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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

My 5 Favorite Things about Discovering Hope

by Chautona Havig · 6 Comments

Since it's one of my favorite gooks, I figured I'd share some of my favorite things about Discovering Hope and I even did a little reminiscing... via @chautonahavig

She wore saris and flip-flops. Even in twenty-degree weather, she’d push the cleaning cart from room to room at the motel wearing those flimsy saris and flip-flops. She took special care with each room—as did her husband.  It was their motel, and we lived there.

You see, we’d come to California on vacation and hadn’t gone home. Dad lost his job while here, so he got another one. Here. This time, not delivering sailboats all over the country.

He’d gone back into heating and air conditioning—two very important things when you live in the desert.

Those saris, though. I don’t know what other colors she wore. I only remember orange. And to my fifteen-year-old mind, they were the most elegant, exotic thing ever.

My 5 Favorite Things about Discovering Hope

Note:  Links may be affiliates that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Discovering hopeSaris are one of my favorite things about Discovering Hope.

I hadn’t meant for them to be such a big part of the story, but the romance of the exotic gripped me as I wrote, and the next thing I knew, they’d gone from something Jay’s mother wore when he was little to something that forged a deep, romantic and emotional connection between Jay and Hope.

Look, I don’t know if that part is even realistic. I suspect that most Indian guys would see it as the equivalent of your average American teen getting all worked up about t-shirts and mom jeans. But that’s the beauty of fiction is it not? That suspension of disbelief?

It’s easier when there’s a touch of sweetness and a dash of romance involved.

It’s “The Pit”s.

One storyline I’ve alluded to over the years is of several of the youth of the Rockland area enduring some pretty horrifying things in something they call “the pit.” Well, that first came to life in Discovering Hope. It’s a bit ironic, because I’m pretty sure I left it out of the final draft. I had this idea I’d have to explain it all, and by explaining it, I’d ruin the book I wanted to write.

By the time I got to that spot in Past Forward, I knew how to include it without spoiling the story. I still need to finish that one, but it’s a tough one to write. It’s right up there with A Bird Died and Christmas Embers.

Raj.

Jay’s father is one of my all-time favorite supporting characters. His mixed idioms, his beautiful sense of honor, and his willingness to listen… to examine the gospel out of love and respect for his son. After giving up “religion” when he came to America, that must have been a hard pill to swallow.

My dear friend, Dell, shared Raj with me. The real Raj took a very American name when he came here, and he, too, mixed idioms like “dragging your leg.” I’ve always imagined him saying that something wasn’t his “cup of chai.” Hee hee.

Epic Laser Tag.

You have no idea how much I want to play a game like they did. Every time I see that scene, I ache to try it. I mean it’s paintball but in neighborhoods and with lasers instead of in the desert with soapy paint pellets.

That’s just cool.

PSST:  If you want to know the lessons I learned from writing Discovering Hope, check out THIS POST.

If you’ve read Discovering Hope, what was your favorite thing about it?

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Previous Post: « What Did I Find Endearing about Enduring Love?
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Comments

  1. Ava Gunn Kinsey says

    July 6, 2018 at 11:02 am

    This was the first book I ever read by you! I think I got it free in my “grab-every-free-Kindle-book hoarding days.” So glad I did!

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      July 6, 2018 at 3:13 pm

      Squeeeeeeeeeeee! And I made a new friend!

      Reply
  2. Joy says

    July 6, 2018 at 5:47 am

    I loved so many things in Discovering Hope, but the beautiful depiction of a cross-cultural relationship was my favorite. Because Jay came from another culture, one of the most memorable scenes for me in Discovering Hope (and it was truly memorable – I read the novel years ago and I still recall this moment vividly) was Jay reading Song of Songs. His cultural frame of reference certainly added some hilarious spice!

    Reply
  3. Rebekah Deedrick says

    July 6, 2018 at 5:27 am

    I loved the saris in Hope. I just love how real Hope is. All the characters are really.

    Reply
  4. Linda Sue says

    July 6, 2018 at 5:11 am

    One of my favorites of your books – Discovering Hope was such a sweet yet realistic story –

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      July 6, 2018 at 5:16 am

      Thank you! 😀

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
byChautona Havig

I had a chat with actor and author Henry O. Arnold a while back, and boy did we have a lot of fun. His Song of Prophets and Kings series features the advent of Israel’s kings from Samuel’s birth through David hiding from Saul (so far) and onward. Listen in as we chat about his most recent release, The Singer of Israel.

 

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

What Made David Such a Man after God’s Heart?

I think this series will show us. I love that Henry O. Arnold started back at Samuel’s story to prepare us for the story of arguably the most influential king of Israel. Yes, Solomon was the wisest and richest, but David offered something that Solomon didn’t have. He was an average guy—a shepherd, no less—chosen by God to lead his country.

In a sense, it’s kind of the ancient Jewish version of a poor, everyday guy growing up to become President of the United States. If you know what I mean.

This five-book series is available as an eBook, in print, and as an audiobook, too! Henry read a snippet of it to us, and boy you get a feel for his love of Scripture and God’s people as he reads.

And if that wasn’t enough, he even gave us a hint of his upcoming Christian suspense/thriller “series. He says he has two books planned for sure, so… at least a duology, but maybe we can talk him into a trilogy at least? Get those odd numbers and everything?

The Singer of Israel by Henry O. Arnold

A singer’s voice inspires a troubled nation…A shepherd’s courage vanquishes a giant

The last official act of the prophet of Yahweh was to secretly anoint a replacement for the king of Israel who has been brought low by an unbalanced mind. The great prophet of Israel lives in fear of the wrath of the king. Then out of the hills of Bethlehem emerges the last-born son of a family of shepherds to become the unforeseen hero of Israel.

When David sings of the glory of Yahweh, this shepherd wins the hearts of the royal family and restores King Saul’s troubled mind. But when the singer/shepherd defeats the champion of the Philistines in single combat, David becomes forever known as “the giant slayer.” Saul quickly sees that David is now a threat to his kingdom and secretly plots to have him killed.

David may be the champion of the people of Israel, but he must live under the constant threat of Saul’s wrath until he is finally forced to flee for his life.

The Singer of Israel is a tale of triumph and tribulation, deepest love, and burning rivalries; the new epoch is given a voice…and it is The Song of Prophets and Kings.

You can learn more about Henry on this WEBSITE.

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Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
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