With the dearth of role models in our society today, the next generation thirsts of the waters of integrity and honesty. For the sake of realism and sometimes because a duty to political correctness, much of today’s literature (including the young adult genre) fills its pages with foul language, violence, sexual immorality, and disrespect. I realize that if we turn the television to the evening news, the same message is reported to the eyes and ears of our country. However, is there not room for the idealism of the good, the right, the moral? Can we not paint pictures of heroes with pure motivation of compassion, truth, and devotion?

One of the most fantastic elements of being a human being (an image bearer of the Creator) is the ability to change, the capacity to surrender and experience a life-transforming metamorphosis, the opportunity to turn around and walk a different road. My hope is that the authors of today will change from drawing accurate pictures of the modernity of man and begin to create powerful portraits of how to live victoriously in the midst of a fallen world. It doesn’t take too much creativity to describe the realism of our amoral planet – just turn on channel 7 at 5:00 - but discovering and helping others to find alternatives and modifications and coping mechanism to reach an anchor of integrity takes the pen of an author with courage, boldness, and insight.

The successful author in the United States today holds a position of great influence. The printed page is now in e-formats and audio-versions with availability to just about anyone who desires to read or listen (thank you public libraries!) The author with the message of redemption and transformation please exercise your giftedness in positive ways. Consider this powerful exhortation as you evaluate your next novel, children’s book, or young adult offering: “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14