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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Writing

Preach It, Baby! Uh, no. Don't. Just Don't.

Preach It, Baby! Uh, no. Don’t. Just Don’t.

One of the best compliments I get is when someone sends me an email or leaves a review that says, "I like how your books are clean and point us to Jesus, yadda yadda yadda, but are not preachy." So what's so bad about preachy Christian fiction?  (I'm a Christian fiction author, for cryin' out Continue Reading

7 famous first lines

7 Famous (or should be) First Lines

There it is, a shiny new book, or perhaps an old, crusty one.  You crack it open to the first page of chapter one and read: "Who is John Galt?" You know, the minute you read those words, that something about it is important, but you can't possibly know what.  So you're left wondering.  And that Continue Reading

Seeking Inspiration: A Christian Writer’s Toolbox

One of the most common questions I get in emails from readers is, "Where do you get your inspiration?"  Now it isn't always phrased like that.  Sometimes they ask if my characters are based on me, my family, friends, acquaintances, or from history.  But the idea remains the same.  What inspires me Continue Reading

Speaking Scripture into Our Hearts

As a Christian fiction author, one of the most important things to me is that the entire content of what I write reflect the influence of the Word in my novels.  While I don't want my fiction to be that dreaded word, "preachy," I do have a goal for my fiction--to encourage fellow Christians in their Continue Reading

Juana Briones: a California Heroine (Deepest Roots of the Heart)

Another research gem that I unearthed while writing Deepest Roots of the Heart was an amazing Californio woman, Juana Briones.  I do not remember Briones from my study of California history.  I don't know if she simply wasn't included or if somehow I missed her (I suspect the former), but this is Continue Reading

Historical Surprises: Deepest Roots of the Heart

Historical fiction requires a completely different writing process from contemporary fiction that takes place in completely fictional locales. My research for the Rockland Chronicles is usually limited to ensuring that I have the right style of phone for the era, seeing how to make candles from Continue Reading

Inspiration for Legacy of the Vines

Inspiration for Legacy of the Vines

(note: links in this post may be affiliate links, and I may receive a commission at no cost to you) When I was fifteen, we moved out to the middle of the Mojave desert (in Mojave, California, no less) and lived there in an eighteen foot travel trailer--no electricity or running water.  I was in Continue Reading

Legacy of the Vines- The making of a book trailer

Book Trailer (Deepest Roots of the Heart)

When I first started to work on the trailer for Deepest Roots of the Heart, the title was still Casa de Sueños, and I was still trying to remember to hit Alt+164 to get the ñ in the word.  I found the grapes right away--perfect.  But finding other videos proved difficult.  They were either too Continue Reading

Why So Many Books? : Author Q & A

Many Books Make Much Work? People often ask how I get so many book ideas, but Lisa S had a slightly different question.   (Note: this is a revision of a post made January 8, 2015) She sent me this question in July: Dear Chautona, Have enjoyed your books, but notice you seem to Continue Reading

Why Do I Write Christian Fiction

Why Do I Write Christian Fiction?

One of the most surprising questions I receive as a Christian fiction author--and from Christian readers, I might add--is "Why do you write Christian fiction?"  Don't get me wrong.  It's a valid question.  But it still surprises me every time I hear it. First, I think I should clarify something.  Continue Reading

Night Before Nano

Night Before NaNo: A parody

It's that time!  Time for this year's NaNoWriMo poem! T'was the Night before NaNo T'was the eve before NaNo And all through the house We were frantically cleaning-- Even my spouse. The blue bowl was filled With candy to spare In hopes that costumed darlings Soon would be there. The Continue Reading

3 Ways I Torture Characters

I get emails almost weekly--often multiple times a week--and the question invariably goes something like this.  "How could you do that to him/her?"  In other words, "How could you torture that character like that?" So, I thought I'd give you a bit of insight into why I do the torturous things I do.  Continue Reading

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Part of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Brid Part of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Brides series, Penelope's Pursuit is on sale for $0.99 to celebrate six years of mail-order bride novels and novellas. Penelope is a bit different from most stories. It shows the potentially dangerous side without being too heavy. Check out the Facebook group for more books on sale by the series' authors!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0921KHWBV
#ChristianHistoricalFiction
#ChristFic
#Kindle99
#KindleUnlimited
Sometimes, I fall in love with a character in my b Sometimes, I fall in love with a character in my books. Someone like Lewis in The Lights of New Cheltenham or Rory in Not a Word. But... in Twice Sold Tales, I fell in love with a cast of characters.  Harper the store owner, Noah the single-dad just learning how to be one, Bennie, the adorable ballet-loving little boy... and Mrs. Klair. Oh, how I loved Mrs. Klair.
I also love the town of Red Wing, Minnesota.  I infused as much of it as I could into the book--places to eat and explore, people I love dearly (family!), and the feel of a small town inside a modest city along Lake Pepin (of Laura Ingalls fame). I also learned that there is actually a lake monster there!  Pepi!  You wont want to miss him!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLKCDYKR
#BookishBooks
#Bookstrings
#ChristFic
#KindleUnlimited
On the reading shelf... Working on @suzannewoodsfi On the reading shelf...
Working on @suzannewoodsfisher 's flower novella collection. Four interconnected novellas featuring florists and their troubles. So cool. Loving it.
The I finished the first Reen and Joanie mysyery by @kdibianca . So much fun. I loved that she showed how things kids might think they'd never need can be useful... even to kids. So much fun.
Gotts get my review up on GoodReads.
#AmReading 
#ChristFic
#ChristianRomance 
#ChristianMiddleGrade
That moment a reader (thanks @mommynificent ) asks That moment a reader (thanks @mommynificent ) asks if a book will be in Kindle Unlimited (you know, the only one in the series that isn't right now) and you realize that it never got the important little box checked. Oops. Well, it is now!
If you liked Aggie and crew, The Trees of New Cheltenham is the book for you!
#AuthorWoes
#KindleUnlimited 
#ChristmasInNewCheltenham
Part of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Brid Part of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Brides series, Penelope's Pursuit is on sale for $0.99 to celebrate six years of mail-order bride novels and novellas. Penelope is a bit different from most stories. It shows the potentially dangerous side without being too heavy. Check out the Facebook group for more books on sale by the series' authors!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0921KHWBV
#ChristianHistoricalFiction
#ChristFic
#Kindle99
#KindleUnlimited
Sometimes, I fall in love with a character in my b Sometimes, I fall in love with a character in my books. Someone like Lewis in The Lights of New Cheltenham or Rory in Not a Word. But... in Twice Sold Tales, I fell in love with a cast of characters.  Harper the store owner, Noah the single-dad just learning how to be one, Bennie, the adorable ballet-loving little boy... and Mrs. Klair. Oh, how I loved Mrs. Klair.
I also love the town of Red Wing, Minnesota.  I infused as much of it as I could into the book--places to eat and explore, people I love dearly (family!), and the feel of a small town inside a modest city along Lake Pepin (of Laura Ingalls fame). I also learned that there is actually a lake monster there!  Pepi!  You wont want to miss him!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLKCDYKR
#BookishBooks
#Bookstrings
#ChristFic
#KindleUnlimited
Part of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Brid Part of the Westward Home & Hearts Mail-Order Brides series, Penelope's Pursuit is on sale for $0.99 to celebrate six years of mail-order bride novels and novellas. Penelope is a bit different from most stories. It shows the potentially dangerous side without being too heavy. Check out the Facebook group for more books on sale by the series' authors!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0921KHWBV
#ChristianHistoricalFiction
#ChristFic
#Kindle99
#KindleUnlimited
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