By Michele Chynoweth
I was hiking in the Grand Canyon with my husband in 2016 when I heard the ranger say, “We have about thirty deaths each year here from people doing dumb things on these cliffs …”
I was just lamenting to my husband, I wish I had brought my kids here when they were young.
My husband said jokingly, “Are you kidding? Will would have pushed Mike over the ledge … or vice versa!” (Will and Mike are my sons.)
And just like that, the idea of my novel, The Jealous Son, was born.
Healing From The Inside Out
My husband and I have a blended family, three sons and two daughters, who were our wedding party sixteen years ago. They’re all adults now, and over time, have unfortunately suffered from various addictions and mental illnesses.
I’ve suffered from these myself, but have found a way out. This spring, I celebrated twenty-two years in recovery by way of a 12-Step program. I’ve found beneficial healing through working my program, counseling, and my Christian faith.
Part of my healing was also from heeding God’s call to write my first novel, The Faithful One, based on the Book of Job. Like The Jealous Son, each of my “modern-day Bible stories” explores various issues people face today—including divorce, domestic violence, abuse and more.
Faith In Fiction
Being asked to teach and speak to a variety of Christian and secular audiences as a book coach and author has helped me further get God’s messages across.
I know firsthand that alcoholics usually have depression and anxiety and that addiction and mental illness are often intertwined. As a mom of kids with these illnesses, I also know the devastating effects they can have on families.
I explore these themes in my novel, a modern murder mystery based on the Bible story of Cain and Abel, told through the points of view of both the Eve character, Eliza, and the Cain character, Cameron.
Help Within Reach
Increasing numbers of young people suffer from addiction and mental illnesses, especially after COVID. And more and more parents are struggling to cope with their “prodigal” kids, trying to be examples of God’s unconditional love, yet also attempting to resist enabling tendencies that make matters worse.
It’s a tough road, and sometimes parents feel alone in these struggles. But I’ve found the worst thing we can do is isolate or compare ourselves to others.
Some practical steps I would recommend are:
- Join a church
- Attend a support group
- Join a recovery program like Al-Anon
Taking social steps like these allows us to share our burdens with those who understand so we don’t feel so alone, like Eliza and Cameron did. And of course, reading literature that helps us grow in our faith and minimize our fears … and prayer … also helps.
Coming Soon To A Theater Near You
I’m excited to share that my novel has been turned into a screenplay and is now being made into a major motion picture called Envious Son by Profound Studios.
The movie, like the book, will seek to “preach beyond the choir” by grabbing audiences who love a thriller … which I hope will evangelize the world even further!
Despair Can Be Deadly
The logline of the movie is: What happens when envy, fueled by addiction and mental illness, goes too far?
The tagline: Despair can be deadly.
The Synopsis: As a girl, Eliza, gets banished by her father from her Navajo reservation for committing a major sin. She and her husband have two sons, Cameron and Austin. The boys grow up to be in a rock band, and eventually Austin’s star outshines Cameron’s; he also captures his brother’s girl and wins the adoration of his parents. Cameron begins to suffer from addiction and mental illness, becomes jealous … and seeks to find justice once and for all. Meanwhile, Eliza’s insecurities and feelings of guilt as a wife and mother increase, leading her to become addicted to pain pills. Will her despair also be deadly?
Michele Chynoweth is the bestselling author of five contemporary suspense novels that reimagine Old Testament stories and now an Indie movie producer with Word Alive Films. Find out more about Michele, her books, and the movie by visiting MicheleChynoweth.com.
