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The Shattered Cross
What would this world look like if Christ had never been crucified?
Michael and Elizabeth Stewart discovered long ago that they could time travel through an old church’s basement on Long Island. What they didn’t realize was that their actions in First Century Jerusalem could upend life for the world as we know it.
Their encounter with Roman thug, Pontius Pilate, turns life upside down for billions of future generations. Michael endures family loss and survives in a brutal and violent world with the help of a new friend, Adriel. The mystery of this forsaken world is discovered while Michael and Adriel fight off old wicked ways from a past war. Michael realizes he must return and confront Pilate and the Romans to save the world from long-suffering oppression.
Michael and Elizabeth Stewart discovered long ago that they could time travel through an old church’s basement on Long Island. What they didn’t realize was that their actions in First Century Jerusalem could upend life for the world as we know it.
Their encounter with Roman thug, Pontius Pilate, turns life upside down for billions of future generations. Michael endures family loss and survives in a brutal and violent world with the help of a new friend, Adriel. The mystery of this forsaken world is discovered while Michael and Adriel fight off old wicked ways from a past war. Michael realizes he must return and confront Pilate and the Romans to save the world from long-suffering oppression.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 22, 2022
66 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Michael John Sullivan
42 books138 followersMichael John Sullivan Michael John Sullivan graduated with a communications degree and a promising future in the field of journalism after working for the official school paper the previous two years. Six months later, he found himself washing his hair in a toilet at the same university as he prepared for a job interview.
Sullivan was homeless at the age of 23 after first watching his mother -- his protector in a dysfunctional family -- die from cancer. A year later his father asked him to leave. Riding a New York City subway train at night, his only companion was a green plastic bag of belongings. During these bleak days he began writing his most reflective and emotional childhood and adult memories now featured in two of his novels.
On a bitterly cold New Year's Eve that year, Sullivan intentionally hid under a pew in the back of a church to stay warm for the night. After the doors were locked, he lay near a makeshift manger, writing and talking to the baby Jesus. It was a cathartic experience, one that would continue to resonate with him years later.
He was rescued off the train by an aunt and uncle.
After spending much of the past two decades raising their daughters while working at home, Sullivan returned to his notes in 2007 and began writing Necessary Heartbreak: A Novel of Faith and Forgiveness. It was published by Simon & Schuster's Gallery Books imprint in April 2010. The Library Journal named Necessary Heartbreak as one of the year's best in Christian fiction for 2010. He recently finished the sequel, Everybody's Daughter, featuring more memories from his young adult life, including the day he walked to Forest Park as he contemplated taking his own life. Only the strains of a song prevented him from doing the unthinkable.
Sullivan lives with his family in New York. He is a board member for the Long Island Coalition of the Homeless.
Published works
Necessary Heartbreak: A Novel of Faith and Forgiveness.
Sullivan was homeless at the age of 23 after first watching his mother -- his protector in a dysfunctional family -- die from cancer. A year later his father asked him to leave. Riding a New York City subway train at night, his only companion was a green plastic bag of belongings. During these bleak days he began writing his most reflective and emotional childhood and adult memories now featured in two of his novels.
On a bitterly cold New Year's Eve that year, Sullivan intentionally hid under a pew in the back of a church to stay warm for the night. After the doors were locked, he lay near a makeshift manger, writing and talking to the baby Jesus. It was a cathartic experience, one that would continue to resonate with him years later.
He was rescued off the train by an aunt and uncle.
After spending much of the past two decades raising their daughters while working at home, Sullivan returned to his notes in 2007 and began writing Necessary Heartbreak: A Novel of Faith and Forgiveness. It was published by Simon & Schuster's Gallery Books imprint in April 2010. The Library Journal named Necessary Heartbreak as one of the year's best in Christian fiction for 2010. He recently finished the sequel, Everybody's Daughter, featuring more memories from his young adult life, including the day he walked to Forest Park as he contemplated taking his own life. Only the strains of a song prevented him from doing the unthinkable.
Sullivan lives with his family in New York. He is a board member for the Long Island Coalition of the Homeless.
Published works
Necessary Heartbreak: A Novel of Faith and Forgiveness.
Trivia
So You Think You're a New Yorker (ISBN 978-1557700513)
Children's Sports Bibliographies
The New York Rangers Hockey Team (Great Sports Teams) (ISBN 978-0766010239)
Top 10 Baseball Pitchers (ISBN 0894905201)
Sports Great Shaquille O'Neal (Sports Great Books) (ISBN 978-0766010031)
Mark Messier: Star Center (Sports Reports) (ISBN 978-0894908019)
Sports Great Barry Bonds (Sports Great Books) (ISBN 978-0894905957)
Chris Mullin: Star Forward (Sport Reports) (ISBN 978-0894904868)
Sports Great Darryl Strawberry (Sports Great Books) (ISBN 978-0894902918)
Children's Action Series
Ultimate Adventures New Digidestined, Vol. 2 (ISBN 978-0061072062)
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 2, 2022
This is the last in the time travel series written by Michael J Sullivan. The story concludes the time traveling of Michael and Elizabeth Stewart. Through their journeys into Jerusalem around the time of the triumphal entry of Christ through his crucifixion, they've learned much about second chances, redemption, why Jesus had to die, etc. This last book explores the questions of "What if Jesus didn't die on the cross? What would happen to the world, as we know it?"
As a Christian, I can understand the importance of exploring the theme of how important this one event was in history and how things could have turned out if not for Jesus dying on the cross. But for me, it was difficult to get into the story because down deep I know that nothing was going to stop those events from happening. So it's one place where I have difficulty imagining a different scenario. That being said, it is important to think about what could have happened as it helps us understand the significance and that is what the author was going for here - helping you explore the possibilities of "what if" to the single most event in history.
As a Christian, I can understand the importance of exploring the theme of how important this one event was in history and how things could have turned out if not for Jesus dying on the cross. But for me, it was difficult to get into the story because down deep I know that nothing was going to stop those events from happening. So it's one place where I have difficulty imagining a different scenario. That being said, it is important to think about what could have happened as it helps us understand the significance and that is what the author was going for here - helping you explore the possibilities of "what if" to the single most event in history.
July 31, 2022
The Shattered Cross
by Michael John Sullivan
Pub Date 22 Mar 2022
Permuted Press
Christian | General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction
I am reviewing a copy of The Shattered Cross through Permuted Press and Netgalley:
This unique novel explores the question: What would this world look like if Christ had never been crucified?
Long Ago Michael and Elizabeth Stewart that they could time travel through an old church’s basement on Long Island. What they didn’t realize was that their actions in First Century Jerusalem could upend life for the world as we know it.
Their encounter with Roman thug, Pontius Pilate, turns life upside down for billions of future generations. Michael endures family loss and survives in a brutal and violent world with the help of a new friend, Adriel. The mystery of this forsaken world is discovered while Michael and Adriel fight off old wicked ways from a past war. Michael realizes he must return and confront Pilate and the Romans to save the world from long-suffering oppression.
I give The Shattered Cross five out of five stars!
by Michael John Sullivan
Pub Date 22 Mar 2022
Permuted Press
Christian | General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction
I am reviewing a copy of The Shattered Cross through Permuted Press and Netgalley:
This unique novel explores the question: What would this world look like if Christ had never been crucified?
Long Ago Michael and Elizabeth Stewart that they could time travel through an old church’s basement on Long Island. What they didn’t realize was that their actions in First Century Jerusalem could upend life for the world as we know it.
Their encounter with Roman thug, Pontius Pilate, turns life upside down for billions of future generations. Michael endures family loss and survives in a brutal and violent world with the help of a new friend, Adriel. The mystery of this forsaken world is discovered while Michael and Adriel fight off old wicked ways from a past war. Michael realizes he must return and confront Pilate and the Romans to save the world from long-suffering oppression.
I give The Shattered Cross five out of five stars!
August 8, 2022
very well done
Curiosity led me to this title. What kind of world would the author paint? I found myself very involved with the characters and what was going on. I’m not going to give you the plot, it’s too good and must be experienced for yourself. Pick this title and prepare for long reading times. 😏
Curiosity led me to this title. What kind of world would the author paint? I found myself very involved with the characters and what was going on. I’m not going to give you the plot, it’s too good and must be experienced for yourself. Pick this title and prepare for long reading times. 😏
December 1, 2022
Time travel at best a bit unusual
I liked this book for it's unusual twists and turns. It was very confusing at times not letting the reader know what was happening.. I liked parts of it but not enough to recommend it.
I liked this book for it's unusual twists and turns. It was very confusing at times not letting the reader know what was happening.. I liked parts of it but not enough to recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews