Local author pens second book in series

A local author is looking to build off the success from her first book with the second book set to be released later this month.

Liisa Eyerly’s first book, “Obedient Unto Death,” in the Secrets of Ephesus series, won first place in the Eric Hoffer Book Award for Spiritual Fiction and first place for a first-time novel. Her second book “Fortunes of Death” will be released by Crossriver Media on Oct. 15.

With her new book, Eyerly said she wants readers to step back in time to 96 AD Ephesus, where danger lurks around every corner. “Fortunes of Death’ plunges readers into a world where faith is tested, alliances are shattered, and one woman’s courage could be the difference between life and death, according to the crossrivermedia.com.

As the pages are turned, Sabina, a fierce young Christian widow, is thrust into a deadly game when a wealthy citizen is murdered. With her friend’s life hanging in the balance, Sabina must unravel a web of lies, deceit, and hidden motives. Every clue she uncovers brings her closer to the truth—and closer to becoming the next victim.

With this book, Eyerly wanted to bring to life what persecution was like for early Christians.

“How did they react to society’s ridicule of their faith in a single God? How did the church grow when practicing their faith was banned?” she asked.

Those issues persist, Eyerly said, and a murder mystery is a “great way to explore human struggles from the past with emotions that are relatable today.”

By making her series a murder mystery, Eyerly wants to peel back hidden layers in her characters that makes the reader ask questions and has a surprise ending.

“Modern readers expect layers in their novels, and if I’ve done my job, the reader should have also learned and gained some insight into human emotions, frailties and faults,” she said.

Writing the series was a leap of faith for the retired librarian. At one point she almost stopped writing while putting together her first book, but she decided she was already past the point of no return.

Eyerly and her husband raised her children in Ashland . Throughout her life, she has lived in many different locations including Colorado, Montana, Iowa and currently lives in Cornucopia.

Her desire to write this series stems from her love of reading and learning about people from other countries and time periods, especially the New Testament era.

“I have purchased over 100 books about ancient Rome culture, politics and architecture. I have read early Christian texts, like the Didache and, of course, the continual Bible. I traveled for research to Italy, Greece and Ephesus, Turkey, which is the setting of my book,” Eyerly said.