Rather than historical fiction, Yeshua, My Beloved should more accurately be called "novelized history." An ambitious and truly unique book, it reads as a captivating novel yet offers a nonfiction account of Jesus based on the research of hundreds of Bible scholars. Mary of Magdala narrates the two-year mission of Jesus as a gripping and colorful tale. From the moment he dramatically expels her demons, she becomes his closest female companion and an eyewitness to his story. She chronicles the gathering of the Twelve and the early ministry in the hills of Judea, where Jesus baptized Jews in the manner of his cousin John. When Herod arrests and imprisons John, she moves north with Jesus to Capernaum on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. There, only two miles from Gaulanitis-a region ruled by Herod's more tolerant brother, Philip-he heals and teaches, ready to escape across the border to safety if necessary. When at last he feels the call, he leads his followers to Jerusalem to confront the religious and political authorities. Mary is there for it all, through the day-to-day wonders he performs with those who suffer, to his interaction with relatives and disciples and critics, to his agony on the cross. Yet this is not another simple telling of the familiar story. This new "gospel" incorporates the insights of the Jesus Seminar, a panel of 150 experts that spent decades scrutinizing the New Testament verse by verse. The spine of the book is built on the words and deeds of Jesus that the group determined to be authentic, with depth and color added from the research of dozens of other experts. Sources for the facts that underlie the story are provided at the end of each chapter. Yeshua, My Beloved includes information and insights most casual readers of the Bible never realize: Both Jesus and John very likely spent time among the mysterious Essenes. At first, Jesus appears to have believed that John was the expected messiah. Three brothers of Jesus (James, Juda, and Simon-see Mark 6:3) were probably members of the Twelve. (James led the "movement" for decades after his brother's crucifixion.) Two sisters of Jesus are also named in ancient sources. The Garden of Gethsemane was more likely an orchard adjacent to a cave. The Crucifixion may not have taken place in the year 30 or 33, as is commonly accepted, but on March 27 of the year 36. Ancient sources allege that the father of Jesus was a Roman soldier named Pantera. Mark's Gospel-the earliest written-originally ended with the two Marys running away from the empty tomb in fear. Hundreds of years would pass before verses about the Resurrection were added. While we may never know the full truth about Jesus, Yeshua, My Beloved offers the most plausible-and arguably the most accurate-portrait available, presented as engrossing historical fiction. To the extent that dedicated scholarship can uncover the truth, this new "gospel" is the history behind the legend we all know.
About the Author: After service in Vietnam in 1968-69, and two decades in the business world as co-owner of an advertising agency, Gary Tillery turned his time and energy to writing. Based on his Vietnam experiences, he published a collection of interrelated short stories titled Darkling Plain (one story took First Prize in a contest judged by Ray Bradbury), and he is the author of a series of humorous novels featuring a soft-boiled detective known as "Monterey Jack." Quest Books published his spiritual biographies of John Lennon, George Harrison, and Elvis Presley. The first was named Official Book of the 2010 John Lennon Tribute in New York City, and translated into German, French, and Portuguese. The latter was a featured book of the Patheos Book Club. He is also the author of three books of poetry, most notably The Ghosts of Wrigley Field. Tillery is also a professional sculptor. His most prominent work is the sculpture for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Chicago, his piece "They Also Serve" is in the permanent collection of the National Veteran's Art Museum, and he created the bronze bust of Steve Allen for the Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood. He is associated with the Rotblatt Amrany Studio, for which he has executed a number of public sculptures on view across the country.