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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Why I LOVE Barbara Cornthwaite & Think You Will Too

by Chautona Havig · Leave a Comment

I first fell in love with Barbara Cornthwaite's historical and Austen-inspired books, but now she's becoming one of my favorite cozy mystery authors! via @chautonahavig

I met Barbara Cornthwaite almost twenty years ago on a message board. As an American, married to an Irishman, living in England with her adopted children (from several countries), her mere existence fascinated me. Her kindness and humor drew me in, but… I know, I know. It’s self-serving and shameless, but our mutual love for writing and Austen is what actually cemented our friendship in the beginning.

You have her to thank for keeping me from messing up the cultural facts in my Regency novel. And, you can thank her for breaking me of the terrible habit of using non-parallel phrases. I do, however, confess to throwing in an “it’d” every now and then if I know she’ll be reading it. Just to make her smile. Or shake her head. Or both.

Because of her, I learned to love and appreciate Emma by Jane Austen, but we’ll get to that in a moment.

barbara cornthwaite

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

Why I LOVE Barbara Cornthwaite & Think You Will Too

In this week’s episode of Because Fiction, I got to chat with Barbara Cornthwaite… way over on the other side of “the pond” (and thanks to internet issues, now and then one of us sounds like we’re in it, but for the most part, it’s clear.)

A Fine Young LadyBarbara Cornthwaite’s first book, A Fine Young Lady takes place in a Victorian village and features a character who seems deceptively shallow at first—all the appearance of a “fine young lady” without any substance—and then grows into the best meaning of her name. Verity. It features interracial adoption in the Victorian era, baby farms, and a whole lot more. Our family loved it so much that I had to hound her to put it in print for my daughter (and I’d totally forgotten that tidbit!).

Barbara went on to write a retelling of Jane Austen’s, Emma from Knightley’s perspective, the George Knightley Esquire duet including Charity Envieth Not and Lend Me Leave . That’s where I first learned to appreciate not only the original book but Emma as a character. Through Knightley’s eyes, you see what it is otherwise difficult to see from an individualistic, ruggedly independent, 21st-century, American mindset.

In recent years, she’s been working on more Emma stories—one for the honeymoon and after, and one about Miss Bates. I don’t know about you guys, but I think she should get a move on! I want all the stories!

Then came the A Very Austen Anthologies. Those are:

  • A Very Austen RomanceA Very Austen Christmas (Review HERE)
  • A Very Austen Valentine’s (Review HERE)
  • A Very Austen Romance

In these anthologies, Barbara Cornthwaite has novellas about:

  • Edmund Bertram and Fanny Price (Mistletoe at Thornton Lacey)
  • Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet (Pretense & Prejudice)
  • John Knightley and Isabella Woodhouse (John Knightley Wins a Wife)

One of the other Austen Anthology authors, Laura Hile says she’d read Barbara’s grocery lists, they’re so beautifully written, and I heartily agree.

However, recently, she’s been working on something completely different. How opposite can you get from Regency balls and gowns?

How about… Contemporary Cozy Mysteries?

(I think I’ve been a bad influence… shhh… don’t tell. It worked this time).

When we recorded the episode, we hadn’t settled on titles for her books, on the series title—nothing. However, with book one now available and book two releasing on July 24th, well… I think it’s time to let a few cats free from all their baggage. (sorry, it’s late and been a long day, folks!)

What could possibly interest anyone about a fortyish college English professor (which Barbara was… just a few years younger… ahem), a college town, and a bookstore with the captivating title of “Frank’s Bookstore?”

Tons. Barbara Cornthwaite writes a solid Christian fiction cozy with both spiritual depth (exploring wishes versus convictions and how sometimes we confuse the two) with an interesting mystery that kept me second-guessing myself, Brought to Book is the first title in the Wilkester Mysteries.

The second book, Snuffed Out, is even better on the mystery score. She managed to stump me. I could only tell who it wasn’t. And yet, I had to be wrong because I was convinced it wasn’t anyone!

I’ve read the first few chapters of book three, Written Off, and am eager to see where this one goes.

So… who’s with me on trying to get Barbara to write more in this series?

If you don’t know because you haven’t read any, I recommend moseying on over to the links above and snagging one or both. If you have Kindle Unlimited, you can read there.

Or, if you’re a die-hard Austen fan, check out her retellings and expansions of Jane Austen’s original stories. You’ll find that Barbara stays true to Austen’s characters even when she fiddles a smidge with the story (as in Pretense & Prejudice).

To learn more about Barbara, find her at:

Website (in progress)

Facebook Page

Goodreads

Amazon

For synopses of the Wilkester books… here you go!

brought to book wilkester mysteries barbara cornthwaiteBrought to Book:

There’s nothing in Emily Post about dealing with murder.

Katrina just wanted to spend time among the books at Frank’s Bookstore. Yes, that’s an unimaginative name for a store, but Frank’s an unimaginative guy–or he was.

Now he and his murder are the reason Katrina is spending her spare time with Wilkester detective, Todd Mason. Or, that’s what she tells herself.

Why would anyone want to kill Frank Delaney? Who would do it? And is Katrina herself even safe?

Mixing faith, literary humor, sweet romance, and a cozy mystery that will keep you guessing, Barbara Cornthwaite’s first Wilkester Mystery has everything you want for a cozy read.

Begin your investigation of Brought to Book today.

snuffed out wilkester mysteries barbara cornthwaiteSnuffed Out:

Picnics can be murder… scenes.

What was supposed to be a romantic picnic at “their spot” turns criminal when Katrina and Todd stumble—almost literally—over a body.

What’s the college chef doing under a bush up in the mountains? Other than being dead, that is.

Who killed him?  Why?

All clues point to people who Katrina is certain didn’t do it. Especially the one who ends up dead himself.

Uh, oh.

Thanks to a slow-burning romantic relationship that can’t seem to get past chapter one, and a determination to save her friend from false arrest, Katrina joins Todd again as they riddle out bizarre clues, weed through unlikely suspects, and learn to communicate on a more personal level.

What do you get when you combine literary humor, sweet romance, and a practical helping of faith? A cozy mystery that’ll keep you guessing. Barbara Cornthwaite’s second Wilkester Mystery has everything you want for a cozy read.

Snag Snuffed Out today.

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

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
byChautona Havig

Fans of Lisa Phillips’ Last Chance County series are doing happy dances following the release of an exciting new spin-off series, Last Chance Fire and Rescue. Expired Return brings back a few favorite characters and kicks off another of Sunrise Publishing’s author/mentor led fiction seasons! Listen in to find out what happens when an author brings back a guy she dropped a building on a couple of books back…

 

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

When Fans Want More Exciting Stories, Smart Authors Listen and Deliver!

Let’s face it. Authors might SOMETIMES be “done” with a series, but readers often want more… indefinitely. Well, with the brilliance of Sunrise Publishing’s mentor model, authors get to collaborate with authors they trust to do their “worlds” proud while still having time to write new, exciting things as well. And some of the Sunrise lead authors even write in the spin-off series–like Lisa Phillips and Trisha Goyer!

This new Last Chance County series promises everything we love about Lisa Phillips’ world–danger, intrigue, heart-stopping suspense, drama… you know… all the feels. But in addition to her own release, Expired Return, this series also introduces us to new authors who have been carefully vetted and selected to ensure they do justice to Lisa’s Last Chance characters. I, for one, can’t wait to check it all out.

Lisa and I chatted about what she plans for the series,Lisa hinted about a possible super-secret reveal coming soon, and I even poked her with the idea of a Last Chance Christmas.

Help me convince them on that, will ya?

But this new book… Whoa…

Expired Return by Lisa Phillips

Pepper stood up. “How dare you.” She could spit fire at him right now. She’d loved and supported Victory since the day she was born. “You know nothing about me.”

“What’s this?”

Pepper whirled around at that voice. Heart. Breaking. She loved that gruff, commanding voice more than anything else in the world.

He wore a look a lot like Aiden’s. Blank, which she knew—or hoped—had to do with protecting his heart because he still cared for her. Except he probably hated her.

Donaldson sat back in his chair. “Allen.”

Former police officer Allen Frees had both hands on the wheels of his chair. He wore a fire department uniform of slacks and a white shirt. Emblems. A badge. His life of service hadn’t ended when he landed in that chair after a building blew up over his head.

As far as she’d been able to tell, it barely slowed him down.

She’ll give everything to protect her family.

He always knew she was the one.

Veterinary tech Pepper Miller lives a quiet life in Last Chance County. She’s watching her niece until her sister shows up…if she ever does. When Victory’s father demands he take over her care, Pepper knows something has gone wrong. With a new drug in town, and her sister embroiled in a dangerous bargain, it’s up to Pepper to protect the people she loves.

Even if it costs every secret she’s ever kept.

Fire Department liaison Allen Frees lives with the injuries he sustained as a police officer in a raid gone wrong. He’s put his life back together but getting the truck crew and engine squad to succeed might be his toughest assignment yet. When Victory is nearly kidnapped at a community event, Allen steps in to help Pepper keep her niece safe. The one thing he couldn’t fix was the love he lost, but he isn’t going to let Pepper walk away this time.

No matter what walls he has to break down.

Last Chance County returns in this blazing new series from Sunrise Publishing.

Last Chance Fire and Rescue

  • Book 1: Expired Return
  • Book 2: Expired Hope (coming soon)
  • Book 3: Expired Promise (coming soon)
  • Book 4: Expired Vows (coming soon)

Last Chance County

  • Book 1: Expired Refuge
  • Book 2: Expired Secrets
  • Book 3: Expired Cache
  • Book 4: Expired Hero
  • Book 5: Expired Game
  • Book 6: Expired Plot
  • Book 7: Expired Getaway
  • Book 8: Expired Betrayal
  • Book 9: Expired Flight
  • Book 10: Expired End

Learn more about Lisa and her books on her WEBSITE.

Learn more about the different seasons (series) offered by Sunrise Publishing or how to audition with them on the Sunrise Publishing WEBSITE.

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

  • Apple 
  • Castbox 
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn 
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Stitcher
  • Amazon
  • and more!
Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
February 7, 2023
Chautona Havig
BONUS Episode: The Bookish Podcast Tag!
February 4, 2023
Chautona
Episode 205: A Chat about Cold Light of Day with Elizabeth Goddard
February 3, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 204: A Chat with Sarah Sundin about The Sound of Light
January 31, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 203: A Chat with Heather Greer about Window of Opportunity
January 27, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 202: A Chat with Historical Christian Author, Laura Frantz
January 24, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 201: A Closer Look at This YA Dystopian Series
January 20, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 200: Comparing & Contrasting Two Split-Time Novels
January 17, 2023
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Episode 199: A Chat about Karl May with Robert Stermscheg
January 13, 2023
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Episode 198: A Chat about Everything Is Just Beginning with Erin Bartels
January 10, 2023
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A chance meeting. A hunky hockey player. A fake romance.
Hardly an ordinary day in the life of Poppy Hart.

My days usually consist of agonizing over my failing restaurant, worrying about my mountain of debt and nursing my broken heart.

Everything changes when I bump into a man in the coffee shop and claim him as my new boyfriend. To my absolute horror, he turns out to be hockey’s most renowned bad boy, Dallas Burke. To my absolute delight, he goes along with my story.

When his no-nonsense manager and meddling grandmother jump in the picture, they see a win-win solution for my failing restaurant and Dallas’s less-than-stellar reputation.

A full-fledged fake romance complete with contract negotiations, pretend dates and phony PDA.

But as I get to know the real Dallas Burke, who is not the man the press says he is, it becomes clear that if this isn’t real. . . someone better tell it to my heart.

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Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first da Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first dates... no second dates. With his propensity to spout random (and often bizarre) animal facts while nervous (he's always nervous around women) it's no wonder. 
His sister has a solution--lots of dates. Great, heaping gobs of them. Go ahead. Be awkward. Get used to it. Then... then try with someone you really want to get to know. He's not so confident, but when a man gives his word... (Note to self: no more agreeing to Selby's plans without knowing what they are!)
Find out what happens in Random Acts (or is it Facts?) of Shyness.

This book just got a fresh makeover, thanks to the genius of @PlethoraCreative & @PerryElizabeth.
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Reposted from @katherinereay My next novel A SHADO Reposted from @katherinereay My next novel A SHADOW IN MOSCOW will be available on June 13, 2023!! I can’t wait for you to meet Cold War spies, Anya Kadinova and Ingrid Bauer. You can pre-order your copy today!!
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Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first da Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first dates... no second dates. With his propensity to spout random (and often bizarre) animal facts while nervous (he's always nervous around women) it's no wonder. 
His sister has a solution--lots of dates. Great, heaping gobs of them. Go ahead. Be awkward. Get used to it. Then... then try with someone you really want to get to know. He's not so confident, but when a man gives his word... (Note to self: no more agreeing to Selby's plans without knowing what they are!)
Find out what happens in Random Acts (or is it Facts?) of Shyness.

This book just got a fresh makeover, thanks to the genius of @PlethoraCreative & @PerryElizabeth.
There's a link to how to find it in my bio.
#ChristFic
#ChristianRomCom
#InspiredByATrueStory
Reposted from @sarahsundinauthor The Sound of Ligh Reposted from @sarahsundinauthor The Sound of Light is now available from @revellfiction , and it received a starred review from Booklist!

In WWII Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt assumes the identity of a common shipyard worker, rowing messages to Sweden for the Resistance. His life depends on keeping his secret hidden--a task that proves challenging when he meets Else Jensen, an American physicist who seems to see right through him.

Read more and find purchase links in the Linktree in my bio!
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