Dancing the Labyrinth

Dancing the Labyrinth is a hero's journey. It is a dual time novel that weaves a contemporary story of a young woman from a violent background with the history of Europe's most advanced civilization of the Bronze Age - the Minoans. CRESSIDA is a young woman running from her brutal past.Decision-making was never a strong suit, but after the unexpected deaths of her parents, Cressida follows the sirens call, gambling on the chance that Crete, renowned for vivid sunlight, magnificent landscapes and turquoise seas, could erase the stranglehold of bleakness. Her newfound freedom is short lived. Falling pregnant, her overwhelming fear is that she will pass on her father's violent DNA.Sheltering in a cave during a violent storm, Cressida unearths a trove of ancient Minoan paintings. Awakening from a panic attack, she finds is not alone. LYDIA, a Minoan artisan, reveals stories contained in the paintings and Cressida learns of PYTHIA, a Minoan Priestess, who established a women's community to safeguard their ancient worship from an encroaching religion ordained by men. Shaken from her stupor by one of Crete's many earth tremors, Cressida escapes from the cave, stumbling back into her world where ANGELA, a local archaeologist, finds her distraught and in shock. When Cressida decides to accept that her vision in the cave was not a psychotic episode, she shares her discovery with Angela, and shows her the photographs of the paintings. Together they try to decipher the images and piece together Pythia's story. As Cressida peels away layers of time, she discovers courage, honesty, and friendship. She is compelled to confront her own truth within the story she has woven. The stories of old are the stories of today, and through the telling, Cressida awakens to a deeper understanding of herself. Dancing the Labyrinth is a young woman's odyssey. It is a celebration of women's history, strength, friendship, and hope.