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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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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 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.

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Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
Episode 215: A Chat with Henry O. Arnold
March 24, 2023
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