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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Why I Refuse to Apologize for Stealing a Brilliant Idea

by Chautona Havig · 6 Comments

Jose Iturbi in "Anchors Aweigh" when he says, "You know those composers--they steal from each other!" I did that. Stealing a brilliant idea--that's me! via @chautonahavig

I was an innocent bystander. Really!  I was. I just sat there, reading a fabulous book (you can read my review HERE), and cracking up over the heroine’s hijinks when it happened.

There, described in brilliant detail (without too much, mind you) emerged a scene that transformed itself in my mind.  Different country, different house, even a different type of location on property! But the concept—brilliant.

Never have I been so torn while reading a book. 

You see, I wanted to stop reading and start writing—right then.  The scene played out so perfectly, I could just imagine how amazing it would be to write my own. But who can stop reading a brilliant book when you’re just really getting into the heart of it?

“Not me,” said the flea!  Or something like that.

So there I was, consumed by frustration and confusion.  And then it hit me.  Of course, I needed to finish the book.  I couldn’t work on the next in the series just a month after the last was published! I had other books calling my name!

But oh, how I wanted to.

Why I Refuse to Apologize for Stealing a Brilliant Idea

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

So, why do I refuse to apologize for stealing a brilliant idea?

And what was that brilliant idea?

Fine Print: Meddlin' Madeline 3Well, what it was, you’ll have to wait for until you read Fine Print.  And that’ll be a week or two.  Yep, the book is going to be late.  I can’t get around that.  It was supposed to release tomorrow.  Yeah, like in twenty-four hours.  That ain’t happenin’.  So, I’m shooting for next week. Pray I make it, okay?

Just the Way You Are Pepper BashamOh, and you’ll need to read Just the Way You Are as well, or you won’t get it.  Sorry.

Yeah. Actually, I’m not.  I’m not sorry at all. And you shouldn’t be, either.  It’s a great book.

Why do I refuse to apologize for it, then?  Well, because it made my book better.

See, I had a plan for Fine Print. It was going to be awesome. And then I read this book and the gears started turning.  An English Manor, a treasure trove, a…

Yeah. I’m going to give too much away. 

So, like any author, I’m stealing the idea.  Oh, yeah.  Livin’ on the wild side.  Okay, not really, but if you really think about it, that’s what we do, you know.  We steal events from our lives or our friends’—our families’ lives.  We steal from history, from theater, movies, and from other authors.

Don’t believe me?  Well, the same guy who said, “the writing of many books is endless” also said, “there is nothing new under the sun.”  Hint: his name is Solomon. He was kind of a wise guy, but not in the “take ’im to Jerzee and whack ’im” sense.  Just sayin’.

Okay, so I stole the brilliant idea.  I took it and I changed it, morphed it, twisted it and reimagined it—kind of like how someone takes a beautiful piece of fabric (one person’s artwork) and cuts it up, reassembles it, and bam!  You have a beautiful dress, a quilt,  some curtains.

I think I just said this book is curtains for me.

I digress.

But no, really. One little element of one author’s book prompted an idea that turned my original idea from “Oh, this is going to be fun” to “That was dumb” and gave me a new one I can’t wait to share.

You know how Henry Hardwick (from books 1 and 2) was all about the archeology thing?  Yeah, well, Madeline is “donning her helmet” so to speak.  And man, she’s mixed up in everything from finding something hidden in the strata of a house to yet another girl’s relationship.  What’s with her and this anti-matchmaking scheme, anyway?  Methinks she’s jealous or something.

Yeah. Not hardly.

So, sure. I stole someone’s brilliant idea.  I don’t pretend I didn’t.  In fact, I thank Pepper Basham for the genius idea. And unlike Liz Johnson, I didn’t just come up with the same idea at the same time. No, I admit it freely.  I stole the idea.

But I suspect if you read both books, you’ll agree.

They’re nothing alike.

Oh, and man… I stole an idea from someone else, too—one of the Denny’s patrons, actually. But that’s a story for another time.  Stay tuned for that one next month.

But tell me… are you looking forward to the third book of the Meddlin’ Madeline series? Are you curious about what Madeline’s up to? What about her growth as a detective?  Did you know that’s what this series is all about?

Here… check out this little video for more information on that!

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Comments

  1. Mari Tysar says

    February 19, 2018 at 9:44 am

    I can’t wait! And I broke my no buy book ban on authors I haven’t read because of you lol. Hopefully her book holds a candle to yours because your books and (Dee Henderson) are the only ones I’ll usually buy without knowing anything about the book. 😀 looking forward to Madeline, she’s one of my FAVORITES.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      February 19, 2018 at 3:49 pm

      Which book was that? Just the Way You Are? If you don’t crack up in chapter one, I’ll refund you the cost myself.

      Reply
  2. Andrea Stoeckel says

    February 19, 2018 at 8:53 am

    They say there is nothing new under the sun right? And I’ve heard pastoral candidates truthfully say they only have five sermons in them; that they preach different version of them on Sunday…. so why should you apologize for your own “spins”? I just received an ARC with a title so generic there are well over a hundred books with the same name out there…

    There is never a reason to apologize

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      February 19, 2018 at 3:50 pm

      Yeah… I do check Amazon before I choose titles. I didn’t with my first say 10 and I could have really made a few huge mistakes with a couple of mine if I hadn’t. Basically, anytime I think I’m being clever, a million other people already have been.

      Reply
  3. Darlene Case says

    February 19, 2018 at 6:20 am

    I love your books, as you may have guessed, but the Miss Marple and Patrick Jane combo is brilliant!! Woo Hoo Chautona!! Keep ’em coming!

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      February 19, 2018 at 3:50 pm

      I just hope I make it happen.

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 234: A Chat about The Chosen Kids with RM Ruiz
byChautona Havig

Remember when you were a kid and you wanted to help with whatever the family was doing, so Great Aunt Tissy gave you a stack of napkins and told you to put one at each plate? Remember how she commented on what a  “big girl” you were?  And then, as if that weren’t bad enough… remember how you were fourteen and a “big girl” was the last thing you wanted to be? 

RM Ruiz’ The Chosen Kids Saga does just the opposite. She has a cast of related characters who are given real work by God–important work. They’re pulling on the armor of God and doing real battle with real enemies of the Kingdom of God and all while He works out their sanctification. Listen in to where she got the idea and where the Chosen Kids are going next.

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

What if God Decided to Use Ordinary Kids to Battle the Underworld?

Can I just say that I love the respect Rosemary shows her characters? These kids, as young as eleven, aren’t told to fold napkins and praised as if they saved the world. They’re given tools and assignments and do save the world… or at least a piece of it and with the real help of the Holy Spirit. How cool is that?

And she does it with a tortilla in one hand and some eye and mouth-watering chili stuffs in the other.

Oh… and don’t forget the research for Encounter at Paradise that sent her up a literal slippery slope into frozen tundra. In July. #BecauseResearch.

And the result is book two of the Chosen Kids Saga! (To listen to the first episode where we talked more about the first book, go HERE.)

The Chosen Kids: Encounter at Paradise by RM Ruiz

A thrilling adventure for middle-grade readers, showcasing the supernatural powers of God, His son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.This is the second book of The Chosen Kids Saga.The Chosen Kids are ready for their second mission!

It’s been two weeks since Caiden and his family’s summer of fun turned into a secret quest for God. After their first mission, the Chosen Kids step into their new roles without fear or reluctance. With revived faith and God’s blessed tools, they embark on their second hunt—ready to track, capture, and expel the enemy.

But the day turns into a tedious game of hide-and-seek as the family races to get ahead of the fiend. When the unthinkable happens, and their mission becomes personal, they must keep the faith and trust God’s plan. They could set things right with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, but only if they obey His commands completely. Caiden thinks he’s uncovered the answer, but no one ever listens to the youngest cousin…

With nightfall quickly approaching, the Chosen Kids set a trap.

But if their plan fails, they could lose one of their most valuable assets, and their quest will end in heartbreak and disaster.

In this next chapter of the Chosen Kids Saga, readers will see the cousins in action as they take on their new roles with renewed spirits. Just like the first book, this fast-paced adventure includes family love, kid banter, and humor with even more adventure, danger, and spiritual growth!

This series mixes fantasy and adventure elements with transparent Christian themes for young believers who want a story that includes gospel truths without reading through symbolism.

Middle-grade readers will follow along as these flawed, relatable characters—still finding their way in Christ—embark on a life-transforming quest to save humanity. With family love, spiritual growth, kid banter, and humor all mixed in for a fun and exciting journey.

The adventure starts with Encounter at the Dunes and continues in Encounter at Paradise. Grab a copy of both to begin the redemptive journey today! Book three, Encounter At Ambrose, coming summer 2024.

Learn more about the series, the characters, and Rosemary at TheChosenKids.com

And the series she mentioned was The Son of Angels.

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