About the Book

Book: Offsides

Author: Lori Z. Scott

Genre: Contemporary YA fiction

Release Date: October 19, 2023

Danielle Stephens expected her senior year to be challenging, with her final season of soccer, a strained friendship, and a new crush. But she didn’t expect to uncover a human trafficking ring in her town. When an older man seems to be grooming her young neighbor, Dani is determined to keep the girl safe. Little does she know, but there is more at stake than one life. And if Dani doesn’t watch her back, she could be the next victim.

Offsides is like a Christian version of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder but set on the soccer field.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Wheaton College graduate Lori Z. Scott accidentally wrote the 10-book bestselling Meghan Rose series.  On purpose, she wrote more than 200 short stories, articles, essays, poems, and devotions for magazines like Brio and Focus on the Family. She has also contributed to 15 books, including Writing and Selling Children’s Books in the Christian Market.

As has been her practice for over 25 years, Lori is fully invested in teaching elementary students during the day. However, most nights you can find her typing away behind the keyboard. She figures that makes writing her superpower… especially since she knows how to use a delete key.

In 2022, Lori introduced an award-winning novel, Inside the Ten-Foot Line, the first installment in her new young adult series. In addition, she has led writing workshops for local ACFW and SCBWI chapters, conducted school visits, served as a guest speaker for Story Embers podcasts, and presented at virtual writing conferences. She’s never really sure if the crowd is impressed by her interactive presentations or by the fact that she can write and draw forwards and backwards with both hands at the same time.

More from Lori

Let’s start with the why behind the series in general. In the early 2000s, I published a bestselling chapter book series—sort of like the Christian version of Junie B. Jones. Then, because of some unexpected life circumstances, I stopped writing for about 7 years. After encouragement from my mom and my daughter and a phone call with an editor from Pockets Magazine, I decided to return to writing. But I wanted to try something new.

I thought about the things I love that I could write about. Sports came to the top of the list since I competed in volleyball, track, swimming, softball, and basketball and my children played soccer. I went to the library to see what was out there and found some great sports novels, many by Mike Lupica. He tackled interesting themes—characters dealing with real-life issues that readers could relate to whether or not they were part of a team.

However, the book offerings for women athletes? Very slim pickings. I mean… there were a few. But they didn’t have the depth I craved in a book. And, as my daughter always says, “Mom, you’re a writer. If you can’t find the book you want, write it yourself.”

So that’s how the series in general was born. I envisioned a story for each sport that reached beyond the court to encompass a broader audience. Stories that grappled with universal emotions, dreams, and challenges. The first book in the series, Inside the Ten-Foot Line, did well with critics. It won the Golden Scroll Award for youth fiction book of the year, an Illumination Book Award, was a semi-finalist for the Carol Awards, and a finalist for the Director’s Choice Award. I figure that’s a promising start!

Now, more specifically—the inspiration behind the story Offsides.

Okay, big breath for me here, because I felt God’s nudging to write it, and I told Him no. Just outright no. But… who tells God no? I mean, based on my writing journey, I trusted that He knew best the paths I should take. Always. So why did I say no?

Let me give you a little history. In 2022, End Game Press invited me to write Offsides, the second book in my series. However, when I submitted my detailed plot, they came back and said it was too similar to another book they planned on publishing and asked me to develop something different. I took the problem to my critique group, and one of the girls who works with her church to recover victims of human trafficking suggested that I write a story where the characters must confront this issue.

I got sick to my stomach just thinking about it.  And I dismissed the idea.  Like, immediately.

And I had good excuses to say no. No, I didn’t know enough about the problem. No, human trafficking was too horrifying to research. No, what teenager wants to read about this sick topic? And my biggest objection–No! I wrote humor.

But God kept pressing me on this idea. And pressing me. And pressing me. News reports. Conversations at work. Ads on T.V. Social media posts. The idea would bubble up in my prayers and haunt me when I went to bed.

So, I finally said yes and wrote the book. Not surprisingly, in the process, I discovered a yes for every no I’d voiced.

I didn’t know enough about the problem, but, yes, I learned. The research was horrifying, but yes, I also found hope, especially within Christian organizations who help recover victims.

Yes… teens should read about human trafficking to make themselves aware of the danger and to take steps to protect themselves and their friends. And yes, talking about human trafficking could be done in an age-appropriate way. Best of all, as heavy as the topic was, the story still contained humor. Because high school is like that—serious, but also fun and entertaining.

I really like the relationships between the characters too. There’s something powerful about their interactions. The protagonist, Dani, is a huge introvert, and her social anxiety plays into how the plot unfolds. Her character resonated with a lot of my beta readers who also experienced struggles with feelings that they don’t quite fit in.

One teary-eyed reader asked me how I was able to tap into Dani’s emotions so deeply and accurately. I was like—hey, I’m a teacher. I see insecurities in people all the time. And at some point, we’ve all been there—even me. In the lonely. In the awkward. In the search for belonging. In the hurt. We need each other. And we need faith.

Anyway, that’s how Offsides was born. With a nudge that turned into a pressing need to tell a story. About a difficult topic, true. But even more valuable because of that. The book ended up being a little bit like A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder but set on the soccer field.

If any readers want to use Offsides for a book club, I have a study guide I can email them for free. I also have a free collection of ten devotions for athletes for interested readers. To get either one or both, DM me on my Instagram account at @Stories.by.Lori

Interview with Lori

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Doesn’t everyone secretly want to be a writer?

Just kidding. I have actually always enjoyed writing, mostly poetry. And I wrote quirky articles for my high school newspaper. But I typically tell people I’m an accidental writer because my path to publication strays from the norm.

You see, when I took a hiatus from teaching elementary school to raise my kids, I stumbled onto a flyer for a science fiction writing contest. Since writing a story beats changing diapers any day, I cranked out 5000 words. Mailed my story in.

And won second place.

Now, don’t be too impressed—there were probably only two entries! Haha. But the day I got the letter, I also received a notice from my MOPS international magazine (called MomSense) advertising an International Story Writing Contest. So I entered.  And I won.

That contest had hundreds of entries.

After that, a friend encouraged me to attend a writing conference. But conferences were expensive, and we didn’t have the money for it. I said, “God, if you really want me to go, you’re going to have to provide the funds through the writing I publish.” At that time, the money I made came from devotionals and short stories that paid $10-$25 a pop.

Do you know I earned the conference fee almost to the exact penny?

From that conference, I got my first book contract. And now… here we are.

So, as a roundabout way to answer your question, I knew I wanted to be a writer at the age of 34 when I entered a tiny little science fiction contest and something burst into life in my mind.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Well, I teach. I’ve been in the classroom for over 25 years, and the kids are the best part of my day. I also enjoy doodling, board games, and sports.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?

The most surprising thing about Offsides in particular was what I learned in my research. And what I learned would give you nightmares. In fact, I didn’t want to touch the issue of human trafficking at first. But as more and more news reports cropped up about human trafficking and their young victims, I could no longer ignore the story growing in my heart. I wanted to create something both compelling and age-appropriate. I feel like I pulled it off by using a mixture of humor and honesty. Offsides ended up being almost like a whodunnit mystery and, thus far, has been well received by readers.

Do you have any suggestions to help someone become a better writer? If so, what are they?

I wish there was a universal handbook on writing. But, like parenting, there’s not. Everyone has their own unique writing journey. However, just like parenting, there are a few things you can do that can help hone your craft. I’m going to simply list them, but you might want to conduct an online search for articles on each topic to learn why these suggestions are helpful.

• Read a lot in the genre you want to write.
• Join a critique group.
• Consider writing short stories.
• Attend a writing conference.
• If you plan on publishing, start building an online presence now through various social media platforms.
• Check out blogs and podcasts about the craft of writing.
• Write. You learn to write by writing.

What’s your favorite part about being a writer? Research? First Draft? Editing?

I think my favorite part about being a writer is the challenge. And what happens to your mind when you write. I’ve noticed that when I write, time doesn’t move the same way. I’ll sit down for what feels like moments, only to realize a few hours have passed. And during that time, I’ve gone through a whole continuum of emotions, conversations, and ponderings. Writing is the closest thing to real magic I’ve ever experienced.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

As a child, I always dreamed of becoming a cartoonist. But I never had any formal art training other than a few high school courses. That doesn’t keep me from drawing. I still do. In fact, if you ever visit my Instagram account, you’ll see doodles galore. But I now realize that was never a path meant for me to follow. It makes a great hobby though.

What project are you working on now and how do we find your books?

Right now, I’m drafting Fielder’s Choice, a YA novel with a softball player as the protagonist. Besides hopefully another installment in my sports series, End Game Press has my picture book This Book Is Not About Monsters slated for publication in 2024. And I’m shopping around a few other picture books that I really enjoy—ones that I, as a teacher, would love to stock on my bookshelf. But that’s such a tough market. So we’ll see.  Meanwhile, you can find Offsides on Amazon, End Game Press, and Christianbooks.com. Always ask your local library too. If enough people ask, I think they’ll pick up copies. And if you do get one in your hands, please leave me a review. Reviews are like GOLD to many authors. It’s a great encouragement for us. You can also check out my website—always under construction it seems, but you can navigate it–  https://lori-z-scott.com. If you need to contact me, try Instagram. (DM me at @stories.by.lori)

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 16

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, January 17 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, January 18 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, January 18

Guild Master, January 19 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, January 20

Fiction Book Lover, January 21 (Author Interview)

Beauty in the Binding, January 22 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 23

Splashes of Joy, January 24 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 25

Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 26 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 27

Blossoms and Blessings, January 28 (Author Interview)

Exploring the Written Word, January 28

For the Love of Literature, January 29 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lori is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and an autographed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/29799/offsides-celebration-tour-giveaway