I’ve been asked this before, why do I write Christian romance? It’s a fair question. With all the genres and subgenres out there that move way more copies, why do all my stories huddle together under the smaller, less lucrative umbrella of Christian romance?
It’s Simple
I write romance because our pursuit of human love, in some ways, mirrors God’s relentless pursuit of us. And I love writing stories that show God’s pursuit of His children. He never gives up on us. He never walks away. He never fails.
I believe our world needs clean, wholesome, and God-honoring narratives. It needs stories of purity, characters that honor the Lord, and illustrations of how true satisfaction comes from a right relationship with God and not from a human relationship. We need stories that showcase love thriving within the boundaries God has created and give hope to those who have only known broken love. We need stories of hope. Not hope in the right man, but hope in the Lord.
An Example of Love
In a culture that overflows with poor examples of love, I want to show readers what it looks like when someone cherishes you, what it costs to love sacrificially, and what it means to put someone else’s needs before your own. I want them to see love is worth it, and then set the bar high, refusing the settle for anything less than a partner who loves the Lord completely and loves others more than self.
I want readers to know what real love is so that when cheap imitations arrive with honeyed words and lofty promises, they are wise to its seduction. I want them to want more than crude jokes, filth, and stolen kisses.
When the apostle Paul penned 1 Corinthians 13 to the people of Corinth, he wasn’t penning a sappy Valentine’s Day definition of love. By the time the people of Corinth got to chapter 13, they all knew this was a correction. They were not loving well, so Paul was going to tell them how to change. I want to write stories that reflect this changed love that is determined to love as the Lord requires, no matter the personal cost.
HEA
In this genre, you can count on a HEA, your happily ever after ending—and I like that. But more important than finding her one true love is my heroine’s growth in her walk with the Lord. More important than saving the day, winning the girl, and defeating the villain is my hero’s surrender to God. Yes, I write romance. But the real story is exposing the lie my characters believe about themselves, the world, or God and proving that lie to be untrue. The real story is that God is the Hero, the pursuer of our hearts, and the lover of our souls. The real story is how human love, even the best love story, is only a shadow of the love Jesus has for His bride.
Yes, you read that right. This post is full of free short stories or novellas that can be yours. These have been generously offered to you by “clean read” authors as a Valentine gift. To download your copy, click the link under the image and enter your email. This subscribes you to the author’s newsletter, so you don’t miss out on any future deals. You can unsubscribe at any time. What a great way to discover new authors!
Disclaimer: I share a publishing house with the two authors below. Both are clean stories with an element of faith.
I’ve highlighted Carol James before, and I am happy to let you know she gives her newsletter subscribers a free short story called Promises. Isn’t the cover calming? Water scenes always help me relax.
Where is a special place you’ve always wanted to visit? Emily’s dream was to go to the top of the Eiffel tower on Valentine’s Day. But when her fiancé’s job prevents him from joining her in Paris, she must decide whether to go to the top without him or turn her back on her dream. Read more of Emily’s story in Promises.
E.A. West is offering a short romantic suspense called Saving Chasity. I’m drafting a suspense story, and I’m eating up titles that keep me in this mindset.
Security guard Kennedy Drake loves exploring dark places. His elderly neighbor’s call about strange noises in her basement provides the perfect opportunity to explore the space and ensure her safety. Instead of the burglar his neighbor expected, Kennedy discovers a woman trapped in a hidden room. After he hears that her police officer ex-boyfriend is stalking her, he’s determined to help her escape the nightmare.
I’ve also joined up with a group of 50 “clean romance” authors to offer you an early Valentine’s Day gift. Each author is giving away a sweet Valentine’s read! I HAVE NOT READ THESE STORIES, but I have been guaranteed they are PG-13 or under. Take a look. Maybe you’ll find one you like. And free is the perfect price-point for checking out new-to-you writers. To see the selection of titles, click the link under the image. It will take you to the selection of books. If a cover catches your eye, click on it, and enter your email. This subscribes you to the author’s newsletter, so you don’t miss out on any future deals. You can unsubscribe at any time. What a great way to discover new authors!
On February 14th, five years ago, our daughter woke-up at 6:15 am. She went straight to her desk and crafted a Valentine for each member of the family. By the time the rest of us lazy bums arose, she had created a beautiful card to celebrate her love for each one of us.
As I rested in bed, listening to her papers rustle and the scissors snap, the verses from Romans 5:7-9 flashed through my mind.
“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But, God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
How fitting that on Valentine’s Day, when the whole world celebrates the feeling of love, God would remind me of His decision to love.
When I was my most unlovable, Jesus died for me. He didn’t do it because I wooed Him with charm or won Him with beauty. He chose to love me. He gave me the best Valentine’s Day gift ever – the invitation to enter into eternal life with Him.
Happy Valentine’s Day. I pray you will all know the great love of our God.
