Six years ago, recently diagnosed with an incurable illness, increasingly ill, I asked myself if I only had time to write one book, what book would it be? That book is my radical ecological retelling of the Magdalene's story, The Madonna Secret, and today it went up for pre-order. My heart and my body are in this book. I can't wait to share my alternative vision of a wild Galilean magician and his spiritual equal Miriam. The book, published by Inner Traditions, is available for pre-order from all online booksellers and comes out August 22, 2023.
Here is the description below:
"When Leukas, a Christian convert, ventures into the wilds of Gaul to receive the hidden teachings from Mary Magdalene before she dies, he discovers that hidden within the Gospels he thinks he knows is an epic love story—between an educated Jewish woman overwhelmed by her mysterious spiritual powers and a sensual magician devoted to the wisdom of the earth. The secrets she will reveal are both more shocking and more tragic than anything readers have encountered before.
Beginning with Miriam’s childhood as a wealthy Jew outside Bethany, we see her struggles as a young woman with spiritual curiosity and intellectual aspirations that drive her to combat the violence of Empire and the sexism of her own culture. Propelled by mystic visions, Miriam is finally drawn into the wilds of Galilee, where her destiny collides with a mischievous rabbi who will change her and the world forever. Trapped in a mythic story unfolding in events around them, the lovers strive not to repeat a tragedy older than the pyramids.
In The Madonna Secret, Sophie Strand resurrects a richly textured world where complex characters reveal the lived reality of scripture and open familiar sayings to radical new meanings and possibilities"
If you would like to read The Madonna Secret preface or several excerpts, I’ve offered them to my paid subscribership!
First Excerpt of The Madonna Secret
At The River Madonna Secret Excerpt
You can sign up and access the full archive.
I was wondering, why is it called the Madonna secret? I thought the Madonna was an epithet for Mary, mother of Yeshua?
anyway, I never thought I would be excited for a book featuring Jesus to come out but here we are, and im transfixed on your excerpts you've posted so far.
So exiting...congratulations 🦋