Saw it Friday night with my girlfriends (we're all over 30)---cutest romantic comedy I've seen since the era of You've Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle.

"maybe write about seemingly taboo topics like mental illness and homosexuality from a Christian perspective"

The problem is, there isn't one single "Christian perspective" on these types of issues. There is an "overwhelmingly vocal" perspective on these types of issues, which is why those of us who might consider writing about them don't---because a vocal few make it so that other viewpoints, other opinions, and varying beliefs about certain issues cannot make their way into published books because publishing is, at its core, a money business. And a vocal few can scuttle the sales of books since, as everyone here and on Mike's blog points out, CBA publishers focus on a small, conservative audience.

Granted I'm the author of some of those sappy, stereotypical romance novels. I'd love nothing more than to write "sweet" romances---those in which there is an absence of both smut and religion---but, unfortunately, no one publishes those. Have you ever stopped to consider that authors are limited by the publishers as to what we can write if we expect to get/continue to be published?

I'm totally with you on this one . . . in fact, I bought Siri Mitchell's book A CONSTANT HEART because of the "dress cover" of the book---it's gorgeous (and a compelling read). I don't really like seeing the full model's face---silhouette or profile is fine with me. But rather the full face than to have the head cut off and have the bosom be the main focus of the cover---that's something that should be reserved for general-market romance.

For me, there are four distinct types of books that fall under the umbrella of "Christian" fiction:
--Evangelical Fiction: those novels written with a specific, evangelical spiritual message to get across. These always include a conversion scene, written out sermons, quoted scriptures, and lots of prayers.

--Fiction with a Christian Worldview: This, to me, is the majority of "Christian" fiction. The spiritual thread of the story is one of the most important elements, but there will probably not be an actual conversion scene (the "road to salvation" may not be spelled out as in Evangelical Fiction). Still, lots of praying, probably some quoted scripture, and at least one character will have a spiritual lesson to learn.

--Inspirational Fiction: The spiritual themes in these books are less overt. They may mention God but never mention Jesus in terms of a "personal relationship" or being a "believer" or being "saved." Few, if any prayers--and these are thought, not spoken aloud. No quoted scriptures (perhaps paraphrased here or there), and definitely NO quoted sermons. The characters are already Christians when the book opens and the ideals and morals of the characters are worked out through a Christian worldview. The spiritual lessons here are more "life affirming" than "life changing."

--Moral Fiction: Good, clean fiction with morality that isn't specifically religious. Characters might or might not go to church, but personal spirituality doesn't really play a role in the story. There may be a "moral" lesson to be learned in the story--but more along the lines of Aesop's fables than Jesus' parables.

I call what I write Inspirational Romance, but because of the publishers I'm with, they're pushed more into Christian Worldview after all is said and done in the editing/revision process. Instead of straddling that line, I'd rather straddle the Inspirational/Moral line. Because I am a Christian and I do attend church and that's a normal part of life for me, it'll probably always be a normal part of life for my characters. Unless, one day, I have one who doesn't feel that way. But will I ever be allowed to write it? Who knows.