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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

What Deep Secrets Are You Hiding Behind?

by Chautona Havig · Leave a Comment

Just what does "the camera never lies" actually mean? David Rawlings, in his allegorical style explores this concept in a story that will keep you riveted. via @chautonahavig

“He knows things about me that no one else does.”

The words rocked my world a bit.  It wasn’t that someone would know her secrets.  It was more that she is the kind of person who’s very open and transparent about who she is. I had the hardest time imagining that she had any secrets.  But what else would “things that no one else knows” be but secrets?

That conversation came to mind as I read a book last night.  Funny thing is, I requested the book months ago and promptly forgot about it.  However, when I returned from Missouri, among the stacks of packages–mostly all books, of course–waiting for me was that free review copy I’d requested.  I couldn’t wait to dive in, but I still had a month or more to go.

Was it worth the wait?  What did I learn from it?  Will it change my life?  So many questions… and of course…

The Camera Never Lies

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. Additionally, I received a free review copy of this book and chose to review it.

What Deep Secrets Are You Hiding Behind?

In his signature, almost allegorical style, David Rawlings sends you on a journey of self-discovery in The Camera Never Lies. A deep story, just enough twists and turns, and a lesson that should feel preachier than it actually does. Don’t even ask how that’s possible. I’m calling it great writing.  With all that in the book, what more could you ask for?

How about excellent characterization?  A multi-layered personality just flawed enough to make him relatable and deeply flawed enough to learn from, Daniel Whiteley offers more than a great protagonist… he offers a glimpse into your own soul as well.

Rawlings understands human nature and reveals it for all its raw imperfections and ugly shadows as well as its beauty and worth.  Best of all, he does it by stripping away everything that Daniel can hide behind until the man is forced to see himself as he really is.

The cross does that for us.  Jesus does that. 

My only quibble with this book is that once again, Thomas Nelson, a Christian publishing house has given us so-called “Christian fiction” without bringing Christ into it.   Sure, there are allusions to Biblical truths, but they are weak and any reader without a solid grounding in Scripture would find it difficult to know where the Biblical truths are hidden.  If Thomas Nelson hadn’t made a habit of putting out this “clean” fiction instead of Christian fiction lately, I might lay the responsibility at the feet of the author.

As it is, I beg Thomas Nelson to let readers know if they’ve shifted their focus from Christian fiction or not. I’d rather not be disappointed every time I pick up one of their books. Regardless, I enjoyed the book, am glad I requested and received a free review copy, and will continue to read Rawlings’ work in the future.

Recommended for lovers of cautionary tales and truths told through story.  If you enjoyed the author’s first book, The Baggage Handler, you’ll love this one, too.

Just be careful.  The book will make you examine yourself to see the deep secrets you’re hiding behind.

The Camera Never Lies 

The Camera Never LiesAbout the Book

Book:  The Camera Never Lies

Author: David Rawlings

Genre: General fiction/allegory/magical realism

Release Date: December 3, 2019

David Rawlings, author of The Baggage Handler, returns with another probing story: what would you do if your secrets were revealed to those around you?

Daniel Whiteley is a successful couples counselor who regularly puts families back together, helping them face up to the things in life they hide. But his own marriage is falling apart.

His wife, Kelly, knows Daniel is hiding something from her, but she doesn’t dare probe for fear her own secrets will be revealed.

When his grandfather dies, Daniel inherits an old SLR camera from a time when cameras pointed away from the person taking the photograph. On the camera is an inscription: “Use this camera wisely and remember, regardless of the picture you think you took, the camera never lies.”

When Daniel first uses his new camera he finds someone has already filled the roll of film. Annoyed, he processes the film and finds photos of a secret that he’s been hiding from his wife and daughter.
He has no idea who took them.

Now every time he uses the camera, the photographs reveal another secret about himself that he is desperate to keep–as well as those of his wife, which he is desperate to uncover.

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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
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