The Word of the Wives is my first book. It’s a collection of twenty-six monologues that tell the stories of the great men of the Bible, from the point of view of the women who had to put up with them. It’s an amusing, moving, arresting, irreverent, charming and alarmingly frank collection for reading, performing, giving, pondering or whatever.
So far it has sold about 3000 copies and we’re into a second edition. Sadly this doesn’t mean I’m making any money out of it yet! But then that’s not why I wrote it. It’s not some kind of feminist drive either. In fact I just love Bible stories and wanted to find a new way to tell them. And this seems to be working.
Jeff Lucas says: “With words that sparkle and rare insight, this terrific book will nudge audiences to laugh, cry and, most of all, understand. More than a mere resource, it’s a gift. Don’t miss it.” What a nice man.
You can buy it from Christian bookshops (please support them), or buy it from Amazon (there are a couple of nice reviews there, feel free to add another one). Alternatively you can come and see me performing a show and buy it from me in person.
I perform eight of the pieces as a one-woman show and the audiences seem to be enjoying it and discovering a new way to connect with some of the people in the Bible. The diary page on this website can tell you all the dates coming up. Or why not book a performance in your own home town? Contact me via the contact page.
Thanks to those of you who have been asking about a CD or DVD – they are both in the pipeline, but taking a while to emerge! You’ll hear it here when they’re available.
If you want an excerpt, you can read or download Mrs Jonah here: Mrs Jonah
In addition, my friends at Youthwork the Conference 2010 cheekily sneaked a camera into my show and taped Mrs Potiphar. So here she is:
4 comments
Emily Adams says:
Thursday, 4 August 2011 at 4:52 pm (UTC 1)
Abby,
It’s Emily Hoon former Lacey lady! Stumbled across your stuff through Spring Harvest and it is flipping amazing, love it! Good on you girlie. When pennies come in, I shall be buying your book!
Emily
abbyguinness says:
Saturday, 6 August 2011 at 12:46 pm (UTC 1)
Thanks Emily, lovely to hear from you. Hope you’re well.
Jerry Marshall says:
Saturday, 6 August 2011 at 7:18 pm (UTC 1)
Saw your performance at New Wine Newark – brilliant. I laughed and at times fought back tears. Somehow you managed to make your shepherdess look so utterly different from say Mrs Pot. The accents were a masterstoke. I hope there will be a video resource for purchase one day?
BTW I assume you are related to Michelle? I knew her a little decades ago in Tile Hill.
abbyguinness says:
Sunday, 7 August 2011 at 10:16 pm (UTC 1)
Hi Jerry, yes indeed Michele is my Mum. And Tile Hill is indeed decades ago seeing as we left there when I was 10!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the show, thanks for your encouragement. I am hoping there will be a DVD in the not too distant future. It is in progress, but quite slow progress. I’ll certainly be publicising it once available.
Best, Abby.