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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

What Makes Cliched Tropes Work Like Magic?

by Chautona Havig · 4 Comments

Plan to Fail--is it the name of a super-fun spy novel set in Phoenix or a commentary on my determination not to be distracted from my latest WIP? Ahem. via @chautonahavig

How many times in some movie have you ever heard someone say, “I know a guy?” And while we’re on the subject, why does the guy saying it always have a Jerzee or Chicagoan accent?

Well… when it comes to TV and movies, “I know a gal.” No, really. I do. I can’t tell you her name. That would be indiscreet. Unlike Arthur in the movie by his name (one I cannot recommend, mind you), I will not whisper it under my breath and then blurt it out, either.

Instead, I’ll let you in on an inside joke. My nickname for her is #notBob. No, really. It is. We were at an event once and people kept saying something like, “You’re the one in the movie industry—but not Bob…” While they tried to remember her name.

Well, I did something last night I’ve never done before. I messaged #notBob on Facebook and told her I thought she should check out a cool new series I’d been reading. The Accidental Cases of Emily Abbot.

the accidental cases of Emily Abbott

In trying to pitch the concept, I did a movie/TV mashup that really does help people “get” an idea quickly. I said, “It’s kind of like Inspector Gadget meets the wonder and delight of Harry Potter when he discovers the wizarding world… but in a nineteen-year-old wannabe college student barista.” Okay, looking back, I think maybe Get Smart would have been a more accurate description. I’d better tell her that.

But it’s true! Seriously, if this came out on Netflix, Amazon Prime, PureFlix, or Hallmark, I’d buy every episode that came out just to be sure I could always have it. I think it would be delightful!

The question begs, of course, why?

Well, because Perry Kirkpatrick took all those cliched tropes that we know and are familiar with and she sent them spinning across the stage of her novels. Because you know the tropes, you know what’s coming—and you don’t. You know what should be there, so when it doesn’t quite happen, it has a lot of punch without the need for explanation.

In fact, I’d say that’s the brilliance of her concept. Perry Kirkpatrick is able to write this series with probably half the words she would have needed if she didn’t stick to tropes, stereotypes, and cliches.

The best part… she made them work for her instead of against her.

What Makes Cliched Tropes Work Like Magic?

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

What Makes Cliched Tropes Work Like Magic?

Taking the known and using them in a new, fresh way makes Plan to Fail (and the whole series so far), one to love. I hate that they’re so short, though—both because I want more, more, more, and because of the brilliance she used to ensure they only need to be as long as they are. It’s something to envy, folks.  Trust me.

I laughed hysterically when one of the main characters got one of those fun upset/plot twists. And I could have cried when I found out a beloved character was the victim of money laundering.

I recommend Plan to Fail for all “spy movie/book/show” lovers who like to laugh, imagine a world of what-ifs, and all with characters you can’t wait to get to know. #becauseSanta (and that’ll only make sense if you read one. Just sayin’.)

Stay tuned for my $.02 on Bad Things, Small Packages… tomorrow! 

And if you missed the first book, you can read the review of Red Rover, Red Rover HERE.

(Today and Thursday are the only double review days this week, so I hope you newsletter subscribers will just bear with me!)

plan to fail reviewTitle: Plan to Fail

Author: Perry Kirkpatrick

Synopsis:  They’re on a date… but not really.

When Brent asks Emily to be his date, she knows it doesn’t mean anything. He has a mission requiring him to go undercover at a charity gala. After getting a makeover at his spy agency headquarters, she’s ready to assume the role of an opinionated book reviewer from New York.

The Gremlin is planning to steal and sell top-secret blueprints from the aerospace company for which he works. When Emily literally bumps into him at the gala, she is able to plant an ICS tracking chip on his glasses. But the Gremlin is smarter than they thought, and ICS finds themselves in the dark about his buyer. With time running out, and the sale imminent, Emily must rely on instinct and quick thinking to save the day.

The Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott is a series of clean spy-comedies set in Phoenix, Arizona.

1. Red Rover, Red Rover – (Review HERE)
2. Plan to Fail –
3. Bad Things, Small Packages – (Review HERE)
4. Tutor, Nanny, Spit-up, Spy – (Review HERE)
5. A-Spying We Will Go – (Review HERE)
6. Once Upon a Dime – August 26, 2019  (Review coming)

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Comments

  1. Terresa M says

    August 2, 2019 at 8:43 am

    As a Non- television -movie watcher, I’m afraid all the referenced cliches would confuse rather than amuse me…?

    Reply
  2. Florence Wright says

    July 17, 2019 at 9:17 am

    Sounds great – adding to my TBR list. Thanks. 🙂 Yeah, “I know a guy….” seems to be a common thing around here in “jerzee”,not sure if it’s only this area, but you can hear it a lot for instances when you need a drain fixed, a muffler job, or supposedly ( and I have no experience with this …. ) when you need a “cleaner” after offing someone.

    Reply
  3. Chrys says

    July 16, 2019 at 8:45 am

    This series sounds perfect for my oldest daughter. I’m buying them for her on Kindle so I can “borrow” them too. 😉

    Glad you’ve made it through the last few weeks. Praying for everyone out your way!

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      July 16, 2019 at 12:26 pm

      Thanks! We’re just rolling with the shockwaves. Snort.

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
byChautona Havig

Fans of Lisa Phillips’ Last Chance County series are doing happy dances following the release of an exciting new spin-off series, Last Chance Fire and Rescue. Expired Return brings back a few favorite characters and kicks off another of Sunrise Publishing’s author/mentor led fiction seasons! Listen in to find out what happens when an author brings back a guy she dropped a building on a couple of books back…

 

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

When Fans Want More Exciting Stories, Smart Authors Listen and Deliver!

Let’s face it. Authors might SOMETIMES be “done” with a series, but readers often want more… indefinitely. Well, with the brilliance of Sunrise Publishing’s mentor model, authors get to collaborate with authors they trust to do their “worlds” proud while still having time to write new, exciting things as well. And some of the Sunrise lead authors even write in the spin-off series–like Lisa Phillips and Trisha Goyer!

This new Last Chance County series promises everything we love about Lisa Phillips’ world–danger, intrigue, heart-stopping suspense, drama… you know… all the feels. But in addition to her own release, Expired Return, this series also introduces us to new authors who have been carefully vetted and selected to ensure they do justice to Lisa’s Last Chance characters. I, for one, can’t wait to check it all out.

Lisa and I chatted about what she plans for the series,Lisa hinted about a possible super-secret reveal coming soon, and I even poked her with the idea of a Last Chance Christmas.

Help me convince them on that, will ya?

But this new book… Whoa…

Expired Return by Lisa Phillips

Pepper stood up. “How dare you.” She could spit fire at him right now. She’d loved and supported Victory since the day she was born. “You know nothing about me.”

“What’s this?”

Pepper whirled around at that voice. Heart. Breaking. She loved that gruff, commanding voice more than anything else in the world.

He wore a look a lot like Aiden’s. Blank, which she knew—or hoped—had to do with protecting his heart because he still cared for her. Except he probably hated her.

Donaldson sat back in his chair. “Allen.”

Former police officer Allen Frees had both hands on the wheels of his chair. He wore a fire department uniform of slacks and a white shirt. Emblems. A badge. His life of service hadn’t ended when he landed in that chair after a building blew up over his head.

As far as she’d been able to tell, it barely slowed him down.

She’ll give everything to protect her family.

He always knew she was the one.

Veterinary tech Pepper Miller lives a quiet life in Last Chance County. She’s watching her niece until her sister shows up…if she ever does. When Victory’s father demands he take over her care, Pepper knows something has gone wrong. With a new drug in town, and her sister embroiled in a dangerous bargain, it’s up to Pepper to protect the people she loves.

Even if it costs every secret she’s ever kept.

Fire Department liaison Allen Frees lives with the injuries he sustained as a police officer in a raid gone wrong. He’s put his life back together but getting the truck crew and engine squad to succeed might be his toughest assignment yet. When Victory is nearly kidnapped at a community event, Allen steps in to help Pepper keep her niece safe. The one thing he couldn’t fix was the love he lost, but he isn’t going to let Pepper walk away this time.

No matter what walls he has to break down.

Last Chance County returns in this blazing new series from Sunrise Publishing.

Last Chance Fire and Rescue

  • Book 1: Expired Return
  • Book 2: Expired Hope (coming soon)
  • Book 3: Expired Promise (coming soon)
  • Book 4: Expired Vows (coming soon)

Last Chance County

  • Book 1: Expired Refuge
  • Book 2: Expired Secrets
  • Book 3: Expired Cache
  • Book 4: Expired Hero
  • Book 5: Expired Game
  • Book 6: Expired Plot
  • Book 7: Expired Getaway
  • Book 8: Expired Betrayal
  • Book 9: Expired Flight
  • Book 10: Expired End

Learn more about Lisa and her books on her WEBSITE.

Learn more about the different seasons (series) offered by Sunrise Publishing or how to audition with them on the Sunrise Publishing WEBSITE.

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

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Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
February 7, 2023
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January 24, 2023
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Episode 201: A Closer Look at This YA Dystopian Series
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January 17, 2023
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Hardly an ordinary day in the life of Poppy Hart.

My days usually consist of agonizing over my failing restaurant, worrying about my mountain of debt and nursing my broken heart.

Everything changes when I bump into a man in the coffee shop and claim him as my new boyfriend. To my absolute horror, he turns out to be hockey’s most renowned bad boy, Dallas Burke. To my absolute delight, he goes along with my story.

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Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first da Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first dates... no second dates. With his propensity to spout random (and often bizarre) animal facts while nervous (he's always nervous around women) it's no wonder. 
His sister has a solution--lots of dates. Great, heaping gobs of them. Go ahead. Be awkward. Get used to it. Then... then try with someone you really want to get to know. He's not so confident, but when a man gives his word... (Note to self: no more agreeing to Selby's plans without knowing what they are!)
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Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first da Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first dates... no second dates. With his propensity to spout random (and often bizarre) animal facts while nervous (he's always nervous around women) it's no wonder. 
His sister has a solution--lots of dates. Great, heaping gobs of them. Go ahead. Be awkward. Get used to it. Then... then try with someone you really want to get to know. He's not so confident, but when a man gives his word... (Note to self: no more agreeing to Selby's plans without knowing what they are!)
Find out what happens in Random Acts (or is it Facts?) of Shyness.

This book just got a fresh makeover, thanks to the genius of @PlethoraCreative & @PerryElizabeth.
There's a link to how to find it in my bio.
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