what is REDEMPTIVE fiction?
In my bio, I describe my writing as REDEMPTIVE FICTION, but what does that mean?
The word redemptive means:
acting to save someone from error or evil.
Of my books, the theme of acting to save someone from evil is best illustrated in my novel “Saving Detroit.” The main character is a young man named Luke who is on the cusp of attaining his dream job, when he is in the wrong place and is abducted by a man who deals in sex trafficking. The story follows his horrific 6 month ordeal as he is abused, taunted, and tortured not only in his body, but for his faith in God. He is rescued and returned to his family only to discover his father’s past led to his capture. Luke is forced to wrestle with the consequences of his abuse, the choices his father made, and most importantly - how can God be trusted when horrible things happen?
While there are no on page descriptions of the torture, and very little foul language, this book would not be categorized as ‘clean’ by anyone’s standards. And that was not my goal in writing it.
The idea for this story came from a headline I read that said 50% of human trafficking victims are boys. The news talks a lot about girls and women being assaulted or trafficked, but the reality is, just as many boys and men are victims.
This kind of evil is a dark part of the world we live in, and without it being exposed to the light, evil is able to thrive. “Saving Detroit” strives to shed light into the darkness not by shying away from it, but by charging into it with the light and hope of the gospel and showing the faithfulness of God even in the midst of evil so wretched no one wants to talk about it.
Redemptive also means to save someone from error, and that is what my novel “Safe Cages” strives to do. Michael and Sam are two men who have been best friends since childhood and come to realize they feel more for each other than simple friendship. The story chronicles their marriage and the love they grow to have for one another. Michael, though raised by strict Christian parents, who ultimately turn their back on him after he marries Sam, knows God is calling him to believe and trust Him. With the careful guidance of a pastor who has his own identity struggles, Michael’s understanding of and surrender to God’s word forces him to make a decision about his marriage to Sam.
The ending of this story is not what the LGBTQ community would want it to be, but I believe it honors both the very real emotions, struggles, and desires of a gay man who loves his partner fiercely, yet choses to put his full faith and confidence in the Lord. This story is neither an affirmation of a lifestyle directly opposed to God’s design, nor is it a condemnation of a person who has genuine desires and emotions for someone of the same sex. It is an exploration of how a church can, through gentle, redemptive love, encourage someone to reconsider a behavior that is in error.
Both of these novels are gritty, emotional, and controversial in Christian circles. But, the Bible doesn’t hesitate to use gritty stories to illustrate how God’s light of truth, love, and hope is the only thing that can redeem a world so broken these kinds of situations even exist. The reality of His love and the sacrifice of His Son to redeem us is the redemptive template laid over all the stories I write.
If you are looking for difficult stories and hard topics that illustrate the real hope of Christ, then these books are for you. You can follow the links below to learn more about each novel, and purchase your copies today.
Even in the darkest places, redemption is still possible.
Luke Kelso is about to land what he thought was his dream job as crew chief for his dad’s pro-race team, but a celebratory night out with friends turns into a six-month nightmare of abuse after he is drugged and forced into service for a high-end sex trafficking ring.
His rescue and return home to a family that loves him should have given him a safe place to recover and begin rebuilding his life. But when the truth about his family’s involvement in his ordeal is revealed, Luke turns his back on God, his family, and his career, vowing to take down the one who shattered his world forever.
An emotional story of recovery and healing through faith in God, Saving Detroit is a heartbreaking look at the horrors of human trafficking seen through the eyes of a young man fighting a battle against an evil only God can defeat.
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This isn’t just a story about what was done to him.
It’s about what comes after.
Because survival is only the beginning; healing is harder and redemption can feel impossible when your past won’t let you go.
This book is for you if you:
Want fiction that doesn’t avoid the darkest parts of life
Are drawn to powerful survival and redemption stories
Believe faith belongs even in the most broken places
Can handle heavy, emotionally gripping storytelling
Content note:
This book includes difficult and potentially triggering topics, including:
Human trafficking
Sexual abuse
Violence
These elements are not included for shock value—but to tell an honest story about suffering, survival, and hope.
This isn’t an easy read.
But it is a meaningful one.
Start reading today and experience a story you won’t forget.
They never expected love to cost this much.
What happens when the life you’ve built conflicts with what you believe?
Michael and Sam were never supposed to fall in love, but what started as friendship became something deeper—something that felt right, safe, and worth holding onto.
Until it wasn’t.
When their relationship collides with Michael’s deeply rooted faith, everything begins to unravel.
Following God doesn’t always mean choosing what feels good, and walking away doesn’t always feel like freedom.
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This story doesn’t give easy answers.
It’s about refusing to ignore the tension between feelings and faith, convictions that change your direction, and faith that costs something.
This is what it looks like to encounter God in the middle of a difficult choice.
This book is for you if you:
Want Christian fiction that feels real, not polished
Are wrestling with questions of identity, truth, and faith
Are tired of surface-level answers to complex issues
Are willing to sit in tension instead of rushing to resolution
What to expect:
Emotionally intense themes handled with care
Exploration of LGBTQ identity and Christian faith
No explicit content
A redemptive, faith-centered direction*
This story won’t tell you what to think.
But it will challenge how you see, how you love, and what it means to follow God when it’s not easy.
Start reading today and step into a story that stays with you.
*This book is driven by Biblical principles. It depicts a marriage between two gay men who ultimately come to faith in Christ and chose to divorce. The story ends with a happy for now for both characters.
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