Life’s Uncertain Journeys

About the Book

This collection of stories follows four young adults as they try to find themselves. They are trying to overcome the inner battles of coming to terms with their sexuality or gender identity. In each story, you are able to follow along with the main characters as they realize who they truly are and become more comfortable in their own skin. The characters are surrounded by role models and friends that help ease the pain and confusion along the way and help shine some light on their path to self-discovery. Each story presents a unique situation that allows the reader to gain insight into different real-life scenarios. “Battle” has a character that comes from a strong military family, and he himself will be enlisting. Things get complicated for him when a new guy moves in from out of town. In “Girl by the Lake,” you follow a girl who comes from a broken home and her attempt to escape it by going to a summer camp. Little did she know that she would meet someone there who would change everything. In the story “Stacey,” you follow a young individual preparing to go to college but whose life is turned upside down upon seeing a peculiar woman in a movie theater. This woman would bring light to something that was not expected. “Having Faith” is a story about a young man struggling with his faith and his inner feelings. He develops a strong attraction for another person in the youth group, which would prove to be challenging, but he finds comfort in the arms of his friends. All four stories are bound together by the truth that even in the most confusing of times, there is a way out.

About the Author

Ashton Shaw Melvin is a native of southern Indiana. He attended Indiana University, studying sociology and minors in psychology and human sexuality. While there, he was part of several organizations relating to issues of sexuality and gender. One of these organizations was the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Speaker’s Bureau. This organization went into classrooms and residence halls to provide panel discussions on issues of sexual diversity. One group that was also close to Ashton’s heart was Raising Awareness of Interactions in Sexual Encounters (RAISE), which went into classrooms, fraternities, sororities, and residence halls to provide education on what consent was and how to use it for healthy and safe sexual encounters. Ashton has had different jobs ranging from being an employment consultant for a local organization assisting those with developmental disabilities to an accountant for a credit union. Currently, he is a home health caregiver and a volunteer at a local hospital. Ashton grew up in a small conservative town. He was raised in a Christian family and enjoyed attending church all through his school years. Growing up in a small town and predominantly Christian area has influenced Ashton and was an inspiration for his desire to write stories for young adults to see that though things may seem rough and confusing, they can get better and more clear over time. Ashton has always wanted to find a way to be able to help the youth and their families come to terms with and accept their sexuality or gender identity. He is hoping that through these stories, people will be able to have a better understanding of the struggles that some people face.