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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

I’m So Excited to Present:

by Chautona Havig · 17 Comments

Six years ago, I had an idea just before the Valley Home Educator’s Convention in Modesto, California.  A friend of mine and I went every year (back before she up and moved on me.  Hmph.)  My idea?  Take some of the odd things I’d seen in my lifetime and explore them in a specific setting.  What would happen if someone was socially isolated from society but still given a very rich and loving home?  That idea became what I affectionately called a “Blog Opera.”  I wrote episodes daily, weekly, sometimes monthly.  Other projects crowded it out at times, but inevitably I came back to “Willow.”

From the beginning, Willow has always had a strong (if small at that time) fan base.  On a private message board, we even have a forum we called “Woupies” (Willow Groupies).  We did it because conversations about her and her story were taking over the main forum on the board.  About that time, people began asking when it would be in print.  I had no idea.  You see, I put the book up, in its rawest form, online as I wrote it.  There were “head jumps” as I explored each person’s point of view at any given moment.  Fun to write, and for me to read, but many people find it confusing.  There were punctuation and consistency errors everywhere.  To release it in print (or to the general public) would be a task so daunting I didn’t want to think about it.

Enter the publicist who has taken over my life (and I love dearly in spite of it!).  One of the first things Ashley said was, “We’re going to release Willow, in installments as you wrote it, and then into collections.  People are going to love Willow.”

I said, “Yes ma’am” and got to work.  After all, I was under direct orders to do whatever Ashley said from the almost highest authority.  No, God didn’t talk to me.  I got it from my mother.  You just do what Mom says.  You just do.  In that sense, she’s a little like “Mother.”

I began the daunting task of editing each “episode” (which consists of 6-10 chapters and approximately 20-25K words).  Essentially, every week, I rewrite the entire text of that episode. It is such hard work.  I have old dear friends and new dear friends who help me proofread every single chapter.  My editor, although in the US on furlough, worked to help us finish.

2016 Update:  Wow… those were fun times–stressful, but fun!  WOOT!

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Filed Under: General Information, New Release Tagged With: Past Forward

Previous Post: « So, Who Panicked?
Next Post: How Characters Influence an Author’s Life »

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Comments

  1. Jan Tribe says

    August 14, 2012 at 12:57 pm

    I love your books! I’ve read the Aggie series and also the Rockland Chronicles. I have been following the Past Forward and bought a few of them, caught a few for free and just bought episode 5 before reading this… oh well your books are worth more than the money spent.. Will you be making all of your books available on Kindle? I noticed some of your books on your author page on Amazon aren’t available on Kindle…just wondering. Wishing you a wonderful Tuesday!

    Reply
    • Chautona says

      August 14, 2012 at 1:00 pm

      Jan! Thank you so much for your encouragement. Every book that I have in print is also available on Kindle. A few books on the site are “coming soon” but haven’t been labeled as such yet. WE’ve been doing an overhaul of the site recently and it’s not quite finished. So the Journey of Dreams series, Everard, and 31 Kisses are “up there” but not actually available yet.

      We’ll have great promos when they come out. The first Journey of Dreams, Prairie, should be available soon!

      Reply
  2. Sharon says

    August 14, 2012 at 9:58 am

    l’ve read the Aggie books and waiting for tomorrow’s chapter 6. I will be downloading more of your wonderful books for future reading.

    Reply
  3. Jo says

    August 13, 2012 at 12:25 pm

    I am really enjoying Willow, I am ready for her and Chad to hook up.

    Reply
  4. Dawn says

    August 13, 2012 at 10:55 am

    Thrilled to see your work “out there” for everyone to enjoy! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Vicki H says

    August 13, 2012 at 9:16 am

    Okay. I didn’t realize I could click on the links and repin it. I did it’!!!! Yay!!!!!! Anyways am putting I repinned both because I did and hope I did it right. Shows on Books I love so…………..

    Reply
  6. Vicki H says

    August 13, 2012 at 9:09 am

    I’m new to.pinterist so have no idea how to do it. If I figure it out I will come back and do those too.

    Reply
  7. Debbie Griffith says

    August 13, 2012 at 8:26 am

    I love that you combined the first five episodes into one book, it will make it much easier to read them in order on my kindle. I’m almost finished with “Here We Come” (Aggie’s Inheritance”) and I think it’s going to be hard when I read the very last page. I love Aggie, the kids, Luke, William and everyone else who I’ve gotten to know, I’m really going to miss them. I will be starting “Past Forward” series next and I’m sure I will enjoy them just as much!
    Thanks for the giveaway and also for writing such great books!

    Reply
    • Chautona says

      August 13, 2012 at 11:26 am

      You’ll find Aggie and her kids in Past Forward. In a few months, Ellie and Tavish will be staying there!

      Reply
  8. Joybell74 says

    August 13, 2012 at 6:37 am

    Really enjoying your books. Can’t wait ’til my girls start reading them!

    Reply
  9. Bethany Goff says

    August 13, 2012 at 6:07 am

    I’m having so much fun reading your books, and learning things too! This is a great idea to combine them into one, as I do have a hard time finding the correct episode on my Kindle app on my tablet! (tiny print, aging eyes, lol)
    I’m very excited to share with my friends!

    Reply
  10. Susan says

    August 13, 2012 at 5:36 am

    Love.

    Reply
  11. barbara says

    August 13, 2012 at 5:32 am

    All done! I made a “collection” for you on my Kindle app 😉

    Reply
  12. Sharon says

    August 13, 2012 at 4:39 am

    Thanks so much for offering the first episode again. That was the only one I didnt’ have!

    Reply
  13. Ginny says

    August 13, 2012 at 3:13 am

    You know I love Willow and want to be her friend! Thanks for sharing her with me.

    Reply
  14. Lynn says

    August 13, 2012 at 1:45 am

    I’m getting quite the collection of all your e-books – even though I don’t own an e-reader. (I hope they are transferable from my laptop if I ever do get one.)
    Keep up the good work Miss Neighbour Lady. Now I just have to make me some time to sit and read :O)

    Reply
    • Chautona says

      August 13, 2012 at 2:06 am

      You’re the best neighbor ever!

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
byChautona Havig

I had a chat with actor and author Henry O. Arnold a while back, and boy did we have a lot of fun. His Song of Prophets and Kings series features the advent of Israel’s kings from Samuel’s birth through David hiding from Saul (so far) and onward. Listen in as we chat about his most recent release, The Singer of Israel.

 

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

What Made David Such a Man after God’s Heart?

I think this series will show us. I love that Henry O. Arnold started back at Samuel’s story to prepare us for the story of arguably the most influential king of Israel. Yes, Solomon was the wisest and richest, but David offered something that Solomon didn’t have. He was an average guy—a shepherd, no less—chosen by God to lead his country.

In a sense, it’s kind of the ancient Jewish version of a poor, everyday guy growing up to become President of the United States. If you know what I mean.

This five-book series is available as an eBook, in print, and as an audiobook, too! Henry read a snippet of it to us, and boy you get a feel for his love of Scripture and God’s people as he reads.

And if that wasn’t enough, he even gave us a hint of his upcoming Christian suspense/thriller “series. He says he has two books planned for sure, so… at least a duology, but maybe we can talk him into a trilogy at least? Get those odd numbers and everything?

The Singer of Israel by Henry O. Arnold

A singer’s voice inspires a troubled nation…A shepherd’s courage vanquishes a giant

The last official act of the prophet of Yahweh was to secretly anoint a replacement for the king of Israel who has been brought low by an unbalanced mind. The great prophet of Israel lives in fear of the wrath of the king. Then out of the hills of Bethlehem emerges the last-born son of a family of shepherds to become the unforeseen hero of Israel.

When David sings of the glory of Yahweh, this shepherd wins the hearts of the royal family and restores King Saul’s troubled mind. But when the singer/shepherd defeats the champion of the Philistines in single combat, David becomes forever known as “the giant slayer.” Saul quickly sees that David is now a threat to his kingdom and secretly plots to have him killed.

David may be the champion of the people of Israel, but he must live under the constant threat of Saul’s wrath until he is finally forced to flee for his life.

The Singer of Israel is a tale of triumph and tribulation, deepest love, and burning rivalries; the new epoch is given a voice…and it is The Song of Prophets and Kings.

You can learn more about Henry on this WEBSITE.

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Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
March 24, 2023
Chautona Havig
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March 21, 2023
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March 17, 2023
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Episode 211: A Chat with Lynn H. Blackburn about Under Fire
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February 21, 2023
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