Today Melissa Knight is here for an interview. Melissa writes Christian YA Romance and also has a 31-day devotional. Welcome, Melissa!

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LB: The teenage years are full of excitement and wonder…but growing up isn’t always easy! Why is it important to you to write for the YA audience? 

MK: My thought is, who wouldn’t want to write for teens? They are passionate, critical, kind, contemplative, risk-takers – all over the place! Perhaps adult audiences are the same, but at no other times in life are the highs so high, and the lows so low. Many decisions are made during those years, some subconsciously, about who they are and who they want to become. 

I have taught children in public schools from 1^st grade to high school seniors and have seen firsthand the influence a book can have on a child’s world view, whether for good or ill. It is challenging and incredibly satisfying to think that a bit of fiction I’ve written could inspire a young person to consider options not yet thought of, or bring clarity into a personal dilemma.

LB: The potential is profound! Why do you specifically write Christian fiction, and not just clean fiction? 

MK: There are many great clean books out there for teens, and I applaud that. There are not nearly as many writers who either subtly or specifically address what it means to follow Christ, however, and I’m hoping those numbers will increase.

My characters so far vary from those who are believers, asking questions about their faith and sometimes struggling, to a non-believer with little understanding of a God she’s not even sure exists. I hope my books will attract not just a Christian audience but also those who are unfamiliar with or are even resistant to the Christian faith.

I write YA romance, so I try to show what true love really looks like. For a generation constantly assaulted with sexual innuendo and a do-what-feels-good mentality, can I, and other Christian writers, convey how swoony a romance can really be, without the complication of sex? Can we help our readers understand the sacrificial love and forgiveness essential to a strong relationship, in ways that resonate? To me, that’s the beauty of fiction; a story can convey a message that a just-the-facts lecture may fail to do.

LB: Yes, fiction is such a powerful teaching tool! You have a very admirable goal. What is an overarching theme you hope your readers take from your books?

MK: I hope my young readers will think, “Wow! I want a relationship like THAT!” I hope they will be captivated by romantic relationships based on deep friendship and respect, and hold out for this in their own lives. I hope my books will make them laugh, think, and dream, taking baby steps that move them closer to those dreams.   

More importantly, I hope my readers will start their own conversations with God. I pray they will sense how much He loves, desires, and seeks a relationship with them.

LB: And especially while readers are still young! Tell us a little about what you’re working on next.

MK: Between You and Me will be book #2 in the Rayburn High Romance series! I just wrote “The End” on the manuscript a few days ago and am getting ready to craft it into shape for publishing. 

This one was a lot of fun since I delved into the drama department scene, which I knew little about other than the fact that I love musicals and plays. It’s a stand-alone novel, though readers of my previous series will recognize the two main characters, Mia and Colton.

LB: Congratulations on typing “The End” on book #2! That’s a big accomplishment 🙂 Ooh, I have a WIP on the backburner with a character who is involved in theater, so lots of scenes are happening backstage, and it’s a blast writing. I look forward to reading Between You and Me! Who are some authors who have inspired you?

MK: Oh my, so many! Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time made a significant impact on me as a teen. Both my daughter and I loved the Christy Miller series by Robin Jones Gunn, and her other series that were spun off of that one. I was also inspired by Jan Karon’s Mitford series, which weaves the lives of the many characters together in an ongoing saga, just like in our own lives. Perhaps that series most of all has motivated me to explore the lives and interactions with the main characters’ families in my books, including grandparents. Even happy, healthy families know sorrow, tragedies, and mistakes. 

I’m also inspired by the writers of Christian music. I usually have a song or two, or three, in my head when I’m writing about a character that helps me understand him or her better. I started putting the links to those songs at the end of the books in the Rayburn High Romance series.

LB: That’s a great list of authors who have shaped your writing. I think that’s so cool when authors have a playlist for their characters and books! Where can readers find you?

MK: My books are all available on Amazon! Follow me in the following places:

Amazon – Facebook – Goodreads – X

LB: I really enjoyed chatting with you! Readers, follow Melissa and comment below which of her books is your favorite!

MK: I greatly appreciate the opportunity to contribute to your blog!

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Melissa Knight began writing as a young child, including a rather sad poem about an ant. She progressed to penning articles and stories published in various magazines for teens and children, such as “Pockets for Children” and “U.S. Kids”. Her Christian YA fiction series, “High School 101”, is available on Amazon as well as her latest release, “You Were There”, a stand-alone romance and first in the “Rayburn High Romance” series!

A former teacher, Melissa has two grown children and lives with her husband in west Texas, happily blessed with great friends, ample supplies of Mexican food and cold iced tea.