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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Spaghetti Dragons and Apologetics? They Should Terrify and Delight You.

by Chautona Havig · Leave a Comment

Nicolas C. Day has written a hilarious book that does more than combines great food and youth fantasy. He threw apologetics into the recipe! via @chautonahavig

When I learned about Nicolas C. Day’s middle-grade book, Into the Great Marinara, I had no idea what to expect.  However, there’s absolutely no way I could have imagined a story about a boy with control issues falling face-first into a plate of spaghetti and landing in a world where he had to confront his own erroneous ideas about God!  In this episode, we chat about the book, Nicolas’ writing process, and more.

nicolas c. day

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

Spaghetti Dragons and Apologetics? They Should Terrify and Delight You.

When I showed the cover and synopsis of Into the Great Marinara to a couple of friends, they both had the same reaction.  “So, it’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs but Christian?”

Okay, so that’s not really the story, but there’s something to it.  Nicolas C. Day says it’s more like, “Lord of the Rings meets The Phantom Tollbooth in an Italian restaurant.” But seriously, how hilarious is that?

He got the idea for the book because of some atheistic comment about some Spaghetti god (or was it dragon?)  I can’t remember. But apparently, this is a thing. So, we have a story about a kid who ends up in this “spaghetti world” where pasta fight for the “Chef” against a spaghetti dragon.

Now, I know… this sounds ridiculous.  I won’t pretend it doesn’t. But what I read of it didn’t feel as crazy as this comes off.  I’m probably making it sound much more bizarre than it really is.

But then again… maybe not.  After all, isn’t that what is so delightful about middle-grade?  It can tell a brilliant story with a deep message without ever taking itself too seriously.

But Nicolas C. Day hasn’t just written “this spaghetti book.”  No, there are plans to make it a series and he has plans for more!  How about YA fairies?  Yeah.  He’s talking about making those a thing!  EEEP!

Oh, and the book I recommended to him from Episode 6?  W. A. Fulkerson–not Fulkner.  Oy!

nicolas c. day into the great marinaraInto the Great Marinara by Nicolas C. Day

Tanner loves baseball, but he’s not a big fan of being bossed around by those in charge: his parents, his baseball coach, God—who, if he exists, surely doesn’t have time to spend on a small-town middle-schooler.

But Tanner finds his world rocked when he is sucked into a bowl of leftover spaghetti and shot into a land of talking pasta who carry swords and spears—all of whom believe in a mysterious higher power they call “Chef.”

Their world is under attack by a giant spaghetti dragon, and they seem to think Tanner is the one sent to save them. Tanner is faced with hard decisions.

Is this “Chef” actually God, and does He really exist? If so, is Tanner going to act according to his own devices to find a way home, or put his faith in the master recipe-maker and follow his cooked-up plan.

You can find out more about Nicolas on his WEBSITE or follow him on Instagram.

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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.

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

  • Apple 
  • Castbox 
  • Google Play
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  • Amazon
  • and more!
Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
March 24, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 214: A Chat about After the Shadows with Amanda Cabot
March 21, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 213: A Chat about Daughter of Eden with Jill Eileen Smith
March 17, 2023
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Episode 212: A Chat about Code Name Edelweiss with Stephanie Landsem
February 28, 2023
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Episode 211: A Chat with Lynn H. Blackburn about Under Fire
February 24, 2023
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Episode 210: A Chat with Jennifer Deibel about The Maid of Ballymacool
February 21, 2023
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Episode 209: A Chat with Tracie Peterson about Remember Me
February 17, 2023
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Episode 208: A Chat with Author, Hallie Lee
February 14, 2023
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Episode 207: A Chat with Daniella Rushton about Portal Fantasy
February 10, 2023
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Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
February 7, 2023
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