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.
Passionate might best describe Liz Tolsma. She loves writing, research, and editing. Her passion shone through in her first novel which was a double award finalist. On any given day, you might find her pulling weeds in her perennial garden, walking her hyperactive dog, or curled up with a good book. Nothing means more to her than her family. She’s married her high-school sweetheart twenty-eight years ago. Get her talking about international adoption, and you might never get her to stop. She and her husband adopted three children, including a son who is a U.S. Marine, and two daughters.
Nerys Leigh writes thoroughly romantic Christian historical love stories. She loves heroes who are strong but sweet and heroines who are willing to fight for the life they want.
Catherine West is an award-winning author of contemporary women’s fiction. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or reading books by her favorite authors. She and her husband reside in Bermuda, and have two adult children and two beautiful granddaughters.
Rachel Fordham is the author of The Hope of Azure Springs. She started writing when her children began begging her for stories at night. She’d pull a book from the shelf, but they’d insist she make one up. Finally, she paired her love of good stories with her love of writing and hasn’t stopped since. She lives with her husband and children on an island in the state of Washington.
Kellie Coates Gilbert has won readers’ hearts with her compelling and highly emotional stories about women and the relationships that define their lives. A former legal investigator, she is especially known for keeping readers turning pages and creating nuanced characters who seem real.
My name is Nyah and I’m a hacker. I know things most people would never believe. Things that shouldn’t exist, but do.
Ted Dekker is a New York Times best-selling author of over thirty novels. Heralded as a“master of suspense” by Library Journal, Dekker has sold millions worldwide, establishing himself as one of the most widely recognized author brands.
Tammy L. Gray lives in the Dallas area with her family, and they love all things Texas, even the erratic weather patterns. She writes modern Christian romance with true-to-life characters and culturally-relevant plot lines. She believes hope and healing can be found through high quality fiction that inspires and provokes change.
