Choices

There are teens today engaging in premarital sex. This is nothing new. Teens are making this choice now, they made it back when I was a teen, and even further back than that. But why do teens make this choice? Personally, I don't believe it's always about raging hormones, and I don't believe it's always just about the sex. There are so many different reasons, and that is why I wrote my first novel. Choices is a story about five teenage girls facing difficult decisions concerning premarital sex. There are Christian and non-Christian characters. But it seems some Christians have a problem with the content. I'm sure that's because of the whole premarital sex thing and because there's a pregnant Christian teen in the story. Like that never happens. Yes, there are teenage girls and boys who have given their lives to the Lord (praise God!), but are also engaging in premarital sex. Denying that fact isn't going to make it any less true. And avoiding fiction that shows this reality isn't going to make it all go away. Believe me, my YA novel doesn't touch on the half of what a lot of teenagers are doing sexually these days. So, here's the thing: I am the vessel God is using to confront this issue in a creative way; writing realistic, thought-provoking fiction that could have a life-changing effect.
And then there are people who believe my teen novel is moralistic fiction. Believe me, Choices is not a goody, goody preachy story with perfect characters who do no wrong. The Christian characters in this story mess up like anybody else. But, okay, maybe it is a bit morally instructive as far as virtue in sexual conduct. But, as I mentioned earlier, I am God's vessel. So, tell me - would He have it any other way?
All I can say is that I wrote the story in a realistic way, creating situations and characters young people can relate to. I show choices teens can make that turn out to be mistakes and also the mistakes parents can make, and I do my best to help everyone see a better way; to learn to make better "choices". I believe teen fiction that doesn't only entertain, but teaches important lessons is necessary in today's world. And if my stories can't make a difference in someone's life, young or adult, then I don't see the purpose in writing them.
Hopefully, Choices will not only lead teenagers who are having sex out of wedlock back to abstinence, but will give parents something to think about as well.