How would the most cherished stories of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam be different if women were the active central figures?

This ground-breaking collection of short stories brings to life the women daring, brave, thoughtful, and wise who played important and exciting roles in the early days of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Join Esther as she stands against injustice and her king to save her people, Aisha as she leads hundreds of men into terrifying battle, and Mary as she and Elizabeth dream of the new lives growing inside them. How must Sarah have felt, turning Hagar out into the desert? And how must Hagar have felt, traveling from the safety and security of Abraham's land toward an uncertain future? These stories invite us to come to know and appreciate the struggles and triumphs of these women mothers, daughters, believers and seekers."

Eighteen intriguing stories that give voice to often-overlooked figures from the holy writings of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Women?though seldom educated?played key roles in the development of these three great faiths, but their lives and contributions are rarely honored. The men who recorded and copied the sacred Scriptures and other important texts included very little about how women passed on their experiences of God through storytelling, song, and ritual. With the help of imagination and careful research, Daughters of the Desert introduces readers to the lives and loves, personalities and dreams of women who are only hinted at in the Scriptures, but whose faith and strength were vital to the growth of their beliefs, including Sarah, Hagar, Huldah, Esther, Salome, Mary Magdalene, Lydia, Khadija, and Fatima. Taking as starting points passages from the Hebrew and Christian Bibles and the Qur?an, this diverse collection of short stories allows readers to hear the voices of our common female ancestors loud and clear. Ideal for anyone who has ever wondered what life was like for our spiritual foremothers, these stories bring life and breath to the past. What the Scriptures have often only outlined in passing is here fully imagined?from thrilling events that decided the fate of thousands to everyday moments of friendship and love. For complete bios of the authors, please visit our website, www.skylightpaths.com.

This book gathers the riveting stories of adventurous women -- miners, madams, merchants, and mothers -- who went North during the gold rush era.