• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Bookshelf
    • Audio
    • Complete List of Chautona’s Books
    • The Rockland Chronicles
      • The Vintage Wren
      • The Aggie Series
      • The Hartfield Mysteries
      • Sight Unseen Series
        • Sight Unseen Series Archives
      • The Agency Files
      • Christmas Fiction
    • Legacy of the Vines
    • Meddlin’ Madeline
      • Madeline Blog Archive
    • Ballads from the Hearth
      • Ballads from the Hearth Blog Archive
    • Legends of the Vengeance
    • Journey of Dreams
    • Wynnewood
    • Webster’s Bakery
    • The Not-So-Fairy Tales
    • Heart of Warwickshire
  • Start HERE
    • If You Like…
    • Characters
    • Suggested Reading Order
    • Free Books
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Podcast
    • Podcast Guest Information
    • Podcast Interview FAQ
  • Merch Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • Bonus
  • New & Coming
Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Making Her Debut: Meddlin’ Madeline!

by Chautona Havig · 28 Comments

Madeline's Debut

(links in this post may be affiliate links & I might receive a small commission at no extra expense to you)

Madeline’s Debut: Rockland, 1901!

Madeline Brown.  Just an ordinary girl in an ordinary Midwest city. But changes are coming her way.  She’s learning that she sees things others miss.  And in doing so, she has a different kind of debut in store.  While her friends are pairing off, she’s noticing things that just don’t sit right with her.

So, with a lot of boldness, and just a bit of fear and trepidation, she takes off on a new adventure to discover if her friend’s suitor is…well, suitable!

Lovers of the Rockland Chronicles will enjoy this foray into the early days–when streets and buildings mentioned in the contemporary books were just making their mark on the city and suburbs were tiny farming towns.

Madeline isn’t perfect.  

Madeline sweet on you debut book 1In fact, I was amused to discover that some of my readers saw similarities to Emma and Knightley of Jane Austen’s, Emma. I must confess that it wasn’t that far-fetched to me!

There are quite a few wonderful bloggers who will be sharing their take on it over the next couple of weeks.  Keep watch on these blogs for their thoughts, opinions, and even surprises for you!

  • Lots of Helpers: Missionaries in New Zealand!
  • Avid Readers Book Reviews: The title says it all.  They review multiple genres.
  • Lindsay Norton Writes:  A writer and reviewer in Colorado!
  • Funni-her:  A southern woman finding the funny in her crazy life.
  • Nourishing Simplicity: Living Simply by God’s Grace.
  •  Sarah Sarber:  Be Savvy, Serene, and Successful!
  • Learning Resource Directory: Book reviews!
  • Shine: Shining for the Kingdom
  • Quiet Workings:  Heart and home blog
  • Mommynificent: Magnificent ideas for your super family!

 

Share145
Pin
Post
Email
150Shares
Share
Pin
Post
Email
150Shares

Filed Under: New Release

Previous Post: « The Unofficial Glossary to Meddlin’ Madeline: Sweet on You
Next Post: Author Q & A: Stick-to-it-iveness? »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Or, you can subscribe without commenting.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments

  1. Sara Glaser says

    May 2, 2016 at 2:14 pm

    I read the first three chapters on Amazon and I’m hooked!

    Reply
  2. Audrey says

    May 1, 2016 at 8:39 am

    I get so tired of murder mysteries. …i hate the thought that someone brutally died, and the imagination of their pain and terror, even if only make- believe. The idea of adult- level non-murder mysteries is so refreshing. As a kid, I remember loving Encyclopedia Brown, The Three Investigators, Trixie Belden: none of which involved dead people.

    Reply
  3. Keri Delahay says

    April 29, 2016 at 3:21 pm

    I love to read and try to solve well-written, clean mystery novels. And, I don’t think they all need to be murder mysteries. While reading a series, it can sometimes get to be kind of humorous how many murders can happen in one town or be stumbled-upon by one person. So it’s great to be challenged by a different kind of literary brain-teaser. I’m really looking forward to reading Meddlin’ Madeline. I know I’m going to love it as much as I do the rest of Chautona’s books.

    Reply
  4. Alicia says

    April 29, 2016 at 2:27 pm

    Love the story, loved how it was written with time period take into consideration. The characters are wonderful and so enjoyable to read about and how they are all connected. The scenes come alive as they always do with your writing. 🙂

    I am so looking forward to reading the Bonus book!! That kid was one of those that stole my heart even in the short scenes she was in.

    Great series starter.

    Reply
  5. Brenda says

    April 28, 2016 at 11:51 pm

    A mystery without a murder….I like it and think it can work. Looking forward to it.

    Reply
  6. Andrea Rossignol says

    April 27, 2016 at 10:08 pm

    I like mysteries without murders! It makes me sad when fictional characters are killed – I’m still sad about the one in AFT. 🙁

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      April 29, 2016 at 1:40 am

      Me too!!! I wasn’t supposed to like her. But that comment in the elevator clinched it. She went from okay to favorite character of the book in a good one liner.

      Reply
  7. Deborah G says

    April 27, 2016 at 4:17 pm

    Mystery doesnt always equal murder. I think it is great fun to try and solve a mystery.

    Reply
  8. Michelle says

    April 27, 2016 at 10:41 am

    So excited to get into this book….intrigued!

    Reply
  9. Bonny says

    April 26, 2016 at 3:30 pm

    murder mystery with no murder? sounds intriguing!!

    Reply
  10. nikki says

    April 26, 2016 at 11:02 am

    I like a nice, cozy, non-murder, mystery! Thank you!

    Reply
  11. Sylvia M. says

    April 26, 2016 at 7:55 am

    I’m all for it! One can still have suspects, clues, red herrings, etc., and still have a great mystery.

    Reply
  12. Cathy Higginbotham says

    April 26, 2016 at 6:47 am

    Love this author and can not wait for this new series!!!

    Reply
  13. Lindsay says

    April 26, 2016 at 6:05 am

    I love a good mystery, and think those without murder are great! Sometimes you just don’t want to read about a dead body. 😉

    Reply
  14. Emily H says

    April 26, 2016 at 5:55 am

    I love a good, clean and non-murderous mystery! Thanks Chautona and may God bless you and yours

    Reply
  15. Ava says

    April 26, 2016 at 5:49 am

    I love a good mystery and I love books set in different time periods. Enjoyed the book!

    Reply
  16. Susan (DE) says

    April 26, 2016 at 5:28 am

    I very much prefer a cozy mystery — WITH NO MURDER! That is my favorite!

    Reply
  17. Elisabeth says

    April 26, 2016 at 5:13 am

    Yes, great idea. It reminds me of many of the classic mysteries, which are either murder-free, or else are very focused on the sleuthing, rather than the gory details.

    Reply
  18. Amanda G. says

    April 26, 2016 at 5:02 am

    I popped over to your blog from twitter after watching the trailer for this book. I like the time period and I believe you can have tension in a mystery without it being centered around a murder. I’d love to read how you do it!

    @AmandaGeaney

    Reply
  19. Sophia Jordan says

    April 26, 2016 at 4:51 am

    I love a good mystery!

    Reply
  20. Ambriel says

    April 26, 2016 at 4:51 am

    I love a good cozy mystery! Murder isn’t necessary to a great mystery. I love a good fun read with twists and turns!

    Reply
  21. Ambriel says

    April 26, 2016 at 4:41 am

    Can’t wait for this new series!

    Reply
  22. Terresa says

    April 26, 2016 at 4:22 am

    Lots of possible mysteries (especially without a murder)!!! Eeekkkk!

    Reply
  23. Connie Bouldin says

    April 26, 2016 at 3:57 am

    I don’t like murder mysteries. I will read one when I know the author doesn’t get too gory, but most murder mysteries make me feel sick (even though I know I am reading fiction), so I tend to choose other genres.

    Reply
  24. Emma Filbrun says

    April 26, 2016 at 2:54 am

    Well, I love the book–but you already know that! Thanks for mentioning my blog, and for letting me help you with this launch–it’s been fun!

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      April 26, 2016 at 3:30 am

      Happy to! You’ve bee a blessing!

      Reply
  25. Esther Filbrun says

    April 26, 2016 at 2:51 am

    Hmm…I’m not seeing a widget. Maybe need to reload?

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      April 26, 2016 at 3:30 am

      It’s showing now. I added a link, and every time I do that, I have to repaste in the code. GRRR

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 549: A Chat with Laura DeNooyer
byChautona Havig

I’ve been anxious to read this one since the moment I saw it. I mean, come on! Secrets are always cool but then Frank L. Baum? And The Pilgrim’s Progress? WHAT? Listen in as Laura DeNooyer and I chat about A Hundred Magical Reasons.

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

The L. Frank Baum connection was a draw, but then she brought in The Pilgrim’s Progress, and it took the whole story idea to a new level!

I had a blast chatting with Laura and I’m excited to read this one. It’ll probably be my flight read tomorrow. EEEP!

A Hundred Magical Reasons by Laura DeNooyer

Some fairy tales don’t end when the story is over…they begin when the truth is finally told.

At eighty-eight, Charlotte Rose Gordon has spent a lifetime guarding secrets—burdens that have turned her into the town’s most notorious recluse. But before her story ends, she has one final quest: to set the past right and clear her husband’s name.

Even if it means facing the dragons she’s spent decades avoiding.

Carrie Kruisselbrink is fighting dragons of her own. Fresh out of college and desperate to escape the weight of her parents’ expectations, she risks everything to chase a dream that feels just out of reach.

An unlikely job with the reclusive Mrs. Gordon seems like a temporary solution. Until it becomes something much more.

As Charlotte begins to unravel her past—from a stifling childhood to an extraordinary friendship with author L. Frank Baum—Carrie is drawn into a story filled with imagination, loss, and long-buried truth.

But the deeper Carrie digs, the more she’s forced to confront her own fears, her own choices… and the cost of living someone else’s life.

Because some stories were never meant to stay hidden.

Spanning generations and woven with echoes of a beloved literary legacy, A Hundred Magical Reasons is a moving tale of courage, identity, and the kind of hope that only comes when truth, grace, and imagination collide.

Can two women from different generations find the strength to rewrite their stories—before time runs out?

Step into a story of secrets, second chances, and the courage to believe again.

Learn more on Laura’s WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads and BookBub.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

  • Apple
  • Castbox
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Amazon
  • YouTube
  • and more!
Episode 549: A Chat with Laura DeNooyer
Episode 549: A Chat with Laura DeNooyer
June 8, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 548: A Chat with Sarah Heatwole
June 6, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 547: A Chat with Terri McAdoo
June 1, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 546: A Chat with Chuck Richardson
May 30, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 545: A Chat with Gina Holder
May 25, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 544: A Chat with Nicholas Teeguarden
May 23, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 543: A Chat with Stephanie Cardel
May 19, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 542: A Chat with Megan Schaulis
May 16, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episode 541: A Chat with Demi Griffin
May 11, 2026
Chautona Havig
Episodd 540: A Chat with Dana Mentink
May 9, 2026
Chautona Havig
Search Results placeholder

Love Audio Books?

audio book ad

Featured Books

Be My Inspiration

Be My Inspiration

Pointed Suspicion

Pointed Suspicion
Buy This Book Online
Purchase with Paypal
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Pointed Suspicion
Buy now!

Courting Miss Darling

Courting Miss Darling

Upcoming Posts

Sorry - nothing planned yet!

Or just subscribe to the newsletter

Recent Blog Posts

  • So, There Was That Time I Forgot What I Knew…
  • “Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say” Ain’t No Lie
  • Why Romance Is a Hairy Proposition (or is that proposal?)

I buy my stickers here! (affiliate)

Custom Stickers, Die Cut Stickers, Bumper Stickers - Sticker Mule
So... with little time left, I decide to do corne So... with little time left, I  decide to do corners. Six down,  3 to go...
#Bookbinding
#amcrafting 
#journals
The annual(ish) journal making assembly line has c The annual(ish) journal making assembly line has commenced. To be fair the text blcks were already done. And marking 18 boards wiped me out ( been sick) but... Now, can I get them all done by Sunday? Nine??? Eeep!
#bookbinding
#amcrafting 
#journals
For example, while writing Meddlin' Madeline, I al For example, while writing Meddlin' Madeline, I always play @AdamGSwanson on YouTube so I can stay in touch with her favorite music: Ragtime (I still have CDs of his to use for giveaways with Looks Can Kill. Must get that written. Stay tuned for more about THAT.
While writing Be My Inspiration, I listened to every love song I could stomach (they get old fast. I don't know how Linus does it). I even listened to Taylor Swift's old break up songs (again, not my cuppa). But... at least I got to listen to Roger Miller's "That's Why I Love You Like I Do"  Now THAT is a love song.  hee hee.
If I'm in hyper Get-er-done mode, THEN... I put on a Hogwarts Pomodoro study session and type like the wind. Or get on Discord and join a few writing sprints.  It all depends.
If you have a question you want me to answer, leave it in the comments OR... zip me an email at chautona@chautona.com.  I'll try to work them in (and will probably combine those that are really similar.
#AuthorLife
#WriterLife
#AuthorsOfInstagram
#CharacterDevelopment
#AmWriting
Ever notice how you best know yourself--and know y Ever notice how you best know yourself--and know yourself the least?  We humans are weird that way. Sometimes I think the Lord allows us to be blind to parts of ourselves for a time so as not to drive us too crazy too quickly. Or something.
Characters most like me are hard because they're so very convicting to write AND... because I don't usually know it's me until that conviction its.  I tend to have an idealized picture of who I am until reality strips away those rosy glasses and leaves me with crystal-clear vision.  Blech.
Second to me... I'd say nasty people. They give me such an ick feeling. Sure, it's cathartic... but it's so hard because I want to redeem everyone, and that's just unrealistic and frankly, arrogant.  So... there you have it.
If you have a question you want me to answer, leave it in the comments OR... zip me an email at chautona@chautona.com.  I'll try to work them in (and will probably combine those that are really similar.
#AuthorLife
#WriterLife
#AuthorsOfInstagram
#CharacterDevelopment
#AmWriting
Okay, it's actually a short story, but... IYKYK. Okay,  it's actually a short story, but... IYKYK.
#AmWriting
Going nuts over here waiting for yet ANOTHER Lord Going nuts over here waiting for yet ANOTHER Lord Edgington by @benedictbrownauthor novel. Sigh. I dont think this is what Solomon was talking about when he said, "A virtuous woman, who can find?"
Clearly,  he wasn't talking about me, considering the whole patience being a virtue thing.
Sigh
#AmWaiting
#AmNotReading
#ChrissysFanClub
Life as a podcaster... #AmRecording #BecauseFictio Life as a podcaster...
#AmRecording
#BecauseFiction
  • Home
  • Bookshelf
  • New & Coming
  • Blog
  • News!
  • Disclosure & Policies
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2026 · Chautona Havig · All Rights Reserved · Coding by Gretchen Louise

Don't go before you grab your FREE short story collection!