WRITING HIS STORY THROUGH FICTION with Golden Keyes Parsons

What makes Christian fiction Christian? How can one cloak the gospel in a fiction genre in a believable manner, and why would one even want to do that? Do you feel Christian fiction belongs in the public library or is it only for the church library? Is Christian fiction only for Christians?

I began writing in the non-fiction venue. I am a Bible teacher by spiritual gifting. The natural outgrowth of that was to write Bible studies, devotionals, general inspiration books and articles. Fortunately, several articles were picked up and published in slicks and compilations. Three of my books got into committee at three different publishers, but no contract. I received comments such as “good writing, but preachy;” “talented writer, but doesn’t fit our publishing needs;” “good book, but we want an author who has a large national speaking platform.” Very little of what the Lord had planted in my life was being published.

One year at the Glorieta Christian Writers Conference, I attended a fiction class. What I heard demonstrated to me that the same principles I longed to share through my Bible studies and inspirational books might be more palatable written in a fiction genre. I had been bitten by the fiction bug. I was intrigued. I felt compelled to try my hand at it.

Several years ago, I inherited a published family genealogy, which chronicled the flight of my French Huguenot family from the persecution of the Catholic government in 17th century France. I began to write an historical fiction around those events, and what resulted was a four-book contract with Thomas Nelson to tell the story.

I find it challenging to portray believable characters who struggle with their faith, and yet emerge stronger in their walk, without being didactic or hokey. Will the reader be put off, and consider it “preachy” if a prayer is included or a salvation scene? Does a salvation scene need to be included for the book to be considered “Christian fiction?” If not, what does need to be included for the book to be considered Christian fiction – a biblical world view? Good morals? Redeeming qualities in your characters? Inspirational – and what does “inspirational” mean? Are there not secular books that are “inspirational?”

How does the Christian author maintain a reader’s interest when what is needed, as Donald Maass reiterated time and again at ACFW conference, is tension and conflict? How does the Christian author write a convincing, attention-grabbing, reader-thrilling clash of good and evil, so as to produce strong conflict without resorting to vile language, gory scenes and blatant, sexual content? It can be done, but it takes the hard work of good writing. I believe it takes a very skilled writer to portray good tension without resorting to explicit language or scenes. (On that note, I learned volumes in the Donald Maass seminar, as did we all, I’m sure. But did you get the feeling that he has no idea the hoops Christian writers must jump through to portray tension without bad language or explicit scenes?)
But we still have the question, what makes Christian fiction Christian? What sets it apart from simply a good, clean book that is rated “G?”

As Christian authors, maybe we need to ask ourselves—whom do we wish to reach? Our personal holy huddle of friends and family? That’s not necessarily bad, but some people we need to touch for the kingdom will never pick up an inspirational book on marriage or the spiritual disciplines or a Bible study. But they might pick up a Christian novel. And the Holy Spirit just might touch that heart and draw them to the Father through perhaps one sentence in that Christian novel. And that reader just might contact you, the author, for further comment. And you just might be able to share Jesus with them. To be able to unexpectedly touch a heart through a page-turning, inspiring, Christian novel excites me.


What are your thoughts? What makes our writing as Christian novelists different? What makes Christian fiction Christian?



Golden Keyes Parsons is a popular retreat/conference speaker who issues the challenge: dare to take God seriously. Her first novel, In The Shadow Of The Sun King, (The Darkness To Light Novel Series, Thomas Nelson Publishers) released in the Fall ‘08. The sequel, A Prisoner Of Versailles, released September ’09. She also has written and published a Bible study for women, entitled The Wise Woman Builds, and has had numerous articles published in such periodicals as Marriage Partnership, Angels On Earth, Just Between Us and Lookout Magazine, as well as several compilations.

Golden is an ordained pastor, and she and her husband have just retired from the senior pastorate in Red River, NM.

www.goldenkeyesparsons.com