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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Speak Now Is Like a Fungus: It grew on me

by Chautona Havig · 1 Comment

And just how is Speak Now like a fungus, you ask? Well, c’mon.  I already answered up there.  It grew on me.  Not quite literally, but you know.  It happened.  That growing thing.

speak now like a fungusNote: links in this post may be affiliate links, providing me with a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Anyone who follows me on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest has probably noticed quite an influx of Speak Now quote images.  Yeah.  I’ve been rereading it.

First: a history of the blasted book.  You see, I started writing Speak Now as an exercise in being less dialogue driven.  I tend to do that–use a lot of dialogue in my books.  I wanted to practice showing a story (rather than the verboten “telling”) through action and events rather than so many “words.”  (Yes, I do note the unintentional irony there.  Snort.)

It was originally titled, Gently, and frankly, horrible.  I think that’s part of what clouded it all this time.  But my dear friend, Michele, loved it.  And so I kept writing–and rewriting.  I wanted it awesome–for her.  It didn’t happen.  I thought it was stupid, frankly, and I never intended to publish it.

But Michele kept pestering me.  And Ashley insisted.  Of course, once Ashley threw her .02 in there, I was doomed.

I capitulated.

Then, for the past three years or so, I have regretted it.  The book mocked me–taunted me. I hated it. Every time it came up on sale, I told people about it like a good little soldier (Ashley insists) and then assured them they didn’t want to read it.

But as I was going over my Pinterest Boards, I noticed that there were very few quotes from it.  This did not surprise me.  After all, I don’t like the book, right?  But this book does have one of my favorite scenes.  I thought I’d see if I could find one in that scene.  But, I started at the beginning.

Of course, my first discovery was the realization that I actually do like the characters.  I kind of felt guilty for putting them in this book.  Jonathan is such an interesting mix of gentle masculinity and firmness of mind and purpose.  Cara manages to be a “people pleaser” without losing herself in the mix like so many do.  Becca Jacobs-Roth could learn something from Cara in that department.

But the story caught me, too–two people attracted to one another and fighting, desperately, to handle it in a godly manner.  I remember finding it difficult to show that attraction in an appropriate way.

And that’s when it hit me.

Speak Now did exactly what I wanted it to do–just not in the way I expected. This book stretched me as a writer and forced me out of my comfort zone. Honestly, I still wonder what I was thinking when I let myself be talked into publishing it, but after reading it this week, I’m kind of looking forward to bringing out those characters again.

And besides, there was a hint at another book in this one.  Maybe it’s time for that one to surface.  I can see the opening of it now.

A telephone rings.  Trenna answers and once again says, “Look, mister. I don’t know who you’re trying to find, but this ‘agency’ is a wedding planning business, and if you–”

But the voice will break through and say something like, “Just find Mark Cho and tell him Arley needs him.”  A loud noise, a cry… and the line goes dead!  mmmmwaaahaha.  Or something like that.  Maybe it’ll start at a wedding.  After all, that’s where the first call came in.

So, I recant. While it’s not my FAVORITE book, I do like it now.  I’ll forget that. I dare you to remind me that I reread it and liked it.

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Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: Rockland Chronicles

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Comments

  1. Joy Wriston says

    October 17, 2016 at 5:45 am

    I think I’ve mentioned this to you before. I have been waiting since Speak Now came out to find out about the call to The (wedding) Agency. Please go with the book that answers that question!

    Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 164: A Chat with Christian Fantasy Author, Ernest Yip
byChautona Havig

When I talked to Ernest Yip last month, I was crazy excited to learn about his fantasy novel, The Shattered King, an allegory about the attributes of God. Ernest talks about his inspiration, how he got started, and what’s coming next for us. I loved hearing more about the story and my copy is on its way to me now. EEEP! Listen in to learn more.

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

Experience the Attributes of God in a Whole New Way

In the tradition of Pilgrim’s Progress or the parables of Jesus, Ernest Yip brings us a story that introduces to a King like no other through the various attributes our main character meets through out the book. I love a good allegory, and listening to Ernest talk about his book had me choming at the bit to get started.

Though written for teens, The Shattered King is sure to appeal to anyone who loves fantasy and adventure. I especially love how it is a great introduction to who God is without being a heavy or preachy tome of apologetics. Instead, we’re taken on an adventure to discover it all for ourselves.

I can’t wait to see what Yip does next!

The Shattered King by Ernest Yip

Finding his way home means finding something else first—someone else.

When a dark force shatters the benevolent and mighty king Eloa, the land of Astrea lies broken and dying. Though Eloa lives, he is a shadow of his true self, unable to restore his kingdom unless he is reunited with the living Fragments of his being and made whole again.

Catapulted into this unfamiliar world and gifted with a magical sword, teenager Jax faces the ultimate test—finding the lost Fragments of Eloa. Only by fulfilling this quest will he be able to return home. But there are new forces in power, forces that will do whatever it takes to thwart Jax’s efforts and defeat Eloa.

But Jax will soon find that Eloa is no ordinary king, and neither are his Fragments—

A creator of living stone beings A father of orphans in a storm-filled land A desert warrior of limitless power

And they aren’t the only ones out there…

Encounter the Fragments of The Shattered King, a tale of danger and discovery that explores timeless truths about the world we live in, where justice and mercy are sometimes the most powerful weapons.

You can find out more about Ernest from his WEBSITE.

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Episode 164: A Chat with Christian Fantasy Author, Ernest Yip
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