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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Why I Think We Need a New Princess in the Line Up—One Who Is Always Late

by Chautona Havig · 9 Comments

The lights shift. An expectant audience leans forward as three young girls step forward on screen. The littlest goes first—so cute. So sweet. She looks like a medieval princess. Reading from a storybook, she sings about how she’s waiting for her prince. She’s been waiting for a whole twenty-three days!

The second girl steps forward. We giggle as she sounds a bit um… desperate. A few of the younger children in the audience ask in stage whispers that would thrill any director’s heart, “Where is the prince?”

But, I have to admit, those same kids look rather alarmed as girl three starts talking about destroying the storybooks. I think they’re ready for the main attraction to begin—Aladdin Kids. That’s safer and doesn’t have some gal singing about being bi-polar.

The curtain goes up a moment later, and the play begins. Finally, Aladdin himself appears.  Just call him “Al.”

Those same little kids enjoy it all until Jasmine’s friends start singing about a person being “rather tasty.” Then they ask why there’s a play about cannibals.

We Need a New Princess

Note: Links in this post are mostly affiliate links that provide me with  small commission at no extra cost to you.

Okay, so it’s all true but that last part.

If you’ve never seen or heard that song I talked about, then you might enjoy this performance of it as shown on the Today Show. Too funny. Note: this is from “Shrek the Musical.” I have no idea what the movie or musical is about, although they clearly thought we need a new princess, too. I just heard this song and cracked up, so this isn’t a total endorsement or anything.

So what’s this all about?Princess Paisley

Last week was “National Princess Week.” While America celebrated with Disney movies and tea parties wearing tiaras, Ashley and I worked to get my fairy tales on sale. Why? Well, because fairy tales have princesses, right?

When I was asked to write a short story about “a paisley princess” I thought of all kinds of things. A girl with henna paisleys all over her? A princess lost in a giant maze of interlocking paisleys? If she doesn’t get out by a certain moment, the kingdom is lost? So many options!

I finally chose a princess who wasn’t traditionally beautiful or exceptionally gifted or clever. She plays a harp. She has a stunning smile, and she’s not excited about what’s coming in her life. While storybook princesses sit around and wait for princes with “gleaming teeth” and “stylish hose” to show up, she’s hoping to avoid all that.

I didn’t stop there.

EverardOnce that book was finished, I played with another one—Everard. This one’s about a shy prince. Yes, it has a princess, too. But like my favorite stories, she’s not the one born in the ivory tower.

Of course, there will be another one as well—one where no one can see the princess’ beauty. Well, almost no one. But she’ll have to wait for another day.

There are so many princess ideas spinning through my overly-active imagination. I’ll get to them someday. But, until then, take a moment to check out my Not-So-Fairy Tales book chat, and if you haven’t read them, now’s your chance to get them at .99!

No matter what I write, though, I think we need a new princess who is always late. You know, kind of like me to this whole celebration thing. Can’t you see her? She leaves on a journey a month late because she forgot about it. She orders dinner at midnight and has to wake the house to feed them because she forgot. Oh, and she arrives a week late to parties in her honor—kind of like this week’s special.

So, though Cinderella, Belle, Aurora, Rapunzel, and Jasmine had their fun last week, celebrate with Princess Tardina this week. Make petit fours. Have raspberry lemonade. Read about a princess who refuses to wear “dunce cap hats” and about another one who discovered just how cool daisies can be thanks to a painfully shy prince.

Everard Quote

And forgive me for being late to this party. Just call me Tardina. Trust me. With my name, you probably wouldn’t be the first. I’ve been called almost everything else.

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Comments

  1. Joan Jones says

    May 2, 2017 at 1:33 pm

    My 21yo Princess Hannah Grace passed away in March, she had multiple medical issues. She will always be my princess.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      May 2, 2017 at 3:20 pm

      Oh, Joan. I’ve prayed for you and her for so long. I’m terribly sorry for your loss.

      Reply
  2. Andrea says

    May 2, 2017 at 7:10 am

    Haha! When I got up this morning I thought that you should put Everard on sale soon so I could tell all my friends to read it! It’s the best! Do you have an estimated time for writing and/or publishing the next fairy tale?

    Reply
    • Dacia says

      May 2, 2017 at 10:48 am

      Good question… when *is*the next “not so fairy tale” on the schedule? =)

      Reply
      • Chautona Havig says

        May 2, 2017 at 3:21 pm

        Not sure. Probably when I’m sure Ashley isn’t looking

        Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      May 2, 2017 at 3:22 pm

      I sneak time in when Ashley isn’t looking… But the next LEgends comes first.

      Reply
      • Dacia says

        May 2, 2017 at 3:54 pm

        Glad you’re sneaking in a little bit of time. I hope Ashley looks the other way a lot. ; ). And I’m more excited about another Legends, actually.

        Reply
  3. Dacia says

    May 2, 2017 at 5:21 am

    Personally I live by the motto that you can’t actually be late to a party. Especially one you are throwing, and this is YOUR party. =)

    PS thank you for your many sales and specials. I love that I can suggest your books and know that virtually anyone can afford a dollar book.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      May 2, 2017 at 6:46 am

      I love them, too.

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 231: A Chat with RomCom author, Shannon Sue Dunlap
byChautona Havig

Shannon Sue Dunlap isn’t new to rom-coms, and her first book in the Sweetheart Series promises to be a literary riot, and it lives up to that promise. I’m only halfway through it and am thinking mean, ugly thoughts of everything keeping me from being able to escape into the crazy small-town politics and quirky characters. So far the com far outweighs the rom, which makes me thrilled to bits. Listen in to discover what makes Lone Star Sweetheart so much fun.

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

Why Did This Author Write a Rom-Com about a Loveable Shrew?

Well, I think we can safely blame Shakespeare for that. Shannon Sue Dunlap has taken inspiration from Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew in her Katherine, but unlike Katerina, Dunlap’s character is actually trying to learn to tame the tongue. Maybe someone should send her over to the book of James. There’s that whole bit about not being able to tame it, being an “unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

Kate’s isn’t that bad, but not for lack of trying. Or something.

Shannon Sue Dunlap isn’t joking when she says that her Katherine is a “loveable” shrew. Seriously, I love this character. She’s forthright, no-nonsense, and “what you see is what you get” in her approach to life. I respect that. Add to that her boss who has shaken up the town of Sweetheart, Texas, and you’ve got the makings of a great story. I’m loving Lone Star Sweetheart.

But this isn’t all Dunlap has written.

Under the pseudonym, Shannon Kent, you can find her sweet and clean romances (including one Christian romance) inspired by Korean dramas. If you said I’d be not only chomping to read a sweet and clean romance about Korean tour guides and all that entails but also ready to watch a Korean drama on Netflix… Okay, I might not have laughed in your face, but I’d’ve been laughing on the inside.

Best part… one of them ties into her Sweetheart Series

Lone Star Sweetheart by Shannon Sue Dunlap

Katherine Bruno’s passionate, unfiltered temper makes her the shrew of small-town Sweetheart, Texas. When she’s drafted to help the mayor’s wife run against her own husband, Katherine meets opposing big city political consultant Ryan Park. The good-looking, flirtatious campaign manager gets under her skin, but fraternizing with the enemy is off-limits.

Katherine must battle her lack of experience, campaign sabotage, and her growing feelings for Ryan as she strives to succeed. His unprejudiced acceptance of her strong-willed character beckons her heart, but his jaded rejection of God is an insurmountable barrier. Will Ryan return to his faith and stay with her in Sweetheart or leave when the election ends?

You can find out more about Shannon Sue Dunlap AND get that first novella in the Korean Crush series free on her WEBSITE.

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