One of the things I LOVE about writing Christian fiction is being able to explore some of the challenges of life, to delve into some of the nitty gritty aspects of things like financial and family pressure, relationships and estrangement, physical and mental health issues, faith and fears. I love that we can read fictional accounts of real dramas, that we don’t have to actually live these experiences to be able to relate or gain sympathetic understanding for people who have undergone such things.
I’ve created a few bad boys over the years, and my Original Six series has one in Tyler (TJ) Woletsky. In Big Apple Atonement I loved presenting TJ’s perspective, and to show that he’s as human as you and me. (Okay, maybe he’s a little more human than you or I, but you know what I mean…)
Often a ‘bad boy’ is simply someone who is misunderstood, who acts a certain way as a coping mechanism for a past hurt or trauma. I didn’t want to create a caricature, so TJ is complex, and the way he’s regarded by Christians is also fairly human and relatable (I hope). For while Christians might be told to love everybody, there are some people who – let’s be honest – are more difficult to like. Let alone love.
So I’ve asked Tyler to share a little today about what it’s like to be considered a Bad Boy in Christian Fiction.
Take it away Tyler…
*
Tyler: Man, if I had a dollar for every time I was called a Bad Boy (eye roll). I get why Christians get called hypocrites. Those people might say they’re all about love, but actually bother to talk to you? Nope. They wouldn’t touch me with a ten-foot pole. And don’t get me started on trust. Like, how long is a man supposed to prove he’s changed before someone actually believes it? Gotta say, I get pretty tired of turning the other cheek. But I know as soon as I snap there’ll be all those people wanting to point their fingers at me, so I have to keep gritting my teeth, praying I don’t lose it, hoping they’ll finally see me with different eyes.
What do I wish people knew? That while I might kinda like acting up it’s literally only for a few seconds, then I feel even worse than before. Apparently I have issues with impulse control. (inserts another eye roll). I wish I was one of those calm guys. Mike Vaughan, Beau Nash and Dan Walton all seem pretty cool, calm and collected, and it’d be nice to be more like them. I don’t think anyone’s ever called me cool. Or collected.
To be honest, and this is being really honest, I don’t like myself too much. I’ve got too much baggage, seen too many things, done too many things I’m not proud of. I don’t understand why little kids seem to like me but I’ll take it. Maybe they’re too innocent to judge.
If people knew about my family and the secrets they’ve always tried to hide they might understand why I hate pretenders. I like to call it as it is. And sure, some people get offended by it, but that’s on them. If you don’t like it, then don’t lie. I hate liars. And hey, apparently God hates lies too, so looks like I’m in good company. With that, at least.
What do I wish I could change? Where do I start? Maybe with my real mom. Maybe having a dad who loves me. I wish I hadn’t hurt Nick Grenier. It’d be nice to not have Emma Moritello hate me. (Another of those Christians, can you tell?) I wish I hadn’t hurt Beau Nash either. I mean, I could’ve sworn I hadn’t touched him, but it wouldn’t matter because as far as everyone’s concerned I did it anyway. That’s what you get when you’re known as a bad boy. People love to hate you. And I already hate myself. Don’t they know all I really want is some love?
*
Aww. Poor TJ! Maybe you can give the man some love by checking out Big Apple Atonement, freshly released today. (Buy at Amazon, Kobo, Apple, B&N). Here’s a bit more about the story:
She’s the saint with a secret. He’s the sinner with a heart of gold.
For Emma Moritello, giving abandoned and rejected children a safe home is her life’s purpose, but pressures at work means her dream may be coming to a close. And just when she thought life couldn’t get more challenging, along comes hockey’s bad boy, keen to make amends. God might want her to love her enemies, but it doesn’t mean she has to like them. Especially this hockey enforcer, who has the nerve to try to stir her heart.
TJ Woletsky has never tried to hide his sins—his exploits are tabloid fodder, and hockey teams love to hate him. Including his own. When a trade takes him to New York he’s confronted with the repercussions of his past, and time spent with the unfortunate helps ignite his desire to turn his life around. Until an incident in a nightclub makes everyone question whether this sinner can ever really change.
This story of second chances is the fifth book in the Original Six Christian hockey romance series, a sweet and swoony, slightly sporty, Christian contemporary romance series from bestselling author Carolyn Miller.
(Buy at Amazon, Kobo, Apple, B&N)
So let’s chat:
What are some bad boys you’ve enjoyed reading about in Christian fiction? What qualities about them appeals / do not appeal? Do you enjoy reading redemption stories?
(Oh, and want a bargain? The first book in this series, The Breakup Project, is currently on sale for only 99c! Grab your copy today! Amazon, Kobo, Apple, GooglePlay)
Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of romance, Carolyn loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her Regency and contemporary novels are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Koorong, etc
I do enjoy redemption stories. They can be uplifting and inspiring.
Jo Grafford has a great bad boy in her Heart Lake series, Return of Miracles. Him I really like! She has some others in her Born in Texas series. Mandi Blake has a few in her books, too.
Yes, I love reading redemption stories, I think everyone deserves a second chance to make their lives better. Have a great day and stay safe. I enjoyed reading this post Thank you.
The Whys Have It by Amy Matayo and Mercy’s Fight by T.L. Gray have very good redeemed bad boys!
I love stories with bad boys who instead of dragging girls into their crazy lifestyle are the ones who change for the better. The secular market is full of examples of the first type, the girl ends up doing bad things.
I love redemption stories and can’t wait to read this one!
Yes! The fact that we’re all sinners, and have all been astray, gets lost on some people sometimes. It’s quite wonderful to see how God can transform hearts & change lives, isn’t it?
They are out there! I’ve written a few stories taking the point of view of the bad guy (or girl) and always love it when a reader writes to say they’ve never seen it from that perspective before. Thanks for commenting!
Thank YOU so much for commenting! So glad you enjoyed – and I hope you’ll check out Big Apple Atonement too!
Yes, there’s something extra powerful about seeing the bad guy ‘thoroughly renounce his former ways’ by choosing to live very differently. What a witness that is too. I hope you’ll enjoy reading TJ’s story too :)
Oh, yay Meghann! I do hope you enjoy. TJ needs a bit of love :)
Happy Book birthday! I have been reading Christian rom coms and suspense lately. I am not bringing to mind any bad boys from any romance books. Sorry. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Thanks for commenting Debra. I think bad boys come in all shapes and sizes. Happy reading to you!
depends how they’re written
Very true. I hope readers enjoy TJ in Big Apple Atonement. Thanks for commenting.
I enjoy these books. I have read a few about a girl going after a bad boy & getting pregnant but in the end they become a nice family.
I like these books. Congrats on your new release
I find the term Bad boy interesting as I think of someone who has gotten into trouble, often with the law or skirting the law, like out there burning rubber or doing vandalism, drugs etc. Or a party animal with a reputation. I know in churches its often someone who seems to be the trouble maker (who often is the one who gets caught while someone else is actually the real trouble maker).
I cant think of as many in CCR I am not as sure. Brent in the first book in the series was a bad boy to a degree. he was into partying and some of his behaviors were bad boy.
I find it interesting how many people like the bad boys in books but in real life most wouldn’t be dating the same characters.
Redemption stories are my favorite type in the whole world! Whether it be “bad boy” or some other “unlovable” character in a book. Because really, before any of us came to Christ, we had qualities/thoughts/actions/characteristics that were ugly, but yet God redeemed us through His son! :-)
So yes, “bad boy”or “bad girl” type stories resonate with me. The characters may not be exactly what I used to be before I became a Christian, but I CAN relate to living life without Him in it. The part in the story that always makes me cry, is when that character finally turns to God & gives them their life! I love seeing God fully change their hearts & turn their lives around :-)
So good to see you here again Carolyn! I always enjoy your posts.
Yes! There’s always a chance to see family restoring and healing, isn’t there? Thanks for commenting.
Thanks so much Sylvain. I hope you’ll check it out!
Right? That’s a good point, about liking Bad boys in fiction but not in real life. Maybe because fiction is safe? I do like being able to see how someone (like Brent) gets redeemed in future books. I hope people take a chance onTJ and check out Big Apple Atonement.
Thanks so much Trixi! I love writing redemption stories and enjoy the chance to show how God touches hearts. I hope you’ll check out Big Apple Atonement – I think you’ll enjoy that one.
I also find it interesting how a hero is called a bad boy but when you actually read its often reputation which is so off and they are not as bad. I tend to not notice the bad boy tag. Of course In real life one our our Elders was a bad boy (Into drugs etc and in trouble all the time again partly due to things in his childhood) but he admits he came to church to cause trouble but he instead found God. He couldn’t read till he became a Christian and learnt reading the King James Bible. So I do know things change. He was able to stop drinking, drugs etc and really turned his life around and is now highly thought off.