A skeptic sits down to dinner with Jesus at a quiet Italian restaurant, and a half-million readers later, David Gregory finds himself at the center of Christian fiction’s unlikely boom.

I invited David to unpack how a self-published novella became a national bestseller, why some faith-forward stories cross into the mainstream, and what it really takes to write novels that don’t preach yet still carry a clear message.

We get practical fast: what qualifies a book as Christian fiction, how to keep theology organic to the plot, and why readers bristle when characters pause for sermons.

David shares behind-the-scenes moments from Dinner with a Perfect Stranger, the ripple effects of The Shack and the Left Behind series, and the ongoing shelving debate that keeps many faith-based novels in the religion aisle instead of general fiction.

We also talk audience realities—why women 35+ dominate the category, how teens still respond when the story sings, and the surprising power of simple word of mouth over trend-chasing tactics.

Then we zoom out to the business. David explains the platform-first logic of today’s publishers, why he returned to self-publishing after major-house launches, and what has and hasn’t moved the needle for discoverability.

He teases new projects, including a fable-like work for all ages and screen adaptations of The Last Christian and One of Us, a contemporary retelling of the gospels through the life of Manuel, a Mexican American mechanic. If you care about faith, fiction, or the craft of making both feel real, this conversation will change how you think about story.

Have a comment? Text me!

Support the show

****************************************************************************
Connect with Natasha

If you’re ready to write your book, I’d love to help you bring your story to life.
👉 Explore my 1:1 Book Coaching Program:
https://www.natashatynes.com/bookcoaching

Read My Writing & Learn With Me

📬 Substack — Read & Write with Natasha
https://natashatynes.substack.com

Follow Me

🌐 Website: https://www.natashatynes.com/

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashatynes

🐦 Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/NatashaTynes

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natasha.tynes

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Readandwritewithnatashapodcast

700. Neurogiving w/ Cherian Koshy

Earn & Invest

Intro

The AI-powered Podcast Player