Shannon here: Shanna Heath shares insight into her real-life romance and how it shapes her characters, plus a chance to win her Young Adult Contemporary Romance titles, Salvaged and Liabetes. Comment or answer the question on any post dated Oct 21st – Nov 1st to enter the drawing for six titles in my Oct Book Bundle#2. Deadline: Nov 8th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Shanna:
From Swoon to Story: The Real-Life Romance Behind My YA Christian Fiction:
Much like Hadley, the fearless heroine from my debut YA Christian fiction novel Salvaged, I was terrified of dating when I was younger. And by “terrified,” I don’t mean “cute sixth-grade romance” terrified, where kids leave enough room for the Holy Spirit between them at a school dance. I mean “panic-attack-at-the-thought-of someone-suggesting-a-date” terrified, even in high school and college.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess my fear *probably* came from observing relationships around me fail spectacularly. My parents divorced when I was in elementary school. As a teenager, I watched friends give their hearts away only to be left hurt. I knew firsthand that the wrong relationship could seriously derail someone’s confidence, or worse, their faith. So I built walls to protect myself. Big, thick, cinder block walls. Dating seemed like a giant risk with way too much vulnerability involved. It was easier to stay guarded than risk being rejected.
Until I met Jeff. *Swoon*
As a freshman at Georgetown College, my RA tricked (uh-huh, tricked) me into visiting the President’s House Association, her boyfriend’s fraternity, to watch Kentucky basketball. I’d been there before for games, so I thought nothing of it—until I realized it would just be the four of us: her, her boyfriend, his roommate fresh off a semester abroad, and me. I’d learn months later that Jeff was every bit as surprised (and nervous) as I was.
What followed was our three-month “double-date era” before Jeff and I went out alone. When he finally asked me to dinner and ice-skating, I fell for him—literally and figuratively (see what I did there?). About a month later, he asked me to be his girlfriend, then sweetly asked for a kiss on the cheek. Simple. Innocent. Beautiful.
Looking back, I can totally see God’s hand working in our relationship. I needed someone gentle and kind, like Jeff, who didn’t bulldoze past my walls, but patiently waited for me to lower them. All those fears certainly didn’t vanish overnight, but they did (slowly…like a tranquilized sloth), and through my boyfriend’s actions, I saw what Godly love is supposed to look like: respectful and safe.
On our first Valentine’s Day together, Jeff had graduated and moved to Maryland for grad school. A thick, soft-pink envelope arrived in the mail with the instructions: Don’t open until February 14. It mocked me from my dresser for weeks, but when I finally tore it open, I discovered information from Compassion International. Jeff sponsored a child in my name! That young lady eventually graduated from the program, and Jeff and I have continued sponsoring children ever since.
Jeff’s gift reflected his heart for service, and it reminded me that our relationship wasn’t just about us. God calls us to love others, too. That lesson still shapes how we relate to one another, as well as how we parent.
This past July, Jeff and I celebrated our twentieth wedding anniversary and the blessings of our three
beautiful children. Our marriage hasn’t been perfect—because only Jesus’ love is—but it’s been marked by grace and God’s faithfulness.
My characters found love in their own fun ways. In Salvaged, Hadley meets Colton under less-than-ideal circumstances. A misunderstanding paints Hadley as a serial cheater (Ha! Couldn’t be further from the truth) and derails a potential early friendship. Thankfully, Hadley’s best friend, Taylor, clears things up. In time, Hadley realizes boys aren’t as scary as she thought, and Colton proves to be worth the risk.
Hadley’s fear of dating was very much based on mine. Like me, Hadley realized that real love is safe and doesn’t demand she act like someone she’s not. And, writing her story reminded me that God often uses relationships to draw us closer to Him.
In Liabetes, Olivia and Xavier’s story is one of my favorite tropes: friends to more—they have a slow-burn romance where unspoken love finally gives way to honesty, and God’s grace brings courage and healing. Olivia carried feelings for Xavier forever (“fiveever” it was so long…). It wasn’t until she worked up the guts to confess (her love and, you know, the whole fake diabetes thing) that their relationship shifted. It was messy and beautiful—exactly the kind of YA romance I love to write!
When I think about my own story with Jeff and the fictional love stories I write, one thing is clear: love requires us to be brave. To really love, a person has to step out of fear, choose vulnerability, and trust God with their heart. We can’t live our lives in fear! (This is an adage Jeff uses constantly!) Sometimes courage looks like saying yes to an invitation you didn’t expect (or were tricked into—but chose to stay anyway…go me!). Other times love looks like forgiving a misunderstanding (go Hadley and Colton!) or finally confessing the feelings you’ve been carrying all along (looking at you, Olivia and Xavier!). All these stories are examples of how God uses love to grow faith and courage. Love isn’t just about romance; it’s also about trusting God enough to risk our hearts and discovering the beauty He writes into every story.
Reader Question: What about you? How do you think romance in Christian YA novels can point young readers toward a deeper understanding of love and faith?
Oct Book Bundle #2
Don’t Blink by Jordyn Redwood, Romantic Suspenses, e-book copy of the complete box set
For the Love of Recipes – recipe collection from various authors including R.F. Whong. Free download when you sign up for her weekly newsletter. You may unsubscribe anytime after the download. There’s no obligation.
Mistletoe and Malice by Lori DeJong, Contemporary Romantic Suspense, print
Salvaged and Liabetes by Shanna M. Heath, Young Adult Contemporary Romance, print
A Daughter’s Choice by Kelly Irvin, Amish Romance, print
(Due to postage rates, all giveaways are U.S. only)
About Shanna: Shanna Heath resides in central Kentucky with her sweet family, two dogs, and a ball python. When she isn’t writing young adult Christian fiction, she enjoys teaching middle school social studies or taking Sunday afternoon naps. A sucker for teen rom-coms, her stories have a knack for weaving together the awkward and the flirtatious, with a healthy dose of real-life complications to boot. Learn more & connect:
Shanna’s Website Shanna’s Facebook Shanna’s X
Shanna’s Instagram Shanna’s Goodreads Shanna’s Bookbub
About the book – Salvaged:
Hadley, forced to relocate with her estranged father at age seventeen, searches for belonging. A cancer diagnosis threatens to take her beloved Nonny, and a looming senior project might just break her.
High school senior Hadley is certain she must earn a summer internship at the Office of Naval Research, and she’s pretty darn confident she might! Unfortunately, her world is turned upside down by the news of her grandmother Nonny’s bleak cancer diagnosis. Hadley is forced to relocate from her home in Maryland to Kentucky to live with her estranged father and (gulp!) new step-family. As Hadley prepares to face a world of unknowns, she fears she will lose her beloved Nonny, and her hopes of snagging her dream internship seemingly disappear.
In the midst of adjusting to her new life in the bluegrass, Hadley steps into the unexpectedly pleasant role of half-sister and tackles a daunting senior project interning at a local business, Southern Salvage. Here, Hadley strives to befriend her peer mentor Colton, who seems all too eager to rid himself of a burdensome intern. At first. As Hadley navigates life in an unfamiliar state, school, and family, can she overcome the overwhelming sense she’s disrupted everyone’s happy normal? Is she just an unwelcome inconvenience? She wonders…has God abandoned Hadley Edwards? With the help of her family and Colton, Hadley might just learn the true meaning of “salvaged.”
About the book – Liabetes:
She’s got a dream school, a nightmare budget, and she’s headed for a doozy of a rude awakening…
Olivia’s goal is within reach. She’s been accepted to her dream school, Vanderbilt University, alma mater of famed comic illustrator Paige O’Donnell. Despite gaining multiple scholarships and grants, Olivia’s just shy of tuition. Desperate, she applies for a $15,000 scholarship offered by the Wonderbrink Foundation, to be awarded to a high-achieving and athletic senior with diabetes. One little problem… Olivia doesn’t have diabetes.
In her quest to pull off a whopper of a lie, Olivia attends a diabetes support group meeting, where she meets and befriends Paul Roberts, a smug yet handsome member of the Sugar Shatterers. Her best friends Xavier and Amber aren’t thrilled about Olivia’s new mysterious, one-sided friendship with superstitious, entitled Paul. Xavier may secretly be a *little* jealous, and the scholarship application deadline rapidly approaches.
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Get your copy/copies now!
Come back Oct 30th for Kelly Irvin!
Thanks for the info. My oldest is such a fast reader and we are always looking for new books. These sound like good ones for her about healthy expectations for romance.
Hi Lindsey, Thank you so much for your comment! I’m glad these books sound like a good fit for your daughter–how awesome that she’s such a fast reader?! 🥰
Many young readers wrestle with insecurity or the desire to be “chosen.” Through characters who find their worth in God first, not in romantic attention, these stories can gently remind readers that they are already fully loved and valued by Him.
Well said, Natalya! I wholeheartedly agree, and I really appreciate you comment! Longing to feel “chosen” is such a real struggle for many young readers (and honestly, adults too). When we find our worth in God first, everything else comes into its rightful place. ☺️❤️