Blessed Artful Cross Keeper

Author: John Perrodin
Located in: Colorado Springs, CO
Submitted: March 17, 2008

    Tell us a little about yourself.  Thanks for taking a few moments to get to know me. My name is John Perrodin. Susie Shellenberger are the co-authors of the Trio Plus series of novels. The first two are Uncover Me and Surviving Me. I've also written three YA novels with Jerry B. Jenkins: The Tattooed Rats, Demon's Bluff, and Seclusion Point. Also, I co-authored Simple Little Words: What You Say Can Change a Life with Michelle Cox. My wife and I live in Colorado Springs with our family. We love walking, hiking, swimming, making music, reading, and playing games together. I have my own focus group for YA novels. That's because my oldest three children are all teens! We are a homeschool family that loves to worship, sing, pray, and play together.

    What was your motivation behind this project?  I wanted to help point out some of the struggles that teens are facing today. The books Uncover Me and Surviving Me are written for Christian kids but are real enough that they could be passed along to unchurched seekers as well. Though tough subjects are tackled, there's plenty of fun and humor in each story. The Trio (Adriana, Brinn, and Chloe from Phoenix, AZ) become the Trio Plus when they invite Sydney, a Montana transplant, to join their group. One of the strong minor characters is Pastor Shawn, aka P. S., who helps keep the kids on track. A couple teen guys, Dirk and Josh, round out the core group.

    What do you hope folks will gain from this project?  I sincerely hope that kids will learn more about real problems. Instead of refusing to face tough issues like cutting and anorexia, I want to see parents, grandparents, youth leaders, and pastors, addressing concerns. Understanding them. Further, I would like teens who read Uncover Me and Surviving Me to discover that no matter what they've done, God loves them -- and He will help them heal. If they truly want to change. Finally, I'd like readers to see that true friends can make a difference in your life. I'd like to encourage them to truly become servants to others.

    How were you personally impacted by working on this project?  Through my research I came to realize how prevalent cutting is. Among Christians and non-Christians alike. No longer can we pretend the issue doesn't exist or that it'll go away on its own. Only by dealing with the underlying causes can we truly help kids in trouble. Writing Uncover Me has made me realize that we all need to look for "warning signs" in those around us. Sometimes the happiest exterior hides a heart in pain.

    Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists?  My own kids are incredible sources of inspiration. They help me see new ways of looking at things every single day. As for teen/YA writers I admire Melody Carlson, Nancy Rue, and Sandra Bryd, among many others. It's exciting to be part of the team reaching out to kids -- showing them there is hope no matter what the situation.

    Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know:  Uncover Me is an intense story for older teens. The very real issue of self-mutilation -- also called cutting -- is explored. We tell the truth about the problem, but also show how important friends are to overcoming the tough stuff that inevitably comes our way. That's why we use the tagline, "real problems, true friends." Please visit Susie Shellenberger and me online to find out more.

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