Mary of Magdala The story of the Church as you should have known it

A devoted follower.

At the dawn of a new era, Mary of Magdala is swept up by the radical teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. But her choice to follow him comes at a great cost: her family's disapproval and rejection.

A woman with a voice.

Together with her companions Prisca and Lydia, Mary begins a journey to share the message of love, hope, and renewal in a world where women's voices are silenced. As they face hostile crowds and the ever-present threat of persecution, their determination is tested, their faith redefined.

A leader ready to rise.

As the early Christian community struggles to find its footing, Mary discovers the strength within herself to inspire and help shape a movement that will echo through history.

This is the story of the church through the eyes of the women who helped build it.

Joanna Courtney is a bestselling author of historical fiction, who discovered her passion for ancient history while studying medieval literature at Cambridge.

It was whilst researching Cordelia, a tribal leader in middle England c500 BC, that she realised Cleopatra, a famous 'ancient' queen, ruled far later than Cordelia, coming to her throne in 52 BC, and a new idea was born - to explore the stories of three vital women, living and ruling in the vibrant and heated world around the Eastern Mediterranean in the years either side of the birth of Christ. Salome is the second in this series, exploring the events of Jesus' life through the eyes of a woman trapped at the heart of the controversy, and Mary of Magdala takes that story on into the early years of the Christian church - under-reported years, with a far greater female influence than the current churches seem prepared to admit.

Find out more by visiting her website www.joannacourtney.com or find her on Facebook/joannacourtneyauthor or Twitter @joannacourtney1.