About the Book

Book: FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE

Author: EJ Ashmore

Genre: Biblical Fiction/young adult

Release Date: October 15, 2025

Sixteen-year-old Eliza has accepted life as a Hebrew slave in Egypt, never to be seen, heard, or loved. After all, she has it good, working alongside her sister for the wealthy Ameneten family. Though unworthy of love, she is free to love others, and she loves her master’s oldest son, Seti (unbeknownst to him).

Only when Moses returns to the land of Egypt to free his people is she emboldened to pray to the ancient God her mother used to speak of, and she prays for the love of Seti, but only if he first rejects his gods and falls for the Hebrew God.

As the God of gods hardens Pharaoh’s heart, He softens Seti’s and pursues him with a love Seti has never known, while also shining His face on Eliza who learns she is indeed worthy of love.

This is the Exodus as told from both Eliza and Seti as a love story between God and His people, God and Seti, and Seti and Eliza.

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About the Author

EJ Ashmore, a mother, wife, and a nurse, only wrote for fun as a teenager. Once babies and college got in the way, she stopped, but she also no longer wanted to write unless it was for God. When her son was 15 and trying to grapple with why God would harden Pharaoh’s heart, then punish him, she took to writing again. Best to show him rather than explain it. But then Joel Richardson’s SINAI TO ZION came out, and she fell in love with how the whole exodus and wilderness scenario was God’s love story- from pursuit, winning the love of the people, to betrothal, complete with a wedding supper which has yet to happen. It’s a literal play-by-play of the ancient Jewish wedding customs, but so is Christianity. Not only that, but human marriage was designed to reflect God’s desired relationship with His people.

This became EJ’s passion: to demonstrate this in a story for young people, as is to reach the average teenager who feels unworthy of God’s (or anybody’s) love.

FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE comes from Exodus 9:16 and is EJ’s debut novel.

More from EJ

When Lisa Phillip’s son was 15 and trying to grapple with why God would harden Pharaoh’s heart, then punish him for it, she took to writing. Best to show him rather than explain it. But then Joel Richardson’s SINAI TO ZION came out, and she fell in love with how the whole exodus and wilderness scenario was God’s love story—from pursuit, winning the love of the people, to betrothal, complete with a wedding supper which has yet to happen. It’s a literal play-by-play of the ancient Jewish wedding customs, but so is Christianity. Not only that, but human marriage was designed to reflect God’s desired relationship with His people.

This became Lisa’s passion: to demonstrate this in a story for young people, as is to reach the average teenager who feels unworthy of God’s (or anybody’s) love.

FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE comes from Exodus 9:16 and is Lisa’s debut novel. Since there is already a well-known author by the name of Lisa Phillips, a pen name was chosen.

Interview with the Author

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?

One surprising thing I learned is that Joshua means “God saves”, that only Moses and God called him Joshua, and that there is no record of him having a wife or children.

Do you read the genre you write? Why or why not?

I don’t usually read fiction. I want to learn as much as possible in my short life, so I read mostly nonfiction and commentaries. I love to research. The rare times I do read fiction, it’s Ted Dekker and Connilyn Cossette (I’ve read others long ago, but these are the two I still read as an adult). Connilyn Cosette has a writing style I strive for. It’s so perfect, and I love how she writes about ordinary people, not already well-known people.

How did you come up with the title for your book?

How did I come up with the title…I’ve read Francine Rivers’ A VOICE IN THE WIND and really liked how she got that out of the Bible. So the title FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE comes from Exodus 9:16, and it pretty much explains the whole book.

What’s your favorite writing snack, drink, and/or music?

When writing, I listen to soundtracks like Brave Heart, The Last of the Mohicans, Batman, and Titanic. Such music takes me to different worlds.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?

Most valuable advice came from somebody on Reddit responding to how I can get my wordcount down (I was way over): join Scribophile. There I learned about telling, passive writing, being clear and concise, overuse of “ing” words, close third person, head hopping, and pretty much everything else you can learn about writing.