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Fictional InfluenceTruth Between the Lines Author: Kristin McTiernan
Nonsense-Free Kristin is where independent authors and creators learn to build their platforms, master their craft, and create on their own termswithout begging for permission from gatekeepers who hate them kristinmctiernan.substack.com Language: en Genres: Film Reviews, Society & Culture, TV & Film Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Brian McCoppin - Writing Christian Fiction Without Sermons
Episode 23
Wednesday, 1 July, 2026
Brian McCoppin’s a cloud and AI consultant by day, and a Tang Soo Do instructor and author by night. With books sold in more than 12 countries, he specializes in Christian supernatural action fiction, a corner of the market most people assume doesn't exist, where the demons wear senators' faces and a small-town pastor learns he's been drafted into a war nobody around him believes is real. In this episode, he joins us to talk about building the Record of the Paladins series, why he refuses to let writing stop being a hobby, and how he keeps faith on the page without ever slipping into a sermon.In This Episode* Writing as a hobby, on purpose: Brian McCoppin has no interest in replacing his day-job and explains why that freedom is the whole point. He and Kristin compare notes on the strange pressure authors put on themselves to monetize even when the money isn’t needed.* Why his nonfiction outsells his fiction: His most successful book is the short nonfiction title he wrote to practice the publishing process. Both authors dig into why that happens to the same audience, and why you can’t market the two the same way.* The gap nobody was filling: Walk into the Christian fiction section and you’ll find shelves of bonnets and farms with almost nothing for men. Brian planted his flag in men’s action fiction with explicit faith, and talks about walking the tightrope between biblically sound and genuinely violent.* Demons who look reasonable: His evil doesn’t show up with wings and fangs. It shows up in politics, in institutions, in the polished public figure who suddenly changes. He explains why that version of evil unsettles readers more than any monster.* He thought his readers would be men: More than half turned out to be women walking up at events to tell him which senator is definitely a demon. Brian and Kristin get into who actually reads new fiction right now and why the numbers surprised him.* Profanity, pushback, and his favorite two-star review: Why the F-bombs stayed in, why he’s gotten less heat than expected, and why a critical review from an attentive reader is a gift, not an insult.* In-person selling beats the internet: Most of his sales happen face to face at churches, cons, and book fairs, and he argues the reviews are better too. * Content warnings, reconsidered: Kristin shares how one book changed her hardline stance against content warnings, and Brian explains why he puts them on his audiobooks as a fellow parent trying to filter what reaches his kids.* Writing humans is harder than writing demons: Evil is easy to rationalize on the page. Two people quietly talking about faith is where it gets hard, especially with female leads, which is why he leans on his wife, his daughters, and a female editor.* Tang Soo Do, firearms, and fatherhood: A decade of training alongside his daughters reshaped what he thinks masculinity is for, and that idea, protecting what matters rather than dominating, runs straight through the books.* Media that’s actually healthy: Why Bluey and WALL-E keep coming up in his house, and what both authors think Gen Z is quietly asking for from stories.* What’s next: Book of Turpin, the fourth Paladin novel, is on presale now, plus upcoming events (including a cigar bar in Port Richey), karate tournaments, and his honest take on AI narration for audiobooks.Guest Links* Read Record of the Paladins: https://amzn.to/4u3pZbM * Website: thepaladinbooks.com* Facebook: RecordOfThePaladins* X: @brianmccoppinKristin’s Links* Editing Services: nonsensefreeeditor.com* Newsletter: https://www.fictionalinfluence.com* YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nonsensefreekristinTimestamps00:00 - Meet Brian McCoppin.01:05 - From Fanfic to Publishing.02:46 - Fiction vs Nonfiction Sales.03:29 - Christian Action Niche.05:34 - Peretti and Going Darker.06:54 - Demons in Institutions.08:37 - Who Actually Reads It.10:38 - Profanity and Pushback.12:21 - In Person Sales Wins.14:16 - Why Indie Publishing.16:53 - Content Warnings Matter.19:34 - Writing Humans vs Demons.21:54 - Overwriting Lessons.22:18 - Faith Without Preaching.24:16 - Guns In The Story.25:02 - Writing Hardship And Poverty.26:46 - Building Oliver The Warrior.28:49 - Family Martial Arts Journey.30:16 - Fatherhood And Masculinity.33:06 - Media Picks For Teens.36:00 - New Books And Events.37:09 - Conventions And Book Signings.38:15 - Selling Tips And Swag.39:49 - Audiobooks And AI Narration.41:53 - Where To Find The Author And Final Thanks.About This PodcastNonsense-Free Kristin is where independent authors and creators learn to build their platforms, master their craft, and create on their own terms—without begging for permission from gatekeepers who hate them.New episodes weekly.Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube Music. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kristinmctiernan.substack.com
