Meet and Greet April J. Young! Book Give-Away!

Guest Post by April J. Young 

To Be A Warrior, A Story of Battle, is a tale birthed from Ephesians 6 and from reading about Spiritual Warfare.  I am a firm believer that unseen battles take place among us every day.  And that scares me.  But I know the One in charge, and I know that He will ultimately triumph!

This is something that has been near and dear to me for many years, and in college, I finally got the chance to put it all down on paper.  I wrote a thrilling adventure fraught with peril, battles, and temptation.  Two young knights, Darrin and Thane, are given two suits of armor and a quest that they must finish to join the ranks in the Undying City and to serve their liege lord, the Eternal One.  Will they be able to prosper against the unseen enemies around them?  Or will they fall prey to the Evil that stalks their lands, surrendering not only their vital armor, but their lives as well?

I wanted this to be a story that young children could understand.  Spiritual Warfare is real, and it’s incredibly important to wear the armor God provides for us.  When we don’t wear it and keep it in working order, that is when Evil moves in and wreaks havoc.  To Be A Warrior is written for children 9-13 (give or take a few years) so that they can better understand what the armor is, and how to wear it.

Being a high school English teacher gives me a unique perspective on teens in today’s culture—and it’s one of the things that drives me to write.  I want them to have information out there about spiritual matters.  Hopefully before they get to high school!  I so appreciate my fellow Christian writers and their passion for the Lord and for the written word.  May it changes lives, one book at a time.

 A Brief Bio…  

 My name is April J. Young as an author, but April J. Skelly as a newly married woman.  Getting married this past summer has done nothing to diminish the love I have for the written word; indeed, it has only enhanced the experiences I have gained as a person and a writer to relate to in my characters and their happenings. I have always enjoyed the written word, devouring it at every opportunity.  I currently have been once published, To Be A Warrior, A Story of Battle by Tate Publishing in June of 2007 and am excited to pursue further publications. 

            I grew up in Missouri in the home of two educators who encouraged my learning and reading at every opportunity.  Frequent travel became a delight in education and fuel for my already over-active imagination, which my parents also encouraged.  They saw to it that my mind was enriched with the possibilities of the world around me, and also the world I could create inside my own head.  Their support in my writing has always been appreciated.  

 I completed high school in 2003 and went on to gain my Bachelor’s degree in English Education form Hannibal LaGrange College in Hannibal, Missouri. My love of the written word inspired my career as well.  I teach high school English, currently in Cleveland, Ohio through K12 International Academy, but before that, for two years in a tiny town in mid-Missouri, which I very much enjoyed.  I love teaching as much as I love writing. My students give me daily doses of humor, culture, and patience as well as the joy of building meaningful mentoring relationships with them.

My website is www.AprilJYoung.com.

 Book Give-Away!  

A Note from Susan

April has offered to give away a copy of her book -- Thank you, April!  By leaving a comment on this post, you'll be automatically entered to win a copy of To Be A Warrior, A Story of Battle. If you're a follower of my blog, your comment will get you two entires for a chance to win. Don't forget to leave your e-mail so we can contact the winner. Example: janedoe (at) wherever (dot) com.  Winner will be announced on Monday, October 31st in the comments of this post!

Happy Reading, everyone!  

Susan

Disclaimer: This copy is provided by the author and will be shipped by the author.  Give-aways are void where prohibited and are open to US residents only. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” You may also find more details on FTC compliance here on my blog http://susanhollaway.blogspot.com/p/misc-information.html