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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Book Reviews

A Ruby Glow Review

3 Reasons to Love A Ruby Glows & Why You Might Not

A cold, blustery morning—or maybe a balmy summer evening. The day of the week, month of the year, season? It never mattered. From as young as I can remember, a new book meant a few hours lost in early 20th century Brooklyn, the prairies of Kansas and North Dakota, River Heights… In short, a Continue Reading

What I Thought of For Love and Honor

There’s a man who used to live in our town—rather average in every respect. Height, weight, hair, eyes, skin. Well, not skin. You see, he had the largest port wine stain on half his face that I’d ever seen. It looked rather like the mask worn by the Phantom of the Opera. I remember children being Continue Reading

My Thoughts on Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes by Jen Turano: my thoughts

“Cash… for the merchandise. Cash… for the button hooks. Cash for the fancy goods. Cash for the soft goods. Cash-for-the-noggins-and-the-pickin’s-and…” The opening to Music Man. My husband and I sat there staring at the screen, just waiting for something interesting to happen. The “think” system. Continue Reading

Just the Way You Are

What I Thought of Just the Way You Are

Laugh out loud humor combines with stick-your-head-in-the-freezer kisses in this novel of romance, faith, and a little historical mystery." Never has a book endorsement left me more panicked at what I’d gotten myself into. Seriously? I chose a book with “stick your head in the freezer kisses?” Who Continue Reading

Buried Secrets: a book review

Buried Secrets by Rachel J. Good: a book review

Buried Secrets. Don’t know about you, but the title makes me think of some archaeological mystery. I could almost see Amelia Peabody with her parasol standing over workers, demanding they be more careful. “Emerson, I think this poor mummy was shot! That’s not possible! They didn’t have guns. Great, Continue Reading

Murder on the Moor: Review

Murder on the Moor by Julianna Deering: a Book Review

Did he do it?  He's a philandering cad, but is he guilty of fraud?  Of swindling?  Of murder?  For months these questions have battered my brain as I've sent Madeline on the trail of a new pseudo-mystery in her quest to learn just how to use these skills she's still only discovering. Franky, my Continue Reading

baggage claim

Baggage: Claim It or Not, We All Have It

Look, anyone who knows me knows that I'm a very frank person.  I say what I think.  I try to do it kindly, but I rarely mince words.  Don't ask my opinion if you don't want it.  No.  Really. Note: links in this post are likely affiliate links and will provide me with a small commission at no Continue Reading

amish fiction

The Newcomer by Suzanne Woods Fisher: a book review

Can I let you in on a secret?  I don't like Amish fiction.  Yeah. I don't.  That's not to say I've never read Amish fiction that I enjoyed.  That's not what I mean.  What I mean is that when I hear someone suggest a book and it turns out to be Amish, I tend to tune out.  Most feel like the same Continue Reading

summer on sunset ridge review

Summer on Sunset Ridge: a book review

.Summer on Sunset Ridge by Sharlene MacLaren intrigued me from the moment I read the synopsis. Quakers? I don’t believe I’ve ever run across Quakers in Christian fiction, so I had to try it. See, my knowledge of Quakers is severely limited to Thee Hannah, Friendly Persuasion, and Miss Alice in Continue Reading

counting grains of sand review

Counting Grains of Sand: a book review

When I received the invitation to review Counting Grains of Sand by Natasha Metzler, I wasn't quite sure what to think. I've never read anything by her, I usually stick to fiction on my blog, and really, what do I know about infertility? I'm glad I listened to what I think was the prompting of Continue Reading

Where Two Hearts Meet

Where Two Hearts Meet: a book review

Liz Johnson’s Red Door Inn was one of my favorite books of 2016.  So, when I heard that the next book was releasing this fall, I knew I HAD to get it, and Liz was gracious enough to send me one (and a gorgeous PEI ornament as well!).  Where Two Hearts Meet might even be a better book than the first. Continue Reading

guest post with toni shiloh

Guest Post: Buying Love by Toni Shiloh

I love fiction.  Always have. Any time I've had to try to explain something, I've always done it in story. For example, when my oldest was just about two or three, she got rough with a book and tore a page.  Many of my friends would have given a brief explanation of how to take care of a book.  I Continue Reading

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Over halfway there! 🎉✨ I just crossed the 50,000-w Over halfway there! 🎉✨ I just crossed the 50,000-word mark on Dear Uncle Nick, and you know what that means… it’s time to open Box 4 of my Archer & Olive Advent Box! 🎁
Nothing motivates a writer quite like a stationery treat every 5,000 words. Just like an Advent calendar builds anticipation for Christmas morning, each little box gets me one step closer to bringing this 1934 farming community and their heartwarming advice column to your bookshelf on Black Friday! 🎄✍️
There’s no preorder for this one, so we are counting down the days and words together until launch day.
👇 Your turn: At 55,000 words, I get to open Box 5! Leave your best guess in the comments—what stationery surprise do you think is hiding inside next? 🖊️📓
#DearUncleNick #ChristFic #ChristianFiction #HistoricalFiction #ChristmasBooks #1930sFiction #AuthorLife #WritingCommunity #BookLaunch #ArcherAndOlive #CozyReads
G'night! G'night!
When Mom makes pepper jack bread and you butter an When Mom makes pepper jack bread and you butter and fry it. Yum.
With 45,000 words "on the page," it’s time to cele With 45,000 words "on the page," it’s time to celebrate with Box #3! 🎁☕

I am officially halfway through writing my upcoming historical Christmas novel, Dear Uncle Nick! Writing this story—which centers around a cozy, small-town advice column in a 1934 farming community—has been such an encouragement even to me!
To keep my momentum going so this book is ready for you by Black Friday, I’m treating myself to a little joy: opening a beautiful @ArcherandOlive Advent Box "gift" every time I complete 5,000 words. 45K means Box 3 is officially MINE! But now how to use this amazing journal? HELP!
Because this book releases on Black Friday without a preorder, I’d love for you to follow along here so you don’t miss the release day announcement. Your prayers and encouragement mean so much to me (and to Eddie Morten--I'm sure of it!)
#DearUncleNick #HistoricalFiction #ChristianFiction #ChristmasNovels #InspirationalFiction #AmWriting #CozyReads #BlackFridayRelease #HistoricalChristmas #AuthorLife #ArcherAndOlive
Dear Uncle Nick, Our town has a lot of people in n Dear Uncle Nick,
Our town has a lot of people in need—no mistake about that.
We can’t meet them all, but we can do what we can to help.
Everyone loves a good box social, but that can be expensive, especially this time of year.
I propose a “dessert social.” We apply the same premise, but the boxes only hold enough dessert for two. Penny bids can be augmented by work or other goods. Folks can even buy the “augments.”
What do you think?
Hungry for cinnamon rolls!

Ever heard of a box social? 📦✨ In 1934, during the height of the Great Depression, communities had to get creative to help neighbors in need.
This "unprinted letter" from the archives of my upcoming historical Christmas novel, Dear Uncle Nick, shows the exact heartbeat of a small farming town trying to survive winter with a little sweetness and a lot of grit.
✍️ The Question: If you were bidding on a dessert box for two tonight... what dessert would you hope is inside? Let me know in the comments!
#HistoricalFiction #AuthorLife #DearUncleNick #FountainPen #1930s #ChristmasNovel #ChristFic #HistoricalRomance #BookReels
Awesome movie. Don't remember a single foul word, Awesome movie. Don't remember a single foul word,  despite rough subjects and scenes. Well done.
#jimmymovie
Writing with white gel ink on kraft paper just hit Writing with white gel ink on kraft paper just hits different. 🖊️🤎
I’m currently sitting at 42k+ words for Dear Uncle Nick, plotting a storyline that is giving me all the feels.
Meet our Banker dude. He can handle the town's finances under the pressure of the Great Depression, but put him in a social setting and he completely freezes up. He is incredibly shy. But winter is coming, and he's being pressured into a marriage of convenience to save his late friend's daughter from the freezing 1934 streets. ❄️💍
Despite his quiet, protective pining and our main couple's semi-secret admirer flirting through the newspaper columns, this book is more than just romance. It's a huge found family of cast that I'm loving.
Only a few thousand words left until the 45k milestone and Box #3! Let’s go! ⌨️✨
#archerandolive #writinggoals #historicalromance #blackfridayrelease #writingprocess #cozyvibes #stationery
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