One of the complaints about Christian fiction is that the novels are filled with cliche characters who don’t reflect real life: Mr Almost-Perfect meets Miss Practically Perfect, they overcome a minor doctrinal difference (are you a real Christian if you read the 1769 King James Version rather than the 1604 version?), and live happily ever after.
Others complain that the hero and heroine are always rich, good-looking, and successful, and their conflicts are #FirstWorldProblems. In other words, that the characters don’t reflect real life (however defined).
Many authors try and bring real life into the Christian fiction they write. Some brand this as “edgy” Christian fiction, as a way of separating their books in the market.
What is “Edgy” Christian Fiction?
First, we need to remember there is no universal definition for Christian fiction. I’ve discussed this before:
Edgy is an equally difficult term to define. In broad terms, my observations suggest “edgy” is a term applied to any Christian fiction that doesn’t fit the cookie-cutter fiction traditional publishers tend to put out (because publishing is a business, and following the formula is seen as the route to financial success).
Edgy can include:
- Characters who have problems with alcohol or illegal drugs. Conservative Christian readers will consider any novel in which a character drinks alcohol to be edgy. Owning a vineyard is definitely edgy. Proper Christians, it seems, never touch alcohol. Not even in Holy Communion.
- Characters who have problems with addictions such as gambling or pornography.
- Characters who have been physically abused as children.
- Characters who have been sexually abused.
- Characters who have had abortions, or babies out of wedlock.
- Divorced characters.
Unfortunately, these are real-life situations for many readers, Christian and otherwise. The world is full of hurting people who have been affected by these problems, either as the victim or the perpetrator. Jesus came to save the lost, and too many Christian novels pretend they don’t exist.
As such, there is a market for “edgy” Christian fiction, as readers with less than ideal backgrounds seek fiction that reflects their reality. Yes, sometimes this fiction pushes the envelope of what is typically considered Christian fiction. But that is probably an envelope that needs pushing (if you’ll excuse the bad analogy).
What is Diverse Christian Fiction?
Another envelope that needs pushing is diversity in Christian fiction. Most CBA novels from ECPA publishers have a lot in common:
- They are set in the United States of America—the main exception is a small number of historical romances set in England, usually Regency or Edwardian England.
- They feature predominantly white characters, although a growing number feature Hispanic main characters.
- A smaller number feature people of Native American or African-American heritage, and even fewer feature other racial minorities such as Asian-American. Where novels do feature minorities, they are likely to be self-published or from a small press.
- Most novels are non-denominational, although the characters are clearly Protestant (usually conservative evangelical) rather than Roman Catholic or Orthodox or some other Christian denomination.
There is room for the Christian fiction market to expand to include characters who represent a broader cross-section of the Christian church.
This includes:
- Fiction set outside the United States and Regency England.
- Historical fiction representing nations and cultures other than the United States and England or Scotland.
- Fiction from the point of view of indigenous peoples.
- Fiction from the point of view of non-white immigrants.
This gives more of us the chance to see ourselves on the page. Yes, I include myself in “diverse”. I’m from New Zealand, and there is a dearth of fiction featuring Kiwi characters or Kiwi settings, much less Kiwi characters in New Zealand.
There are authors writing and publishing edgy fiction, diverse fiction (and even edgy and diverse fiction), but I’d like to see more.
I’d especially like to see more edgy and diverse fiction from the large traditional publishers.
Would you?
I love this post. I want to believe there is a market for edgy Christian fiction, but I’ve got to admit that I’m struggling to find it. I write edgy contemporary Christian romance set in Scotland. My current series is about three ladies who start a business selling period cups in Scotland so they can fund donating period cups to girls in places where mental hygiene management causes girls to drop out of school early. Along the way they confront real faith issues and find love. Personally I’d much rather read books that push further than just being ‘nice’, but I find it’s difficult to find romance within the Christian genre that is willing to really go there. I’d love some recommendations if you have any!
I love your concept, but it is one that would gain more traction with a US setting. It’s hard to find any contemporary Christian fiction with a Scottish setting.
Ah, this is grand!
I’m a South African who has written two “Christian” novels set in a post-apocalyptic North America, with diverse characters and several rather edgy issues.
These were supposed to be the first two of a five book series.
To clarify: the post-apocalyptic aspect is not “Mad Max”, it’s speculation about how society and technology will look if these are not the absolute last days, and climate change, resource depletion, pandemics, and the like disrupt our societies. Think organic agriculture, blacksmithing, wood stoves, Stirling engines, bamboo and hemp airships, clockwork-powered TIVA (total intravenous anaesthesia), semi-automatic rifles, spinning wheels, sheep dairying, phytomining, etc.
I was born again this last December. I got born again on my 37th birthday, after a lifetime of being a “Christian”, including in some supposedly very solid churches…
Since then, I’ve decided to move my novels to South Africa (keeping the post-apocalyptic setting), expand it to a twelve book series (incorporating biblical storylines such as that of David and Bathsheba), and make it *more* edgy. A lot more. The edginess I had before was partly there from an unsaved desire to shock, and partly from a social justice longing to address evil in the world.
But the only Saviour for the world, the only answer to all our sin, sickness, and suffering, is Jesus.
If I am to write books that truly show his hope, I need to show our darkness. I do not intend to pull any punches in presenting the gospel: we are desperately sick sinners in need of a Saviour, and our need does not stop when we are born again. That’s just the start of a liberating walk of utter dependence.
So I guess I’m writing a Christian post-apocalyptic grimdark series set in South Africa…
Either it bomb, or it’ll blow up. I don’t think moderate success is on the cards for something this out there.
Thank you for sharing your story, David. Grimdark is a term I’ve come across, but not one I’ve seen in the Christian market as yet. This could be because Christian fiction tends to focus around positive themes, such as hope, forgiveness, and redemption. I do agree that we can’t necessarily see hope without understanding the darkness, but there will need to be a balance in order to find and engage readers. Check out Enclave Publishing – they may have some comparable authors or titles.
Is there a reason for shifting your setting to South Africa (apart from the obvious: it’s what you know)? Most Christian fiction is set in the US, mostly because that’s where the current reader base is. However, self-publishing does make it easier to attract the attention of non-US readers.
Best wishes with your writing journey!
I wonder if challenging Christians to think outside the religious box is considered ‘edgy’, or just plain heresy. Pre Adamic cultures, God’s absolute unlimited power vs. free will, Nephilim presence in past and present societies and an undecided war between good and evil. Those who read the EDEN QUEST series really like it but I don’t seem to be able to find a market for it or Christians that will give it a chance. Should I stop wasting my time?
How many books are in the series? I heard one author say at a conference that it takes around five books for her to know whether a series has caught the market’s attention. Of course, that’s a lot of time and work to put into something that the market isn’t interested in!
Perhaps you could write something that’s more in line with what is currently selling (e.g. Biblical fiction or timeslip), and introduce a speculative element. That might make it easier to find a readership who will then investigate your Eden Quest series.
Thank you so much for your reply. There are going to be 4 or 5 books in the Eden Quest series. Book three is in process right now, but my co-author died in November 2020 of covid 19 and I am having a hard time returning to the story.
In the meantime I started another book that will be less ‘edgy’. I have never heard the term ‘timeslip’ before, but it seems that that is exactly what I am writing. A twenty first century troubled young man finds himself awakening one morning to discover that he now occupies the body of one of Jesus apostles. He views Jesus ministry through his own eyes and experiences. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and several other women play larger roles than were originally portrayed in the gospels. Your kindness and encouragement to continue are greatly appreciated.
One additional comment. I was extremely disappointed with the editor we choose for the first two Eden Quest books. (It was one book then- 210,000 words and she may have just been overwhelmed by the volumn). I would be looking for someone who would want to be more deeply involved and INVESTED in the final product. (Of course it’s possible that I’m a really awful writer and she just couldn’t bring herself to tell me that.) If you have a suggestion on how I might find such a person I would be grateful.
Thanks again. You have helped more than you know.
ken