Fiction author re-imagines Acts of the Apostles with Female Apostles

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An empowering story of inclusion and love gives voice to those silenced by the church.

HAMILTON, Ontario - s4story -- Finding Her Voice is a novel exploring the courage it takes to stand and speak when others demand your silence. This historical fiction addresses today's issues by showing women and LGBTQ+ leaders in the early church.

"I wondered why Acts never mentions the mother of the four prophesying daughters," said Kelly, a mother of three daughters. "I imagine Susannah, a patron and disciple, as an evangelist and mother. How can she balance motherhood with her ministry? Bearing only daughters meant she was barren. Even today, there is a higher value placed on bearing sons. Would she risk her life trying for a boy? Would she have a choice?"

Kelly portrays the apostle Junia as biracial, afraid that she and her son will never belong unless she proclaims that Jesus welcomes all believers to eat at the same table. Junia becomes a threat to those who preach segregation. She faces those who, like today, oppose her message of equality and silence her from teaching because she is a woman. How did Junia overcome the patriarchal attitudes of ancient Rome? Where would she go on her first mission trip? Does she find a second-chance romance? How did Junia earn the title, "outstanding among the apostles"?

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"I think my strength as a writer is the ability to ask questions, to dig deeper, to discover what historical events happened at the same time as the biblical events and pull them together into one cohesive story," said Kelly. "Like people today, my first-century characters face religious disputes and riots, are shamed into hiding who they are, struggle with doubts, learn from their mistakes, and work to bring the love of Jesus to the world.

"Kelly captures a world on the edge of change. Her vivid, lyrical prose immerses readers in the ancient Mediterranean while examining themes that still resonate—identity, faith, and the cost of being unheard… Kelly restores voice and agency to those relegated to the margins of scripture. The result is a stirring blend of theology and drama; feminist, LGBTQ+-affirming, and profoundly spiritual." – The Prairies Book Review

Elaine R. Kelly and her husband live near Hamilton, Ontario, and have three adult daughters. She and her husband worship at a mainline Protestant church and enjoy hiking, playing tennis, pickleball, and music.

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Finding Her Voice: From Broken to Bold, Book 3, Acts of Early Female Apostles: A Novel will be released on Amazon on October 28, 2025. The eBook is US$5.99; the paperback is US$14.99. Half price until October 28th. It can be read as a stand-alone or as the conclusion to the trilogy.

Media Kit: www.elainekelly.ca

Contact
Elaine Kelly
***@gmail.com


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