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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Isn’t It Cool When What Seemed So Awful Turns Out Great?

by Chautona Havig · Leave a Comment

When I first read Sweet Rivals by Kari Trumbo, I knew it would be a new favorite, and mostly because of the sorrow-to-joy theme! Check it out! via @chautonahavig

When Mom moved in with us back in 2019, we had one problem. Our house is a three-bedroom, one-bath, house with 1100-1250 sq. ft. Years ago, we converted part of the garage into the “annex” for our older girls, but we still had girls and the remaining boy in the middle room. Where to put the madre, no?

Enter the shed-room.  We bought a shed, insulated it, drywalled it, and turned it into #2son’s bedroom.  Mom got his room inside, and all was well.  For over two years he’s lived there, packing it with his friends at least once or twice a week.  Seriously, I don’t know how he got so many people in such a small place.

Last month, he moved out and into his own house.

Look, I’m not the kind of mom who dreads her kids doing what they were intended to do–grow up, have lives of their own, move on, all that jazz.  I actually enjoy the process of seeing infants roll, crawl, walk, run.  I enjoy watching kids climb trees, scrape trees, and… yeah. No. I never enjoyed the constant tears in the girls’ dresses or boy’s jeans.  Nope.  And… I enjoy watching my teens become individuals who make their own lives.  It’s beautiful.

But I’m also not that mom who wants her kids out of the house the day they turn eighteen. It never makes sense to me–kids spending money on rent, utilities, all the things just so they can “be independent.”  We’ve encouraged our kids to be independent right here at home. Save the expenses for later.  One by one they’ve gone off to college.  Some didn’t come home. Others have gotten their own places… like #2son.

And now we have an empty shed.

Look, here’s the deal. Mom’s room has always been slated to be my office.  But when Mom moved in, the only drawback at all was that I knew it could be a couple of decades before I would be able to use it now.  Let’s see… Mom?  Office?  Mom?  Office.  Seriously, there was no hesitation.  Mom every day and twice today (it’s Sunday as this post goes up. Work with me here).

So, after some consideration, I decided that it might be time to turn it into my office. I’ve never wanted a detached office. I tend to hole up alone anyway.  That kind of temptation isn’t good for a natural hermit.  However, if I worked out there mostly at night and for podcasts, well… I’ll have to learn a bit of self-discipline, won’t I?

The shed-room has become… the shed-i-ffice.  I love that so much.  Snort.

It’s amazing how God works out things I’ve dreamed of in ways that seemed so terrible.  Mom becoming so weak she needed to sell her home and everything in it and move to a place she never wanted to see again.  But I got to have Mom close again.  My son moved out and took on all the responsibilities of adulthood.

And I got a shed-i-ffice.

It’s a small way the Lord took hard things and unexpected changes and turned them into huge blessings, and sometimes we need those simple examples to see the beauty in the truly hard things–a grandson electrocuted, a move, a miscarriage.  God is good always, and sometimes when it seems like the goodness is missing, we discover it isn’t after all.

Sweet Rivals Trumbo

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

Why am I yammering on about God’s blessings?

Well, first… #becauseGod!

And because Kari Trumbo’s latest Islands book released this week. In Sweet Rivals, Fay’s dream business seems to be taken away by God, but maybe God has better plans for her… or does He?

Sweet Rivals Trumbo

Sweet Rivals by Kari Trumbo

Fay is about to lose her business…

…to the only guy she’s ever thought might be good for her.

Fay Ravven has spent years building a floral business on Mimosa Island. Too bad a chain florist has moved in right down the street. As her business wanes, she realizes her rival is none other than Corbin Lowel, the very man who swept her heart away at her friend’s wedding.

Corbin knows he’s not good enough for Fay. His friends remind him all the time that, as a florist, he’s not really man enough for anyone. That doesn’t stop him from stepping out of his comfort zone and going to Fay’s store to see if she remembers him. That’s when he discovers that his business is killing hers.

What are rivals to do when they can’t stop thinking about each other? Plan the flowers for someone else’s wedding, of course.

When Corbin and Fay must see each other and work together, will they dive through their pain and reach for the stars? Or will the roses be too prickly for two hurt hearts?

Read the next Sparrow Island novel in the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.
The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

The Independence Islands authors have inspiring stories for you. Check them all out and get your entries in!

Kari Trumbo – March 29

Rachel Skatvold – March 30

Tabitha Bouldin – March 31

Carolyn Miller –April 1

Chautona Havig  – April 2

Melissa Wardwell – April 3

Sandy Barela – April 4

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 263: A Chat about The Love Script w/ Toni Shiloh
byChautona Havig

I had another lovely conversation with Toni Shiloh last month. Her latest book, The Love Script released and boy does it promise to be another #BookTouchdown!  Listen in to what you’ll find in this Love in the Spotlight series and especially in The Love Script.

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

How Many Lies Does It Take to Expose the Truth That Love Brings?

Authors tell me over and over that they experience the same things I do when I’m writing. You start helping your characters work through their problems, and as you do, the Lord starts exposing your own.  He helps you understand where you need growth and helps pull weeds that try to choke out that growth.

The Love Script has a great twist of someone trying to use a lie to smooth over the gossipy ripples of false reporting (genius way to handle it, eh?) and oh the fall out.

Toni promises we’ll see some great wisdom from Lamont’s mother and some deep truths that Neveah discovers.

The Love Truth by Toni Shiloh

A Hollywood hair stylist.

Nevaeh Richards loves making those in the spotlight shine but prefers the anonymity of staying behind her stylist chair, where no one notices her. But when a photo of Nevaeh and Hollywood A-lister Lamont Booker goes viral for all the wrong reasons, her quiet life becomes the number-one trending topic.

The silver screen’s latest heartthrob.

Lamont Booker’s bold faith has gained him a platform, and the authenticity of his faith is well known . . . until the tabloids cause the world to question everything he claims to be. With his reputation on the line, he finds himself hearing out his agent’s push for a fake relationship–something he never thought he’d consider in a million years.

A love that goes off script.

With their careers at risk, Nevaeh and Lamont have to convince the world that their scripted romance is more than just an act. But when fake seems to turn into something real, can Nevaeh trust her heart in a world where nothing is ever as it seems?

You can find out more about Toni on her WEBSITE.  Follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.

And don’t forget that you can get 30% off the book with free shipping at BakerBookHouse.com. And you can get You Make It Feel Like Christmas, too!

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

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Episode 263: A Chat about The Love Script w/ Toni Shiloh
Episode 263: A Chat about The Love Script w/ Toni Shiloh
September 23, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 262: Chatting about The Legacy of Longdale Manor with Carrie Turansky
September 19, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 261: Chatting with Christian Youth Fiction Author, Candice Yamnitz
September 15, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 260: A Chat with Rachel Hauck
September 12, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 259: A Chat with Debut Author, Laura Conaway
September 8, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 258: A Louisiana Christmas to Remember
September 2, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 257: A Chat with Fantasy Author, N. Ford
September 1, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 256: A Chat about Summer in the Spotlight w/ Liz Johnson
August 29, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 255: A Chat about He Should Have Told the Bees
August 25, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 254: A Chat about Where the Wings rise with Ashlyn McKayla Ohm
August 22, 2023
Chautona Havig
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I love this book so much. And it wouldn't be an "A I love this book so much. And it wouldn't be an "Anne" story without Gilbert and Diana... meet Gage. He's not quite Gilbert, but he's got everything a Gilbert should have--including the ability to completely annoy Anne when he doesn't mean to. She's speaking to him here... barely.
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I love this book so much. And it wouldn't be an "A I love this book so much. And it wouldn't be an "Anne" story without Gilbert and Diana... meet Gage. He's not quite Gilbert, but he's got everything a Gilbert should have--including the ability to completely annoy Anne when he doesn't mean to. She's speaking to him here... barely.
Coming October 3 (I hope!)
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