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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Romance: What’s the Point?

by Chautona Havig · 1 Comment

People who know me personally, know that I’m not much of a romantic.  In fact, as much as I don’t like to admit it, in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, I am probably most akin to Charlotte Lucas who said in the 1995 A&E film adaptation, “I’m not romantic, you know.  I  never was.”

Romance: What's the Point?

In fact, I tend to skip the sappy parts of books to get to the rest of the story. 

So why does a self-professed unromantic author write books with romance in them?  Well, if you had told me in 2000 that the book I was starting would end up having romance in it, I would have laughed.  I was determined not to “go there.”

Why?  Because my favorite books–most of them anyway–were my favorites because of the non-romantic elements.  I loved Isabella Alden (Otherwise known as “Pansy”) because when she did put romance in her books, she faded to black before it had a chance to move at ALL into the gray.  (Can’t imagine what she’d think of the current “grey phenomena”).  In fact, in one of her books, Eighty-Seven, a couple is going to have a romantic discussion–just a discussion!  And in omniscient narrative she says something to the effect of, “Well, this is none of our business, so let’s go see what’s happening over here.”  LOVED it.

Imagine my surprise when romance entered Aggie’s life in Ready or Not (that first book written in 2000 that I mentioned).  I wanted to leave it out. But when it refused to go, I then tried making it comic relief–and something Aggie didn’t want to mess with.  I didn’t blame her.  I mean, seriously, she’s busy enough with eight children.  Who needs or has time to sort out entanglements of the heart?

But something happened as I tried to write my idea of a fun Christian novel.  I learned a little about why authors like me put romance in books–authors who don’t read books for the romance (unlike certain daughters of mine who won’t touch a book without romance–and who don’t consider my books romantic enough for their tastes.  Hee hee!)

Romance belongs in Christian fiction and not just because Scripture paints the picture of Christ’s love for us with a romantic brush. 

See, I knew you thought I’d go there.  And while there is truth to that, it’s not why it worms its way into the heart of my books.  No, romance belongs in Christian fiction–really almost any fiction–because it’s a part of life.  And if you try to remove any core element of life from any book, you remove life itself from that book.

See, I have romance in my life.  I’m a romantic in my own way–just not the way  most people envision it.  So, I always say I’m not.  No, my husband doesn’t bring me flowers.  He doesn’t tell me I’m beautiful or arrange for dates with candlelight dinners.  It’s probably a good thing.  I’ve often joked if he ever came home with flowers or a gift, I’d tell him to tell the other woman that it’s over.

But my husband loves me.  He shows it by going to work every day–when he’d rather be here.  Yeah.  Here with me. That’s romantic in my book.  He used to do it with what I called the “Three Ds.”  Dinner, dishes, and diapers.  He’d come home after a ten-hour day at work, make dinner, do the dishes, be on call for diaperectomies, and I’d get to go read a book, go make porcelain dolls, or go laugh at Denny’s with a friend while we waited for the servers to finally remember to serve us.

That was back in the “trenches” of motherhood, as I like to call it.

Today, he does it by indulging my love of writing and ensuring the kids don’t forget to take out the trash or folding the laundry–things I should do while he’s at work and forget.  Because I’m lost in an imaginary world where I make characters do things I wouldn’t know how to handle.  Things like having a man just look at her or touch her face just because.  Things like having a woman cry over the beauty of something or because her feelings are hurt–things we just don’t do around here.

My men compliment their women sometimes.  I’d take my husband into the doctor if he did that.  My men arrange for dates.  My husband and I never dated.  We went from best friends to engaged in the turn of what I fear may have been a rhetorical question.  My husband loves me enough not to tell me if it was.  My women dress up and try to be attractive, attentive, and engaging when the time is right. They do it because this is normal.

It’s not their fault that I’m not.

Aggie would have been a fun book without her falling in love.  Luke could have been a best friend forever.  But it would have been lacking.  It would eventually have fallen flat.  Why? Because God designed us to have multifaceted lives.  And if you neglect to cut one of those facets, that life doesn’t shine and reflect His light fully.

And isn’t that the point of everything we Christians do? 

Try to help others see the light of God shining through a dark and unloving world?

It’s a lesson I learned in writing.  I learned that romance, even for its own sake (cannot believe I am typing this) has a purpose in our lives.  Whether we’re living it as a participant or observing it from afar, it enriches us.  Sure, classic or traditional norms of romance make some of us miserable. But despite that “misery” we’re blessed by it.

So, I’ll keep writing my “Christian romance” and try not to wince at the words every time I see them.

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  1. Are Christian Romance Stories Beware or Beautiful? • Aryn the Libraryan says:
    September 26, 2019 at 10:38 am

    […] Ok, high suspense here, the Agency exists to provide protection. Sometimes they are hired, but other times, they discover a threat, and “kidnap/hide the victim BEFORE the attack can happen. Then, catch the bad guys. Book 1, Justified Means starts out in high gear. Knowing who to trust is difficult. Falling in love with your kidnapper/rescuer is dangerous. Especially when he’s a Christian and you are not. This is well written in general, but especially timing-wise. Not too sudden, And not like Col. Mckenzie and Cmdr. Rabb from JAG (nearly there, but never gonna happen). There are many threads in this series, of faith, romance, and suspense / adventure. Its a lot of fun! One Author’s View of Christian Romance Stories […]

    Reply

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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.

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Episode 480: A Chat with Tracie Peterson
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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
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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
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