Many readers know the story of the woman at the well,butA DEEPER WELL by Jill Eileen Smith invites us to truly see her. This week’s Jen’s Jewels selection offers a richly researched, deeply compassionate reimagining that brings Scripture, history, and heart together in a powerful way.
LIGHTNING ROUND
What’s your ideal writing fuel: coffee, tea, wine, or chaos?
I drink water all day. It sits in a thermos on my desk as I write.
Plotter, pantser, or “organized mess”?
I’m a mix of both plotter and pantser. I have to have an outline and cast my characters, including pictures of them, before I begin writing. I get to know the story and the characters as I write.
What time of day does your creativity peak?
Writing happens mostly during the day. I can’t pinpoint when the words are creative or just trying to get something on the page. Creativity doesn’t have a peak time for me.
THE DEEP DIVE
Every book has an origin story. What was the “lightning strike” moment that made you say, “I have to write this”? There was no “lightning strike” moment for this book. I rarely have one of those. I look at Scripture to find which man or woman I’d like to get to know better. Then, if Revell agrees to contract the story, I start studying to figure out their story.
Your protagonist: Did they arrive fully formed, or did you have to excavate them layer by layer? What surprised you most about who they became? With this book, I outlined the six men she was with, along with Nessa’s birth family, to figure out how she came to have five husbands and one that was not. There are a lot of assumptions about the woman at the well, and after some research into her culture, I chose to see her differently than most do. I get to know every character as I write, so I suppose I discover who they are layer by layer. I wasn’t really surprised at who she became because the Bible already told me the outcome of her story. But I hope I have given people a new way of seeing her.
Setting can be a character unto itself. How did your location shape the story’s mood, and what personal connection (if any) do you have to that place? The setting is Samaria, so I did research on the Samaritans of Jesus’ day. Samaritans still live in the general area today, which I also read about, though there is little written about them. Mt. Gerizim used to house a temple where the Samaritans worshiped. Knowing that detail made Nessa’s question to Jesus about where to worship understandable. I have no personal connection to the place.
What theme or question haunted you while writing this book? Did you find an answer, or are you still sitting with the mystery of it? There was no big question that haunted me, but I did need to answer why she had so many husbands. Her father would have arranged her marriage or marriages. If she had been promiscuous, would she have been desirable for marriage over and over again? Did her husbands all die, making her a kind of black widow? Or was there a different reason that she was sent from man to man? I answered it to my satisfaction, but whether my readers will agree remains to be seen.
THE PERSONAL TOUCH
Share a behind-the-scenes detail that readers would never guess about this book – maybe a weird research rabbit hole, a strange inspiration, or a scene that came from real life. I usually search for little details that I realize I can’t assume, like the cost of something. Nessa sold her weaving, so I had to look up what it might have cost to purchase her wares. I also often double check myself and found that Shechem (in the Bible) was no longer there in Jesus’ day. So, I had to find a city for Lavi to move to that wasn’t too far from Sychar. I didn’t want him walking for days or weeks to check on Nessa. Sebaste seemed to fit that need.
February is the month of love and connection. What’s your relationship with your writing practice – is it a passionate romance, a comfortable partnership, or something that requires constant wooing? February is also my birth month, so having a book release during that month feels like a birthday present. As for my relationship with my writing…it used to be a stress reliever, back when it was a hobby. Now it’s a profession. Whether I feel like writing or not, I have deadlines. I don’t think I would classify my relationship to writing as any of the above. More like work that God gave me to do, and I pray that I can do it well for His glory. It’s a craft that I continue to hone.
If you could have dinner with one of your characters (or boot one out of the book entirely), who would it be and why? I think of all the characters, I would like to boot one of Nessa’s sisters-in-law, Batel. Her jealousy makes her actions despicable. Today we would call it gaslighting or narcissism. Not a fun woman to be around!
LOOKING AHEAD
Without spoiling anything, can you give us a tiny peek at what you’re working on next? Even just the vibe or the question you’re exploring? The next book, which I am turning in at the beginning of February, is about the Syrophoenician woman with the demon-possessed daughter. She’s been fascinating to explore. I have to say that I’m inspired by her faith.
What’s the best way for readers to stay in touch and follow your literary adventures? (Website, social media, newsletter, carrier pigeon…) My website. I’m active on Facebook, Instagram, and visit X now and then. My newsletter is a great place to hear the latest news first. I haven’t met any carrier pigeons.
BONUS: The Author’s Playlist
Optional but fun: Share 3-5 songs that capture the mood of your book or that you listened to while writing. I’ll include them in the post!
I listen to a large playlist of Christian music while I’m editing. Not so much while I’m initially writing the first draft. There is one song by Olivia Lane called Woman at the Well, which I like. We can all feel as lost as Nessa did, and until we meet Jesus, we will be.
Closing Note: Thank you so much for sharing your insights and creativity! I can’t wait for readers to discover your new release. Happy writing!
A DEEPER WELL by Jill Eileen Smith
Ancient Historical Biblical Fiction Retelling of the Woman at the Well for Fans of The Chosen
In ancient Israel, soon after Nessa is of marriageable age, her father gives her to a wealthy widowed friend, capitalizing on her beauty to bring in the highest bride-price he can find. Nessa is devastated, as she had begged to marry Lavi, who returned her love and saw more in her beyond her appearance. But Nessa’s betrothal leads to Lavi’s departure, compounding her grief, and she can never forget her forbidden first love.
Nessa tries to accept her fate, but after only a year of marriage, tragedy hits her new family. She is sent back to her father, who quickly finds a wealthy young man who wants to marry the most beautiful woman in Sychar. Misfortune follows Nessa as she is passed from one marriage to another—until she meets an unusual Jewish rabbi at the town’s well one afternoon, and her life is forever changed.
Jill Eileen Smith weaves a historically and biblically rich narrative as she reimagines the story of the woman at the well, bringing a fresh perspective and breathing new life into an unforgettable encounter that will inspire and encourage as much today as it did in the first century.
Christian Historical | Christian Biblical Fiction [ Baker Publishing Group, On Sale: February 17, 2026, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780800744809 / eISBN: 9781493452798 ]
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About Jill Eileen Smith
JILL EILEEN SMITH IS THE BESTSELLING AND AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF MANY BIBLICAL NOVELS, INCLUDING HER FIRST SERIES THE WIVES OF KING DAVID.
Her newest book, Dawn of Grace, Mary Magdalene’s Story, released in February 2025.
After twenty years of closed doors, she has published 24 books, fiction and nonfiction. She loves Jesus and His Word and all things related to learning more about the women whom God has immortalized there.
While she loves writing and researching, she is willingly interrupted by her west-coast children and adorable grandchildren. Traveling to Israel was a highlight of her life, but traveling west is her new favorite place to visit. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading stories that take her away, playing too many games and puzzles on her phone (call it down time), or snuggling her lovable, mischievous cats Kody and Kaelee.
Her favorite verse is Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Jill has been married to the love of her life for 48 years and counting and lives in a quiet neighborhood in southeast Michigan.
Daughters of the Promised Land
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About Jennifer Vido
Jennifer Vido writes sweet romances set in the Lowcountry, earning acclaim as the award-winning author of the Gull Island series. When not writing fiction, she interviews authors for her weekly Jen’s Jewels column, leads water exercise classes, and directs a legal nonprofit. Currently residing in Maryland, she and her husband are proud parents to two grown sons and a rescue dog named Fripp.
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