Of Arabs and Americans

Aaron Kelley

With one book published and another on the way, Jana Kelley writes a harrowing tale of a more dangerous side of Christianity that few have endured.

Having spent more than half of her life away from her passport country, Jana Kelley has written two devotionals and one novel about her experiences of living overseas. Prior to coming to Southeast Asia, Kelley lived in Sudan for eight years, along with her husband and three boys.

Her time in Sudan taught her about the dangers that Arab believers face. In strict Islamic countries like Sudan, Muslims who convert from Islam to Christianity disobey Islamic law and face potentially fatal persecution.

Kelley retells her personal experience with one such Arab Christian in her debut fiction novel, Side By Side.

Based on actual events, Side by Side tells the story of a Muslim woman named Halimah who becomes a Christian. Her Muslim family abuses her because of her faith, forcing her to escape and seek refuge in the home of an American family for nine months. Mia, the mother of the American family, forms a deep bond with Halimah while she hides away from her family and those who know her.

Kelley has a heart for telling stories that people would not otherwise hear. "So many stories about heroes of the faith are left untold," said Kelley, "Writing Halimah's story was one way that I could share what God is doing in a closed country like Sudan."

When asked what tips she would give to aspiring fiction novelists, she said, "Just keep writing. Keep a notebook of your ideas. Put yourself out there so that others can read your work."

This gripping novel, Side by Side, is available in the Dalat Library and on Amazon. If you would like to find out more about Jana Kelley and her books, check out her website at www.janakelley.com.