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My passion is turning words into stories and creating paintings that beckon you to step inside the frame to walk with me through colors.
NEW IN 2025: THE TEMPLE AT SUNSET
BOOK III: THE CYRENIAN TRILOGY
Decades after Simon of Cyrene carried the cross of Jesus to Golgotha, the new Christian faith has spread across the empire—and Simon fears for his sons. They follow a preacher named Paul, now under house arrest in Rome, and Simon is desperate to bring them home to Alexandria before it’s too late.
When Paul is condemned in Nero’s court, Rome’s Christians face a chilling test: Caesar or Christ? Their answer means life or death. After Paul’s execution, Simon’s son Rufus rushes to warn the Apostle Peter, but Peter refuses to flee, instead confronting the magician Simon Magus in the forum—where the self-proclaimed prophet vows he will fly over Rome.
Then the fires begin.
As flames consume two-thirds of the city, Simon and Rufus stay behind to tend the wounded—only to be swept up in Nero’s wave of retribution. Christians are accused of arson. The first great persecution begins.
And Simon, a father who once bore a cross, now finds himself carrying a heavier burden than he ever imagined.
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THE BRONZE DOOR
BOOK II: THE CYRENIAN TRILOGY
THE BRONZE DOOR opens to a turbulent time in history when great courage is needed to defy a tyrant.
Unwavering in his mission to save lives, Simon fights for justice for his fellow Jews but faces a new challenge when his wife Aurelia and their sons embrace Christianity. Despair and fear grip Simon as Caligula, now emperor, seeks revenge for Simon’s past opposition. Caligula appoints Aurelia’s brother, Valerius, as governor of Syria, orders him to lead his legions to Jerusalem to erect Caligula’s statue in the temple and proclaim Caligula supreme god. Valerius faces and agonizing choice. To obey Caligula means the slaughter of thousands of Jews who are ready to give their lives to save the sanctity of the temple. To disobey means death for Valerius and his family. As he struggles for peace and sanity, Valerius gains strength from his deep love for Rachel, Simon’s sister.
In this story of courage, faith, and love, witness the unfolding drama against the backdrop of a world torn between cruelty and humanity.
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THE LIGHTHOUSE
BOOK I: THE CYRENIAN TRILOGY
Simon is a Jewish physician whose passion is saving lives but he is no match for the cunning villain who terrorizes Jews across the Roman Empire. Boldly, he seeks justice for his family and his people and tries to stop the first pogrom in Alexandria. At stake, for him, is the survival of his people.
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About Me
I was born in Virginia and grew up in Switzerland where I became fascinated with languages. Switzerland has four official languages, and I was surrounded by many more at a very young age.
My father sang Norwegian songs to me about Nissens and Trolls and told me stories about his native Norway. He was president of an international theological seminary in Switzerland, and the students came from thirty different countries. Sometimes I would understand what they said, but didn’t actually know what language it was! I learned the Swiss dialect from my school friends, and all my courses were taught in German.
The study of classical languages led me to a life-long fascination with the ancient world and its history. On a student trip to Rome organized by the seminary, I fell in love with a young theology student from France. And that’s when I began to major in all things French. When we married four years later, we joked that Roma backward spells amor. It had to be destiny!
For several years we lived in France. First in Strasbourg close to the cathedral in a place built in 1532 (it was the newest on the block) and later in Paris. When I moved across the ocean again with my growing family, I completed advanced degrees from the University of North Carolina and began a career teaching French and German and interdisciplinary humanities at Centre College. I also developed international programs for our students in London and Strasbourg.
Writing projects are always on my desk, and near my easel stand Mason jars holding brushes ready for more paint.
Photography by Bonnie Johnson and Phil Ciholas
Karin Ciholas 