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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

All Great Historical Fiction Has One Thing in Common

by Chautona Havig · 1 Comment

Historical fiction comes from many eras. In today's episode we look at Biblical fiction, the War for Independence, and US antebellum period. via @chautonahavig

The second of our compilation interview episodes (first HERE), this episode features three historical fiction authors. Join me as I chat with Amanda Cabot about her latest release, Dreams Rekindled.  I also spoke with Jill Eileen Smith about her latest release, Miriam’s Song. Marguerite Martin Gray discusses her Revolutionary Faith series as well as upcoming new series.

Three authors, three very different writing styles and time periods, and three great books or series to keep you entertained and encouraged for hours!

And as I studied the different stories,  time periods and themes, I realized something important about historical fiction.

historical fiction

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

All Great Historical Fiction Has One Thing in Common

It teaches us how no matter how different times and places are, people remain the same.  We love, grieve, hate, fear… People wage war and reconcile.  We sin and repent. In the end, all we have is faith or we flounder trying to understand why life is the way it is.

In today’s episode, I spoke with three authors and learned what they wrote, why, and got to know a little bit about each of them.  First up:

Amanda Cabot and her Mesquite Springs Series

Dreams Rekindled Historical Fiction

Though she hopes for a quiet, uncomplicated life for herself, Dorothy Clark wants nothing more than to stir others up. Specifically, she dreams of writing something that will challenge people as much as Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin seems to have. But in 1850s Mesquite Springs, there are few opportunities for writers–until newspaperman Brandon Holloway arrives, that is.

Brandon Holloway has seen the disastrous effects of challenging others and has no intention of repeating that mistake. Instead of following his dreams, he’s committed to making a new–and completely uncontroversial–start in the Hill Country.

As Dorothy’s involvement in the fledgling newspaper grows from convenient to essential, the same change seems to be happening in Brandon’s heart. But before romance can bloom, Dorothy and Brandon must work together to discover who’s determined to divide the town and destroy Brandon’s livelihood.

With this second novel in the Mesquite Springs series, bestselling author Amanda Cabot invites you to discover the healing power of truth.

You can find out more about Amanda, sign up for her newsletter, and follow her on social media from her WEBSITE.

Next up!  Jill Eileen Smith and her Biblical Fiction in Miriam’s Song

Miriam's song historical fictionIn her eventful lifetime, Miriam was many things to many people: protective older sister, song leader, prophetess, leper. But between the highs and the lows, she was a girl who dreamed of freedom, a woman who longed for love, a leader who made mistakes, and a friend who valued connection.

With her impeccable research and keen eye for detail, bestselling author Jill Eileen Smith offers this epic story to fill in the gaps and imagine how Miriam navigated the challenges of holding on to hope, building a family in the midst of incredible hardship, and serving as a leader of a difficult people, all while living in her brother’s shadow. Follow Miriam’s journey from childhood to motherhood, obscurity to notoriety, and yearning to fulfillment as she learns that what God promises he provides–in his own perfect timing.

You can find out more about Jill, sign up for her newsletter, and follow her on social media from her WEBSITE.

And last but not least, Marguerite Martin Gray and her Revolutionary Faith Series

Wait for Me Historical fictionA town besieged by the enemy with just one Sovereign order: wait.

Charles Town, South Carolina, 1780

With the inevitable occupation of Charles Town by the British pounding at the gates, Louis Lestarjette braces for possible imprisonment or worse. How can he provide for his growing family with the evil chains of the enemy binding his source of existence? The scenarios of imprisonment and starvation force him to realize he has no control over the outcome of the stronghold of the British. All that remains is a sense of survival at almost any cost.

Elizabeth Lestarjette faces looming confinement with both a drive to protect her children and a desire to do her part to undermine the enemy.  They must thwart the British plans to imprison more men, but how?  Who can they trust?

Just how long will Elizabeth’s confidence in justice withstand the constant battering of war and circumstance?

Discover the destiny of the Lestarjette family in the final book of the Revolutionary Faith Series as they hope and wait upon deliverance from a world under siege.

You can learn more about Marguerite, sign up for her newsletter, and follow her on social media from her WEBSITE.

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

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Filed Under: Because Fiction Podcast, Interviews

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Comments

  1. Katie says

    May 28, 2021 at 6:27 pm

    This was a lovely podcast! I really enjoyed listening to various authors and am interested in reading all of their work! Thank you for putting this together for readers!

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 601: A Chat with Glenn Patrick O’Turner
byChautona Havig

Don’t know about you, but an allegory about the Armor of God? That’s right up my alley. Listen in as I talk with Glenn Patrick O’Turner about his Armatura!

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

I really enjoyed this conversation, but even more, I love the premise of the story. I have a copy here that he sent me, and I can’t wait to read it.

Armatura by Glenn Patrick O’Turner

Armatura is a gripping Christian allegory that pulls back the curtain on the unseen war described in Scripture. Through intense trials, brotherhood, and moments of revelation, it challenges readers to reconsider the nature of the struggles they face—and what it truly means to be prepared.

This is not just a story. It is a wake-up call.

Through a progression of symbolic drills and demanding exercises, the story mirrors the journey of faith itself; what it means to be called, what it costs to follow, and how we are shaped along the way. As Vic and his platoon are pushed beyond their limits, they begin to understand who they were before the call, who they are becoming, and why their past trials were never wasted. Each lesson builds toward a deeper purpose, revealing not only how to wear the armor, but why it matters and what it truly means to stand when the final battle comes.

More than an adventure, this is a story that is meant to challenge, sharpen, and prepare those who are ready to see the battle for what it truly is.

Learn more on Glenn’s YouTubeChannel and follow on Goodreads and BookBub.

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

  • Apple
  • Castbox
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Amazon
  • YouTube
  • and more!
Episode 601: A Chat with Glenn Patrick O’Turner
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October 1939. They fled Vienna looking for sanctuary.
They found a trap.
Following the Anschluss, Austria is no longer recognizable.
For its Jewish citizens, survival means listening to the whispers—whispers of a
hidden chalet where a courageous woman keeps hunted children safe, fed, and far
from Nazi hands. Driven by desperation, parents face an agonizing choice: part
with their children forever, or risk their lives by keeping them close.
Hans Hartmann arrives at Chalet Versteck with a hardened
heart and a terrified little girl in tow. He found young Grete abandoned at a
train station and couldn't leave her behind. But the chalet is far from the
haven they were promised.
The air here is thick with secrets. Children vanish in the
dead of night. And before Hans can uncover the truth, a high-ranking Nazi
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cooker of suspicion. To save Grete and escape with his own life, Hans must
untangle a web of deadly lies. In a place where trust is a liability, Hans will
have to find a glimmer of faith to guide them out of the darkness—before the
killer strikes again.
https://link.amazon/B04ONq0y4 #AffiliateLink#ChristFic
#HistoricalMystery
#FairytaleRetelling
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FREE through November 3, (and it takes place mostl FREE through November 3, (and it takes place mostly in autumn!)

October 1939. They fled Vienna looking for sanctuary.
They found a trap.
Following the Anschluss, Austria is no longer recognizable.
For its Jewish citizens, survival means listening to the whispers—whispers of a
hidden chalet where a courageous woman keeps hunted children safe, fed, and far
from Nazi hands. Driven by desperation, parents face an agonizing choice: part
with their children forever, or risk their lives by keeping them close.
Hans Hartmann arrives at Chalet Versteck with a hardened
heart and a terrified little girl in tow. He found young Grete abandoned at a
train station and couldn't leave her behind. But the chalet is far from the
haven they were promised.
The air here is thick with secrets. Children vanish in the
dead of night. And before Hans can uncover the truth, a high-ranking Nazi
officer is murdered right inside their sanctuary.
With the Gestapo closing in, the chalet becomes a pressure
cooker of suspicion. To save Grete and escape with his own life, Hans must
untangle a web of deadly lies. In a place where trust is a liability, Hans will
have to find a glimmer of faith to guide them out of the darkness—before the
killer strikes again.
https://link.amazon/B04ONq0y4 #AffiliateLink#ChristFic
#HistoricalMystery
#FairytaleRetelling
#HanselAndGretel
FREE through November 3, (and it takes place mostl FREE through November 3, (and it takes place mostly in autumn!)

October 1939. They fled Vienna looking for sanctuary.
They found a trap.
Following the Anschluss, Austria is no longer recognizable.
For its Jewish citizens, survival means listening to the whispers—whispers of a
hidden chalet where a courageous woman keeps hunted children safe, fed, and far
from Nazi hands. Driven by desperation, parents face an agonizing choice: part
with their children forever, or risk their lives by keeping them close.
Hans Hartmann arrives at Chalet Versteck with a hardened
heart and a terrified little girl in tow. He found young Grete abandoned at a
train station and couldn't leave her behind. But the chalet is far from the
haven they were promised.
The air here is thick with secrets. Children vanish in the
dead of night. And before Hans can uncover the truth, a high-ranking Nazi
officer is murdered right inside their sanctuary.
With the Gestapo closing in, the chalet becomes a pressure
cooker of suspicion. To save Grete and escape with his own life, Hans must
untangle a web of deadly lies. In a place where trust is a liability, Hans will
have to find a glimmer of faith to guide them out of the darkness—before the
killer strikes again.
https://link.amazon/B04ONq0y4 #AffiliateLink#ChristFic
#HistoricalMystery
#FairytaleRetelling
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