By Briana Bass, Christian Romance Author, Devotional Writer & Certified Professional Coach

When I first began my writing journey, I felt like I was on an island.

Traditional Christian publishing is full of gatekeepers who require authors to agree with a specific theology. Since I refused to compromise on my interpretation of loving one’s neighbor, I chose to self-publish and eliminate the gatekeeping.

I spent a lot of 2024 questioning my decisions. Did I make a mistake? Should I remove the faith elements and write secular romance instead? Should I align with the genre expectations of Christian romance and remove references to the LGBTQ+ community, alcohol, and sex?

Not to spoil my books, but I’m sticking with Christian romance full of diverse characters facing twenty-first century problems, who love and accept their brothers and sisters from all walks of life. While I know there are readers out there who love what I’m writing (shout out to you all!), I have also encountered readers who are appalled by some elements I have included in my stories.

Honestly, I don’t care if some people don’t like my books. What bothered me was feeling alone and not finding other like-minded Christian authors. Thankfully, that’s all changed. In 2025 I have been blessed to meet other Christian authors and readers who also color outside the lines of traditional Christian publishing. We do exist! And we’re starting to make our voices heard.

What is Christian Fiction Anyway?

Modern Christian fiction launched in the 1950s. At the time, many secular publishing houses refused to publish Christian books so Christians created their own publishing companies and their own bookstores catering largely to conservative Evangelicals. Though many of the brick-and-mortar stores have disappeared due to the rise of online shopping, Christian publishing is still going strong.

Christian fiction remains a wildly popular, especially Christian romance. Other popular subgenres include Christian fantasy and Christian young adult books. But, just like secular fiction, Christian fiction subgenres are also changing. We’re seeing a rise in Christian romantasy, Christian thrillers and suspense, and Christian science fiction.

Do those subgenres surprise you? I’ve talked with readers who are shocked that Christian thrillers and suspense books even exist. There’s a stereotype surrounding Christian fiction: sanitization. Yep, many people associate Christian books with rainbows and butterflies, where everything is perfect, characters are moral, and no one faces actual problems.

That stereotype exists for a reason. It’s a spot-on description of Christian fiction of the late-twentieth century. Romances were largely Amish, and science fiction was laser-focused on the Rapture. The Christian elements in these stories were heavy-handed, promoting a specific theology, and ostracizing anyone who had a different interpretation of Scripture. As an author and as a reader, those books aren’t for me.

My Books Aren’t for Everyone

I aim to be transparent about what to expect if you read my books. There will be women pastors, interracial relationships, innuendo, mental health representation, hearing and visually impaired representation, alcohol, physical attraction and arousal, off-page premarital sex, Jewish and Muslim characters, and LGBTQ+ characters.

Some readers do not consider the above list to align with Christian values and beliefs (unless characters were to convert to Christianity, stop drinking, or pursue straight relationships, which will not happen in my books). I do try to emphasize making safe choices when it comes to alcohol, and engaging in healthy, consensual sexual practices. But I will not pretend that Christian fiction is limited to white, straight, able-bodied readers.

Not everyone will like my books and that’s okay. That’s applicable for any book! Some people don’t enjoy romance books whether they are secular or Christian, just like some people don’t enjoy mysteries or don’t enjoy horror. The beauty of literature is that there is something for everyone.

Christian Fiction is Changing

Self-publishing has opened doors for Christian authors who don’t fit within the traditional publishing framework. We are not obligated to follow anyone’s rules. A decade ago, we would have been hard pressed to find publishers that would accept our books. Now, we can bypass them entirely and spread God’s love and mercy through the stories we want to tell.

Characters who swear? We’ve got them. Characters who drink and have premarital sex? We’ve got them. Characters who visit other planets and interact with aliens? They’re here, too. What about spicy sex scenes or graphic violence? Yep, you’ll find some of that in modern Christian fiction. Just like with secular subgenres, twenty-first century Christian fiction is a spectrum where you can choose what you feel comfortable reading.

Christian fiction is not what it used to be. Yes, you can absolutely still find books from traditional Christian publishers and conservative authors that fit within society’s concept of “Christian fiction.” But there are many of us pushing the envelope, promoting other interpretations, and trying to change the definition of Christian fiction.