This story originally was printed in the September 23, 2004, issue of The Avenue News

*Copyright 2004 Chesapeake Publishing Corporation Reprinted with permission*

Local author tackles gang violence and discrimination in 'Avenging Sword'

By Jean A. Flanagan

Local author Melody Ravert's new book "Avenging Sword" (Publish America, 2004) tells the tale of gang violence in west Chicago and the innocent people caught up in its path. "Avenging Sword" continues the story began in Ravert's first book, "Shadow of Death."

The Sanchez family has very strong religious convictions, yet their children fall victims to the gang violence that pervades their neighborhood. Fourteen-year-old Manuello wants to join the Los Primos because he thinks it's cool. Sixteen-year-old Margarita tries to warn her brother about the dangers in becoming a gang member, but at the same time, can't help being attracted to the handsome gangbanger, "Bandido."
Los Primos, a Hispanic gang, is at constant war with the Black Scorpions, an African-American gang, over turf, unmindful of the consequences their actions bring to the community around them.

Jamilia King, is a single mother trying to keep her son, Jamal, safe and out of the gangs. Her life is further complicated by an abusive boss. She finds strength and hope through the Westside Evangelical Grace Faith Tabernacle.
 
Paul Wilmington and his wife, Barbara, who we met in "Shadow of Death," are still reeling from the murder of their daughter, Karen. But the family has a new challenge when Paul's mentally disturbed brother, David, shows up needing a place to live.

Marlene Tobler, whose friend Roger, was killed in a car bombing in "Shadow of Death," learns valuable lessons about life and death through her faith.

"Avenging Sword" shows through faith in Jesus Christ, all things are possible. Redemption, healing and forgiveness are possible, the story shows.
 
"After the acceptance of my first book, "Shadow of Death," God began to lay on my heart the idea for a second book," Ravert said. "The message behind the words was not my own, as I would never have even considered writing about such a topic which plagues our society."

Written primarily for young adults, "Avenging Sword" has short, easy-to-read chapters. Ravert takes a long list of characters and interweaves their lives seamlessly. Her practice of providing a Character Index in the beginning of the book is helpful in sorting out whose who and their relationship to each other.

"Avenging Sword" is available for loan from many Baltimore County Public Library branches.

Ravert will host a book signing on Saturday, Sept. 25 at the Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 620 A Market Place Drive, Bel Air, MD 21014.

                                        ********

This story originally was printed in the June 4, 2004, issue of The Eagle Flyer
*Copyright 2004 Kimbel Publication Inc. Reprinted with permission*

Crime novelist from Essex finds her writing voice through religion

Christian writer calls her work 'God-inspired'

by Lisa Harlow

In her quiet Kayden Lane rowhouse, Melody Ravert tackles domestic violence, rival gangs and deadly stalkers.

But these aren't her real-life issues. They're all in a day's work for this Christian fiction author.

In her second book, Avenging Sword, which was released in May, Ravert follows rival gangs in West Chicago that stand for hatred and bigotry and perform senseless killings. Only when they find God, says Ravert, can they remove themselves from the path they have chosen to follow.

"No, I did not go into the streets of Chicago and say 'Hi, guys. I'm here doing research,'" says Ravert, who gets most of her information online and by watching movies.
   
She also gets some material from her work as a hotline volunteer for the House of Ruth, a shelter for abused women in Baltimore.
   
Avenging Sword is the second book in a trilogy. Ravert's first novel, Shadow of Death, published in December 2002, is a legal thriller that follows a criminal defense attorney and domestic violence victim, Carla Summers, who takes on the case of an alleged stalker/murderer.
   
Nonreligious readers will enjoy her work, Ravert says, "as long as they know that they should just read it with an open heart. It's not preachy. There's lots of romance and suspense."
   
She says her books are "a combination of Christian and non-Christian characters and how they deal with the challenges of life in general. It's only through a relationship with God that you can get through times of trouble."
   
"I write about things that are happening in life. It's fiction, but it's just like picking up the morning paper," Ravert says.
   
"Everything is so relevant. That's the biggest thing."
    
Ravert started writing as a child, but began to pursue it more seriously about six years ago when she got connected to the Internet. She wrote for various Web sites and was drawn to the genre of Christian fiction.
    
"The Lord led me to inspirational writing," she says.
 
"This should not really be my name here," she says, tearfully pointing to the cover of Avenging Sword. It is God-inspired. I felt him."

 Initially, Ravert never intended to get her work published: "I thought it was too much trouble. I wrote for myself."
    
But while surfing the Internet, Ravert came across Publish America, a Frederick, Md., company that caters to first-time authors. Ravert submitted Shadow of Death electronically, and two weeks later, Publish America accepted her novel.
    
Ravert gets a percentage of the retail sales of her books. Shadow of Death has sold about 100 copies.
    
Ravert's books are being sold at the Barnes and Noble in Bel Air and on her Web sites. You can also borrow a copy of Shadow of Death at the Essex Library, where Ravert will hold a book signing this Saturday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
    
A book signing last month at Watersedge Baptist Church in Dundalk, where she and her husband, Tim, are members, included a seminar on domestic violence.
    
    
"The church and our pastor have been very supportive," she says.
    
Ravert and her husband are penning a nonfiction book about the struggles of couples with special needs children. The Raverts have a 12-year-old daughter, Stephanie, who has a mild form of autism.
    
Ravert also is working on the last book in her trilogy, but says, "I hesitate to finish the last one because that will be it."   
    
But even that might not be the last you hear of Ravert's heroine Carla Summers.
    
The author has been talking to a source about developing the books into a movie script. She even knows who she'd like to play Summers: Sandra Bullock.

    
"What's so nice is what's happening with the Christian world in Hollywood," Ravert says. "Look at Mel Gibson and The Passion of the Christ."

    
While it would be nice for Ravert's words to touch millions of people through the movies, she would be happy if just one reader of Avenging Sword comes away better equipped to deal with the issue of anger.

    
"Stopping the violence starts with ourselves," Ravert says. "Even Jesus got angry, but how did He respond? Even in our own family, there are things we can do to turn a negative into a positive-say 'I'm sorry,' give a hug. We need to get over the fear of our differences."

Inspirational

Essex author spreads God's word through fiction

By Jean A. Flanagan - The Avenue News

Who killed Pamela Morrison and why? Why does defense attorney Carla Summers believe the man who admits stalking the victim is innocent in her death? How can Carla move forward from her painful past and start trusting people again? These questions and many more are asked and answered in Melody Ravert's first published novel "Shadow of Death."

Essex resident Ravert grew up loving to write and loving The Lord. As a youngster, she had a fascination for superheroes, fairy tales and romance. She wrote short stories and plays, mostly with those themes.

About two years ago, a friend suggested she check out the internet. Ravert found a web site that specialized in romance stories and would accept submissions from unknown authors.

"I was writing romance and erotica under a pseudonym," Ravert said. "I loved to write, but I wasn't at peace with myself. I felt that God had given me a gift; a passion, and I struggled with how to give Him the glory through my writing."

Ravert stumbled on a few web sites that specialized in Inspirational Romance and Spiritual Fiction and found very little under the category of Christian Mysteries. "I found one author, who became my favorite, Terri Blackstock," she said. "She writes Christian suspense. She puts characters in real-life situations, but their Christian values come through. I thought, I can do that."

Once she decided on a genre, Ravert set to work on the story. She enjoys television shows like "The Practice" and "Crime Scene Investigation" and thought a female defense attorney would make a good main character. "Carla is a Christian woman, but there's not a lot of me in her," she said.

"Shadow of Death" took about a year to complete. Then came the daunting task of getting it published. "I sent it to several publishers and Publish America said they would publish it," Ravert said.

Although she does her own marketing and promoting, Ravert said she's gotten a lot of help along the way. "Walden Books in Frederick and the Barnes & Noble store in Belair have been very supportive," she said. "The managers really go out of their way to help young, local authors."

"Shadow of Death" is actually the first in a series of three books. Ravert is working on the second, entitled "Avenging Sword" which is about racial prejudice and street gangs in Chicago.

Now, Ravert admits, she has no first-hand knowledge of either of those subjects, but she is willing to learn. "I'm told the truth is in the books, at the library," she said. "And I do a lot of internet research." While Ravert admits the subjects she writes about are controversial, she believes God has taken her down this path for a reason. "Christian murder mysteries are like contemporary church services," she said. "They're not for everybody."

"But I want to write about real people in real situations and how they keep their Christian faith; about the fact that bad things happen to good people. I write what I would like to read."

"Shadow of Death" can be ordered through any bookstore or on-line at www.mysticrose.us or at www.authorsden.com/melodyravert.