A Certain Mercy by Linda Dindzans
I’m excited to have my writing friend, Linda Dindzans, back on my blog to tell us all about her newest novel – A Certain Mercy, book 2 in the A Certain Future series. Linda is a Scrivenings Press author, and just a joy to spend time with!
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Jen – Hi Linda, I’m so glad to have you on my blog. Tell us about your newest book!
Linda – A Certain Mercy, the second book in the A Certain Future series, was released on December 9, 2025. At its heart, it is a story about the call to offer mercy—and its hardest surrenders.
Both point-of-view characters struggle with forgiveness, though from very different directions. Zera, publicly forgiven by Yeshua of Nazareth, discovers that accepting mercy from God is far easier than extending it to herself. Theo, brutally beaten by bandits and left for dead, survives—but with no memory of his attackers or even his former life. Lame and embittered, he refuses to forgive the men who shattered his body and stole his future.
Where Linda Dindzans gets her ideas from
Jen – I love that you’re showcasing God’s mercy in your book. Your main characters sound very interesting. How do you come up with your ideas?
Linda – I have long been fascinated by the study of God’s Word, especially by the people Scripture mentions only briefly—often unnamed, sometimes their story is preserved in a mere handful of verses.
I find myself wondering: Who were they beyond those few lines? How did they arrive at that pivotal moment? Why does that moment matter enough to be recorded? What were their lives like before they met Yeshua, and what did they do after they encountered Him?
Those unanswered questions are where my stories begin. ~ Linda Dindzans
Linda’s writing process
Jen – Those are great questions to ask. I love that! One thing I always ask other writers is, do you outline before writing?
Linda – My debut novel was written largely by “pantsing,” It was very long and required major cuts that took nearly as long as the writing itself.
With A Certain Mercy, I sketched out the major turning points ahead of time—but the ending remained elusive until just a week before the manuscript needed to go to line edits. My editor patiently waited as I prayed and wrestled with the ending, trusting me to turn in the final forty pages when I knew they were right for both the story and the reader.
About A Certain Mercy
“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
Those stones are meant for Zara—the woman dragged through the dusty streets of first-century Jerusalem by the religious leaders— a woman condemned to die for adultery.
Trapped in a loveless marriage to Joram, a ruthless gambler, Zara finds herself drawn to the one man she can never have—Auriga Maximus, the famed charioteer enslaved by her husband. What begins as stolen glances ignites into forbidden passion—and when their secret is exposed, Zara faces death by stoning.
But in her darkest moment, standing before an angry mob in the Temple courts, a Galilean teacher named Yeshua offers her something she never expected: mercy.
Spared from execution but shattered by shame, Zara must navigate a treacherous world of political intrigue, religious persecution, and her own haunting past.
From the opulent danger of Herod’s court to the quiet refuge of Bethany, from the shadow of the Cross to the glory of the Resurrection, A Certain Mercy weaves a powerful story of forbidden love, devastating betrayal, and the transforming grace of Christ.
Perfect for fans of Biblical Fiction like the works of Francine Rivers, Tessa Afshar, and Angela Hunt, A Certain Mercy invites you to walk the ancient streets, feel the dust rise beneath your feet, and witness a mercy as alive today as it was 2,000 years ago.
What about a rough draft?
Linda – I write in sections and revise as I go. I greatly admire authors who can write a very rough draft from beginning to end and then layer in what’s missing later—but until recently, I didn’t have the confidence to work that way.
With book three, A Certain Refuge, I’m building more of a structural skeleton, though I will never be a detailed outliner. Interestingly, the ending of this book came to me first, so I already have a very rough draft of the final scene. I’m trusting the rest of the story will catch up.
Pantser vs. plotter?
Jen – I’m a pantser too. I’ve tried to plot, but mostly I write, then work backwards to make sure I hit the points that need to be hit. For you, what’s the hardest part about writing a book?
Linda – For the first book, the hardest part was finishing—and knowing when to stop editing and call it done.
Jen – I totally understand that part. How about for the 2nd book?
Linda – For the second, the challenge expanded. I had to learn how to balance the many ancillary tasks that come with publication—marketing, social media, speaking engagements, building a website—while still maintaining friendships, family life, and a world that exists beyond writing. It’s a steep and humbling learning curve.
Jen – I agree, it’s a lot of work. But it also fascinates me. Thank goodness we have God to rely on and ask for wisdom from. What themes do you like to explore in your books?
Themes in Linda Dindzans’s books
Linda – I believe there is nothing new under the sun. My biblical characters wrestle with the same questions we do today.
In A Certain Man, Mara and Samuel grapple with certainty: How can I be certain God loves me and will never forsake me? How can I be certain Yeshua of Nazareth is who He claims to be—the promised Messiah, the Son of God?
In A Certain Mercy, the struggle centers on forgiveness. Theo must learn to forgive the men who crippled him. Zera must learn to forgive herself.
In book three, A Certain Refuge, Petra faces suspicion and rejection because of her family’s sins and carries the heavy weight of inherited guilt. Barabbas—released in exchange for Yeshua—escapes crucifixion but battles survivor’s guilt.
Jen – Were there pivotal moments or challenges in your writing career that helped define your path?
Linda – I retired from the practice of medicine, laid down my scalpel, and picked up my pen—committed to learning the craft of fiction and pursuing traditional publication.
What I didn’t know was that my journey to publication would take twelve years. That season humbled me and taught me patience and perseverance.
What Linda has learned about critiques
Jen – I never knew that. Very interesting!. How do you deal with criticism or rejection?
Linda – No one enjoys criticism or rejection, but critiques are neither—they’re coaching.
My surgical training prepared me well for this. As a resident, you are constantly supervised, corrected, and instructed. That background helped me view constructive critique as an investment, not an insult.
Interestingly, when I offer critiques myself, I’m most engaged when the work is strong. So when someone takes the time to comment on my writing, I see it as evidence that I’ve captured their interest—and that’s a gift.
Linda’s best writing advice
Jen – What’s the best writing advice you’ve received?
Linda – “Finish the book!”
That advice was essential for my first novel. For later books, it translates into: Get the story down first—then revise. I’m still learning that lesson.
Jen – So true! If you could have dinner with any author, alive or dead, who would it be?
Linda – Rather than looking backward, I’d love to meet future writers—especially if there is someone I may have inspired—to hear their ideas, their hopes, and how they plan to reach the next generation through story.
What’s next for Linda?
Jen – I love that perspective! What are you working on next?
Linda – I may return to the original story that was calling to me when I retired—a large, unruly project set in ancient Babylon. It grew beyond my skill level at the time, and I knew I had to set it aside. Now, it may finally be ready for resurrection.
Jen – What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Linda – Several times a week, you’ll find me on the pickleball courts. I have no aspirations for trophies and am perfectly content supplying the comic relief.
My husband, also a physician, and I have been blessed with three adult children, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren. Wisconsin is home, but we enjoy travel, photography, birdwatching, and singing with choirs around the world.
Jen – thank you so much, Linda Dindzans, for visiting my blog today and sharing more about your books and your writing!
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Hi, I’m Jen! I’ve been married for over 39 years, have 5 amazing kids, and have 3 adorable grandkids. I homeschooled our three youngest children and used to blog about homeschooling. I also taught Oral Communication as an adjunct instructor for over 5 years.
Jen Dodrill Writes is born of a passion of mine – to write a novel! My cozy mystery series – The Empty Nesters Cozy Mysteries – is now complete! My romantic suspense novella, SeaBreeze Obsession in Trinity Sands Beach Club, released June 17, 2025! And finally, my first women’s fiction, Finding Ginny, releases April 7, 2026!
When I’m not working, you’ll find me writing, spending time with my family, or curled up on the couch reading and drinking a mug of dark roast coffee. (Don’t forget to check out my mug shop – JDMugs!)
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