I am in the final edits of my new book, Mary of Magdala, Wisdom Bearer.
This is a spiritual/historical fiction. The starting premise is: what if the Bible is true, but not the complete story? For Mary of Magdala, the Bible is certainly not the complete story. So I felt free to fill in a few (okay, maybe more than a few) missing pieces. Here are some.
Over 2000 years ago, Rana, an astrologer and shaman, is charged with delivering a gift: an ancient book of wisdom. She only knows where the gift is to be given, and when it is to be given, but not to whom. At the last possible moment, she discovers the recipient, a newly born baby in a tiny backwater town known as Bethlehem.
The boy grows to manhood, and becomes a great teacher. He meets a young woman named Mary, from the town of Magdala. She had been trained by a wise woman known only as the Elder. The two become close colaborators. Just before his life is cut short by Roman brutality, he entrusts the wisdom book to his confident. Mary attempts to carry on his ministry, but is thwarted by the arrogance of those who see themselves as the teacher's true spiritual heirs. The most arrogant of the lot is their leader, Peter.
To escape the oppression of Peter and his cronies, Mary forms a partnership with a recent convert named Paul. Paul is the last person Mary ever wanted to have anything to do with, but she sees little choice. The partnership, though tenuous, is successful. Then Paul makes a fatal mistake. He writes a letter to a fledgling Roman church behind Mary's back. Mary immediately sees the danger in bringing Rome's attention to their movement. She predicts that Rome will first try to surpress their teachings, and, when that fails, will embrace them. But it won't be their teachings they will embrace, it will be Rome's twisted version of their teachings. Instead of Love being the core teaching, Rome will make Empire the core teaching. Mary and her inner circle see how this fixation on Empire will eventually bring Earth to the brink of destruction. They calculate the end date will occur 2000 years in the future, give or take.
Can Mary of Magdala and her council save Earth from a catestrophe that will not occur for another 2000 years?
Are you interested in receiving a review PDF of this book? I'd be happy to send one to you in return for your suggestions. But be aware that my Mary is not your typical Mary of Magdala. She is street smart and takes nothing from nobody. Street language is used where appropriate. Also, this book looks critically at some of the early church's sacred cows. All in all, this is not a book for people who feel comfortable with the traditional Christian party line.
Do you know a literary agent who might be interested in representing this book? Or perhaps a publisher that would be interested in publishing it? I would be delighted if you would introduce us.
The photograph is https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Mary_Magdalene_by_Donatello-Museo_dell%27Opera_del_Duomo-Florence.jpg&oldid=597390359
