Why I’ve Stopped Publishing in Christian Fiction

I need to make a confession. And no, I’m not being glib or making a joke.  What I am doing is making an announcement to all my newsletter subscribers and on my blog to catch as many potential readers as possible.

Over the last year, more than a few comments in reviews (even good ones) have strayed towards readers being uncomfortable about ‘content’ because my books were touted as both ‘clean’ and ‘Christian’.

Bear with me while I explain. When I first published Disowned in 2017, I did so with the belief I had written a series which fitted into the category I enjoyed reading the most. Christian Fantasy.

It wasn’t until I started getting reviews in that I started wondering if I’d made an error. I soon discovered that the beliefs I held, were not in line with a lot of reader expectations for Christian Fantasy.

Finding this on the Goodreads definition for Christian Fiction was a light bulb moment for me. “In North America, the Christian novel has evolved into a specific genre of its own, written explicitly by and for Christians of a particular type.” Yes, I added the emphasis for a reason.
 
After a few months of soul searching and head scratching, I decided that while I was a Christian writing Fantasy, I wasn’t a Christian Fantasy Author.

As such, I shifted all my books into general market categories, crossed my fingers my work wasn’t too preachy, and that after a lot of fluffing about I would finally be accepted in that market instead. I’m happy to report, so far, so good.

The acceptance thus far into general market is a large part of why I will no longer be publishing within any Christian categories.

You see I’m not a particular type.  I’m a non-conforming Jesus loving, truth-seeking, misfit who is NOT writing for Christians of a particular type.

I’m writing for the broken. The lost and the damaged. I’m writing for the girls who grew up without a dad like I did. I’m writing for the girls who suffer depression and anxiety like me, I’m writing for the girls who’s first kiss wasn’t with Mr Right, yep, me too. But most of all I’m writing for fellow MISFITS whether they are Christian or not.

See my conundrum?  

While I am no longer writing to Christian markets and I can now produce the stories I feel led to write, I also need to respect the readers who may have expectations based on The Allegiance Series.

Some of the elements of family and faith through action will always be in my work because that’s a huge part of my life. But I will no longer censor mild language, violence and romance.

To summarise, and yes, I’ve put it in quotes because I WANT this shared.

“I am first and foremost a Christian who writes fiction containing elements of my faith. What I am not is an author who writes Christian fiction for the conservative Christian market.”

I hope that explains my reasoning and if you have any questions or concerns about the level of content etc. I’ll do my best to answer them.

On a completely different note..if you are still speaking to me, and would like to join my Facebook Readers Group, and pick up a free Prequel Allegiance Series Novella as well as multiple chances to win prizes, the link is below.  
 
In Truth and Love.

Sarah XX

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