SIKESTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston native and author of biblical-era fiction revisited his roots last week when he returned home for a booksigning to promote his best-selling novel.

Thom Lemmons, a Sikeston High School graduate, spent Friday evening at Barnes & Noble in Cape Girardeau signing his new Christian Booksellers Association best seller, "Jabez: A Novel." Lemmons' novel jumped to No. 3 on the April CBA list, compared to the No. 9 ranking on the March list.

"With the way Christian publishing has exploded in the last few years, it's really tough to get on those lists," Lemmons said. "And when I saw it at No. 3, well ... it feels really good."

"Jabez: A Novel" tells the story of the man behind the celebrated prayer. Previously, the prayer was the subject of "The Prayer of Jabez" by Bruce Wilkinson, also a best seller.

Last summer when the editors of WaterBrook Press called and asked Lemmons to consider writing a novella about Jabez, he knew they were trying to ride the wave created by Wilkinson's book.

"And why not?" Lemmons said. "I just wanted to write a good book."

Lemmons graduated from Abilene Christian University in Texas, where he serves as director of the university's press.