• 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
    • Advertising
    • Podcast Guest Information
    • Podcast Interview FAQ
  • Merch Shop
  • Nav Social Menu

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

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Productivity from a Booth

by Chautona Havig · 1 Comment

The sound of an airplane pierces through slumber.  Eyes open. Head snaps up.  Whiplash first from the aforementioned snapping, then from getting tossed aside by said airplane.  Note:  It really isn’t an airplane.  It’s just a fan with a motor that sounds like a single-engine plane and a blade the size of a propeller.

Slumber gives way to consciousness.  The fun begins.

Shower. Hair dry. Clean, real clothes. Shocker of shockers…makeup!  One minute I looked like I had lived in bed for a week. The next, I looked half alive.  Packed up my work bags.

Laptop. Check.
Earbuds. Check.
Notebooks. Check.
Pens. Check.
Glasses… Oh, yeah! Check!

Bag in each hand, off I went.  They had my booth waiting for me.  They love me.  Shhh!  Leave me to my delusions!  This is my story! The fact that they probably groan at the sight of me is detrimental and deleterious to my delusion!  Back to the story.

I can’t tell you how good it felt to slide onto that lovely vinyl seat *cough* and pull out my laptop.  My desk.  It’s so pretty.  Okay, it’s not.  It’s a typical ugly diner table.  But when you miss something, nostalgia beautifies it.

About that time it was….9:35? I sent a message to a fellow writer who sometimes meets me on the weekend and let her know I’d arrived and gotten “the” booth.  It’s number 14.  Note: if you come to Ridgecrest and sit in my booth at night when I’m going to be there, I’ll be waiting.  And watching.  And trying not to think malevolent things about what should happen to your food.  Just kidding.  Sorta.

My favorite server is  Angela.  Look.  Our Denny’s has great employees. Alfonso, Andrew, Uli, Jonathan, Selena, Sierra, a new girl Alexis who looks like one of my “Spectacles” characters, Avery… they have great servers!  But Angela–she’s my favorite.  Partly because she sounds a lot like my Aunt Barbara when she talks sometimes.  It’s a bit freaky to pull out my headphones on a restroom trip and hear her talking. Aunt Barbara sounds and looks a lot like Jane Russell.  Here’s a clip to give you a hint.

That woman looks and sounds JUST like my Aunt Barbara.  And, it’s not even just my opinion.  She’s heard it her whole life.  😀

Anyway, there’s a similar quality to Angela’s voice.

Angela works ten to six–almost the hours I’m there.  So she arrived at ten. She took one look at me and said, “I have a gift for you!  You’re alive!”  LOL.

Backstory. Our Denny’s is right across the street from one of the most popular bars in town. Bars close at 2?  2:30?  Something like that.  Because just around 2:30, especially on “Flex Fridays” the place starts hopping.  And that’s when I start wincing.

The place gets L.O.U.D.  We’re talking loud.  And full of people with much more colorful language than I care to hear. Now look.This is what makes being open all night worth it for the restaurant in our town.  Because, let’s face it.  Most people in Ridgecrest are sleeping between midnight and four or five a.m.  We’re a pretty boring place.  But people apparently get hungry when drinking a lot, so they come over and fill up on different calories.  Pancakes are a favorite. I see a lot of pancake orders.

So, instead of packing up and going home like I used to, I bought me earbuds.  Tiny ones that actually fit my very small ear canals.  With that and 101 Strings or the Piano Guys, I’m usually good to go.  But sometimes…Sigh.

So anyway… Angela dashes off to her car and returns with a gift.  Check it out.

headphones

Isn’t that a hoot!  And they’re “noise isolating.”  They fit my head!  Most are too big and flop around.  These don’t.

They got the acid test last night. About a dozen of the loudest people I’ve ever heard came in.  Look.  Usually my earbuds drown enough out that even though I can tell stuff is going on, I can’t hear actual words. This time I could.  I tried raising the volume on the music a bit, but my ears are pretty sensitive. I can’t go above an 8 on my volume control without it hurting. So, I tried just the Marilyns.  That didn’t work.  But man… put in those earbuds, turn it up to 8, slap on those Marilyns, and BAH-BAM!  Seriously!  Only the slightest drone from around me.  WOOT!

I got eleven chapters edited, rewritten, and tightened last night.  VERY productive after a week of almost no work at all. I was feeling on top of the world!  I have to credit these amazing headphones for it.

I love them.  Love that she thought of me.  I just have one question.

Do you think she’d be offended if I put my logo typewriter over Miss Marilyn?

Share
Pin
Tweet
Email
Share
Pin
Tweet
Email

Related

Filed Under: Writing

Previous Post: « Taking Thoughts Captive = Spiritual Warfare?
Next Post: Why This New Series Is Destined to Be a Favorite »

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

    February 27, 2016 at 6:06 pm

    Aw, that’s so sweet!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

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.

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

  • Apple 
  • Castbox 
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn 
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Stitcher
  • Amazon
  • and more!
Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
March 24, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 214: A Chat about After the Shadows with Amanda Cabot
March 21, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 213: A Chat about Daughter of Eden with Jill Eileen Smith
March 17, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 212: A Chat about Code Name Edelweiss with Stephanie Landsem
February 28, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 211: A Chat with Lynn H. Blackburn about Under Fire
February 24, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 210: A Chat with Jennifer Deibel about The Maid of Ballymacool
February 21, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 209: A Chat with Tracie Peterson about Remember Me
February 17, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 208: A Chat with Author, Hallie Lee
February 14, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 207: A Chat with Daniella Rushton about Portal Fantasy
February 10, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
February 7, 2023
Chautona Havig
Search Results placeholder

Love Audio Books?

audio book ad

Check out the Sparrow Island novels. A tiny island with a lot of heart

independence islands series

Featured Books

A Ransomed Grete

A Ransomed Grete
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon Kindle
A Ransomed Grete
Buy now!

Twice Sold Tales

Twice Sold Tales
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Twice Sold Tales
Buy now!

Under the Hibiscus

Under the Hibiscus
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Under the Hibiscus
Buy now!

Upcoming Posts

Sorry - nothing planned yet!

Or just subscribe to the newsletter

Recent Blog Posts

  • Why I Can’t Wait to Read the Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing Series!
  • What Kinds of Lessons Can We Learn from the First People?
  • Why Would Anyone Send Beautiful, Thorny Roses with Strange Messages?

I buy my stickers here! (affiliate)

Custom Stickers, Die Cut Stickers, Bumper Stickers - Sticker Mule
Reposted from @sunrisemediagroup Incoming! Expired Reposted from @sunrisemediagroup Incoming! Expired Hope will be released next month—be sure to pre-order it at the discounted price of $3.99 before release day!⁠
⁠
@LisaPhillipsBks ⁠
@MeganBesing⁠
⁠
#LastChanceCountyCollection #LisaPhillips #suspense #romanticsuspense #christianfiction #christiansuspense #cfauthor
It's here!!! Eeeep! Have you read @author_jocelyn_ It's here!!! Eeeep!
Have you read @author_jocelyn_green 's newest release?
#AmReading 
#ChristFic 
#historicalChristianFiction
Found this book at our local bookstore, Red Rock Found this book at our local bookstore,  Red Rock Books. It changed one direction of my next Bookstrings novel. I think we need more emphasis on picture books. So... this will sit around to inspire. 
#Bookstrings 
#bookishbooks
Reposted from @lornaroseboutique Annnnnnnd here th Reposted from @lornaroseboutique Annnnnnnd here they are!!! I’ve been anxiously waiting to see how they turn out, and they’re AMAZING!!! Gahh I love these post cards! 
If you love them too, you can check out the link in my bio!!

#digitalart #redbubbleartist #iloveart
When @kathleendenly offers to send an ARC, you squ When @kathleendenly offers to send an ARC, you squeal and accept before she changes her mind d. Eeep! I love her Chaparral Hearts series!
#AmReading 
#historicalromance 
#ChristFic
My first Goudge this month was a DNF. However, I My first Goudge this month was a DNF. However,  I found this while sorting my books in our home library and decided to read it now. Delightful. 
#yearofgoudge
#ChristianFantasy
Reposted from @susankbeattyauthor Take a trip to t Reposted from @susankbeattyauthor Take a trip to the Suamalie Islands where palm trees sway, the sand and sea pulse with life, and the people will steal your heart with Book 2 in the series, Wheelers Design.

Clay is messy and so is Sabrina’s life sometimes, but will God mold it into a work of art?
	
Wheelers Design releases March 28, but you can pre-order now: 

Pre-order the ebook copy now to get a special pre-order price of $2.99 https://buff.ly/3TPO7NT

Preorder the paperback copy to get 30% off plus free shipping. Just fill out the form https://buff.ly/40aLI2s 

#preorder #newrelease #cleanreads #contemporaryfiction
  • Home
  • Bookshelf
  • New & Coming
  • Blog
  • News!
  • Disclosure & Policies
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Chautona Havig · All Rights Reserved · Coding by Gretchen Louise

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