Frequently Asked Questions.
01. What inspired Dr. Mark F. Hobson to write Christian historical fiction?
Dr. Mark F. Hobson’s deep love for Scripture and his experience as a Christian minister served as the primary inspiration for his Christian historical fiction. His background in theology and his desire to weave faith into narratives that resonate with contemporary life issues fueled his creative journey.
02. How does Dr. Hobson’s background in education contribute to his writing?
Dr. Hobson’s educational background and extensive experience in business and theology lend a unique depth to his writing. His insights into human nature, education, and faith enable him to create characters and narratives that resonate on multiple levels, inviting readers to reflect and grow.
03. What can readers expect from Dr. Hobson’s novels regarding themes and messages?
Readers may expect from Dr. Hobson’s novels a strong base of material found in Christian Scriptures, legends, and traditions. He also relies on scientific research in his writing. Dr. Hobson blends Scriptural truth and scientific facts into realistic yet fictional characters and settings. The three novels in The Mantle series, for example, are based on the Gospel of Saint John (The Mantle), The Book of Revelation (Number 12), and the Gospel of Saint Luke (Twins).
04. What are the backgrounds of readers for Dr. Hobson’s novels?
Dr. Hobson is an ordained person and writes for a contemporary mainstream adult Christian audience. His works contain material about real-world issues that contemporary Christians are familiar with today like drug addiction, homeless populations, climate change, and world peace. The goal of his novels is to entertain readers with a fast-paced, faith-based story of mission and interest to contemporary Christians, or anyone who wants to read about Christian Scriptures, legends, and traditions lived out in a modern setting.
05. What can readers expect from reading Dr. Hobson’s books of homilies?
Dr. Hobson is an ordained person with a master’s degree in theology. He has 20 years of ministry experience in churches. Dr. Hobson’s homilies are based on his teaching experience of Scripture, and the themes of the weekend liturgies, or feast days, and on the meaning of the Scriptures chosen for these liturgies. The goals of Dr. Hobson’s homilies are to teach and inform modern believers in mainstream Christians churches, or anyone who wants to learn more about Scripture and how to apply these teachings to modern life.
06. What are the backgrounds of readers for Dr. Hobson’s books of homilies?
As an ordained person with a master’s in theology, the backgrounds of readers of Dr. Hobson’s series of homily books are modern believers in mainstream Christian churches such as, but not limited to, Catholic, Anglican, Episcopalian, Methodist, etc. Every homily ends with a summary of what the Scripture lessons mean for the reader today. Ordained ministers who deliver homilies in these churches may find the material and research of interest in their own preparation of teachings.
07. Is the Mantle a real Christian artifact?
Yes, the Mantle is real Christian artifact called “The Sudarium of Oviedo” that covered the head of Jesus in the tomb. Research shows this cloth has the same blood type, AB, found on the famous Shroud of Turin. Blood type AB is unique and contains both A and B antigens on the surface of red blood cells, making it one of the rarest blood types. Blood type AB also allows a Person to give blood to all humans with no negative effects. Dr. Hobson believes if anyone would have a rare blood type, who would give His blood to humanity, it would be Jesus Christ.
08. Where does the Legend of the Mantle come from?
A legend from the 12th century attributed to Saint Bonaventure (1221-1274), held the Mantle, or the cloth that covered the head of Jesus in the tomb, belonged to the Blessed Mother Mary of Jesus. She took the veil from her head and used it to wrap the naked torso of Jesus as He hung on the cross. The legend states the veil of Mary was then used to cover the head of Jesus in death. As the Mantle held the DNA of Jesus, the legend states that wearers of the Mantle will perform miracles for the good of humanity, as Jesus did for others.
Polyptych with Scenes from the Life of Christ, the Life of the Virgin, and Saints, (ca.1345-1350). The Morgan Library & Museum. Active 14th Century. https://www.themorgan.org/objects/item/158704
09. Why write a trilogy of books about The Mantle?
A Christian legend exists around the Mantle that six people would wear the Mantle before the crusades and six people wear the Mantle after the crusades to perform missions of good works in the world with Jesus until the end times. Dr. Hobson found much rich content around the Mantle that would not fit neatly into one book. The original The Mantle book contains historical fiction content and mission work up to Mantle bearer number 11, Dr. John Mark Hopkins. Number 12 contains historical fiction content and mission work for his son, Dr. John Luke Hopkins. And the final book, Twins, contains historical fiction content and mission work with Jesus for the twin children of John Luke, Jane and Joshua.
10. Why are there three homily books of years A, B, and C?
Mainstream Christian churches have three lectionary cycle of readings for weekend readings and feasts, based on the Gospels of Saint Matthew for Year A, Saint Mark for Year B, and Saint Luke for Year C. Saint John’s Gospel is used for feast and specific church seasons like Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter. The three books cover each lectionary cycle of the four readings of the liturgy, including two readings from the Hebrew Scriptures or Old Testament, and two readings from the Christian Scriptures, or New Testament, with teachings for modern mainstream Christians on Scripture, or anyone interested in learning more about Scripture.
