For close to ten years now, I have made a career as being an indie author of young adult Christian fiction. Over this time, I have written eight contemporary young adult novels, and have thoroughly enjoyed writing the stories of teenage Christians who are dealing with tough circumstances and learn to overcome their fears and misbeliefs by seeking the true Author of their lives.

And yet…

Over the past few years, God has provided me with at least three ideas for other genres. While it’s similar to what I’ve been writing for just short of a decade, for this next book, I’ll be writing for a new-to-me audience. A new-to-me audience that I’ve loved to read over the past few years, yet one I’m a little nervous to venture into. What is my next project’s genre, and why am I a lowkey wreck about starting it? Because this first book will be quite the doozy.

My New Genre (Or, At Least What God is Leading Me to Write as My Next WIP)

And, the new genre I’ll be writing will be…

*Drumroll*

Contemporary Christian Women’s Fiction!

Yeah, I’m just as shocked as y’all are. Let me explain…

What Happened to My Other Book Ideas?

I’ve been asking God the same thing. Though I’m currently paused on working on my Secret Project until On the Flip Side releases, and have another YA/MG book idea, 2 more Christian YAs that will be companions to my Secret Project, as well as two adult Christian RomComs planned, my newest book idea has been stewing in my mind for months. At first, I wasn’t sure if it’s because I’m currently walking through a similar season as to what the main character will face in the book, or if it’s a plot bunny hopping its way to the front of the line, but recently I’ve come across repeated advice for Christians about sharing our struggles to help others who have gone through the same things.

I consider hearing that repeated message to be a God-nudge rather than a series of coincidences, and so, I’ve started plotting a contemporary Christian women’s fiction novel. It’s a genre I’ve never before considered dipping my toes into, but I can already see why God is leading me to go this route.

My Next WIP: Don’t Be So Negative

Here’s another bombshell reveal: the main character in this novel will be a woman in her early 30s named Bridgette, who you may have previously met in The Ballad of Emery Brooks trilogy.

Six years ago, when I published The Crush, I never would’ve dreamed that Bridgette, one of the antagonists, would ever get her own book. Things changed in 2024 during my editor’s read-through of The Dream. There was a scene where Bridgette was talking to Emery again, years after the events in The Crush, and, if I remember correctly, my editor had noted I may want to work on Bridgette’s motivation behind what she was telling Emery in that scene. After I implemented her suggestion, she told me that Bridgette’s new response offered a deeper look into her character and that it made her want a Bridgette redemption story. Though I hadn’t considered it before, I liked the suggestion and kept the thought tucked away in my mind. For almost two years, I didn’t know what her story would be though.

Fast forward to 2026, where God has taken me through some intense character development of my own over the past 9 months. So far this year, I’ve walked through putting my two-week’s notice in at a job without a backup plan and reaching the (as of this month) year-and-a-half mark of trying to start a family without a positive pregnancy test. While navigating these experiences, I was reminded of where we last left Bridgette in The Dream. To avoid spoiling The Dream, though Bridgette wasn’t experiencing one of these issues, she was in the trenches of the other. However, one day, the thought occurred to me that she would be the perfect character to simultaneously explore both a toxic job and infertility, based on her family’s dynamics, character development in The Dream, and my outlook on where she’d be at in life as an adult based on those aspects.

Thus, Don’t Be So Negative became more than a plot bunny. I’m in the beginning stages of plotting it out, but I can already tell this will be a project that will capture my heart and one that God will use to help me heal from walking through similar experiences.

Why I’m Nervous

Obviously, switching audiences is a biggie. While a lot of YA readers also read adult books, like any other author, I’m worried that my current readers won’t follow me to this book once it releases.

And then there are the topics. I’ve never been one to shy away from covering tough subjects, but this one will take that to a new level. I’ll be trying to make readers fall in love with a former mean girl who did brutal things in her past, all while bogging her down with multiple years of hardship. Infertility is a subject many people don’t want to discuss amongst friends or family, let alone write about. But, as someone who is currently living in that reality, I’m determined to get this story on the page, because it’s the book I need right now.

What to Expect from Don’t Be So Negative

Series or Standalone?: Standalone

Genre: Contemporary Christian Women’s Fiction

Sub-genres/topics: Infertility | Redemption | Battling Comparison | Navigating Unsupportive Family Dynamics

Main character: Bridgette Middleton Shepard

Narration POV: First person present-tense POV, told from Bridgette’s perspective

Setting: Potter’s Corner, North Carolina | This is a small town close to Grahamwood, NC, which has served as the hometown for the majority of my characters. I’m not sure what year the book will be based in yet, but I’m thinking the early 2020s based on how old I want Bridgette to be in the book.

Tone: I don’t usually include this section when announcing new WIPs, but for this one in particular, further explanation is needed. Though difficult and somber topics will be covered in this book, I will also be leaning heavily on satire when illustrating how society outside of the married couple experiencing it often treats infertility. The title itself, Don’t Be So Negative, highlights how dismissive some people are when couples experiencing infertility try to talk about their struggles. There will be moments of sadness, frustration, and righteous anger in this book, but like with my previous books, I intend to balance it out with humor and wit when possible. My aim is for this book to be similar in tone to All That Really Matters by Nicole Deese or (as far as satire goes, because this is about vastly different topics) The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Both of these books balance difficult topics with grace and comedic relief when needed, and that is what I’m aiming for with this book.

Age Rating/Content: Due to infertility being a main aspect of the plot, there will be some mentions of a married couple trying to conceive in this book, though they will not be graphic or discussed in detail. As a Christian, I don’t like reading spice nor ever plan to write it into my books, so there will only be small, passing mentions that the couple is trying to conceive. Because of this aspect alone, I anticipate this book to be okay for ages 16+.

My Progress So Far

As of the time of writing this post, I have plotted out the first five chapters for Don’t Be So Negative and am SO EXCITED for what’s to come for this book. Though I already know some writing days are going to be downright painful as I’m walking through infertility myself, I know God has laid this idea on my heart, at this moment in time, for a reason and I’m honored that He chose me to write a book about these specific messages. I can’t wait for the journey He takes this book, and me, on throughout the writing process. ❤

Talk to Me, Arrowheads!

If you’re a writer, have you ever switched genres? What did you learn from your experience?

If you’re a reader, what are your thoughts on authors switching genres? Let me know in the comments!

Please keep in mind that I don’t plan to venture away from YA for good, but this is the season God is directing me to for now. ❤

Aim high, stay strong, and always hit your mark.

-Allyson 😀