An Interview with Marty Machowski, Author of The Shadow and the Promise

 

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An Interview with Marty Machowski, Author of The Shadow and the Promise Have you ever imagined what it would have been like to witness the events of the Bible firsthand? Have you wondered what it would have been like for the animals as they roamed the Garden of Eden or gathered to board the ark? In his latest release, The Shadow and the Promise, best-selling children’s author Marty Machowski invites middle-grade readers to take a front-row seat along with the fictional animals who watched the most memorable stories in Scripture as they took place.    The Shadow and the Promise is the first of four books in the Redemption Tales series for readers ages 8–12, offering a creative presentation of the gospel message. This first installment follows the adventures of the animals as the events of Genesis and Exodus unfold before them. Young readers will not only join the badgers in the Garden of Eden but also meet an array of animals in the ark, a family of groundhogs at Babel, a donkey belonging to Abraham, sheep from Joseph’s herd, the cats in the palace in Egypt, a dog present at the Passover, and an ever-present dove named Daniel.   Q: Where did the inspiration for your new series, The Redemption Tales, come from?   I am always looking for creative ways to promote the gospel to children. The idea for the Redemption Tales came to me one morning as I was brainstorming, asking myself the question, What retelling of the gospel hasn’t been done before? I remembered the passage in Romans chapter eight where Paul tells us that the creation was subjected to decay, and all creation is groaning with the hope that it will be freed from its bondage to decay.    That led me to ask the question, “If the animals could talk, what would they say?” I started writing an account of the creation and fall from the perspective of the first two created badgers. From there, I developed a scope and sequence for twenty-eight stories, fourteen in each of the Old and New Testaments. These form the backbone of the Redemption Tales books, written for a middle-grade audience.   Q: How is the book and series unique in their approach to presenting the gospel?   Kids love talking animals, so I thought the Redemption Tales would provide a vehicle through which to preach the gospel in a creative way. By including Bible study questions that I call “The Truth Behind the Tales” for each story, I ensure the truth of God’s Word stands above the fictional characters of the tales. Kids know animals can’t talk (all that is except the Serpent and Balaam’s donkey), so they are not likely to confuse the tales with the truth of Scripture.   Q: What stories from the Bible are retold in The Shadow and the Promise?    The first book in the Redemption Tales series covers the creation and fall, Noah and the ark, the Tower of Babel, the sacrifice of Isaac, the betrayal of Joseph by his brothers, Joseph revealing himself to his brothers in Egypt, and the first Passover. Q: What are some of the animals that readers will meet along the way? What unique insights do they have to the events going on around them?   There are over forty different talking animals in the seven stories of The Shadow and the Promise. They offer wisdom and insights to the events going on around them. For example, Scrappy, the dog, chastises his two oxen friends for complaining. He tells them, “Complaining blinds you to the blessings around you.”   The animal stories in the Redemption Tales each have a special event unfolding around them. Some are humorous and some serious, but they all work to provide a creative retelling of the Biblical accounts that children are sure to love.   Q: Why is Serpent portrayed as a dragon rather than a snake in the Garden of Eden?   The book of Revelation calls the ancient serpent a “Dragon.” Dragons have wings and it seems logical to assume the serpent moved with wings or legs (or both) before God cursed him to crawl on his belly all his days. The Serpent becomes a snake after he is cursed. The curse God brought upon the serpent wouldn’t really make much sense if the serpent had to crawl on his belly before the curse.   Q: Who does Daniel, the dove who is present throughout the entire story, represent? Why does he fill all the animals in on what’s going on in the present as well as prophesy to them about the future?   The most interesting animal is Daniel the dove—the only character that finds his way into every story. Daniel represents the Holy Spirit. He is the one who connects what is happening in the present story to Jesus. He makes the redemptive, historical connection in each of the seven tales.   Q: How do the questions at the end of the book encourage children to dig deeper into the Bible for themselves?   I wanted to include studies from the Bible for the reader to provide an opportunity to read the actual biblical account. After hearing how Daniel the dove connects the story to Christ, the children will have a new appreciation for the story from the Bible. The questions help steer their study so that they come away with a full understanding of each story.   Q: Can you give us a tease of what to expect as the series continues?   Book two, The Prophecy and the Hope, picks up with the rest of the Exodus story and goes through the rest of the Old Testament. Then, there will be two more books for a total of four, continuing through the rest of the Bible. In the New Testament, you will read about a secret tunnel in Jerusalem that still actually exists! You will also learn about animals you probably never heard of but do live in the Judean/Israeli countryside.   Q: How about closing with a couple of fun questions? If you could witness any event from the Bible, what would it be? If all animals were still tame like they were back in the Garden of Eden when Adam named them, what animal would you like to have as a pet?   I think if I had to pick one event that I would have enjoyed seeing firsthand, it would be the creation. How amazing is it that God spoke—and it was so? Imagine being there for when God made the stars in an instant!    If I could have any animal as a pet (assuming it was tame), I would enjoy having a jerboa. Jerboas can see in the dark, jump more than nine feet in the air, and run fifteen miles an hour. That is not your average mouse.  The Shadow and the Promise The Redemption Tales Book 1 by Marty Machowski Illustrated by Blair Files February 12, 2024 ISBN: 978-1-64507-407-6 Retail Price: $16.99 Juvenile Fiction/Religious/Christian/Action & Adventure

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About the Author and Illustrator

Marty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff for thirty years. Machowski leads Promise Kingdom, the gospel-centered children’s ministry of Covenant Fellowship. He is also the Executive Editor for Children’s Resources at New Growth Press.   He is the author of a number of family devotionals, Sunday School curriculums (including the Gospel Story Curriculum), children’s books, and parenting titles. His latest releases include The Treasure, Angels on Your Side, and The Shadow and the Promise.   Machowski and his wife, Lois, have six children and several grandchildren. They reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Learn more at www.martymachowski.com. He can also be found on Instagram (@martymachowski) and Twitter (@MartyMachowski).