Guest Post from Kelly Martin, Author of Crossing the Deep

Today, I'm thrilled to be part of my friend Kelly's blog tour, promoting her new book, Crossing the Deep.  Kelly and I met when we were pregnant with our now 2 year old kiddos.  I have watched Kelly blossom from blogger to author over the last 2 years and have always admired the ease in which she connects with her audience.    

As a Christian woman and a huge fan of young adult fiction, I can't wait to read Crossing the Deep!

Why I Write Christian Fiction for Young Adults…

I’m going to preface this by saying I love a good vampire book as much as the next red-blooded girl. I enjoy monster book. I will even entertain a book about angels (and not the typical ones from Heaven). So don’t think I’m bashing those types of books because I’m not.

But (oh yeah, there’s a but…) I do believe there has to be a balance in the world between those types of books for young adults and Christian books.

At my local Lifeway Christian Bookstore, there is a grand total of two bookshelves dedicated to young adult fiction. And not two full rows either, two partial rows with maybe twenty different books to choose from. Folks, that’s not many.

Why so little?

Is there not a demand for it? I know since people have found out about my book, a lot of have told me how much they appreciate a good, clean Christian book for teens. Now, I’m not naïve enough to believe that some weren’t just saying that because I wrote it and they know me, but I know most of them honestly meant it. The world needs more Christian fiction and especially aimed at our teens.

Why? Why does it matter?

It matters because there is a market for it. Plus, it hopefully changes some one’s life for the better.

I was talking to a lady the other day who said her teenaged daughter loved to read, but they couldn’t find many ‘clean’ books for her much less any clean Christian ones. And, of course, it doesn’t have to be Christian to be clean. My publisher, Astraea Press, isn’t a Christian publisher, but they only publish ‘clean’ fiction. (and they do mean clean. No hecks, darns, shoots, gahs, etc). People want to read them—they just can’t find them.

Why I write Christian Fiction for Young Adults... 

So, that’s where I come in. I have three little girls who will become three big girls someday and will (hopefully) love to read. I hope and pray they choose clean fiction (and if I’m even more hopeful, Christian fiction). I want to write books that appeal to those people who don’t think you have to have sex, language or ‘pink parts’ to tell a really good story.

Trust me… Clean doesn’t mean dull. :)

Kelly Martin~ mommy, wife, teacher, author, blogger, sleep-deprived

Kelly Martin’s first novel, CROSSING THE DEEP, was released Oct. 9^th. You can find it at Barnes and Noble, Astraea Press, and Amazon.

Back Cover Blurb:

Sixteen year old Rachel Harker expects the church sponsored hiking trip in the Smoky Mountains to be short and painless. Four days later, injured and scared, Rachel prays to just make it home alive.

Asher Jenkins, fellow hiker and handsome skeptic who is only on the hike so he doesn’t have to go home and face his abusive ‘uncle’, finds Rachel in the woods and tries to get her back to Deep Creek Trail. A small hole hidden under the fall leaves causes her ankle to twist and forces Asher to leave her to get help. As night falls, he comes back, unable to find the right trail.

As hours stretch into days, an unexpected rainstorm bears down the mountain, flooding Deep Creek and cutting off their way home. Rachel puts all of her faith in God to save them. Asher thinks believing in God is a waste of time and does what he can to prove to Rachel that He doesn’t exist.

With their food gone and the temperature dropping, time is running out. Will Rachel be able to do what needs to be done to get home? And can Asher find faith when he needs it the most?