Authorpreneur Dashboard – Anne Marie Bennett

Anne Marie  Bennett

Come As You Are

Christian Books & Bibles

Fifteen-year-old Casey Donovan wants nothing more than to live on her own terms. In her hometown of Woodfield, Connecticut, she is more than content to toe the line of danger while trying to dismiss memories of a painful past. Then she and her boyfriend are arrested for drug possession. To have the charges dropped, and keep peace as her mother goes through a difficult divorce, Casey reluctantly joins her local church’s Youth Group. She expects a boring summer as she helps with their summer production of the musical Godspell. Though she longs to return to her old life, Casey soon finds herself bonding with the teens in the group who have their own struggles. Slowly, this once lonely teen realizes that she is not alone in the challenges she’s been afraid to face. Part of Casey's journey involves letting go of two people who have harmed her in the past, even though she doesn't want to admit that they hurt her. Watching Casey grow in faith and become stronger and more confident as the novel progresses is a testament to the author's own experiences with growing up, letting go, and finding strength and faith in community. As opening night of the musical nears, Casey will soon have to confront her own faith and connection to God. Contains a set of intriguing discussion questions that can be used in a church youth group setting, or for the individual reader who feels led to write about their response to the story.

Book Bubbles from Come As You Are

Feeling Like an Outsider

Have you ever had to walk into a group that was already established? I know I have, and it's a challenging situation to be in. Especially as a teenager, I found it scary and difficult to approach a group of people who knew each other and had already formed a bond of some kind. Even today, when faced with a situation like this, I find it helpful to notice what my mind is thinking as well as how my body is reacting. I summon up some courage by reminding myself what a good, kind, loving, creative person I am. Then I take some deep breaths, activate some trust, and join in. In my novel, 16-year-old Casey finds a way to do this also.

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