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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Why It’s Always Good to Make Dreams Come True

by Chautona Havig · Leave a Comment

Sometimes, authors need variety to write the best they can, and I always love it when I find another author who "gets me." Laura Thomas certainly does. via @chautonahavig

On Amazon, every time I went looking for a book, there it was. The Orphan Beach.  I’d not read anything by the author, Laura Thomas.  Each time I started to click through, something distracted me. Then, I had an opportunity to interview her, and when I discovered that it was that Laura Thomas, well… DUH!

Discussing her writing and publishing journey, the books in print and those to come, by the time I finished chatting about all things books, I felt like I’d made a new friend.  Laura Thomas is a fascinating and delightful woman, not to mention an eclectic author!

laura thomas

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

Why It’s Always Good to Make Dreams Come True

The moment Laura said hello, I had to ask about her accent. See, I knew she lived in Canada, but the accent said otherwise. So, English/Canadian author, Laura Thomas tells us about her childhood dream of being the next Beatrix Potter–a dream she’d never told anyone until, after decades of marriage, her husband winkled it out of her!

Still in the throes of homeschooling, Laura began taking correspondence courses to become a writer and eventually published her YA series, the Tears Trilogy.

Of course, picture books were still the dream, but she continued on to writing a middle-grade short novel, The Candlemaker.

Being the eclectic author she is, Laura then turned to non-fiction as a gift for her daughter, Pearls for the Bride.

It may seem an unexpected progression from those to romantic suspense, but…

A vacation, a lifelong fear, and a disappointment inspired Laura’s first romantic suspense novel, The Glass Bottom Boat.  Intended to be a stand-alone, an agent’s request turned it into a series, Flight to Freedom.

See?  Eclectic!  At least another author gets it.  And I wrote a whole blog post about all the genres once. You can read that HERE.

And this series is this week’s featured book!

There is supposed to be a box set, but I didn’t find it on Amazon. Still, all three books can be had for under six dollars, and two are on Kindle Unlimited!

the orphan beach laura thomasAnd the third book in the series is The Orphan Beach.

This book starts off with a bang!

  • the death of a loved one
  • reeling from a failed romantic relationship
  • struggling with her faith and
  • targeted by a crazed killer
  • About Orphan Beach

I haven’t finished the book (and much to my disappointment!) but it has several key strengths.

  • characters–I cared about them almost (if not) from the first word
  • the covers (they grab you)
  • in particular, the title of The Orphan Beach.

Although Laura doesn’t say she’ll never write more in the series, but a vacation to visit family in England last year inspired a new series–suspense. Set in a small village in England.  Stick me in a suitcase, I’m going with her!

And coming full circle, those picture books she mentioned? 

Well, two are being shopped to publishers.  One is about a French bulldog and her adventures, while the other is about an octopus making friends with a tea party!

Laura is about to get herself a French bulldog puppy of her own, and plans to name her “Lulu.”  That prompted me to share a song from the 1920s that I loved as a girl, and I’ve added it here for your fun, too.  🙂

And Frank Sinatra did a fun parody of this with Bing Crosby for those who love the oldie moldie!

If you’d like to learn more about Laura, visit her at:

Her website!

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 543: A Chat with Stephanie Cardel
byChautona Havig

I love it when YA deals with real issues kids face, so I was crazy excited to hear about Stephanie Cardel’s This Isn’t Shakespeare. From what direction her life should go to peer pressure of various kinds, Cardel weaves a story that I feel is important. Listen in and learn why.

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

This Isn’t Shakespeare by Stephanie Cardel

To be or not to be…a professional dancer. Seventeen-year-old Madison is a hopeless romantic who loves quoting Shakespeare and dreams of becoming a professional ballet dancer—a dream she hides, afraid of disappointing her mom and her boyfriend. But when her dreams fall apart, she believes it’s a sign from God that she should commit to her boyfriend and make a new dream. When she realizes God wouldn’t give her a sign that points her to sin, the happily-ever-after she’s planned crumbles. Now Madison must confront the lies she’s told herself and all the red flags she’s ignored. In the process, she begins to understand that seeking God’s will may not lead to a perfectly scripted ending—but it might just lead to something real.

Learn more on Stephanie’s WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads and BookBub.

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

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  • and more!
Episode 543: A Chat with Stephanie Cardel
Episode 543: A Chat with Stephanie Cardel
May 19, 2026
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May 16, 2026
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Episode 538: A Chat with Elizabeth Goddard
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Episode 537: A Chat with Meg Calvin
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Episode 536: A Chat with Samantha Roman
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