Author Description

Book 1: Through terrorist Judas of Gamala's friendship with the Simon of Kerioth's family, he becomes Judas Iscariot's namesake. Babe Judas has an unusual birth story and an even more unusual circumcision ceremony. A village synagogue is rebuilt, a sale in Hebron's marketplace takes place. These are examples of "ordinary" living in the 30s CE. Ordinary-that appreciation for a peaceful life-does not last long. Stories, factual and undocumented, follow in quick order: soldier abuse, killings, rapes, burning of city sections, entire villages, and yes, even people. Crucifixions happen most days as examples of Roman injustice. Terrorist acts occur most days as examples of the people's hatred toward Rome.Judas Iscariot's childhood tells of how Judas's younger days are exciting, challenging, filled with friendships, and learning from intelligent teachers who serve his mind with possibilities. He is loved by his parents and older sister, Maai. He is respected by his teachers, and Judas is found to be a genius at numbers. Judas spends a year being a young shepherd and attends the Zealot Freedom Fighter's training camp. Judas attends a wedding where wealth is on display while his sister attends a wedding where not even the couple's poverty saves them from disaster. Judas, Maai, and older brother Haman begin to live lives very diverse from one another. Haman trains to become a sicarii assassin. Maai is a respected healer by the time she graduates and has Jareb, a servant who assists in her work, an oasis for her clinic, and a new love. But he is "forbidden fruit" and, as such, will change the course of their lives forever.Judas works as an accountant for merchants, caravans, shops owners, the guilds, and is the Freedom Fighters tracker of weapons, supplies, and coins. Chapters include the Matron Fulvia Scandal, a Disgusting 'Incident" in the Temple Complex, the Yom Kippur Temple service with sacrificing the scapegoats, and a Roman attack on Maai's healing clinic. After a tragi