it through Passion Week. After all, I thought, you can’t write a book about people mentioned in the Gospels without including the central story of the Bible. However, when I finished writing the scene of Mary anointing Jesus, I realized that was where the book needed to end.

“After Beauty Unveiled was released, I frequently received comments from readers, wanting to know what happened to ‘this’ character or ‘that’ character. I realized they were invested in the lives of those characters and wanted to know more of their story.

“Although I had never planned to write a series, that is precisely what happened, and Glory Revealed: Sisters of Lazarus, Book 2 was born. My  publisher, Authentic Media, was moving away from fiction, so I signed with US-based WordCrafts Press. The story picks up minutes after the final scene in Beauty Unveiled and follows the events of Passion Week through to the Ascension of Jesus Christ. I dusted my hands together and figured that was the end of it. That’s when my husband asked, ‘But what if…’ and I knew there were were storylines of characters both beloved and reviled that needed to be tied up. And that brought us to the final volume of the Sisters of Lazarus Trilogy, Grace Extended, which carries the story into the Book of Acts and the establishment of the early Church.”

When Parker first introduced the central characters of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in the first volume of the series, Sisters of Lazarus: Beauty Unveiled, she immediately gained a host of celebrity admirers, including Emmy and Golden Globe nominated actress, Roma Downey, the star of the popular network television series, Touched by an Angel and executive producer of the epic, record-breaking mini-series, The Bible.

“Sisters of Lazarus is a fun and meaningful read, offering the best of what biblical fiction provides – a tale built around beloved scriptural figures,” Ms. Downey said. “But Paula Parker goes deeper than just creating an entertaining story featuring Mary and Martha, she explores the eternal question of what it means to be truly beautiful.”

More than simply a re-telling of a familiar Bible story, the Sisters of Lazarus trilogy explores the passion of the Christ through the eyes of Jesus’ closest friends, and most ardent enemies. Parker’s evocative writing draws readers in, allowing them to feel like a fellow guest sharing the sisters’ wonder at meeting Jesus for the first time, experiencing His transforming power, demonstrated by one of the most astonishing miracles ever recorded, and carries the story through to its thrilling climax.

“In Beauty Unveiled: Sisters of Lazarus, Book One, Paula K. Parker pens a riveting story of love, longing and faith,” said Dove Award winning recording artist Bonnie Keen.” Parker’s novels bear the profoundly satisfying mark of her gift as a playwright. She combines masterful storytelling with well-crafted dialogue. The result is a cast of biblical characters fresh and human and real.”

“I just read the last word of Glory Revealed: Sisters of Lazarus, Book Two. I remain mesmerized by the world Paula Parker’s words evoked,” said Brenda Noel, Audie Award-winning production supervisor of The Word of Promise: Next Generation.” I feel as though I visited the family of Lazarus and experienced the final, earth-bound days of Jesus along with them. To sum up my reaction, I have only one word: masterpiece!”

“Mrs. Parker has done it again,” declared Donna Williams, of Epic Ministries. “Grace Extended is the crown jewel of the Sisters of Lazarus series. In her masterful style, she brings color to the greatest story ever told, transporting the reader into the very midst of the lives of its characters. Its intrigue is transcendent and transformative, not only inspiring but motivating. A MUST read!”

About the Author

Paula K. Parker is an internationally acclaimed author and playwright. She is a contributor to the New York Times Best Seller, Becoming (Thomas Nelson). She co-authored the two-volume Ancient Mysteries Retold series (Authentic Media U.K.) with New York Times best-selling author G.P. Taylor, and her stage adaptations of Jane Austen’s beloved novels, Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, and Emma have been performed on stages around the world.

For more information about Paula K.Parker visit her online at: PaulaKParker.com or WordCrafts.net.