• 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

Manuscript for Murder

by Chautona Havig · 6 Comments

Alexa Hartfield.  You’ve read about her in almost every book I’ve published.  Though young, she’s a bit eccentric, very eclectic, and definitely elusive.  The perfect persona for a mystery writer.

Her books border on thrillers that give much more detail of horrors than I ever could.  I’ve had people ask if she’s my fictional “me.”  Not hardly.

There are similarities, sure.  We both write.  There’s one.  She’s from the town I live in (just for fun).  There’s two.

Um… oh, she lives a similar life to the one I planned for myself back when I was seventeen and was sure I’d never get married or have children (and didn’t want to!).  Unlike her, I was going to be a teacher and write on my summers off  (I actually believed that teachers got three months of freedom back then–silly me).

Alexa doesn’t teach.  She is much more successful (and wealthy) than I ever expected or even wanted to be.  I had romantic ideas of being a starving artist kind of author–discovered after I was dead if ever.  Um, I love her fashion sense, but I wouldn’t look good in her wardrobe–not being nearly double her size!  Oh, and she does drive my dream car–but I wrote it before it was my dream car, so does that count?

Book two is nearly finished editing.  It takes so long to retype it all, get it to the editor, get it back, fix the five thousand changes per page (ok, so maybe that’s a bit exaggerated), and then get back to work.  I’ve neglected my family shamelessly these past two and a half weeks, but it’s almost there and I plan to fix a great meal to celebrate.

Share
Pin
Post
Email
Share
Pin
Post
Email

Filed Under: New Release

Previous Post: « Fan Mail
Next Post: Why Do Your Characters Do What They Do? »

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. Courtney says

    October 31, 2012 at 11:45 am

    I finished this this afternoon. Not at all what I expected and I absolutely LOVED it. I was on the edge of my seat several times during the book…great writing!

    Reply
    • Chautona says

      October 31, 2012 at 12:06 pm

      Book two is almost there. It has a slower start to the mystery part… because it has to develop relationships first… but I love this one. Partly because I modeled one of the people after someone I know… and made that person the killer!

      Reply
  2. Ruth says

    October 29, 2012 at 12:07 pm

    Hmmmmm, the raffelcopter hasn’t been working when I have looked at it for the last week or so. Is it just me or have other people had the same problem?

    Reply
  3. Lynn says

    October 29, 2012 at 9:06 am

    Don’t have Twitter but have done all the rest 🙂

    Reply
  4. Susan says

    October 29, 2012 at 7:46 am

    I think this will be a fun book to read. Shared all around the www. 🙂

    Susan

    Reply
  5. ~*~Jennifer~*~ says

    October 29, 2012 at 7:33 am

    Liked
    Downloaded
    Tweeted about the giveaway

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 480: A Chat with Tracie Peterson
byChautona Havig

 A chat with Tracie Peterson is always a treat, and this was no exception. Listen in as we talk about A Moment to Love, the last in the Hope of Cheyenne series. 

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

I’ve been loving what Tracie is doing in this Cheyene series, but something about this book really hit home. I think the themes of revenge for heinous crimes and the indignity of our work being stolen are things we relate to whether it’s the 19th or the 21st century.

Also, don’t miss out on her Christmas novella collection with Karen Witemeyer and Misty M. Beller, On a Midnight Clear. 

A Moment to Love  by Tracie Peterson

A shared heart for justice pulls them together, but is their love strong enough to survive their trials? Dr. Carrie Vogel’s heart is shattered when her groundbreaking medical research is stolen and falsely credited to her ex-fiancé. With years of diligent work lost, she grapples with the disastrous turn of her career and leans on her faith for strength. When she learns that her Pinkerton friend Spencer Duval is on a justice-driven mission to her hometown of Cheyenne, she agrees to an arranged marriage to provide him with a cover story. But merely pretending to be in love with Spencer becomes increasingly difficult the more time she spends with him. Spencer is determined to apprehend the ruthless murderer who killed his father years ago, but his quest ignites unexpected emotions–both for Carrie and about the desire for revenge that has dominated his life. As the web of suspects tightens, their futures hang in the balance, and they must learn to trust God’s plan as unexpected love takes flight. Return to Cheyenne, Wyoming, with bestselling author Tracie Peterson for a journey of healing and forgiveness in this exquisite western frontier romance that will appeal to readers of faith-filled stories and When Calls the Heart.

Don’t forget that you can get this and her other books at 30-40% off with FREE US shipping from Bakerbookhouse.com

Learn more about Tracie Peterson on her WEBSITE. Follow her on BookBub and GoodReads.

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

  • Apple
  • Castbox
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Amazon
  • and more!
Episode 480: A Chat with Tracie Peterson
Episode 480: A Chat with Tracie Peterson
October 20, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 479: A Chat with Connilyn Cossette
October 18, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 478: A Chat with Julie Klassen
October 17, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 477: A Chat with Kate Angelo
October 13, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 476: A Chat with Katie M. Reid
October 11, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 475: A Chat with D. T. Powell
October 6, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 474: A Chat with Ann Swindell
October 4, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 473: A Chat with Jennifer Willcock
October 3, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 472: A Chat with Shelley Shepard Gray
September 29, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 471: A Chat with Heather Wood
September 27, 2025
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
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
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
Keith can’t help but wonder: will his first assi Keith can’t help but wonder: will his first assignment with The Agency be his last?

One missing man. One new agent. One chance to keep the (uncertain) client alive
The prequel novel to The Agency Files, Induction is Keith Auger's interview and... well.. induction into The Agency. Listen FREE on YouTube to the audiobook narrated by @ChristaDelSorbo .
Listen to each chapter separately for ease of finding where you are OR the whole book in one video (after Sept 30, 2024).
Also available from most audiobook retailers!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGJaJiSo6mQ2AIQHYt1g3cWoBPneeilsa

#ChristianRomanticSuspense
#ChristFic
#Audiobooks
#ChristianAudiobooks
#FreeAudiobooks
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
  • Home
  • Bookshelf
  • New & Coming
  • Blog
  • News!
  • Disclosure & Policies
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · Chautona Havig · All Rights Reserved · Coding by Gretchen Louise

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