Carol Witherington was born and raised in the sunshine of South Africa in the days before apartheid tensions led to 20 years of terrorist insurgency and guerrilla war fare. When those 'happy, carefree days' ended forever in the 1960s, white families had to protect themselves with guns and barbed wire. Carol and her family eventually moved to Spain and then settled in the UK, but they had not been there long before they were struck by tragedy; Renaldo, her beloved 'gentle giant' of a husband, was diagnosed with cancer. After his death in the spring of 2011 she made her boldest move yet - to a new life in New York State, USA. Where the road leads is her story.

In Ephesian Miracle things begin on an ominous note. Two Christian priests are murdered in Istanbul shortly before Art and his fiancee Marissa are to be married in the Chora Church in that cosmopolitan city. On top of that, it appears the bones of Mary the mother of Jesus have been found in Ephesus Art and Marissa's honeymoon plans go awry when suddenly Marissa is missing and a ransom note is found by Art under the door of his hotel room in Kushadasi. It will take a miracle, an Ephesian miracle, to save her life. Fascinating archaeological discoveries, a romantic mid-life wedding and honeymoon, kidnapping and the martyring of Christians dot the landscape of this sixth thriller in the Art West series. "Ben Witherington has made learning about archaeological sites, gospel traditions, and the international politics of archaeological discoveries an adventure. Because of Ben's expertise and experience, the narrative is well informed on details. I found the story hard to put down; this is the first book in the series that I have read, but it has made me want to read the entire series." --Craig Keener, Asbury Theological Seminary "Ephesian Miracle and the other Art West novels are entertaining stories that deliver genuine biblical information along with an exciting storyline. The story is loaded with factual descriptions of several Turkish archaeological sites along with accurate information on several New Testament issues while spinning a tale of Islamic assassins and archaeological discoveries." --Mark R. Fairchild, Huntington University "Ding dong It's wedding bells for the bachelor and bachelorette--the intrepid archaeologists, Art and Marissa. The two don new digs to tie the knot. But dark forces conspire to disrupt their nuptials and honeymoon among Turkey's famous sites. Along the way, discoveries of a manuscript and a box of bones add to the intrigue. Altogether, the Witheringtons have given us another great archaeological romp around the biblical world of the eastern Mediterranean." --Mark Wilson, Asia Minor Research Center "Once again Ben and Ann Witherington stir an intriguing mixture of biblical archaeology and contemporary Middle Eastern politics. Vividly created fictional characters rub shoulders with individuals from the real world in a story of love, danger, faith, and even miracle." --Richard Bauckham, University of St. Andrews Ben Witherington III is Amos Professor of NT for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University, and the author of over thirty-five books, including New York Times Best Seller The Brother of Jesus. Ann Witherington is Instructor of Biology and Environmental Sciences at Asbury University. Ben and Ann have been married for over thirty years.

Synopsis: Art West has done it again. This time, he finds himself in hot water in Corinth, while excavating at a Roman villa with his fiancee, Marissa Okur, as they chart a sometimes bumpy course towards marriage. Art runs into a modern-day prophetess, survives an earthquake, and has to overcome annoying Greek authorities who stand in his way of making more discoveries of relevance to the study of the New Testament. Meanwhile his friend Kahlil el Said and his daughter who live in Jerusalem make a terrible discovery about her former husband the terrorist, with potentially dangerous and devastating consequences. The worlds of archaeology and the Bible converge once more with both heat and light shed on the origins of Christianity in this fourth installment in the series of seven Art West adventures. Endorsements: "High adventure, solid history, beautiful photographs, religious sensitivity, and bad puns: what's not to like?" -A. J. Levine Vanderbilt Divinity School "The Art West adventures are fun, entertaining, and instructive of the world of the New Testament placed in the context of a contemporary story. The fourth in the series, Corinthian Leather, is no exception. Read, enjoy, learn. It is a great way to get a sense of what first-century life was like." -Darrell L. Bock Dallas Theological Seminary "New Testament scholars who have the ability to craft engaging novels are rarer than chicken molars. Yet renowned scholar Ben Witherington and his wife Ann have successfully married historical scholarship with gripping narrative in Corinthian Leather. The book combines superb character development and stimulating adventure with photo-rich historical and archaeological insights into the ancient cities of Paul's day. It's both a fascinating and educational read." -Frank Viola author of From Eternity to Here, Revise Us Again, and Jesus Manifesto "Ben and Ann Witherington sure know how to spin a story If you take pleasure in being educated and entertained simultaneously, then make time to read Corinthian Leather (and the three previous volumes in the Art West adventure series). I am already looking forward to reading and learning from the rest of these page-turning, biblical archaeological thrillers." -Todd D. Still George W. Truett Theological Seminary "What do you have when you encounter an archaeological mystery, a Greek prophetess, the Greek Communist Party, a professional basketball prospect, and a romance? You're kidding. You really don't know? Another Arthur West adventure, of course. Our intrepid adventurer is at it again, this time exploring the archaeological remains of ancient Corinth, a city rebuilt by Julius Caesar and evangelized by the apostle Paul. Readers will enjoy this imaginative archaeological adventure-Art West's fourth-that sheds light on the Corinth of Paul's visit in AD 51 and the key locals with whom he became acquainted. History and archaeology have never been more fun. Corinthian Leather is another delightful book from Ben and Ann Witherington." -Craig A. Evans Acadia Divinity College Author Biography: Ben Witherington III is Amos Professor of NT for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University, and the author of over thirty-five books, including New York Times Best Seller The Brother of Jesus. Ann Witherington is Professor of Biology and Environmental Sciences at Asbury College. Ben and Ann have been married for over thirty years and have two adult children, Christy and David.

Endorsements: "Art West is in hot water in more ways than one in his latest adventure. After bathing in the famous thermal springs at Pamukkale, Turkey, the intrepid Bible scholar and archaeologist is invited to join an excavation at nearby Hierapolis. A papyrus related to Papias, the noted second-century bishop, has been discovered. However, demons unleashed by a cursed papyrus found in a menorah by Art's friend, the antiquities dealer named Khalil, are poised to attack. A visit to the Plutonium proves to be a real gas for Art, who must now discover the diabolical forces seeking to kill him. Papias and the Mysterious Menorah is a worthy sequel in the Art West series." -Mark Wilson Asia Minor Research Center Izmir, Turkey "Each of Ben and Ann Witherington's archaeological thrillers is more enthralling than the last. They deftly interweave the puzzles of the past with the complexities of the Middle East today." -Richard Bauckham Emeritus Professor of New Testament St. Andrews University, Scotland "Ever the pedagogues, Ben and Ann faithfully serve as highly informed, engaging, and deeply sensitive stewards of their narrative. Papias truly offers something for everyone." -Brad Johnson Instructor in Biblical Languages Asbury Theological Seminary Author Biography: Ben Witherington III is Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University, and the author of over thirty-five books, including New York Times Best Seller The Brother of Jesus. Ann Witherington is Professor of Biology and Environmental Sciences at Asbury College. Ben and Ann have been married for over thirty years and have two adult children, Christy and David.

Synopsis: In this second novel of the series, Art West seeks out the meaning of the mysterious symbolic number 666 while exploring sites in Egypt and Turkey. He discovers an inscription in southern Egypt at the Philae Temple in Aswan, which reads, "He is many men and no man, towering like the sphinx, dead and alive, but who knows what he thinks? Back from the Styx; 666." Who is this sphinx-like man? Could he be relevant to the twenty-first century? These questions lead Art to investigate possible connections between the Coptic Gospels and Coptic Orthodox beliefs. In the middle of such investigations Art is involved in a harrowing prisoner exchange in Israel at the hands of Hamas, and he discovers the origins of Christians wearing crosses. He also tangles with the notorious terrorist El Tigre. Set in the context of Middle East tensions between Muslims, Christians, and Jews, this fast-paced thriller explores the meaning of eschatological or "end times" language for the earliest Christians, who, while trying to spread the kingdom of God, faced the rising tide of the kingdom of Caesar and his emperor cult. Along the way West learns some apocalyptic secrets destined to change his life forever. Endorsements: "Stolen treasures, murderous adversaries, intellectual detectives uncovering truths of the deepest value amid middle eastern loves, hatreds, and rivalries--these are just a few of the things that make this Witherington thriller gripping, fast-paced, and philosophically stimulating. 'Roman Numerals' is high stakes intrigue based in the best real world scholarship. It will grab you at the outset, and hold you hostage until the very end " --Thomas V. Morris Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus Notre Dame University "In his second adventure, the intrepid archaeologist Art West discovers an inscription mentioning the apocalyptic number 666 at Philae on the Nile. The search for the solution of this cryptic cipher moves through Egypt, Israel, Turkey, and America. Noted biblical scholar Ben Witherington and his wife Ann weave an engrossing story combining Coptic history, illegal antiquities, terrorism, professional basketball, and romance. The result is a great read for those who enjoy the world of ancient history and archaeology." --Mark Wilson Asia Minor Research Center Izmir, Turkey Author Biographical Information: Ben Witherington III is Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University, and the author of over thirty-five books, including 'New York Times' Best Seller 'The Brother of Jesus'. Ann Witherington is Professor of Biology and Environmental Sciences at Asbury College. Ben and Ann have been married for over thirty years and have two adult children, Christy and David.

Archaeologist Art West makes the discovery of a lifetime in Jerusalem finding the tombstone of Lazarus, which indicates that Jesus raised him from the dead. But before he can make public his amazing discovery, the stone is stolen, sold to the British Library, and West is implicated in an antiquities fraud that will lead to a trial. West's Jewish and Muslim friends in Jerusalem rally to support West's innocence and to help find the thief who stole the stone, but then West is shot and in critical condition in a Jerusalem hospital. Can the truth be discovered in time, and West's life be saved? And what was on that Aramaic scroll that was found in Lazarus's coffin? In this fast-paced thriller, Ben Witherington, himself a NT scholar with a degree in English literature, together with his wife, Ann, introduces us to the life of an archaeologist and NT scholar and his trials and tribulations when a big find comes to light. Set in the always volatile city of Jerusalem, the Witheringtons reveal the fascinating hidden dimensions of multi-religious life in that Holy Place, and show how even today Christians, Jews, and Muslims can work together so the truth may come to light, and all may experience "the Lazarus Effect"-new life from the dead. There's no thriller quite like an archaeological thriller, and when we find ourselves in a biblical mystery, the suspense and the drama are especially delicious. Set against the intense, exotic, and vivid backdrop of modern Israel, yet delving into the deepest mysteries of the time of Christ, The Lazarus Effect won't fail to entertain and inform. Highly recommended. -Anne Rice, NY Times best-selling author of The Vampire Chronicles and Christ the Lord. "Ben Witherington, the accomplished and acclaimed biblical scholar, offers a fast-paced, entertaining archaeological thriller with occasional winks to the biblical studies guild, the popularization of biblical studies in magazines and television shows, and recent controversies over ancient artifacts. Even better, The Lazarus Effect neatly portrays both the necessity of interfaith friendship and the dangers of defensive fundamentalism." -Amy-Jill Levine, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of New Testament Studies, Vanderbilt Divinity School, Graduate Department of Religion and College of Arts and Science The Lazarus Effect has it all-the discovery of an explosive archaeological find that stands to revolutionize our understanding of early Christianity, religious passions in the Holy Land, human longing and bravery and treachery. What sets it apart from other thrillers of its type is the deep biblical and archaeological knowledge the Witheringtons bring to their tale. -Steven Feldman, Web Editor, Biblical Archaeology Review "The Lazarus Effect is a rare, gripping, fast-paced, ntelligent thriller that can keep you entertained, and actually change your worldview. It's a wild ride through a tumultuous part of the world whereyou'll discover surprises that can make you think more deeply about some of the most important things in your life. Once you start to read it, you won't be able to put it down " -Tom Morris, Author of The Art of Achievement and If Harry Potter Ran General Electric and The Logic of God Incarnate Ben Witherington III is Amos Professor of NT for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University, and the author of over thirty-five books, including New York Times Best Seller The Brother of Jesus. Ann Witherington is Professor of Biology and Environmental Sciences at Asbury College. Ben and Ann have been married for over thirty years and have two adult children, Christy and David.