THEY, a biblical tale of secret genders

Mt. Airy resident and local lay minister and creative writing teacher Janet Mason recently published a novel titled THEY, a biblical tale of secret genders (Adelaide Press: New York/Lisbon).

Mason, who teaches creative writing classes through the Mt. Airy Learning Tree and Temple University Center City, was nominated for a Pushcart Prize for a section of the novel. She is giving her launch reading at the Big Blue Marble bookstore (on 551 Carpenter Lane, Philadelphia 19119 -- in West Mt. Airy) at 7 pm on the upcoming Thursday evening, July 26^{th .}

"Whoever heard of a divine conception?" Tamar rolled her eyes. She looked skeptically at her twin. Tabitha wrinkled her brow and looked thoughtful. Outside, the wind blew. The black goat skin walls shook. In the middle of the tent, the pole quivered. Stacked in a pile, clay pots rattled. One of the Patriarchs might have said that the gust of wind was a sign from God. But Tamar knew better. It was spring. The winds were on them. Anyone who even thought of venturing forth knew that sandstorms would drive needles into their eyes. She didn't fear God, but she did fear the wrath of the villagers.”

( -- from the opening of THEY, a biblical tale of secret genders (Adelaide Books – New York/Lisbon – 2018)

THEY is a groundbreaking work that will prove to be lifesaving for those in the LGBTQ community and enlightening and liberating to others.

In this novel we met Tamar from the Hebrew Bible. Tamar lives as a hermit in the desert, is content with her life and is happily barren. She is attached to her pet camel. Her aversion to goat sacrifices becomes so strong that it prompts her to become a vegetarian. Tamar has a twin sister Tabitha who becomes pregnant after seducing a young muscular shepherd. Tamar plots with Tabitha to trick Judah (a patriarch from the Bible) into believing that the baby is his so that she can have status in society rather than being burnt at the stake. Tabitha gives birth to twins. Tamar becomes attached to the children (born intersex), who call her auntie, and follows their line of intersex twins.

Mason is also an award-winning creative writer, teacher, radio commentator, and blogger for The Huffington Post. She records commentary for This Way Out, the internationally-aired LGBTQ radio syndicate based in Los Angeles. Her book, Tea Leaves, a memoir of mothers and daughters, published by Bella Books in 2012, was chosen by the American Library Association for its 2013 Over the Rainbow List. Tea Leaves also received a Goldie Award. She is the author of three poetry books. Mason is a lay minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of The Restoration located on Stenton Avenue in East Mt. Airy.

From the back cover of THEY, a biblical tale of secret genders:

Janet Mason has a storyteller’s gift, weaving rich imagery with provocative twists to create a world where gender is as complex and fluid as the emotional bond between twins. With its Biblical, Pagan, fantastical and modernist roots, THEY is not easily categorized – and even harder to put down.

Susan Gore, PhD, Editor, Coming Out in Faith: Voices of LGBTQ Unitarian Universalists

You can read more on Janet's blog at https://tealeavesamemoir.wordpress.com/