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.

Author Interview with Lori

Q: What was the inspiration behind this novel?

Lori: For Offsides, I actually outlined a different plot. However, my editor said they already had a book in line to publish that had a similar story—could I come up with something new? I talked with my critique group, and one of the girls brought up human trafficking. I wasn’t comfortable with that topic and immediately said no. But it kept coming up in the news, and the pull, the conviction that I should tackle this topic wouldn’t go away. And I noticed, like I had with the lack of books with female athletes—that there was a lack of books that talk about this growing issue. An issue more prevalent than ever before. I knew it would be hard to write, but I set out to do it anyway. I started with research. The more I learned, the more I became convinced that this book could make a difference in someone’s life. That it could be more than just a sports story. Gathering information, talking to people involved in trafficking ministries, and reading articles online helped me build a foundation for the plot.

Q:Do any of the novel’s characters hold a special place in your heart?

Lori: The main character, Danielle Stephens, is my favorite. She loves sports and she’s pretty witty, but she’s also painfully introverted. In Offsides, we not only see her desire to fit in but how awkward it is for her to connect with others. That push and pull of conflicting emotions is something many people can relate to. Readers who have reached out to me say they resonated with the authenticity of Dani. One reader asked, “How were you able to capture the anxiety and isolation of an introvert so accurately? I didn’t think anyone understood.” And, choking back tears, she admitted, “That was me. In high school. I was Dani.”

I think it’s the struggle Dani goes through that makes me love her most. And the fact that despite her fear and vulnerability, she never gives up on the hope of connection.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote from this novel?

Lori: I’ve got a few favorites. But this line is kind of powerful. Before you read it, here’s some background. This is a thought from Dani, the main character. She’s an introvert and often at a loss for words in group settings. She feels the discomfort other’s feel when she’s quiet. And she says:

Sometimes, I think people shy away from silence because they fear what they might find in the void.

Q: What do you hope readers take away from this novel?

Lori: Awareness—of the people around us who may be struggling or feeling isolated, and awareness of the dangers posed by trafficking predators.

Hope—for readers to understand they are not alone in their feelings and that together we can support and encourage each other.

Prayer—it is powerful.

Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers wouldn’t know?

Lori: I can draw and write forwards and backwards (And even upside down) with both hands at the same time.

Q: What do you like to do when you aren't writing?

Lori: I doodle. A lot. Growing up I wanted to be a cartoonist. In second grade, I colored the entire surface of my desk. (I got in trouble, of course.) In high school, I drew the Adventures of Super Cat in the margins of my science notebook. And in college, our professor said we could select a project that showed our understanding of educational philosophy for our final grade. Everyone in the class turned in a term paper. I turned in a comic book called “Freckles and Spaz” and got an A+. I can actually draw forwards and backwards with both hands at the same time. All that said, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m an average artist. But I have fun with it and it relaxes me.

Q: Where can readers find out more about you and your novel?

Lori: Instagram @Stories.by.Lori

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lori.Z.Scott

Website https://www.lori-z-scott.com

Order the book on Amazon https://tinyurl.com/ba75jjs8

or at End Game Press https://www.endgamepress.com/store/p/offsides or other book outlets.

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