Honestly, I’m not fussy. I enjoy historical and contemporary settings. I’m more interested in reading a novel with an intriguing plot and compelling characters—setting is a distant third.
Having said that, I would like to read more original settings in both historical and contemporary fiction.
A lot of Christian historical fiction is set in the US, either around Western expansion, or around Gilded Age New York. I’ve read a lot of both, and now there has to be a unique twist to catch my attention (e.g. The Express Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse, which features the manager of a Pony Express station, or An Agent for Kitty by Nerys Leigh, which features a female Pinkerton agent hunting for dinosaur bones).
England is the other main setting for Christian historical fiction. Again, I enjoy titles featuring a unique twist or setting (e.g. A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh by Carolyn Miller, which also features an “undergroundologist” hunting for dinosaur bones, or Among the Poppies by J’nell Ciesielwski, which is set in World War One France).
I’d like to see more historical fiction set in other countries e.g. India, China, New Zealand, Russia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe … anywhere.
The same holds true for contemporary fiction.
It’s almost all set in mainland USA, with the odd title in Alaska or Hawaii. If an alien read contemporary Christian fiction, they’d be forgiven for thinking there are no Christians outside the USA—which is obviously false.
Yes, I understand many American readers like to read novels set in familiar settings. So do those of us living outside the USA.
Also, it’s said that travel broadens the mind. I’ve travelled a lot, and I can confirm this is true. Travel, whether in real life or through the pages of a novel, introduces us to new places, people, and perspectives. Understanding others gives us the ability to empathise with them, and that makes us better people—and better Christians.
PREACH! I empathise completely. As a British African, I long for diversity in Christian literature. It puts me off when the authors default to tried-and-tested locale.
Regency England and ‘small town USA’ seem overdone and no longer interest me, especially when authors skimp on research and their characters speak in Americanism despite being set in the Georgian period! I feel that I can accurately guess the plot line by the location – big US city – it’s going to be a suspense or thriller, English countryside – gothic; and this is a shame!
My favourite authors are able to write authentically about a range of settings, such as Francine Rivers bringing Ancient Rome to life in her Mark of Lion series, transporting me to California Gold Rush era in Redeeming Love as capably as she did contemporary Los Angeles in The Masterpiece. Siri Mitchell is another maestro that comes to mind – her writing skill is immediately apparent as she deftly captures an eclectic array of settings.
Yes, Regency is at risk of being overdone in the way Tudor was overdone a while back (I am so over Henry VIII). I’d love to see more varied settings.