I don’t know about you, but I like a good plan. A clear path. A sense of control that makes me feel like everything is going to be okay because I can manage it. But the longer I walk with God, the more I realize—those instincts are often the very things He invites me to release.
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There are days when I don’t even realize how much digital noise I’ve allowed into my heart. The world is loud, our feeds never stop refreshing, and our phones buzz like they have something urgent to say every five minutes. The truth is, most of it can wait. Our hearts, however, need rest. More →
Sometimes I have to remind myself to slow down. The world around us moves so fast — notifications, messages, updates — and it’s easy to mistake constant motion for meaning. But I’ve learned that some of the most important things God whispers can only be heard when we pause long enough to listen. More →
In faith-based fiction, a character’s backstory is the thread that weaves depth and authenticity into their journey. As a Christian author, knowing how and when to share a character’s past is key to keeping your readers engaged without bogging down the narrative.
When it comes to writing memorable stories—especially in faith-based fiction—how you introduce your characters can make all the difference. The first glimpse readers get of your protagonist, antagonist, or supporting cast sets the tone for how they’ll connect with them throughout the Christian novel.
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In Christian fiction, character development is central to storytelling. One of the most powerful tools a writer has is dialogue. More than just talk, dialogue reveals who a character is—what they believe, what they fear, and how they grow. Used with intention, dialogue becomes a mirror to the soul and a map for transformation.
In Christian fiction, every compelling character deserves an equally compelling world. Setting is far more than a backdrop—it’s a silent character of its own. It infuses mood into moments, challenges protagonists to grow, and often reveals the hidden truths of their hearts. Used with intention, setting becomes:
– an emotional mirror
– a source of conflict
– and a cradle for transformation
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The Power of Storytelling in the Christian Life
In a world overwhelmed by noise and distraction, stories have a way of reaching hearts in a quiet, personal way. As a Christian fiction author, I’ve discovered how deeply faith-based stories can reflect our real struggles—grief, doubt, hope, and healing—and ultimately point us back to God’s grace.
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If you’re an author hoping to connect with readers on a deeper level, one of the most important questions you can ask yourself is: Do my readers actually care about my characters?
Have you ever?
Have you ever picked up a book only to put it down after reading just a few chapters? Or, having finished a book, have you felt completely unsatisfied, as if the book failed you in some way? Someone told me once that probably the main reason we delve into a work of fiction is to escape. What I’ve found is that, while a book can be filled with exotic settings or fast-paced action, it can still feel “flat” to me. When I put some thought into it, I realized that the main reason the book felt “flat” to me was because I didn’t care about the main characters. I felt no sense of empathy for them. I found no reason to cheer them on. I didn’t like or dislike them. I simply didn’t care about them – or what happened to them. In short, I felt nothing. Surely, I can’t be the only one whose had this experience.
The Question
Perhaps one of the most-asked questions I’ve been on the receiving end of across my authorial journey is, “Why did you decide on the Christian genre?” I think the answer most expect is that I believe I was “called” by God to explore the genre. While that’s a very good reason to write in the genre, it never really felt like it was my reason. I’ve always believed that what I’ve been called to do is use the gifts God has given me to share the message of His love with others – some of which might not ever hear it outside of having possibly picked up my book by chance. A handful of years after stepping into writing in the Christian genre, I can still say that is my primary motivation behind everything I write (or hope to write).
A Look Behind the Scenes
Recently, however, I’ve been doing some pretty deep soul-searching because I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was another, more personal, reason behind just why I ventured into the world of the Christian genre author. The reason finally made itself apparent to me today as I was trying to put together a mental plot outline for my latest book, “More than Promises.” I started this book quite a while ago, and have written roughly 1700 words to date – and every thought was a struggle to put into words. I’d sit down and attempt to do so, but usually just end up walking away from it. Trust me when I say that there’s not anything that’s more frustrating to a writer than being at a loss for words. Why can’t I get it, I ask myself almost angrily. This just isn’t me, God – please help me with this. Please give me my words…
First Things First
It was as I was pacing back and forth through the house this morning that God gave me part of my answer. I suddenly realized that before I could write another word, I had to know why I wanted to write them – or, in this case, why I needed to write them. It became clear to me that the more personal reason for writing within the Christian genre – at least during this season God has put me in – is because I’m writing through grief. I’m trying to make sense of questions like, “Why does God let bad things happen to good people?” or “We prayed for healing…something we KNOW God can (and does) do…but that healing didn’t come – He chose not to heal that person. With those thoughts in my heart, I looked back on my first novel, Light of Grace, and could clearly see that I was trying to write through the grief of unexpectedly losing my mom in her sleep one night. When I started writing “More than Promises,” I had a general idea of where I wanted the story to go but couldn’t put my finger on the reason I wanted to write it. Lo and behold, there it was again – writing through grief.
BEAUTY FROM ASHES
In my first novel, Light of Grace, the reader walks alongside Sara Jacobs as she navigates the path of shattered dreams and grief toward learning to live again. What God teaches her along the way is that He does, in fact, make beauty from the ashes of our lives if we are willing to let Him. I’ll be transparent here and admit that, in so many ways, I still haven’t been quite able to open myself up completely to learning that lesson. But, like each one of us, I’m a work-in-progress.
WHAT WILL COME NEXT?
That was a question I was asked more than once by a few people who were kind enough to read my book before I published it. As I fumbled around for a response only to answer, “I don’t really know,” it was suggested that I write a second novel focusing on a character introduced briefly in the epilogue of Light of Grace, Lilly Wilkes. Lilly was the gift God created from the ashes of Sara’s life.
I have to say that I wasn’t really captured by that idea at first. I pulled out my first novel manuscript (one that never saw the light of day and probably never will) and toyed with the idea of re-writing it, moving it from the Romance genre to the Christian fiction genre. I tried. Many times. But it just wouldn’t come together. As I prayed about it, it felt as if the Lord was steering me towards picking up where Light of Grace left off and following Lilly Wilkes’ story. To date, I’ve only written about 4800 words, but the idea is slowly coming together. Once again, the spark came from a song: Broken Together by Casting Crowns. I’m currently struggling with making a plot outline while simply sitting down and writing, to see where the story will go – but it is my goal to have the novel completed by the end of 2025.
COMING in 2026:
So, please allow me to introduce my next novel, “More than Promises.”
Lilly Wilkes left her hometown with her dreams and her faith tucked away in her heart. Being accepted into Julliard promised the chance to make those dreams come true. Choosing between pursuing the path she believed God had put before her and the road paved by the pressures to fit in was never part of her plan. When a chance meeting with Marcus Allen, one of the biggest names in the music industry, catapults her into living in the spotlight, choices are made and lines are crossed. With her innocence lost, will her buried faith be enough to save her? Or will the person she used to be remain lost in the darkness of who she had become?
In the meantime, please check out Light of Grace, available on Amazon, in both a Kindle and paperback edition. Thanks for your support!
It’s a New Year…
The arrival of a new year is typically accompanied by the desire for “new” things: new goals, new dreams, and even contemplating what the list of the best Christian books of 2025 might look like. Because of my own search for both Christian fiction and a new yearly devotional, I thought I’d go through my own book collection and compile a list of some of my favorites. These are not new titles for 2025, but titles I definitely would recommend as the books to read in 2025, with my own books taking the top spots on my list 🙂
Christian Fiction:
Christian Non-fiction:
Devotionals:
Have Fun Reading!
I sure hope that sharing some of my favorites will guide you in picking out your best Christian books for 2025. Thanks in advance for (hopefully) choosing to add mine to your list!
