About The Author
Mary's House
Nightingale Mountain
D. D. Shiell is the pen name for Diane and Dell Shiell, a wife-and-husband writing team who share a deep love for biblical history, ancient cultures, and the unfolding story of God’s people through time. Together, they authored Nightingale Mountain Trilogy, a Christian historical fiction series rooted in the first-century world of the early Church.
Their storytelling reflects decades of pastoral ministry, theological study, and a shared commitment to Scripture and spiritual formation.
Both are graduates of the University of Minnesota. Dell holds both a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He served congregations in Minnesota, Iowa, Norway (ministry exchange), and Florida. Diane has partnered alongside him in ministry for over forty years, leading studies, mentoring women, and walking with others in faith.
Their love for the global Church and diverse cultures has shaped both their lives and their writing. One formative chapter came during a year in Larvik, Norway, with their three children. Now grown, those children have families of their own—including Diane and Dell’s grandchildren who are older than their children were during that unforgettable year abroad.
In 2015, a visit to Ephesus sparked the idea for the trilogy, bringing together their love of history, Scripture, and storytelling. Their novels invite readers into a richly imagined world of early Christianity—faithful to the biblical record and alive with human struggle, hope, and grace.
Their greatest hope is that these stories will serve as a legacy for their family and an invitation to all readers—young and old—to open the Bible with fresh eyes and a deep desire to know the heart of God.
They live in the United States and enjoy time with their family, good coffee, and honest conversations about faith and life. To connect or learn more, visit ddshiell.com.
Our Readers' Reviews
See what our readers are saying about the Nightingale Mountain Trilogy! These novels have given many a richer, more personal connection to the life of the Apostle Paul. Explore their reflections—and discover how the story can deepen your own understanding, too.
Wow - what a fantastic read! D.D. Shiell does such a great job of bringing the people of the Bible to life in The Vigil. This first book in the Nightingale Mountain Trilogy blends real historical figures with fictional characters in a way that feels seamless and engaging.
What I loved most is how the story weaves together actual events with imagined ones, giving us a fresh sense of what life might have been like for the families and friends of Jesus. The characters feel real, the setting is vivid, and the mix of fact and fiction makes it easy to picture yourself right there in the middle of it all.
Shiell has a gift for storytelling. Instead of just retelling familiar stories, The Vigil lets you experience them in a whole new way. It's the kind of book that leaves you excited for the rest of the trilogy.
The Vigil is a beautifully written historical novel that brought the people of the Bible to life for me in a way that reminded me of watching The Chosen. Instead of feeling like distant, untouchable figures, Mary, John, Saul and others became real, relatable people with emotions, struggles and faith journeys.
I especially appreciated how the store wove together biblical history with imaginative storytelling. It helped me picture what life might have been like for the early followers of Jesus, and it made their perseverance and faith much more personal. Reading it gave me a deeper sense of connection with their humanity, their sacrifices, and their trust in God.
If you enjoyed The Chosen for how it humanized the Gospels, you'll find The Vigil does the same in the book form...drawing you closer to the biblical world and its people in a powerful, moving way.
I have heard that the Apostle Paul is important and wrote a bunch ofthe New Testament. However, he always seemed like a superhero that it was impossible to relate to. This book made Paul a real person for me. I look forward to the rest of this trilogy.
Christian historical fiction that brings the early Church to life—and draws readers back to Scripture.
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