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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

How Is My Dad Spinning in His Grave but Not Dead?

by Chautona Havig · 9 Comments

It began innocently enough with a parody on the “If you give a mouse a cookie” books. Just an innocent look into the mind of an author with a new character idea.

The next year, on October 31, while I was handing out candy to ghouls masquerading as kids–or vice versa, it’s hard to tell which sometimes–I began playing with The Night Before Christmas.  But about NaNoWriMo.  Every year since then, it’s gotten harder and harder. Here’s a list of those in case you’re also trying to drag out the hours before NaNoWriMo starts.

  • If You Give an Author a Character
  • The Night Before NaNo
  • The Raven: NaNoWriMo Style
  • How to Butcher a Poem in 3 Easy Steps

Well, for the 2018 NaNoWriMo parody, I started with “O, Captain, My Captain,” skipped over to “The Tiger,” bounced back to “Paul Revere’s Ride,” and even “The Animal Fair” (yes, “I went to the animal fair. The birds and beasts were there…” etc.). When that failed, I thought of poems I knew that had time in them.  I had a choice between Robert Herrick’s “To the Virgins: Make Much Use of Time” and “My Grandfather’s Clock.”

Since my time was flying past, I chose the one I knew best.  One my dad actually sang sometimes.  Poor dad. First I butchered his “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer last year and now “Grandfather’s Clock.”  I’m a terrible daughter.

But… the 2018 NaNoWriMo parody is done and I’m quite pleased with it.

How Is My Dad Spinning in His Grave but Not Dead?

Note links in this post might be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

How Is My Dad Spinning in His Grave but Not Dead?

Well, first, I should note that it’s not because it’s still “Halloween.”  He’s not in the front yard in an open casket scaring kids walking by.  We don’t really “do” Halloween in our family.

No, it’s because… yeah.  This:

Till November

My laptop, it seems in anticipation gleams
As it waits for the clock to strike twelve.
The plot is all planned; it e’en has a theme
Then into the new story, I’ll delve.
It is wrought on the night when the world is a fright
And resistance is oh, such a chore.
But I’ll pause, wait, not write a word
Till the morrow bursts in through the door.

Ninety minutes are lumbering, tick, tick, tock.
Those seconds I’m numbering, tick, tick, tock.
But I’ll pause, wait, not write a word
Till the morrow bursts in through the door.

While planning and plotting the story you know
I devise oh, such perfect delights.
The scene list it forms and then it doth grow
Until I just can’t wait to write.
I’ll use adjectives here and metaphors there.
I’ll add subplots and subtext galore.
But I’ll pause, wait, not write a word
Till the morrow bursts in through the door.

Ninety minutes are lumbering, tick, tick, tock.
Those seconds I’m numbering, tick, tick, tock.
But I’ll pause, wait, not write a word
Till the morrow bursts in through the door.

My laptop it yearns to get started right now
But I still won’t be tempted to cheat.
The minute hand crawls, but I just won’t allow
Myself to type what I’d then must delete.
The time rushes past; soon I’ll be having a blast,
And this night won’t remain such a bore.
So I’ll pause, wait, not write a word
Till the morrow bursts in through the door.

Ninety minutes are lumbering, tick, tick, tock.
Those seconds I’m numbering, tick, tick, tock.
But I’ll pause, wait, not write a word
Till the morrow bursts in through the door.

It’s ‘leven fifty-nine by the clock on the screen
How my fingers they itch for release.
My eyes watch the sweep of the hand and they scheme
Of a night where I never will cease.
Just a few seconds left, no longer bereft.
I’ll tell tales of yore and of lore!
I won’t pause, or wait, I’ll write all the words.
Now November has burst through my door!

Ninety words a minute-ing, click, click, clack.
The word count it keeps growing, click, click, clack
I won’t pause, or wait, I’ll write all the words
Till I reach fifty-thousand or more!

But WAIT!  There’s MORE!

As promised, here’s the video of me singing this little ditty.  It is what it is, folks.

And if you want to know how it SHOULD sound… here’s one of my favorite versions of the real song:

And if you want to hear the Von Trapp children singing it, you can find it HERE. Meanwhile, this is this year’s NaNo project.

Synopsis:

Not everyone can elucidate for hours on the life cycle of a dung beetle, the bladder habits of mammals, and the mating habits of chimps–thank goodness.  If only Heath didn’t have all those random facts stuck in his mind, maybe one his hundred and one first dates might have had a second.  Or, *gasp* even a third.

But his sister has a plan up her sleeve–one to help him over his awkwardness and into the perfect relationship.  Somehow.

And stay tuned for the story of how I got this book idea.  Trust me. It’s a doozy.

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Comments

  1. Ryoko says

    November 2, 2018 at 11:21 am

    Your singing made me smile. Enjoyed the wide eyes and other expressions.
    I appreciated the links to the previous years’ parodies and the musical links.
    Waiting eagerly for this tale. Happy writing!

    Reply
  2. Lila Diller says

    November 1, 2018 at 5:12 pm

    How fun! And I love your singing, too. 😉 (Well, maybe “love” is a little strong.) 😀 <3

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      November 1, 2018 at 8:04 pm

      Yeah… it’s a little strong. While I’m not horrible or amazing, this does not put me in a good light. LOL

      Reply
  3. Chrys Mosley says

    November 1, 2018 at 6:42 am

    That’s a great parody! My husband just introduced our 7 yr old to Tennessee Ford. I can’t wait to share this with her. Blessings on this year’s NaNoWriMo project. I know it will be great!

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      November 1, 2018 at 7:21 am

      Thanks! I have so much fun with it!

      Reply
  4. Phyllis says

    November 1, 2018 at 6:00 am

    I adore that cover, Chautona! And the name is perfect. I can’t wait for this to come out. 🙂

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      November 1, 2018 at 7:22 am

      I really do love the cover, too. It’s sappier than I usually prefer, but I like it.

      Reply
  5. NZ Filbruns says

    November 1, 2018 at 12:12 am

    Can’t wait to read it! I remember the story that sparked it.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      November 1, 2018 at 7:23 am

      😀 I’m so excited.

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 145: A Chat with Debut Women's Fiction Author, Sara Brunsvold
byChautona Havig

Debut Author, Sara Brunsvold, is bursting on the Christian Women’s fiction scene with an amazing book, The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. With characters who have captivated my heart from page one (and enough quirkiness to keep my attention to the last), Sara Brunsvold is sure to become a favorite author, and this book is already on my top five of the year before it’s even released!

Note links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

This Novel Isn’t Even Available Yet, and It’s in My Top 5!

If you’d told me that I’d fall so in love with two chapters of a book that it would push that book into my top five of the year so far, well… I’d have laughed.

The joke’s on me because it happened with Sara Brunsvold’s The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. This debut women’s fiction novel has a bit of a split-time element and is set in Kansas City. Trust me when I say that meeting Clara was one of the most fun introductions to a character I’ve ever had. I just love this woman, and I’m drumming my fingers to get to read more about her.  Not surprising considering it won the ACFW Genesis’s award a couple of years back. 😀

Sara says her passion is intergenerational stories, and you definitely get this with Aidyn and her “assignment,” Mrs. Kipp.  But you also get inter-cultural and ideological influences in this book as well.

And then there’s that next book she has coming out.  You know, the one about a gal cooking her way through her grandma’s German cookbook?  Yeah.  The one we have to wait until early 2024 for?  Yeah. That one.  Sigh.

When Sara told us about her favorite authors, a lot of things made sense.  Just sayin’. Find out which of Katherine Reay’s books are her favorites and how she fangirled over Reay’s response to an email (and why you should email your favorite author!).

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold

Aidyn Kelley is talented, ambitious, and ready for a more serious assignment than the fluff pieces she’s been getting as a cub reporter for the Kansas City Star. In her eagerness, she pushes too hard, earning herself the menial task of writing an obituary for an unremarkable woman who’s just entered hospice care.

But there’s more to Clara Kip than meets the eye. The spirited septuagenarian may be dying, but she’s not quite ready to cash it in yet. Never one to shy away from an assignment herself, she can see that God brought the young reporter into her life for a reason. And if it’s a story Aidyn Kelley wants, that’s just what Mrs. Kip will give her–but she’s going to have to work for it.

Debut author Sara Brunsvold delights with this emotional multigenerational story that shows that the very best life is made up of thousands of little deaths to self. You’ll want to be just like Mrs. Kip when you grow up!

This book is 40% off with free shipping from Baker Book House. That’s less than the Kindle version if you like paper!

You can learn more about Sara at her WEBSITE (and sign up for that newsletter so you can get Mrs.Kip’s 8 Rules to Live By). Oh, and if she does those videos of her cooking through that book, you’ll want to know when/where to find them.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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Episode 145: A Chat with Debut Women's Fiction Author, Sara Brunsvold
Episode 145: A Chat with Debut Women's Fiction Author, Sara Brunsvold
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