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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Don’t You Think Spies Are Kind of Questionable?

by Chautona Havig · Leave a Comment

After a week of hearing bits about Perry Kirkpatrick’s awesome series, I figured you’d all be kind of curious about what she has to say about it all. So, for this review of A Spying We Will Go I bullied her into giving me a super-short interview.

No, really. I did.

The poor girl has several small children, is trying to sell one house and move into another one (this week!), and is fighting some health issues, and I said, “Do you want to answer a few interview questions?”

Pretty sure I told her we could record a video if it was easier for her.

I think that’s what did it, folks. Without that final nail in the, “Oh, I so do not want to do this” coffin, we might not have this interview. Introverts know how to get what they want from other introverts.

Okay, okay. I didn’t know any of that other stuff up there when I asked and when I offered to do the video chat.

Although, I did suspect she might jump at the lesser of two evils—the written one. I mean, I may not be cruel, but I’m not stupid, either.

Oh, and another thing…

Don’t You Think Spies Are Kind of Questionable?

C’mon… that was mildly amusing. But seriously, let’s get to the questions, okay?

Q: What made you set your series in a coffee shop in Phoenix?

This time last year I spent time in downtown Phoenix for a conference and enjoyed observing how it differed from my side of town. The bustling downtown feel was fascinating, and it was SO HOT OUT. I’d been wanting to set a story in a coffee shop for a while (I love the atmosphere).

I combined the two and Sunrise Coffee, a fictional, high-end coffee shop was born. Add one very ordinary barista and one friendly neighborhood spy, and you have the recipe for a quirky, upbeat series with lots of coffee references.”

Q: If Emily could go anywhere in the world right now, all expenses paid, for two weeks, where would that be and why?

She’d go to Washington, D.C. No doubt about it. For one thing it’s about 25 degrees cooler than Phoenix at this exact moment (I checked), and for another it’s where all the cool spy stuff normally happens. (If the movies are to be believed.) She’d likely spend a lot of time sitting in parks playing Spot-the-Spy. This is a next-gen version of ordinary people-watching.”

Q: Since I know you’ve never read Harry Potter, where’d you get the “bathroom transport” idea?

The 1980s TV show, Scarecrow and Mrs. King was a huge inspiration for my series, and I wanted to give a veiled nod to the coat-closet elevator in that show while still putting my own humorous spin on it. The shower seemed like the perfect, bizarre place to disguise an elevator.”

Q: I know you’ve lived in the Phoenix area for a long time, so I’m curious. Have you ever gone searching for the Lost Dutchman Mine?

I’ve lived in Phoenix almost my entire life, and I’ve done a terrible job of seeing the state’s sights. (I didn’t make it to the Grand Canyon until I was 16. So, yeah.) With that kind of track record, no, I haven’t looked for the Lost Dutchman Mine… unless reading all about it online and then looking through the Superstition Mountains with Google Earth counts.”

Q: How many books do you want in the Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott, and how many do you think you’ll actually write?

I’m looking at this series like a TV show: individual episodes telling a complete story, grouped in seasons of 6 books, with each season containing its own overarching plot. I’m doing at least 12 books (2 seasons). If people are loving it and I’m not out of ideas, I’d totally be open to the idea of additional seasons.”

Note: I vote for at least 5 seasons if they’re all like A Spying We Will Go.  Who’s with me?

Bio: Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick lives in an undisclosed location outside of Phoenix where she and her husband chase their four little boys and an escape-artist dog. They don’t chase their cats, however, because cats hate that. She is the author of “The Kitten Files” mysteries, “The Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott” spy series, and multiple short stories.

In addition to her writing, Perry enjoys graphic design, playing a number of musical instruments, and watching movies that make her laugh.

Find her books, newsletter, and free stories at perrykirkpatrick.com.

Perry’s fantastical alter-ego is Denver Evans, author of the Shallows trilogy.

And What’s the Verdict on A Spying We Will Go?

Oh… where to begin and how to get this into my five-answer review? EEP! Okay… I loved that this “episode” ramped up the tension exponentially—in all directions. I hated that I didn’t get to find out something I am becoming curious about (but I loved it, too! Squee!). Additionally, I laughed at myself for all the episodes I kept coming up with for Ms. Kirkpatrick, and I “cried” at the thought of having to wait a whole month to read the next one. Seriously, torture, folks!!!

This is going to sound redundant, but I can’t help it. I recommend A Spying We Will Go and the rest of this series to anyone who just loves good, fun reading that doesn’t take itself too seriously. No, it’s not realistic, but yes, you can so easily suspend that disbelief and become wrapped up in the world of Phoenix spies and baristas who are almost a little too enthusiastic about “helping out” now and then.

I’m sending my Kindle loaded with them with my 14-year-old daughter on Saturday so she can read them on vacation. She’s going to love them!

A Spying We Will GoTitle: A Spying We Will Go

Author: Perry Elizabeth Kirkpatrick

Synopsis:  Camping doesn’t lead to kidnapping… usually.

When Emily goes on a group camping trip in Northern Arizona, she suspects her biggest danger will be mosquito bites and bear-sightings. The trip becomes far from relaxing, however, when she hears from a family friend that they can’t get in touch with her dad. Unable to call, due to spotty cell phone reception, she manages to send a text asking for Brent’s help in checking on her dad.

But the spy has been incommunicado for several days, and it turns out he’s up North too–trying to locate a missing ICS agent with information about the Ten Thousand.

Not everything is as it seems. More than bears roam the woods, and information could cost a life.

the accidental cases of Emily Abbott

“The Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott” is a series of clean spy-comedies set in Phoenix, Arizona.

1. Red Rover, Red Rover – (Review HERE)
2. Plan to Fail – (Review HERE) 
3. Bad Things, Small Packages – (Review HERE)
4. Tutor, Nanny, Spit-up, Spy – (Review HERE)
5. A-Spying We Will Go –
6. Once Upon a Dime – August 26, 2019  (Review coming)

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 264: A Chat with Romance Author, Sarah Monzon
byChautona Havig

Finally getting a chance to chat with Sarah Monzon was a total delight, and learning all about her latest release, All’s Fair in Love and Christmas was equally awesome.  My copy is here and waiting for me to dive into the battle of the celebrations!  EEEP! Listen in to see what that even means!

Note: I sound like I’m underwater. We heard it during our interview, but I couldn’t make it behave and couldn’t fix it. Sorry!

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

How Does an Intense Christmas Competition Lead to Love?

All’s Fair in Love and Christmas has so much going for it that I don’t know where to start! Fun mom who made our heroine’s childhood Christmases an international delight without ever leaving home?  Check!  Social anxiety adding to the stress of competing for a promotion?  Check?  Romcom hilarity?  Check, check?  And add to all that Sarah’s wonderful writing and delightful characterization?  I’m all in.

We also chatted about why she chose to write about a woman with social anxiety, her preferred reading methods, and some of my favorite books by her. For a refresher, those are The Isaac Project, 12 Days of Snowmen, and Book Nerds & Boyfriends (a collection of three novellas).

All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon

Two workplace rivals. One festive competition. And a romance that upends it all.

Every December two things are guaranteed for graphic designer Mackenzie Graham–Christmas celebrations and the annual promotion at her workplace. Those two things are by no means mutually exclusive. In fact, the better an employee is at harnessing the Christmas spirit, the more likely they’ll win the new job. With her social anxiety, Mackenzie never thought she’d be a contender in her company’s holiday competition, so how exactly has she found herself dueling her workplace crush with wrapping paper tubes and using tinsel as her weapon of choice for a much-needed raise?

Jeremy Fletcher’s life is meticulously planned out, including how to win this year’s promotion at work. Not only will the new position fulfill some of his career goals, but as a single guardian to his twin niece and nephew, he needs the salary increase to support his family. Jeremy has barely noticed Mackenzie Graham around the office, but now that she’s his rival, he can’t stop thinking about her. Her quirkiness intrigues him, and he’s afraid that if he can’t get his head on straight, the promotion isn’t the only thing he’ll end up losing to Mackenzie.

“Inspirational rom-com readers are going to love this one.”–BETHANY TURNER, bestselling author of The Do-Over

You can learn more about Sarah on her WEBSITE.  Also follow her on BookBub and GoodReads.

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

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Episode 264: A Chat with Romance Author, Sarah Monzon
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