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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

C-haracters

by Chautona Havig · 8 Comments

They define my writing.  I have often wondered about that.

You see, I can’t start a book without a title.  No, really, I can’t.  Even if I later change that title, without a strong, working title, I can’t start writing.  I freeze.  I have the words, they’re in my brain, I’m aching to send my fingers flying across the keys before I forget them, but… nope.  No title.  Must. Get. Title.

So, with that kind of obsession over a title (even though sometimes that title gets changed before publication), you’d think that I’d be obsessed with calling books by their titles, right?  Nope.  USUALLY, my books are known by one of the characters.  Noble Pursuits is “Grace” to me.  Manuscript for Murder is “Alexa” which gets interesting because so is Crime of Fashion.  Talk about confusing when talking about the books!

I talk about my characters as if they are real.  “Aggie would love that.”  “Man, Alexa would so wear that.”  “Hey, there’s William’s ‘Vette.”  (That was for you, Barb.)

So, I wonder… does that mean my books are character driven?  And, if my books are character driven, does that mean that the plots are pathetic?

Oh, and for fun, I thought I’d find a picture of what I think one of my characters look like.  So, meet Adric.  He’s going to be published soon.  This is what I think he looks like but…

  1. His hair is more silvery even than this
  2. His eyes are grayer
I bought the brother to this one for the cover. JBryson at Istockphoto.com is GREAT.

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Filed Under: General Information Tagged With: Blogging from A-Z

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Comments

  1. SharleneT says

    April 3, 2012 at 4:44 pm

    Hello, Fellow Challenger. I have to sharpen all my pencils, first. Now, mind you, I use a computer, but there’s something about a cup full of well-sharpened pencils that just gets me going. I can understand obsession. I’m #424 from Rockin’ Chair Reflections. Come visit when you can.

    Reply
    • Chautona says

      April 3, 2012 at 5:00 pm

      I am now channeling my inner “You’ve Got Mail” and murmuring with a glazed look in my eye, “Bouquets of sharpened pencils…”

      I’ll dash over to see you.

      Reply
  2. Fareeda Alhady says

    April 3, 2012 at 1:07 pm

    This is the second blog on ‘Character’ I’ve read today. Chautona, your insights are interesting. I want to write my family story, but I don’t have a title in mind. I’m banking on it emerging later – perhaps hitting me like a lightening bolt?
    PS: Would so love to own the real McCoy (comfy convenient couch) too…

    Reply
  3. Laura Barnes says

    April 3, 2012 at 10:52 am

    I can’t write without a title either. It is so much of what my books are about. Of course, if I ever get published, the publisher may change it just like that. Sigh.

    Reply
    • Chautona says

      April 3, 2012 at 11:43 am

      I’ve already changed titles… Argosy Junction was originally “Not as I Was” but hey. It was a valid title. It is nice to see someone else with my quirky “malady” regarding titles. Keep writing!

      Reply
  4. Andi-Roo (@theworld4realz) says

    April 3, 2012 at 10:47 am

    I’m not a published writer, so I don’t know that my opinion counts here, but I’m certainly an avid reader, so I’ll offer up my thoughts as the end-user. Books absolutely MUST be character driven when I’m working my way through a story — I have to forget they’re imaginary so I can imagine conversations with them. Of course, this won’t happen if the plot is weak; anyone who writes strong characters is going to have to learn quickly how to carry its people across the literary morass, or else risk leaving a gorgeously drawn, realistic person stranded in the dessert.

    Reply
  5. JENN says

    April 3, 2012 at 10:26 am

    ok your stories are NOT lame! they rock!
    are either Alexas available? i haven’t heard of those! i keep thinking with her name popping up in EVERY book, you’ve gotta have one about her sometime…
    that is not how i imagined Adric. how about a smiling one? maybe that will help me picture him better. do they have that guy smiling?

    Reply
    • Chautona says

      April 3, 2012 at 11:44 am

      I’m sure they do, Jenn. That’s why I avoid putting pictures on covers. I don’t like defining what someone looks like to the reader. We all have different ideas, and that’s what makes it COOL.

      None of the Alexas are ready. They’re not even in “rough draft” stage. Not really. Both have to be 100% rewritten. They’re that bad. However, they are also some of my favorites. They WILL be good. Someday.

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

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Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 448: A Chat with Nancy Naigle
byChautona Havig

 I fell in love with Nancy’s writing with The Shell Collector. Imagine my joy when I discovered she has a SEQUEL! Eeep! Listen in and discover which characters you’ll find in To Light the Way Forward and what’s coming next for one of America’s favorite authors!

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

It’s been three years since Nancy and I had a chance to talk, and in that time, she’s been BUSY.  So in addition to falling in love with her character, Tug, and wanting to give him his own story, she’s written a small-town duet (and maybe we talked her into a third?) as well as a romcom duo!  Think we can talk her into a third of that series as well?  Because… SPOILER ALERT… we’re getting a third Shell Collector Series book, too! EEEP!

To Light the Way Forward by Nancy Naigle

A novel of overcoming deep loss, taking risks, and learning that life—and love—often surprises you when you least expect it, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Shell Collector. “Bringing to life characters you can’t help but fall in love with, Nancy Naigle goes straight to the heart with this story of tragedy turned to triumph. A poignant reminder to never give up hope.”—Sheila Roberts, author of The Best Life Book Club Feeling adrift after the loss of her husband, Rosemary sets out to visit an old friend on Whelk’s Island, undeterred by the threat of a hurricane. Before the storm hits, she finds herself at Tug’s Diner where she quickly connects with the owner, Tug. But the storm destroys the diner, compounding Tug’s grief from losing his love the previous year. The longer Rosemary stays, the more she sees Tug’s deep sadness and resolves to help him. Together with Tug and friends Amanda and Paul, they all pitch in to help the close-knit community recover and rebuild. As Amanda and Paul reconnect after losing touch during the storm, their plans to take things slow seem increasingly impractical. While Rosemary and Tug help the young couple navigate their relationship, they also find themselves building a friendship that begins to restore them both. But can that friendship convince them that love is possible for anyone who’s willing to take a risk—even those who never hoped they’d find it again?

Learn more about Nancy on her WEBSITEand follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

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Episode 448: A Chat with Nancy Naigle
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