Asbury English Professor Publishes Novel for Young People

August 16, 2023

Asbury University Professor of English Dr. Devin Brown recently published his second novel for young people. “Not Exactly Love” is available from Amazon where it has been named the #1 New Release in Teen & Young Adult Christian Relationship Fiction: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Exactly-Love-Devin-Brown/dp/195736212X. His first middle grade novel, “Not Exactly Normal,” came out in 2005.

“Not Exactly Love” tells the funny and moving story of a precocious, word-happy girl named Leda Johnson who suffers from a secret and severe case of semi-requited love — meaning she has a friend who is a boy but not her boyfriend, but she wishes he was. With “Rolling and Rocking,” St. Luke’s first annual Valentine’s Day roller skating party, rapidly approaching, she wonders what will come of her unspoken dream.

The new book is a follow-up to “Not Exactly Normal,” with both books having the same main characters and settings. Brown emphasizes that “Not Exactly Love” is a stand-alone book (not a sequel), meaning it can be read without having read the first novel. “Not Exactly Normal” (2005) received numerous awards, including the Children’s Book Council Notable Social Studies Book 2006, the Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year 2006 / Kentucky Bluegrass Award 2006, and the Weekly Reader Six Flags “Read to Succeed” Book (2006-2007).

Dr. Devin Brown is a Lilly Scholar and has authored more than two dozen books — including biographies of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. Last year, he wrote the Discussion Guide for “C.S. Lewis On Stage: Further Up & Further In,” the second play following C.S. Lewis’ life produced by the Fellowship for Performing Arts. Continuing Lewis’ story from the first play, “C.S. Lewis On Stage: The Most Reluctant Convert,” this one-man show surrounded C.S. Lewis’ journey, starring Max McLean who wrote both plays.

“The collaboration between Asbury and the Fellowship for Performing Arts is the kind of thing I hope we will do more of in the future,” Brown said. “Combining our scholarship with the most popular Christian drama in the country is allowing us to reach thousands of people beyond our campus and connects us with some of the best Christian actors, writers, and directors at work today.”

Asbury University’s English Department encourages students and their families to schedule personalized campus visits in which they can meet for one-on-one appointments with professors: https://www.asbury.edu/admissions-aid/visit/. To learn more about Asbury University’s English Department, visit: https://www.asbury.edu/academics/departments/english/.