Yes yes! Currently querying a novel: YA magical realism that raises questions about the deep heart, sin and its effects, and forgiveness, through two girls and a woods that people disappear into. I suspect it doesn’t quite fit in either publishing world—the clear Christian tones and themes might dislodge me from mainstream, but it’s too weird to fit what most trad Christian publishing puts out. So I’m not sure how this querying process will go!
That’s awesome! I just started listening to George MacDonald’s “Phantastes” on audiobook, which feels like a distant precursor to Christian themes set in mysterious woods. I hope you can find an agent that’s looking for this niche of writing!
Have you looked at Enclave Publishing? They are running infamous agent and publisher Steve Laube, and look for these kind of out-of-the-box Christian literature. Might want to check them out!
I hope that the tides are changing. I'm having a hard time finding space for my memoir about growing up in a family of heroin addicts and religious con artists. It is too gritty and raw for most Christian publishers, yet too spiritual for most secular publishers. Wouldn't it be nice if there was space for beautiful storytelling that doesn't treat the reader like an idiot who needs all the dots connected for them?
I hope you find a space for your story, or an agent who recognizes the importance of this! I’ve heard memoirs can be tough to place, but it’s not a genre I’ve personally tried to query.
This may be one of the most exciting things I've read in quite some time. Your mention of Greene and Endō struck home. "Silence" captures something I see weekly in ministry - faith that endures precisely because it dares to question. We need more writing that honors this complexity, that creates space for holy wrestling like Jacob at Peniel.
Maybe that's why your call for 'readerly hospitality' feels so right - from a pastoral perspective, it's like pastoral care for literature. Just as we create space for people to bring their whole selves to faith, we need stories that make room for all the beautiful, broken pieces of believing.
Thank you for articulating something I've felt but struggled to name. You've inspired me to consider how I might contribute to this renaissance, bringing pastoral experience to bear on literary creation.
As a Christian who writes and an English professor, I couldn’t love this more. Beautifully written and timely. This conversation is what I have been living and feeling alone for many years, and it feels so good to “find my people” and witness this new Renaissance. Blessings.
This is the kind of fiction I have always been drawn too, and hope to populate my writing career with. Thank you for examining the state of Christian writing today, and maybe all contribute to it WELL.
Such great insight and commentary. I'm out pitching with my agent right now for the "bigger" Christian publishing houses. It is definitely a limited and challenging market. Love the invitation to look beyond these limitations. Fully behind this mission.
Thank you for this! I am just now exploring the works of Leif Enger which I’ve heard such great reviews of for years now. Peace Like a River has sat on my barrister bookcase for a long time, and I just checked out Virgil Wander from the library to finally explore his work. We will see!
Matthew, what a wonderfully well-rounded and rich essay. If you are interested in literary fiction, you might enjoy my friend K.C. Ireton, who writes here on Substack at Evensong stories. Her first novel is going to be released by IVP in 2026. She has three previous non-fiction books out in the world, but has always had a love for, "Quiet stories that glimmer with redemption. Literary liturgies to illumine the church year. Multi-published author of both fiction and nonfiction. Lover of all things literary and liturgical, metaphorical and mysterious, bright and beautiful."
I love the idea of being “a hospitable reader.” Such a joy to see the evolution of your calling to writing from when I first edited your work in high school to now! Be blessed.
Definitely hoping for and trying to create sci-fi/fantasy that merges with mainstream lit in the tradition of Lewis, Tolkien, and L’Engle. They are my biggest inspiration. Thank you for writing this!
Love this! Seeking out non-cheesy Christian fiction is my passion 😁 Have you heard of Leif Enger? He has several good books that fit the “magical realism” category but is a Christian. Also Marilynne Robinson of course.
Hi Bethany! Someone recommended his novel “Peace Like a River” to me back in college, but I never circled back around to him! Thanks for resurfacing his work for me. I love Marilynne Robinson’s work and almost threw her a mention in the main post. “Home” might be my favorite of hers.
Yes yes! Currently querying a novel: YA magical realism that raises questions about the deep heart, sin and its effects, and forgiveness, through two girls and a woods that people disappear into. I suspect it doesn’t quite fit in either publishing world—the clear Christian tones and themes might dislodge me from mainstream, but it’s too weird to fit what most trad Christian publishing puts out. So I’m not sure how this querying process will go!
That’s awesome! I just started listening to George MacDonald’s “Phantastes” on audiobook, which feels like a distant precursor to Christian themes set in mysterious woods. I hope you can find an agent that’s looking for this niche of writing!
Have you looked at Enclave Publishing? They are running infamous agent and publisher Steve Laube, and look for these kind of out-of-the-box Christian literature. Might want to check them out!
I hope that the tides are changing. I'm having a hard time finding space for my memoir about growing up in a family of heroin addicts and religious con artists. It is too gritty and raw for most Christian publishers, yet too spiritual for most secular publishers. Wouldn't it be nice if there was space for beautiful storytelling that doesn't treat the reader like an idiot who needs all the dots connected for them?
I hope you find a space for your story, or an agent who recognizes the importance of this! I’ve heard memoirs can be tough to place, but it’s not a genre I’ve personally tried to query.
This may be one of the most exciting things I've read in quite some time. Your mention of Greene and Endō struck home. "Silence" captures something I see weekly in ministry - faith that endures precisely because it dares to question. We need more writing that honors this complexity, that creates space for holy wrestling like Jacob at Peniel.
Maybe that's why your call for 'readerly hospitality' feels so right - from a pastoral perspective, it's like pastoral care for literature. Just as we create space for people to bring their whole selves to faith, we need stories that make room for all the beautiful, broken pieces of believing.
Thank you for articulating something I've felt but struggled to name. You've inspired me to consider how I might contribute to this renaissance, bringing pastoral experience to bear on literary creation.
As a Christian who writes and an English professor, I couldn’t love this more. Beautifully written and timely. This conversation is what I have been living and feeling alone for many years, and it feels so good to “find my people” and witness this new Renaissance. Blessings.
Such a terrific piece.
This is the kind of fiction I have always been drawn too, and hope to populate my writing career with. Thank you for examining the state of Christian writing today, and maybe all contribute to it WELL.
Such great insight and commentary. I'm out pitching with my agent right now for the "bigger" Christian publishing houses. It is definitely a limited and challenging market. Love the invitation to look beyond these limitations. Fully behind this mission.
Thank you for this! I am just now exploring the works of Leif Enger which I’ve heard such great reviews of for years now. Peace Like a River has sat on my barrister bookcase for a long time, and I just checked out Virgil Wander from the library to finally explore his work. We will see!
Matthew, what a wonderfully well-rounded and rich essay. If you are interested in literary fiction, you might enjoy my friend K.C. Ireton, who writes here on Substack at Evensong stories. Her first novel is going to be released by IVP in 2026. She has three previous non-fiction books out in the world, but has always had a love for, "Quiet stories that glimmer with redemption. Literary liturgies to illumine the church year. Multi-published author of both fiction and nonfiction. Lover of all things literary and liturgical, metaphorical and mysterious, bright and beautiful."
https://kcireton.substack.com/
I love the idea of being “a hospitable reader.” Such a joy to see the evolution of your calling to writing from when I first edited your work in high school to now! Be blessed.
Hi, Carissa! It’s so great to run into you here! Thanks for this encouragement. I’m glad you’re still following your calling too :)
Definitely hoping for and trying to create sci-fi/fantasy that merges with mainstream lit in the tradition of Lewis, Tolkien, and L’Engle. They are my biggest inspiration. Thank you for writing this!
I'm making a list of authors and titles right now!
What a fantastic read, thanks for it!
Love this! Seeking out non-cheesy Christian fiction is my passion 😁 Have you heard of Leif Enger? He has several good books that fit the “magical realism” category but is a Christian. Also Marilynne Robinson of course.
Hi Bethany! Someone recommended his novel “Peace Like a River” to me back in college, but I never circled back around to him! Thanks for resurfacing his work for me. I love Marilynne Robinson’s work and almost threw her a mention in the main post. “Home” might be my favorite of hers.