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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Confessions

by Chautona Havig · 4 Comments

I have a friend in West Virginia.  A couple of years ago, I shared a project that I started.  I wanted a very emotional book that was not dialogue driven and yet still kept up a good pace.  I don’t do well with those things, so I decided on an exercise.  I have a man who isn’t shy, isn’t inarticulate, can hold an audience without the slightest discomfort– but doesn’t like to talk.  Add to him, a lovely woman with a talent for setting people at ease, and intense attraction, and you’ve got Cara and Jonathan.  I deliberately gave them a hands-off relationship simply because it’s wise for their particular situation.  Yes, you’re right.  It just intensifies the situation.  And my friend loves it.

It’s been hovering at the end for the last 9 months or more.  I have very little to do to finish it.  But there it sits.  I don’t want it to end, soooo I let it hover there taunting me.

I have several active projects.  By active, I mean that I’m writing on them on a semi-consistent basis (more than once or twice a month).  Even if I am concentrating on one book, I still am likely to skip over to another one or two within a week.  Sometimes more.  I write better if I mix it up a bit.

Here We Come-  Proposals don’t solve a woman’s problems.  Aggie is dreading Christmas, battling bad attitudes, and trying to catch up on school work.  Oh– and without the help she’d grown accustomed to having.  She has to plan a wedding in between participles, diapers, and laundry.  Icky.  Then, if that’s not enough…  Well, we wouldn’t want to give anything away, would we?  There’s a remote chance that this book might be out this month!

Everard-  Our prince just arrived home from his first two quests as I type this.  The book is about 50% complete as of today.  I’m excited about it– very excited.  I am falling in love with the shy prince of Havilund.  He has a few more quests ahead of him, so I sure hope I can get him done on time!  I’d like this published soon!

Mismatched-  Oh how I love this story.  I’m determined to get this book done a.s.a.p.  It will fit in nicely with the next book in the publishing queue.  I have Allison and Leo holed up in the desert, but they’re on their way elsewhere.  The men after him are about to make waves in Fairbury.  So much for a peaceful little town.

31 Kisses-  *whistles*  I’ve got a story going where everything is reversed.  Everything I think is best, is happening backwards.  Note that I didn’t say everything that is right… I haven’t truly put the cart before the marriage cart– so to speak.  It’s just that I realized people don’t always follow logical steps and I wanted to explore the advantages and disadvantages of a romance starting backwards so to speak.  Oh, and it’s Christmas related.  Maybe this year!  Who knows?

Guardians of Valimar (Book One)-  This will be an incredibly slow process unless something unexpected happens.  I am falling in love with characters, planning histories and creating the entire world, but I’m not doing much writing.  I doubt much will get accomplished, but with the occasional dips into the story and the world of Valimar, I think my writing will not suffer from lack of imagination.

Allerednic-  Cinderella in reverse.  I finished this book in January, but I’m feeling great about it and had to say so.  I’ve never written anything like this, but it was a lot of fun.  Once I get it edited to remove modernity, voila! My tribute to Miss Austen and my beloved friend Barbara.

Now… if I can just manage to get another Legends written and Webster’s Bakery this year, I’ll feel like I’ve really done my job!  There is one thing that really bothers me about it.  You see, I learned something finishing the Wynnewood series and the Aggie series.  I don’t like to say goodbye to my characters.  Sad, isn’t it?  Kind of pathetic even.  But true.  Because of it, I’ve made a promise to myself that I won’t publish a book with a sequel before the sequel is written.  If there’s a trilogy, I won’t publish the first until the third is half done– and so on.  It’ll help me stop dragging my feet when it’s time to end the story.  I have time then.  🙂

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Comments

  1. Michele says

    March 3, 2012 at 7:10 pm

    I LOVE YOU, Chautona… <3

    Reply
  2. Michele says

    March 3, 2012 at 7:09 pm

    :sniff: :sniff:

    Reply
  3. Michele says

    March 3, 2012 at 7:09 pm

    …or I may have to start taunting you…just sayin’

    Reply
  4. Michele says

    March 3, 2012 at 7:08 pm

    FINISH CARA!!!!!

    Reply

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Episode 164: A Chat with Christian Fantasy Author, Ernest Yip
byChautona Havig

When I talked to Ernest Yip last month, I was crazy excited to learn about his fantasy novel, The Shattered King, an allegory about the attributes of God. Ernest talks about his inspiration, how he got started, and what’s coming next for us. I loved hearing more about the story and my copy is on its way to me now. EEEP! Listen in to learn more.

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

Experience the Attributes of God in a Whole New Way

In the tradition of Pilgrim’s Progress or the parables of Jesus, Ernest Yip brings us a story that introduces to a King like no other through the various attributes our main character meets through out the book. I love a good allegory, and listening to Ernest talk about his book had me choming at the bit to get started.

Though written for teens, The Shattered King is sure to appeal to anyone who loves fantasy and adventure. I especially love how it is a great introduction to who God is without being a heavy or preachy tome of apologetics. Instead, we’re taken on an adventure to discover it all for ourselves.

I can’t wait to see what Yip does next!

The Shattered King by Ernest Yip

Finding his way home means finding something else first—someone else.

When a dark force shatters the benevolent and mighty king Eloa, the land of Astrea lies broken and dying. Though Eloa lives, he is a shadow of his true self, unable to restore his kingdom unless he is reunited with the living Fragments of his being and made whole again.

Catapulted into this unfamiliar world and gifted with a magical sword, teenager Jax faces the ultimate test—finding the lost Fragments of Eloa. Only by fulfilling this quest will he be able to return home. But there are new forces in power, forces that will do whatever it takes to thwart Jax’s efforts and defeat Eloa.

But Jax will soon find that Eloa is no ordinary king, and neither are his Fragments—

A creator of living stone beings A father of orphans in a storm-filled land A desert warrior of limitless power

And they aren’t the only ones out there…

Encounter the Fragments of The Shattered King, a tale of danger and discovery that explores timeless truths about the world we live in, where justice and mercy are sometimes the most powerful weapons.

You can find out more about Ernest from his WEBSITE.

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