Publisher’s Summary

Told with empathy and searing honesty, Speaking in Tongues is a powerful coming-of-age story about questioning the life created for you and building your true self, one recycled brick at a time.

From the outside, Tom Tilley’s childhood seemed ordinary. The first son of a pastor, he grew up in a beautiful country town where life revolved around football, his loving family and their Pentecostal faith. But behind church doors, a strictly enforced set of rules included a looming ultimatum: if Tom didn’t speak in tongues, he’d go to hell and be outcast from his close-knit, devout community.

The older Tom became, the more he questioned the teachings of the church, especially around speaking in tongues. And the more he heard about his parents’ adventurous lives before they found God, the more he wanted the freedom to make those ‘mistakes’ that the church forbade. Eventually, after years of suppressing his doubts in silence, Tom spoke up. Having the courage to do so came at a huge personal cost, leading to a decision that would take his family to breaking point. What happened next is surprising, and Tom’s journey to independence will inspire listeners to ask what’s true in their own lives and who they really are.

©2022 Tilley Media Pty Ltd. Tom Tilley asserts their moral right to be identified as the author of this Work. First published in English by HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty Limited in 2022. (P)2022 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd. This audio version produced by arrangement with HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty Limited.