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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

What I’ve Been Up To…

by Chautona Havig · 13 Comments

Readers have asked me, “Why did you go to Michigan, again?” and I thought I’d take a moment and share now that I’ve recuperated.  😉  The purpose of the trip was to meet with my new publisher and the team who will be working on my January (unless it changes) release, Deepest Roots of the Heart.  This is the first book in the Legacy of the Vines series.  For those familiar with my books and series I have planned, This is the first book in what was once the “Valle de Morado” series.  Instead of Casa de Sueños, we’ve named it Deepest Roots of the Heart, which will have a new cover and page as soon as I get the cover from the publisher.
Five of us flew from all over the country and converged at Waterfall Press in Grand Haven.  These are what the gal on the right, Sarah Price, jokingly referred to the “Fab Fiction Five.”  Sarah’s awesome, by the way.  Just sayin’.

Waterfall authors
From left to right is me, Nicole Deese, Christy Barritt, T.L. Gray, and Sarah Price.  (Photo courtesy of Nicole–THANKS!).
While there, Dan, the Managing Editor, took us around Grand Haven, first on a trolley ride, and then for some fabulous food!
But the most exciting part was getting to meet all of the amazing people who are involved in creating our books.  T. L. Gray got to hear her audio book, while Sarah Price actually got to watch hers being recorded! (Okay, the rest of us did too and it was TOTALLY fun, but I know she had an extra measure of excitement because it was hers.) We even recorded both individual Q&A sessions as well as a round table discussion with all of us.  I don’t know when I’ll be able to share that with you, but I can’t wait.
Our books are being released over the next six months, but T L Gray’s book, Mercy’s Fight was released on Kindle last week!  Here’s my review of the book.

I have to admit, I wasn’t sure about what I’d find in this book. Don’t get me wrong, I knew it would be good. That much, I expected. But with reviews talking about the “sizzle” in the book, I was a little unnerved. As one who, after 44 years and 9 kids, still looks away from the TV when characters kiss, I didn’t quite know how I’d handle “sizzle” in a Christian fiction novel.
I needn’t have worried. While it is much more um… physical, than I’m used to reading, it doesn’t cross the line into inappropriate. The book stretched me in several areas–the physical contact between characters being just one. Would I hand this book to a teenager? It depends on the kid. It’s not for pre-teens and young teens, in my estimation, but I wouldn’t freak out if I found my younger kids had read it either. So that, she balanced well.
I said the book stretched me, and another way it did is in seeing a side of life I’ve never been exposed to. The inner city, drug battling, squeaking by for your existence life is something I only read about. I’ve done massive amounts of research on the topics, but Ms. Gray took all those facts and statistics and gave them names and faces. She masterfully used fiction to make real what non-fiction data could not. Impressive.
The demons Matt battles, while unique to his story, are the same demons–at the core–that we all have. The mother who remembers her mom screaming how much she couldn’t handle the kids and wishes she’d never had them–and then hears the same words come out of her mouth when it’s the last thing she ever wanted to say or feel. The teenager who feels worthless and helpless so he bullies others to hide his vulnerability. Ms. Gray takes those demons and lays them out for us, showing the one way–or is that the One Way?–to exorcise them. She does it without excessive preachiness or a reliance on the cliche. We follow the characters and rail at them when they behave like the flawed, broken humans they are. Imagine that.
Well done, Ms. Gray.

For what it’s worth, her Matt and Grace remind me a lot of my Leo and Allison from Mismatched, but it is a completely different story.

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Comments

  1. bettyann53 says

    August 28, 2014 at 9:23 pm

    I’m so thankful to you for recommending a new to me Christian author. I would try her on your recommendation. I also don’t want to read sizzle either.

    Reply
    • Chautona says

      August 28, 2014 at 9:27 pm

      Betty, it’s definitely more emotionally “sizzly” but there is no inappropriate BEHAVIOR. Hope that helps

      Reply
  2. Tracy Tanasiychuk says

    August 28, 2014 at 4:47 pm

    Thank you for writing such thoughtful books

    Reply
  3. Angela says

    August 28, 2014 at 11:17 am

    I do enjoy trying new authors, usually resulting in adding them to my favorites.

    Reply
  4. Diane says

    August 28, 2014 at 8:15 am

    Free books?? Who could resist?

    Reply
  5. Laurel S. says

    August 28, 2014 at 8:00 am

    yeah oops. i put the wrong link in for the tweet: https://twitter.com/loveolamb/status/505006737573695488

    Reply
  6. Pam says

    August 28, 2014 at 7:12 am

    I do like to try new authors occasionally. That is how I found my favorite authors!

    Reply
  7. Susan (DE) says

    August 28, 2014 at 6:53 am

    I like to read books by new-to-me authors, but I am careful to read several reviews, including negative ones. I don’t always give up on new authors if there are negative reviews, but they help give me a feeling of “balance.”

    Reply
  8. Kathy says

    August 28, 2014 at 6:16 am

    How did you even have time to read Mercy’s Fight with all you have going on?? You never cease to amaze me! I think I’d like to try T L Gray’s book based on your review.

    Reply
  9. MELANIE says

    August 28, 2014 at 6:09 am

    Hope your toe is better soon… I’m having a little foot surgery soon so I’m feeling your pain.. Have a great day !!!
    “May God Bless”

    Reply
  10. Katie says

    August 28, 2014 at 5:02 am

    I can’t wait! I am always looking for new good Christian authors!

    Reply
  11. Theresa says

    August 28, 2014 at 2:28 am

    Will your Legacy of the Vines series be available on Kindle? I hope so!

    Reply
    • Chautona says

      August 28, 2014 at 3:09 am

      YES! Kindle, paperback, and audio! 😀

      Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 482: A Chat with Lara d'Entremont
byChautona Havig

When Lara d’Entremont began describing her YA portal fantasy, The Painted Fairytale, I knew this would be right up my alley. Listen in and see how art becomes the portal to other worlds!

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

Portal fantasy is my favorite, so I was crazy excited to learn about this one–especially the art tie-in. I can’t wait to dive in myself.

We chatted about her characters, the world, and the faith that connects them.

The Painted Fairytale by Lara d’Entremont

Seventeen-year-old Wren Devine refuses to share her art with anyone-other than her parents and her sister (who died three years prior). But when her mother submits her artwork to a mentorship program, and she gets accepted, Wren is forced to display her artwork for the eccentric Professor Hayes. Despite her fears, Wren hopes this mentorship will finally make her as worthy as her sister.

But this mentorship is about more than painting.

Wren soon learns that she has a magical ability to turn her paintings into portals to travel not only to other places but also to another world entirely. An eerie children’s book in the professor’s classroom reveals a wicked pirate with a vengeance who has her eye on Stefan Branson, a former student of Professor Hayes.

As all four of these lives intersect, it becomes apparent that everyone has a secret–some more deadly than others. The longer these secrets brew, the more deadly and heavy they become, and possibly lead to never seeing her former, earthly realm again. Wren must not only learn to release the shadow of her beloved sister but step boldly into her own world.

Learn more about Lara on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads.or on Subtack.

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

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Episode 482: A Chat with Lara d'Entremont
Episode 482: A Chat with Lara d'Entremont
October 27, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 481: A Chat with Patricia Bradley
October 25, 2025
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Episode 480: A Chat with Tracie Peterson
October 20, 2025
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Episode 479: A Chat with Connilyn Cossette
October 18, 2025
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Episode 478: A Chat with Julie Klassen
October 17, 2025
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Episode 477: A Chat with Kate Angelo
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Episode 476: A Chat with Katie M. Reid
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Episode 475: A Chat with D. T. Powell
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