Mahira Malini (Editor and Lover of Christian Literature) Q&A with a Christian Author

Time Business News

27-05-2025

I'm delighted to welcome American author J. Edwards Holt to this Q&A session. As an editor specializing in Christian literature here in South India, I've had the pleasure of reading several of your works. I deeply appreciate not only the readability of your storytelling but also the thoughtful way you weave the underlying Christian message into modern narratives. Today, we'll explore the theme 'Incorporating Christianity into Modern Literature.'
Mahira: Hello, J. Edwards Holt. Thank you so much for joining me for this Q&A session about writing Christian books. I hope you're doing well today, J.
J.: I'm doing well, Mahira and I hope you are too.
Mahira: Thanks, I'm doing great. Let's go ahead and get started by diving into some questions.
Balancing Faith and Narrative:
Q (Mahira): First off J, how do you ensure that your Christian themes enhance the story rather than interrupt the flow or come across as didactic?
A (J.): When I begin a new project, my first commitment is to the characters and their emotional journeys. Faith elements only enter the manuscript when they arise organically from a character's struggle. In my memoir and in my novels, I've found that readers stay engaged when spiritual highs and lows are rooted in real human stakes like grief, hope, betrayal or redemption. If a scene demands a moment of prayer, it flows from the plot's pressure point rather than feeling like an inserted sermon. That way, the Christian themes feel like the story's heartbeat instead of a break in the action.
Character Development:
Q: What techniques do you use to create characters whose faith journeys feel authentic and relatable to a contemporary audience?
A: Authenticity comes from drawing on the messy, complicated moments of my own life. I don't write characters who immediately find the right Bible verse and everything is solved. Instead I show the late-night prayers that feel unanswered, the doubt that makes you question whether God is listening, and the slow, sometimes painful steps toward trust. By portraying faith as something you wrestle with, whether that be through anxiety attacks, strained relationships and small acts of courage, readers from all backgrounds see themselves in the characters' imperfect journeys.
Modern Contexts:
Q: In what ways do you adapt biblical truths to address today's social and cultural challenges without compromising the integrity of Scripture?
A: Adapting biblical truths to today's culture means identifying the timeless heart beneath new challenges. In previous talks I've explored issues like social media shame and the refugee crisis by returning to principles of hospitality, mercy and justice. When a story features online bullying, I show characters practicing forgiveness toward a digital aggressor. When I write about displaced families, I lean on the command to 'welcome the stranger' as both a moral imperative and a plot driver. This approach lets ancient wisdom speak into twenty-first-century dilemmas without feeling forced or outdated.
Subtlety vs. Explicitness:
Q: How do you decide when to present Christianity overtly and when to let it emerge more subtly through plot and character?
A: Deciding how overt to be depends on setting and tone. If my scene takes place in a bustling office, a quiet gesture like paying a coworker's medical bill or offering a listening ear can stand in for an unspoken sermon. But if a story were to turn toward a church potluck or a prayer vigil, it makes sense for characters to sing hymns and share scripture passages out loud. My aim is coherence: every faith moment should feel natural to the world I've built, whether it emerges in whispered prayer or in the painted words of a sermon banner.
Engaging Secular Readers:
Q: What strategies have you found effective for writing Christian-themed literature that resonates with readers who may not share your faith background?
A: To reach readers outside the faith community, I begin with universal themes such as loss, hope and moral courage. I avoid insider Christian jargon and let spiritual layers reveal themselves through character conflict. Many of my secular readers tell me they picked up one of my novels for its suspenseful plot or its exploration of mental health, and stayed because of the quiet message of redemption woven through each chapter. By showing rather than telling, or by letting characters discover grace on their own terms, I invite readers of any background into the story.
Avoiding Clichés:
Q: Christian fiction can sometimes fall into tropes or stereotypes. How do you keep your work fresh and avoid predictable patterns?
A: I steer clear of two-dimensional 'perfect believers' or villainous 'sinners.' Instead I write characters who wrestle with their own anger, heroes who wonder if prayer even works, and leaders whose charity springs partly from guilt. To refresh my own perspective I read thrillers, literary novels, and memoirs outside of Christian fiction and borrow narrative techniques that feel new. This cross-pollination helps me surprise readers who might expect worn-out tropes and shows that stories with faith at their core can still innovate.
Symbolism and Allegory:
Q: Do you employ biblical allegory or symbolism in your narratives? If so, can you share an example of how you've done this effectively?
A: I prefer everyday symbols with layered meanings, like a seed pushing through concrete, or a broken window that the protagonist gradually learns to repair, or even a recurring family photograph that shifts from faded and torn to vibrant and restored. I let these images echo spiritual truths about resilience, renewal and God's quiet presence. By weaving symbolic details into the background of a scene rather than spotlighting them, the deeper meanings seep in almost unconsciously, inviting readers to reflect without feeling lectured.
Dialogue and Authenticity:
Q: How do you craft dialogue around faith issues so that it sounds natural, honest, and avoids platitudes?
A: Real conversation rarely unfolds in polished sentences, especially around faith. I spend time listening in coffee shops, support groups and church gatherings, absorbing how people actually speak to one another about doubt and belief. In my drafts, I keep 'ums,' hesitations and truncated thoughts, like 'I just…sometimes wonder if God even hears me,' and then pare back only as much as the scene needs to remain readable. Honest, imperfect dialogue builds empathy and lets characters' faith feel lived-in rather than rehearsed.
Publishing Landscape:
Q: As a Christian author, what challenges and opportunities have you encountered in today's publishing industry?
A: Christian publishing has widened its reach through digital platforms and independent presses, creating space for diverse voices and fresh styles. Mainstream houses still proceed cautiously with overtly spiritual content, so I've worked with both types: faith-imprint editors who champion every gospel reference and secular editors who look for crossover appeal. Navigating those two markets can be challenging, but it's also invigorating to see how different audiences respond when you tell a compelling story grounded in Christian hope.
Vision for the Future:
Q: Looking ahead, how do you hope Christian literature will evolve in the next decade, and what role would you like your work to play in that evolution?
A: I hope Christian literature will continue to diversify in authorship, in subject matter and in narrative form. I'd like to see more novels that tackle emerging ethical questions in technology or modern dilemmas, told by writers of varied backgrounds. If my work can help expand the tent, showing that faith-based stories belong alongside the best of contemporary fiction, I'll consider that a success. My prayer is that in the next decade Christian literature will be known not only for its message but for its literary excellence and its willingness to push creative boundaries.
(Mahira): That is fantastic, sir. Thank you so much again J. Edwards Holt for coming on with us today and giving us some insight into the inspiration behind your literary works.
(J.) Anytime, Mahira. It was great talking with you!
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