FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feminism in the First Century
Outskirts Press Releases Highly Anticipated New Historical Fiction Book, Daphne and Thekla, by Jonna-Lynn Mandelbaum
December 5, 2015 – Denver, CO and Santa Fe, NM – Outskirts Press has just released a new historical fiction book by author Jonna-Lynn Mandelbaum. Daphne and Thekla is an imaginative and well-researched portrait of friendship, of faith, and of women transcending the boundaries of their time and culture.
Some claim Thekla, a Christian figure from biblical times, was only a legend. But legends are often based on facts, and New Mexico author Jonna-Lynn Mandelbaum wanted to shine a light on this mysterious and controversial woman.
Daphne and Thekla takes the reader back to first-century Roman society, an arena that is particularly oppressive for women. And Thekla has even more obstacles to overcome than most. Her own mother, Theokleia, wants her dead, and will stop at nothing to destroy her. She sees the perfect opportunity when Thekla becomes a follower of the Apostle Paul and conspires with Thekla’s fiancé to have Paul arrested. When Thekla bribes the prison guards in order to speak to Paul, her evil mother uses her influence over the judge to have Thekla condemned to death.
Bravely, Thekla climbs her funeral pyre…but Fate has something greater in store for her. A sudden storm quells the flames, and saves her life. The crowd disperses in terror, and Thekla—persecuted, abandoned, naked in the town square—takes control of her destiny. She covers herself with a tarp and seeks refuge with her father’s friend Daphne, a wise and loving woman who has been like a mother to Thekla, although as a courtesan, she herself lives on the fringe of society. With Daphne’s support and guidance, Thekla embarks on the journey of a remarkable life, determined to find and follow the Apostle Paul, who eventually recognizes her as his equal and asserts that she, too, is an apostle.
“Many books written today about women of Bible times perpetuate traditional views dictated by religious authorities or laws of that time period. This book calls those ideas into question,” Mandelbaum explains. “It also presents a role of women that has rarely been explored—the hetaerae— women in Greece who were highly educated, multilingual, professional courtesans. They were sought after by civic leaders for their advice and as escorts to public functions.”
Mandelbaum’s book celebrates Thekla’s perseverance against unimaginable odds as she develops her own independent role beyond that of other Roman women constrained by societal codes. And it also celebrates the powerful role of female friendship in Thekla’s life.
Thekla left a proposed arranged marriage and was sentenced to death by fire for her audacity. She also fought off an attempted rape by a wealthy civic leader and was sentenced to be torn apart by wild animals. At these pivotal points in her young life, she is aided by unique women. Daphne, her father’s courtesan, shelters her when she escapes the fire, and Queen Tryphaina opens her home to Thekla and provides for all of her needs. With unexpected powerful allies, and the strength of her own determination, Thekla carves a path for herself that no Roman woman has ever walked before.
At 312 pages, Daphne and Thekla is available online through Outskirts Press at www.outskirtspress.com/bookstore. The book is sold through Amazon and Barnes and Noble for a maximum trade discount in quantities of 10 or more, and is being aggressively promoted to appropriate markets with a focus on the historical fiction category.
ISBN: 978-1-4787-6476-2 Format: 6 x 9 paperback cream Retail: $14.95 eBook: $5.00
Genre: FICTION / Historical
For more information, visit the author’s website at http://outskirtspress.com/bookstore/daphneandthekla or www.jonna-lynn.com.
About the Author: Jonna-Lynn Mandelbaum earned a doctorate in education from Georgia State University and a master’s degree in public health from The Johns Hopkins University. She graduated from Philadelphia’s Methodist Hospital School of Nursing and received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Lebanon Valley College prior to her appointment as a missionary nurse to Mozambique. International Health was the dominant focus of her professional career. Now retired, she resides in northern New Mexico with her dachshunds. Visit www.jonna-lynn.com for titles of her previous books.
About Outskirts Press, Inc.: Outskirts Press offers full-service, custom self-publishing and book marketing services for authors seeking a cost-effective, fast, and flexible way to publish and distribute their books worldwide while retaining all their rights and full creative control. Available for authors globally at www.outskirtspress.com and located on the outskirts of Denver, Colorado, Outskirts Press, Inc. represents the future of book publishing, today.
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