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We’ve spent the past six weeks walking alongside Princess as she’s been uprooted from everything she’s ever known. We’ve met the people who went with her on this journey. Louis, her brother, who left behind his own plans to support her. Abe, who brought her into an uncertain future.

But today, I want you to meet the ones who stayed behind. Mickie and Uncle Nate.

Early Monday morning, as the sun rose over the reservation, Princess said goodbye to her sister. They’d be okay without her, but Princess was going to miss Mickie. She’d been Princess’s roommate her whole life. It would feel strange going to bed without her below in the bottom bunk. So many late-night talks came flooding back. Mickie had always been Princess’s confidante, mentor, and best friend, helping her through life’s ups and downs.

Now Mickie was married to Uncle Nate. She was pregnant, about four months along, her baby bump getting bigger every day. She was taking over Louis’s job at the casino when she wasn’t busy with schoolwork and extracurriculars. Nate wanted her to learn the business so she could take on more responsibilities once she graduated high school. He dreamed of turning the casino into a destination resort, complete with overnight accommodations and canoe rentals on the lake. He was sure Mickie would play a big role in making that happen.

Mickie had a future, a husband, and a baby on the way. Her career path was laid out before her. And Princess was leaving all of it behind.

After dinner that final Saturday night, they said their goodbyes. But this time, the goodbyes felt much more final than before. Princess didn’t know if she’d ever see Mickie or Nate again once she left. Mickie and Princess hugged, both of them wiping away tears. Princess said goodbye to her unborn niece or nephew, resting her hand on Mickie’s belly. She felt a tiny kick, and it only made the sadness deeper. She touched her own belly, wondering if she’d ever experience that same feeling.

As Mickie and Nate walked down the front porch steps to leave, Mickie looked back at Princess, tears still in her eyes. She waved a slow, sad goodbye, and Princess waved back, her heart heavy.

Goodbye does not always arrive with closure. You may never know whether you will see that person again. Staying can be an act of love, yet walking away can be one too, and each path brings its own kind of grief.

In Genesis, families scatter. Abram leaves his homeland, and those who stay behind fade from the story. We don’t hear much about the ones left in Haran, Nahor and Milcah who watched him go. But their grief was real. Their loss was real. And the weight of staying, of being the ones who kept the home fires burning while others journeyed into the unknown, that was real too.

Mickie and Nate stayed. They built their life on the reservation. They carried on the work of the tribe. And Princess left, not knowing if she’d ever come home again.

That’s the story of Barren. Displacement. Separation. The ache of leaving and the ache of being left behind. And through it all, the question of whether God sees us in our grief, whether we’re known and valued even when everything falls apart.

Let’s Talk

What does it mean to love someone when distance separates you? How do you hold onto connection when goodbye feels final?

Read Princess’s Full Story

If Princess’s journey has resonated with you, I’d love for you to read Barren. It’s a story of displacement, betrayal, and ultimately being seen by God when you feel invisible.

Get your copy of Barren: – Amazon (also available on Kindle Unlimited) – Barnes & Noble

Barren is part of the Margins of Genesis series, contemporary fiction that reimagines forgotten biblical characters in modern American settings. Each book amplifies a marginalized voice from Genesis, exploring themes of faith, survival, and redemption.

Other books in the series:

Rejected: Helena’s story of trafficking, forced surrogacy, and wilderness survival.

Distressed (coming soon): Isaac’s journey through religious trauma and healing.

These aren’t easy stories. But they’re honest ones. And I believe they’re stories worth telling.

Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear from you. Which character’s story resonated with you most? What questions do you still have about Princess’s journey? Would your book club or youth group be interested in discussing Barren? I’d be happy to provide discussion guides and even join your conversation.

Thank you for walking this journey with me over the past six weeks. It’s been an honor to share Princess’s story with you.

Until next time,
Elizabeth

P.S. If you know someone who’d appreciate these stories, please forward this email or share Barren with them. These are stories for anyone who’s ever felt displaced, unseen, or left behind. Stories that remind us God sees us, even in the margins.

This week, I want you to meet Louis, Princess’s older brother.

Louis had every reason to stay on the reservation. He had only one semester left of high school. He had a job with Uncle Nate at the casino. He was about to turn eighteen, which meant he could make his own choice about where to live and what to do with his life. Staying made sense. It was the logical decision.

But Louis didn’t choose logic. He chose love.

When Uncle Abe asked Louis if he wanted to come to Houston or stay behind with Uncle Nate, Louis didn’t hesitate. “I can be ready by Monday. I’ve barely unpacked anyway.”

He left behind his job. He left behind his final semester of high school. He left behind the life he’d been building on the reservation. And he did it for one reason: “Princess is my baby sister. I want to be there for her through a change as big as this. I can’t imagine how hard it must be for her to leave her home…for good.”

Louis always knew what Princess needed, what she was feeling, even without her saying a word. He’d always been a good big brother. And when it mattered most, when Princess was about to be uprooted from everything she’d ever known, Louis chose to go with her. It wasn’t easy, and it didn’t make sense, but she needed him.

There’s something profoundly beautiful about that kind of sacrifice. Louis gave up his own plans, his own stability, his own sense of home, to be there for someone he loved. He understood how difficult the change would be for Princess, and his support meant the world to her.

In Genesis, we see families fracture and scatter. We see brothers betray each other, siblings separated by distance and circumstance. But we also see glimpses of loyalty, of protective love, of choosing to stay together even when it’s hard. Louis embodies that kind of love. The kind that says, “I’ll leave everything behind if it means you don’t have to face this alone.”

Princess felt a surge of love and gratitude for him. She loved him more than she could say. And as they climbed into the RV together, heading south toward an uncertain future, she knew she wasn’t alone.

Let’s Talk

Have you ever left behind your own plans to support someone you love? What did that cost you? And what did it give you in return?

I’d love to hear your story in the comments. This is a space for honest conversation about love over logic, of self-sacrifice.

What’s Next

Next week, we’ll meet Mickie and Uncle Nate, the ones who stayed behind, and explore what it means to say goodbye when you don’t know if you’ll ever see each other again.

If you want to follow Princess’s full journey, subscribe to this newsletter. You’ll get weekly insights into Barren, behind-the-scenes reflections, and discussion prompts for your book clubs. And if you’re ready to read Princess’s complete story right now, Barren is available here:

Get your copy of Barren: – Amazon (also available on Kindle Unlimited) – Barnes & Noble

About the Margins of Genesis Series

Barren is Book One in the Margins of Genesis series. It’s contemporary fiction that reimagines the forgotten biblical characters from Genesis in modern American settings. These are raw, honest explorations of faith, survival, betrayal, and redemption. Because the people in the margins? They have stories worth telling too.

Thank you for being here.
Elizabeth Simon

Lizard Books LLC

P.S. If this email resonated with you, please share it with someone who’s chosen love over logic. And comment below, because I read every single one.

Over the past three weeks, we’ve walked through Princess’s journey of displacement, uncertainty, and betrayal. We’ve seen her leave everything behind to follow Abe’s calling. We’ve watched her struggle to find home in an RV, living in liminal space. We’ve witnessed the devastating moment when Abe’s lie put her in danger at the hands of cartel leader Hernández.

This week, we’re going to talk about what happens after the escape. When the adrenaline fades and you’re left with the weight of everything you’ve been through. When you’re surrounded by people but feel completely alone.

The Aftermath: Escaping Danger But Not the Pain

After God strikes Hernández and his cartel with disease, Princess and Abe are sent away with all their possessions. They escape Mexico and return to South Texas, but the danger isn’t over. Princess keeps looking over her shoulder, wondering if Hernández’s spies will find them. She’s afraid they’ll never be safe again.

But physical safety doesn’t equal emotional safety. Princess has been through trauma after trauma. She’s left her family, been handed over to a cartel leader, and realized that the man she trusted most was willing to put her in danger to save himself. And now that they’re back in Texas, everyone else seems ready to move forward while she’s still trying to process what just happened.

Abe is relieved they survived. He’s ready to keep pursuing God’s promise. The others in their traveling community are focused on helping hurricane victims and rebuilding. Everyone has something to do, somewhere to be, some way to contribute.

And Princess? She’s drowning in grief and no one seems to notice.

The Weight of Accumulated Loss

Princess isn’t just grieving what happened in Mexico. She’s grieving everything she’s lost since this journey began. Her parents are gone. Her sister Mickie is back on the reservation, pregnant with a baby Princess will never meet. Her brother Louis is with her, but he’s busy helping others. Uncle Nate is miles away.

She misses the old days. She misses the easy, familiar life on the reservation. She misses late-night talks with Mickie, the sound of school bells ringing, her friends, her daddy. She misses knowing who she was and where she belonged.

There’s a moment in Barren where Princess sits in a crowded emergency room, surrounded by people, and thinks: “I missed the old days… I missed the easy, familiar life… Why did this have to happen to me?… It didn’t seem fair… I felt like I was all alone as I hugged myself and cried.”

That’s the reality of accumulated grief. It’s not just one loss. It’s loss after loss after loss, piling up until you can barely breathe under the weight of it all.

When No One Sees Your Pain

Here’s what makes Princess’s grief even harder: she’s supposed to be fine. She’s married now. She’s part of Abe’s calling. She’s supposed to trust God’s plan and keep moving forward.

But she’s not fine. She’s exhausted. She’s angry. She’s sad. She’s questioning everything. And she doesn’t know how to tell anyone because everyone else seems so certain, so focused, so ready to keep going.

Have you ever felt like that? Like you’re falling apart inside but everyone around you expects you to hold it together? Like your pain is invisible because everyone else has moved on?

That’s where Princess is. She’s grieving in isolation, surrounded by people who love her but don’t see how much she’s hurting.

The Biblical Sarai: Silent Suffering

In Genesis, after Sarai is taken into Pharaoh’s household and then released, the text moves on quickly. Genesis 13 says that Abram went back up from Egypt with his wife and all his possessions, and he journeyed from place to place.

That’s it. There’s no mention of how Sarai felt, no acknowledgment of her trauma, and no space for her to process what happened to her. The story just keeps moving, and Sarai is expected to keep moving with it.

But trauma doesn’t work that way. You can’t just pack up and move on like nothing happened. The body remembers. The heart remembers. The fear, the betrayal, the violation all stays with you, even when everyone else has moved forward.

Sarai carried that weight silently. She had no voice in the text, no space to grieve, no permission to fall apart. She just had to keep walking, keep following, keep trusting that somehow this would all make sense.

Princess’s Isolation

In Barren, I give Princess the space to feel what Sarai couldn’t express. Princess grieves. She cries. She questions why this happened to her. She feels the unfairness of losing so much while everyone else seems to have purpose and direction.

She sits alone, hugging herself, trying to make herself feel better and failing. She’s surrounded by people in their traveling community, but she feels invisible. No one asks how she’s doing. No one notices that she’s barely holding on.

This is the loneliness of grief. It’s not always about being physically alone. Sometimes it’s about feeling unseen, unheard, unknown, even when you’re in a crowd.

A Question for You

Have you ever felt alone in your grief? Maybe you were surrounded by people who loved you, but no one seemed to see how much you were hurting. Maybe everyone else moved on while you were still trying to process what happened. What did that feel like? And how did you find your way through?

I’d love to hear your story in the comments. This is a space for honest conversation about grief, isolation, and the courage it takes to keep going when you feel invisible.

What’s Next

Next week, we’ll meet Louis, Princess’ older brother, and explore what it means to leave everything behind not for your own dreams, but to support someone you love through an impossible change.

If you want to follow Princess’s full journey, subscribe to this newsletter. You’ll get weekly insights into Barren, behind-the-scenes reflections, and discussion prompts for your book clubs. And if you’re ready to read Princess’s complete story right now, Barren is available here:

Get your copy of Barren: – Amazon (also available on Kindle Unlimited) – Barnes & Noble

About the Margins of Genesis Series

Barren is Book One in the Margins of Genesis series. It’s contemporary fiction that reimagines the forgotten biblical characters from Genesis in modern American settings. These are raw, honest explorations of faith, survival, betrayal, and redemption. Because the people in the margins? They have stories worth telling too.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for holding space for Princess’s grief. These are the parts of the story we often skip over, but they matter.

Elizabeth Simon
Lizard Books LLC
Southwest Florida

P.S. If this email resonated with you, please share it with someone who’s grieving in isolation right now. And comment below, because I read every single one.

Over the past two weeks, we’ve walked with Princess as she left everything behind to follow her husband Abe’s calling from God. We’ve seen her grief over losing her sister Mickie, her Uncle Nate, and the only home she’s ever known. We’ve watched her struggle to find home in an RV, living in liminal space, trusting someone else’s certainty when she couldn’t hear God’s voice for herself.

This week, we’re going to talk about what happens when that trust is broken. When the person you followed into the unknown makes a choice that puts you in danger. When faith stops feeling like courage and starts feeling like survival.

The Moment Everything Changes

Princess and Abe arrive in a new place, and there’s an opportunity for Abe to advance his calling, to move closer to the promise God gave him. But there’s a problem: Princess’s presence complicates things. Her identity as his wife creates obstacles he doesn’t want to navigate.

So Abe makes a decision. He asks Princess to lie about who she is. He asks her to pretend she’s his sister instead of his wife. He tells her it’s necessary and that everything will work out if she just goes along with it.

And Princess? She’s caught. She’s already given up everything to follow him. She’s already trusted him with her entire life. How can she say no now? How can she question the man who heard from God when she didn’t?

So she agrees. And that agreement puts her in a position of incredible vulnerability and danger.

The Cost of Someone Else’s Calling

Here’s what we need to understand: Abe’s decision isn’t just a small deception. It’s a betrayal of the most fundamental kind. He’s asking Princess to erase her identity, to make herself available to other men, to put herself at risk so that he can protect himself and his vision.

He’s prioritizing the promise over the person. He’s prioritizing his calling over her safety. He’s asking her to sacrifice her dignity, her autonomy, and her security so that his journey can continue uninterrupted.

And the worst part? He frames it as faith. He makes it sound like this is what God requires, like this is part of the bigger plan, like her compliance is an act of trust in God’s provision.

But this isn’t faith. This is control. This is manipulation. This is a man using his spiritual authority to justify putting his wife in harm’s way.

When Faith Becomes a Weapon

Princess’s story forces us to ask hard questions about faith and authority. What happens when someone uses God’s voice to justify their own agenda? What happens when spiritual leadership becomes a tool for control? What happens when following someone else’s calling requires you to betray yourself?

These questions matter because they’re not just ancient history. They’re happening today. In marriages where one partner’s “calling” requires the other to sacrifice everything. In churches where leaders use spiritual language to manipulate and control. In families where faith becomes a reason to silence, diminish, or endanger.

Princess’s story is a warning. It’s a reminder that true faith never requires us to erase ourselves. True faith never asks us to accept harm in the name of someone else’s vision. True faith never weaponizes God’s voice to justify betrayal.

The Biblical Sarai: Handed Over Twice

In Genesis 12, Abram and Sarai enter Egypt during a famine. Abram is afraid that the Egyptians will kill him to take his beautiful wife, so he tells Sarai to say she’s his sister. Pharaoh takes Sarai into his household, and Abram profits from the arrangement. He receives sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and servants because of her.

God intervenes and afflicts Pharaoh’s household with plagues, and Pharaoh realizes what’s happened. He confronts Abram and sends them both away.

But here’s the devastating part: Abram does it again. In Genesis 20, he pulls the same scheme with King Abimelech. He hands Sarai over a second time, using the same lie, putting her in the same danger.

Twice, Abram prioritizes his safety over hers. Twice, he uses her body as a shield. Twice, he betrays her trust in the name of survival.

And Sarai? The text doesn’t record her words. We don’t hear her protest, her grief, her rage. We only see her compliance, her silence, her disappearance into someone else’s story.

But that silence speaks volumes. It’s the silence of a woman who has no choice. The silence of a woman whose voice doesn’t matter. The silence of a woman who’s been betrayed by the person she trusted most.

Princess’s Response

In Barren, I give Princess the voice that Sarai never had. I let her feel the betrayal fully. I let her question, rage, grieve, and struggle with what Abe has asked her to do.

She goes along with the plan because she doesn’t see another option. She’s already lost everything. She’s already miles away from her family, her home, her identity. She’s already dependent on Abe for survival. What choice does she have but to comply?

But compliance doesn’t mean consent. Obedience doesn’t mean agreement. Silence doesn’t mean peace.

Princess is drowning in the consequences of someone else’s faith. She’s paying the price for someone else’s promise. And she’s beginning to realize that following Abe’s calling might cost her more than she ever imagined.

A Question for You

Have you ever been asked to sacrifice yourself for someone else’s vision? Maybe it was framed as faith, as partnership, as loyalty. Maybe you were told it was temporary, necessary, part of a bigger plan. What did it cost you? And how did you find your way back to yourself?

I’d love to hear your story in the comments. This is a space for honest conversation about the difference between faith and manipulation, between trust and control, between following God and following someone who claims to speak for God.

What’s Next

Next week, we’ll explore what happens when everything falls apart and grief becomes Princess’s constant companion.

If you want to follow Princess’s full journey, subscribe to this newsletter. You’ll get weekly insights into Barren, behind-the-scenes reflections, and discussion prompts for your book clubs. And if you’re ready to read Princess’s complete story right now, Barren is available here:

Get your copy of Barren: – Amazon (also available on Kindle Unlimited) – Barnes & Noble

About the Margins of Genesis Series

Barren is Book One in the Margins of Genesis series. It’s contemporary fiction that reimagines the forgotten biblical characters from Genesis in modern American settings. These are raw, honest explorations of faith, survival, betrayal, and redemption. Because the people in the margins? They have stories worth telling too.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for holding space for the hard parts of Princess’s story. These are the conversations that matter.

Elizabeth Simon
Lizard Books LLC
Southwest Florida

P.S. If this email resonated with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear that compliance doesn’t mean consent, and silence doesn’t mean peace. And comment below, because I read every single one.

Last week, we met Princess, a young Native American woman who had to leave everything behind when her husband Abe received a calling from God. She packed up her life on the Chaldean Indian reservation, said goodbye to her sister Mickie and her Uncle Nate, and followed Abe into the unknown.

This week, I want to talk about what happens after you leave. About what it’s like when “home” becomes something you carry with you instead of something you return to.

Living in Liminal Space

Princess and Abe live in an RV with her brother Louis, traveling through Texas with no permanent address, no roots, no place to call their own. Everything they own fits into a small space on wheels. They’re constantly moving, constantly searching, constantly waiting for God to show them where they’re supposed to land.

It’s exhausting. It’s disorienting. And it’s incredibly lonely.

Princess isn’t just grieving the home she left behind. She’s grieving the home she can’t seem to find. Every campground looks the same. Every town is temporary. Every conversation with strangers reminds her that she doesn’t belong anywhere anymore.

She’s living in what I call “liminal space,” that in-between place where you’re no longer who you were but you’re still figuring out who you’re becoming. You’ve left the old life behind, but the new life hasn’t fully formed yet. You’re just suspended in the middle, waiting.

The Weight of Someone Else’s Certainty

Here’s what makes it even harder: Abe is certain. He heard from God. He has a promise. He has a vision. He knows this journey has purpose, even when the road feels endless.

But Princess? She’s following someone else’s certainty. She didn’t hear the voice. She didn’t receive the promise. She’s trusting Abe’s faith because she doesn’t have her own promise to hold onto.

That creates a painful dynamic. Abe can endure the uncertainty because he has divine assurance. Princess has to endure the uncertainty and the silence. She has to trust that Abe heard correctly, that God really did speak, that this upheaval will eventually make sense.

It’s one thing to follow God when you’ve heard His voice yourself. It’s another thing entirely to follow someone who follows God, hoping that their faith is strong enough to carry you both.

When You Can’t Go Back

There’s a moment in Barren where Princess realizes she can’t go back to the reservation, even if she wanted to. Too much has changed. She’s changed. The life she left behind doesn’t exist anymore, not in the same way.

That’s the hard truth about leaving: sometimes you can’t go back. Even if the new place doesn’t feel like home yet, the old place isn’t home anymore either. You’re caught between two worlds, belonging fully to neither.

Maybe you’ve felt this too. Maybe you left a job, a relationship, a city, a version of yourself, and realized you couldn’t return to what was. Maybe you’re in that liminal space right now, wondering when you’ll finally feel settled again.

Princess’s story is for you. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt unmoored, displaced, caught between the life they left and the life they’re still waiting to find.

The Biblical Sarai: Wandering Without a Home

In Genesis 12, after Abram and Sarai leave their homeland, they wander. They move from place to place. They live as nomads, strangers in foreign lands, never quite settling.

Genesis 12:9 says, “Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev.” Continuing. Always continuing. Never arriving.

And Sarai? She’s right there beside him, packing up the tent again and again, moving to the next place, waiting for the promise to materialize. She’s living in perpetual transition, perpetual uncertainty, perpetual homesickness for a place that no longer exists and a place that doesn’t exist yet.

We don’t often talk about how hard that must have been. We celebrate the faith journey, but we forget the exhaustion of the journey itself. We focus on the promise, but we forget the years of waiting in the in-between.

Princess’s Struggle

In Barren, Princess wrestles with all of this. She tries to make the RV feel like home, but it’s hard to nest in a space that’s always moving. She tries to connect with Abe, but his certainty sometimes feels like a wall between them. She tries to pray, but God feels distant, silent, absent.

And yet, she keeps going. She keeps waking up in a new place. She keeps trusting, even when trust feels like the hardest thing she’s ever done. She keeps walking, even when she doesn’t know where the path leads.

That’s the quiet courage of Princess’s story. It’s the courage to keep moving forward when you don’t have a map. It’s the courage to trust someone else’s faith when your own feels fragile. It’s the courage to live without a home while you’re searching for one.

A Question for You

Have you ever lived in liminal space? That in-between place where you’ve left the old life but haven’t fully stepped into the new one yet? What did it feel like? How did you find the courage to keep going when you didn’t know where you were headed?

I’d love to hear your story in the comments. This is a space for honest conversation about the hard parts of faith, the exhaustion of waiting, and the courage it takes to keep walking when you can’t see the destination.

What’s Next

Next week, we’ll talk about betrayal. About what happens when the person you trusted most makes a decision that puts you in danger. About the moment when Princess realizes that Abe’s faith might cost her everything.

It’s a hard part of the story, but it’s an important one. Because sometimes, following someone else’s calling doesn’t just mean leaving home. Sometimes it means losing yourself.

If you want to follow Princess’s full journey, subscribe to this newsletter. You’ll get weekly insights into Barren, behind-the-scenes reflections, and discussion prompts for your book clubs. And if you’re ready to read Princess’s complete story right now, Barren is available here:

Get your copy of Barren: – Amazon (also available on Kindle Unlimited) – Barnes & Noble

About the Margins of Genesis Series

Barren is Book One in the Margins of Genesis series. It’s contemporary fiction that reimagines the forgotten biblical characters from Genesis in modern American settings. These are raw, honest explorations of faith, survival, betrayal, and redemption. Because the people in the margins? They have stories worth telling too.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for walking this journey with Princess and with me. I’m grateful for every one of you.

Elizabeth Simon
Lizard Books LLC
Southwest Florida

P.S. If this email resonated with you, please share it with someone who’s living in liminal space right now. And comment below, because I read every single one.

Have you ever had to leave everything behind because someone else made a decision for you? Someone else’s calling became your upheaval. That’s Princess’s story.

The Girl Who Lost Home

Princess is a young Native American woman living on the Chaldean Indian reservation with her family: her sister Mickie, her brother Louis, and her Uncle Nate. Life isn’t perfect, but it’s hers. She knows these people. She knows this land. She knows who she is here.

Then one day, her husband Abe tells her they’re leaving permanently. God spoke to Abe and gave him a promise, a calling, a vision for their future. And Princess? She has to pack up her entire life and follow him into the unknown. She gets no conversation with God. She gets no promise whispered in her own ears. She gets no choice. She just has to trust and walk.

“I felt like I lost a part of myself”

There’s a moment in Barren where Princess is saying goodbye to everything familiar, and she says: “I felt like I lost a part of myself the last time we left… We’re leaving for good… I won’t see Mickie or her baby or Uncle Nate again… I don’t know if I can do that.”

Can you hear the grief in those words? This is loss. Princess is being asked to leave her identity, her community, her sense of belonging, all because Abe heard from God and she didn’t. She’s leaving behind her sister, her brother, her uncle, and the only home she’s ever known.

And honestly? Some of you know exactly what this feels like. Maybe you’ve moved schools because your parents got a new job. Maybe your family relocated and you had to leave your friends behind. Maybe someone else’s dream became your displacement. Maybe you’ve had to follow someone else’s calling and grieve your own life in the process. That’s why Princess’s story matters.

The Biblical Sarai: The Woman in the Shadow

If you know the story of Abraham in Genesis, you know God called him to leave his homeland and go to a land God would show him. It’s one of the most famous faith stories in the Bible. But here’s what we often forget: Sarai had to leave too.

Genesis 12:1-5 tells us that God spoke to Abram. Sarai is absent from the conversation. She gets no promise. She gets no vision. She just has to pack up and go.

For centuries, we’ve celebrated Abraham’s faith. And we should, because it’s remarkable. But what about Sarai’s faith? What about the woman who followed a man who followed God, trusting that somehow, this would all make sense? What about the woman who lost her home, her family, her entire world, without ever hearing God’s voice for herself?

Princess’s Journey Begins

In Barren, I reimagine Sarai’s story through Princess. She’s a young Native American woman whose life is uprooted when Abe receives his calling. She leaves the reservation, her family, and everything she knows to travel through Texas in an RV, heading toward a promise she never heard.

This is the first book in the Margins of Genesis series, where I take the forgotten and marginalized characters from Genesis and bring their stories to life in contemporary American settings. Princess is more than “Abraham’s wife.” She’s a woman with her own grief, her own questions, her own journey. And over the next few weeks, I’m going to introduce you to her story. It’s a story of displacement, betrayal, survival, and ultimately, being seen by God.

A Question for You

Have you ever had to leave home because of someone else’s decision? Maybe it was a parent’s job transfer. Maybe it was a spouse’s calling. Maybe it was a situation beyond your control. What did it cost you? And how did you find your way through?

I’d love to hear your story in the comments. This is a space for honest conversation about faith, loss, and the courage it takes to follow someone else’s dream when you’re still grieving your own.

What’s Next

Next week, I’ll share more about Princess’s journey and what it’s like to live in an RV, constantly moving, searching for home. We’ll explore the tension between Abe’s certainty and Princess’s uncertainty, and what it means when “home” becomes a moving target.

If you want to follow Princess’s full journey, subscribe to this newsletter. You’ll get weekly insights into Barren, behind-the-scenes reflections, and discussion prompts for your book clubs. And if you’re ready to read Princess’s complete story right now, Barren is available here:

Get your copy of Barren: – Amazon (also available on Kindle Unlimited) – Barnes & Noble

About the Margins of Genesis Series

Barren is Book One in the Margins of Genesis series. It’s contemporary fiction that reimagines the forgotten biblical characters from Genesis in modern American settings. These are raw, honest explorations of faith, survival, betrayal, and redemption. Because the people in the margins? They have stories worth telling too.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for making space for Princess’s story. I can’t wait to walk this journey with you.

Elizabeth Simon
Lizard Books LLC
Southwest Florida

P.S. If this resonated with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear Princess’s story. And comment below, because I read every single one.

There are a lot of moments in writing that feel big. Finishing a draft. Holding a printed copy for the first time. Hearing from a reader who saw themselves in a character when you weren’t sure anyone would.

This one felt different.

My books are now available through the Charlotte County Library System, and when I saw them listed there, I stopped what I was doing and just looked at the screen for a minute.

Libraries were where reading stopped feeling like schoolwork for me and started feeling like choice. They were where I wandered the aisles without a plan, pulled books because the cover caught my eye, and found stories I never would’ve chosen if I’d been standing in a bookstore doing mental math.

There’s something grounding about knowing someone can walk into their local library, pick up one of my books, and read it without worrying about money or access. That’s always mattered to me.

This isn’t really just about my stories. It’s about what libraries mean. They’re one of the few places left that exist simply for curiosity, learning, and community. They’re there for kids falling in love with reading, teens looking for an escape, adults searching for answers, and readers who just need a quiet place to breathe for a while.

Knowing my work gets to live in that space feels like being welcomed into something much bigger than myself.

If you’re local to Charlotte County, I hope you’ll stop by your library soon. Maybe you’ll pick up one of my books. Maybe you won’t. Either way, I hope you leave with something that surprises you, keeps you company, or stays with you longer than you expected.

Libraries matter. Readers make this possible. I’m incredibly grateful for both.

If you do check out one of my books, I’d love to hear what you think. You can reply here or send me a note anytime. Stories don’t really end on the last page. They keep going in conversations like these.

Thanks for being here, and for supporting libraries, readers, and the quiet magic that still happens between the shelves.

Watch the video on YouTube to see more.

December was a month of meaningful momentum at Lizard Books. New formats were released, new resources were launched, and the stories continued to move beyond the pages into book clubs and youth ministries. As we step into January, there is even more on the horizon.

A Note from the Author

“These books were never meant to sit quietly on a shelf. They are meant to be read together, wrestled with, and talked about honestly.”

Elizabeth Simon

December reminded me why I write stories like Barren and Rejected. These books aren’t meant to sit quietly on a shelf. They’re meant to be read together, discussed honestly, and wrestled with thoughtfully.

Seeing Rejected released in new formats (paperback and hardcover on December 1st), watching Barren become available to be used in youth ministry settings, and hearing from readers who are engaging deeply with these stories has been both humbling and encouraging. Thank you for reading, sharing, and inviting these books into your conversations.

January brings new opportunities to keep those conversations going, and I am grateful you are here for what comes next.

December Highlights

Rejected in Hardcover and Paperback

In December, hardcover and paperback editions of Rejected officially launched on Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com. These formats were created with libraries, book clubs, and group study settings in mind, making the novel easier to share and discuss in community.

“Stories change when they are read in community. Rejected was always meant for discussion.”

Elizabeth Simon

If you missed the announcement, you can read more about the release here.

Book Club Discussion Guide for Rejected

Alongside the new formats, a Book Club Discussion Guide for Rejected was released. The guide includes discussion questions, thematic prompts, and Scripture connections designed to support book clubs, church groups, and classroom conversations.

“The guide is not about finding the ‘right’ answers. It’s about asking better questions.”

Elizabeth Simon

You can access the discussion guide here.

Youth Ministry Video Lessons for Barren

December also marked the release of new youth ministry lesson videos focused on the story of Sarai in Genesis 12 and how her journey connects to the novel Barren. These lessons are designed to help students engage Scripture through story, asking thoughtful questions about faith, waiting, obedience, and identity.

“Sarai’s story is not tidy. That is exactly why students recognize themselves in it.”

Elizabeth Simon

You can watch the lesson series here.

From the Blog

Several new articles were published on the Lizard Books website throughout December. If you missed any of them, here is a quick roundup.

• An announcement celebrating the release of Rejected in paperback and hardcover.
• A recap of The Bookdragon’s Lair December 10% off sale. While the sale has ended, signed copies of Barren are still available.
• A holiday reminder that Barren and Rejected make meaningful gifts for readers who enjoy biblical contemporary fiction.
• A behind-the-scenes look at the purpose and structure of the Rejected Book Club Discussion Guide.

Looking Ahead to January

JAX Urban Book Festival

In January, Elizabeth Simon will be participating in the JAX Urban Book Festival. More details can be found on the 2026 Events page on the website, but this event will be a great opportunity to connect with readers, educators, and fellow authors in person.

“There’s something powerful about meeting readers face-to-face and hearing how a story found them.”

Elizabeth Simon

Homeschool Curriculum for Barren

Work is underway on a homeschool curriculum to accompany Barren. This curriculum will be designed to integrate English Literature and Bible study, with close reading, Scripture comparison, and critical analysis for upper-level students.

“This curriculum treats both Scripture and story as texts worthy of serious thought.”

Elizabeth Simon

More details will be shared as the curriculum nears completion.

Distressed (Book 3 in the Margins of Genesis Series) Outline Complete

While there is still a long way to go before the story of Isaac in Distressed will be released, the outline is complete! Now the writing begins. Stay connected to learn about the writing journey in 2026.

Stay Connected

For updates on releases, events, and resources, visit Lizard-Books.com and follow us on:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lizardbooks
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizardbooksllc
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lizard.books.llc
• Substack: https://substack.com/@elizabethsimonauthor
• LinkedIn: https://www.LinkedIn/com/company/lizard-books-llc
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lizardbooksllc

Your support, questions, and conversations continue to shape where these stories go next. Thank you for being a part of the Lizard Books community!

If you are a part of a book club and are looking for a new book to read, Rejected would be a perfect one! Here is a quick Book Club discussion guide to go along with the book.

About This Guide

This guide helps book clubs explore the emotional, spiritual, and social themes in Rejected. Each section now includes chapter references so readers always know where they should be before beginning discussion.

Section One: Survival, Power, and Control

Covers Chapters 1 through 4

These early chapters explore Hillary’s life before and during her captivity in Mexico, her years in the cartel, and her arrival at the Serug Ranch.

Discussion Questions

In Chapters 1 through 3, what moments shaped your understanding of Hillary’s resilience?

How do Chapters 2 and 3 reveal the psychological effects of coercion and exploitation?

In Chapters 3 and 4, what changes do you notice as Hillary transitions from overt trafficking into a more subtle form of control?

Section Two: Faith, Fear, and the Tradition of Obedience

Covers Chapters 5 through 9

These chapters parallel Hagar’s biblical story and explore obedience, fear, and divine encounter.

Discussion Questions

How do Chapters 5, 6, and 7 deepen your understanding of the original biblical passages from Genesis 16?

Which scenes in Chapters 8 and 9 best illustrate the intersection of suffering and divine presence?

Why do you think Hillary obeyed the instruction to return in Chapter 9 even when safety was not guaranteed?

Section Three: Trauma Responses and Emotional Memory

Covers Chapters 10 through 14

These chapters include flashbacks, panic triggers, and the ways trauma resurfaces through daily routines.

Discussion Questions

Which trauma-response scene in Chapters 10 through 12 impacted you the most?

How do Chapters 12, 13, and 14 show the physical and emotional weight of memories Hillary tries to suppress?

How do these scenes expand your empathy for real survivors?

Section Four: Morality, Manipulation, and Abuse Within Religious Structures

Covers Chapters 15 through 20

The Serug household becomes a microcosm of spiritual manipulation, pressure, and harmful theology.

Discussion Questions

What forms of manipulation appear in Chapters 15, 16, and 17 when Patrona Isa and Abe justify their decisions?

How did you feel about Patrona Isa’s desperation for a child in Chapters 16 through 18?

What do Chapters 18, 19, and 20 suggest about the misuse of religious authority?

Section Five: Identity, Self-Worth, and the Search for Belonging

Covers Chapters 21 through 25

Hillary’s internal battle intensifies as she wrestles with her past, her dreams, and her desire for real connection.

Discussion Questions

Which scenes in Chapters 21 through 23 reveal Hillary’s longing for belonging?

How does Ignacio’s presence in Chapters 22 and 24 shape Hillary’s identity as a mother and survivor?

What does belonging look like for Hillary across Chapters 24 and 25?

Section Six: Motherhood, Loss, and Protection

Covers Chapters 26 through 30

These chapters include Hillary’s most painful and transformative moments, paralleling Hagar in the wilderness.

Discussion Questions

How do Chapters 26 and 27 use the South Texas landscape to echo the biblical wilderness?

What does Hillary’s choice to place Ignacio under the tree in Chapter 29 reveal about her emotional breaking point?

How did you interpret God’s provision of water and guidance in Chapter 30?

Section Seven: Justice, Hope, and the Return of Dignity

Covers Chapter 31 through the Epilogue

Ignacio becomes an archer. Hillary witnesses restoration and finally experiences belonging.

Discussion Questions

In the wedding scene of Chapter 31, how did your understanding of rejection shift?

What emotions surfaced as you read the final scenes of Chapter 31?

How does the epilogue reinforce the themes of hope and redemption?

Section Eight: Faith, Liberation, and Modern Slavery

Pairs with the Entire Book and the Back Matter

This section connects fiction to lived reality and survivor advocacy.

Discussion Questions

What did the novel teach you about modern trafficking that you did not know before?

Which scenes challenged assumptions or misconceptions?

How can churches, community groups, or individuals respond with awareness and compassion?

General Reflection Questions

(Use after completing the entire book)

Which character’s arc moved you the most?

What did you think about the blending of Scripture with contemporary trauma and survival?

What theme stayed with you long after closing the book?

If you could ask Hillary one question, what would you ask?

What should readers unfamiliar with trafficking understand after reading Rejected?

If you are looking for meaningful Christmas gifts this year, both Barren and Rejected make wonderful presents for the readers on your list. Each story offers depth, heart, and the kind of emotional journey that stays with readers long after the final page.

Wrap them together for a powerful reading duo or gift them separately to introduce someone to the Margins of Genesis series. Add a warm blanket, a cozy candle, and you have the perfect holiday bundle.

Give stories that spark conversation and shine a light on resilience. Give Barren and Rejected this Christmas.

Ways to buy Barren and Rejected:

Barren

Amazon: https://a.co/d/aqSSwQm

Barnes and noble.com: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/barren-elizabeth-simon

Rejected

Amazon: https://a.co/d/fLQgRh1

Barnesandnoble.com: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rejected-elizabeth-simon

Give the gift of reading this holiday season!