Teen Dreams: Avondale Alumni Publish Young Adult Novels

TEACH Journal of Christian Education Teen Dreams: Avondale Alumni Publish Young Adult Novels Brenton Stacey Avondale College of Higher Education Follow this and additional works at: http://research.avondale.edu.au/teach Part of the Education Commons Recommended Citation - Teen dreams: Avondale Alumni publish young adult novels Brenton Stacey Public Relations Officer, Avondale College of Higher Education, Cooranbong, NSW Publications by two Avondale alumni are not only providing stock for the young adult section of bookstores and libraries but also promoting creativity and literacy. Trudy Adams and Danielle Weiler, both graduates of 2007— Danielle served as president of the class—have published six novels between them. Trudy promoted creativity and literacy to young adults in Kurri Kurri at the launch of her third novel, Broken Melody (Even Before Publishing), this past year. She presented awards donated by local businesses and organisations for a writing competition she held in conjunction with the high school. Broken Melody tells of a girl torn between a dysfunctional past and a promising future. It explores “the battle in a person’s mind when they have been consistently told they are worthless,” but it also shows “that with help and time, that battle can be won.” Trudy published her first novel, Desolate Beauty (Ark House Press), in 2009. Her second, Judging Meghan (Even Before Publishing), followed in 2010. When she is not writing, Trudy works as the coordinator of the Kurri Youth Centre and blogs— her topics cover a range of issues affecting young adults, including bullying, self-esteem and stress. Danielle has published each of her novels— Friendship on Fire (2011), Reckless (2013) and Assembly of Shapes, released this year. She writes to encourage readers “to have hope in whatever situation they find themselves.” Some readers, she says, find the themes tough, “but that’s life.” Her hope is readers “focus on what they can do to help these young adults.” Danielle is currently writing a Christian young adult novel. Her aim: to make it “authentic and modern without being preachy.” Trudy and Danielle’s novels are available through Amazon.com. TEACH “Broken Melody tells of a girl torn between a dysfunctional past and a promising future. … “The battle in a person’s mind” Trudy Adams Danielle Weiler