Myths of a Merciful God - Hardcover

Myths of a Merciful God is, admittedly, a notable departure from the themes and tenor of my previous books. Thinning the Herd, Unlucky Stiffs, and Weirdly Beloved were all lighthearted, albeit irreverent, observations on the stranger aspects of human nature, and the often unfortunate randomness of dumb luck. Myths of a Merciful God is, first of all, a work of fiction, and secondly, a serious exploration of a rather difficult subject.

I've always had an irresistible fascination with the ways in which some people find a way of regaining their footing in the aftermath of a tragedy. The capacity for resilience in certain individuals and their immeasurable courage in the face of extreme adversity never fail to take my breath away. These were some of the themes I wanted to explore when I set out to write this novel.

To be sure, no one ever emerges from tragedy and loss to resume life as it was before. We are changed every day, in big ways and small, by the events that transpire from one minute to the next, from one hour to another. The decisions we make between the dawn and the twilight of any ordinary day are what define who we become -- and what we're really made of -- in the days and years that follow one extraordinary moment.

Cynthia Ceilán is the author of three international best-sellers of nonfiction humor: Thinning The Herd, Weirdly Beloved, and Unlucky Stiffs. She was a named contributor in Smith Magazine's Six-Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak. Her works of short fiction have appeared in a number of literary magazines, including Potpourri and The Sun.

Myths of a Merciful God is her first novel. She lives in New York City.