It started like every sensible writing decision starts: with me doing the responsible thing.
I’d just decided to shelve a Christmas romance idea so I could stay faithful to my mystery series. I even prayed about it with my husband. I stood up, walked five steps toward my study, and prepared to get back to the safe, sensible work of murder.
That’s when the still small voice cut in—clear as anything: “Christmas is in Vermont.”
And just like that, my neat little plan went out the window.
But let me back up.
Most people in Christian Writers Downunder know me as Susan J Bruce, a cozy mystery writer. I’m currently editingMostly dead, book two in my Ruthless-the-Killer mystery series—and loving it.
But that voice led me into an initially secret identity: writing mainstream Christmas romance under the pen name Holly Hartman. In a town called Christmas, where Christmas happens all year round.
They're sweet, swoony, fade-to-black romances—mainstream stories about love, hope, and second chances, written for readers who want heart with their happily-ever-afters. And yes, some faith content does seep in because it’s Christmas, and it's really hard not to have it there.
But unexpected? You have no idea.
The idea began with a grumpy Australian veterinarian who hates Christmas and a sunshine game warden who loves the season. Add a stray dog with a knack for matchmaking, and it became Running from Christmas—a heartfelt rom-com about finding love after loss.
But the surprises didn't stop there.
When Characters Take Over
The story spawned a prequel (One Cabin for Christmas) and then, somehow, a book three (A Very Merri Christmas).
I was almost finished the draft of the latter when I realized it needed something. The story was set against the backdrop of Jack and Mia’s destination wedding (the couple from book two) but it didn’t feel Christmassy enough. That’s when my characters did what characters do: they took over. Secret carols appeared. A grand gesture started looming. And Liam—my male lead—casually revealed he could sing.
Who am I to argue with a handsome deputy?
Once I accepted that the wedding needed music, I had a new problem: what songs were playing in the background? I can’t quote lyrics unless they’re public domain, but I still needed the soundtrack in my head. Songs set the emotional temperature of a scene, and I wanted a Spotify playlist for readers who like stepping deeper into the story world.
So I went hunting for warm, heartfelt, country-rock-leaning love songs. It turns out that even in snowy Vermont, the Nashville sound feels like home. That search led me to something I didn't expect at all: Christian artists in the mainstream.
(Unexpected side note: I didn't see myself writing Christmas romance, and I definitely didn't see myself enjoying country music this much, although I didn't mind country rock. God is full of surprises.)
Christians in the mainstream,,,
Brett Young was my first small jolt of recognition. I loved the sincerity of In Case You Didn’t Know, then discovered he’d worked with Chris Tomlin and spoken openly about faith shaping his life. And I thought—wait. He’s one of us.
Then Russell Dickerson showed up in my recommendations with Yours.
The music video is amazing. Dickerson is singing against the backdrop of a huge storm, lightning flashing (apparently there was a tornado warning that day). The lyrics are strong and song has the intensity and sincerity I needed for Liam.
But even though it was a mainstream love song, the lyrics had a distinct Christian flavour.
I dug deeper.
I found Russell and his wife Kailey's testimony—shared openly in interviews. And the story behind the song got me. Russell had been dropped from a record deal. They were broke, newlyweds, and Kailey had to take side jobs to keep them afloat. They kept going anyway, following God’s call to bring Russell’s music to the world. The video was slow burn at first but then built into a massive hit.
I love stories like that. God at work while his people keep showing up, creating anyway. Then he steps in and shows off—lightning and thunder included!
It’s unexpected—and deeply encouraging.
Then there was another song of Dickerson’s that I couldn’t get out of my head. This was only a few days ago, after book three was published.
Happened to Me is another huge hit of his, but very different from his other work. On the surface, it's just a fun breakup song. It went viral on TikTok. Catchy, cheeky. A song I’d sing along to but wouldn't normally dwell on.
But it got stuck in my head. All week. It even made me feel a bit teary. I couldn't work out why until one day it clicked.
The song is about a woman on the run from a breakup and a guy who falls for her even though he knows she'll probably devastate him. He’s falling for her, taking every second he can while knowing this can’t go well.
Cue the facepalm. I can be dense sometimes.
That was essentially the back story of the characters I’d been living with for the past two months.
The details in the song are different, but the mess of feelings is the same.
In A Very Merri Christmas, Liam met Merri right after she'd had a nasty breakup. He spent the next two weeks falling for her hard, then watched her pull back because it was too much, too fast.
Six years of her being the one that got away—until a destination wedding and a snowstorm finally made them stop running.
It's a thrill when a song nails the emotional truth of something you wrote—like proof you tapped into something deeply human.
It was like it had been put there as an Easter egg for me to find.
Totally unexpected.
But I digress…
Making Beautiful Work
Accidentally finding Christians lurking in creative places. Hearing how God breaks through for talented people creating, working, persisting, creating beauty and heart, and trusting God through the hard times.
It shouldn’t be unexpected, but it is.
It’s easy to put on blinkers and create a false dichotomy between the sacred and the secular and limit our understanding of what a Christian work is.
There's a quote from philosopher Jacques Martinain that I love:
"If you want to make a Christian work, then be Christian and make a beautiful work, into which your heart will pass. Do not try to make Christian."
Be a believer, make the best work you can, and infuse it with your heart. Who knows what the Lord will do with it?
Christian author and editor, Iola Goulton, recently wrote an article about this. I found her words empowering:
"If you don't feel called to write Christian fiction, don't. Write to your calling. Trust that God's light will shine through in whatever you write. And trust that God will bring your words to the people who need to read them."
In that same article, Iola shared a story about a family who came to faith after the father read The Da Vinci Code—a book nobody would ever call Christian. He'd never heard of Jesus, but the novel sparked his curiosity. He researched, became a believer, and started bringing his family to church.
If God can use that, imagine what He can do with the words you and I are writing right now. He can bring fruit from work that doesn't have a label stamped on it. He can use songs and stories about love and life to soften hearts, to give courage, to stir hope, to remind someone they aren't alone.
He can take mainstream US musicians and use them to encourage the faith of a writer in Australia. He can take the creative work you and I are called to do and carry it further than we can imagine.
If your call is to write Christian fiction. If your passion is to encourage Christians and create stories that outline the path to salvation, then please do so. Your words are needed. But if you don’t, that’s okay too.
The world needs your words, your heart and your hope.
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| Photo courtesy of www.svklimkin.com on Pixabay |
Your Turn
Finding Christians in unexpected places over the last few weeks has been like finding a light left on the porch outside. It's hope. Our brothers and sisters are out there. Faith is not confined to one section of the bookstore, or one playlist category, or one approved pathway.
God is at work—everywhere.
So here's my encouragement to you, especially if you're a Christian writer who sometimes wonders where you fit.
Write to your calling. Write with beauty, truth, and integrity. Pray over your work—not only for success, but for God to use your words in ways you will never see. Pray that it strengthens other believers who stumble across you out in the wild. Pray that it reaches people who would never pick up something labelled Christian, but who might still be hungry for hope.
You might never hear the results. That doesn't mean nothing happened.
You may be someone else's unexpected find.
Is there a "mainstream" song, movie, or book that has deeply encouraged your faith recently? Share the title in the comments below so we can add it to our reading/playlists!
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