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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

What’s Christmas Fiction? (And why do I write it?)

by Chautona Havig ·

Christmas books?  Why? Let’s start with what Christmas Fiction is.  Oddly enough, my Internet search didn’t show a definite definition.  So I started looking at the popular ones I’ve read and enjoyed, and I’ve come up with a definition for you.

Stories centered on the basic themes of giving, family, self-sacrifice, or other “peace on earth and goodwill toward men” themes that either take place during the Christmas season or are inspired by Christmas in some way.

What is Christmas Fiction?

What about mine?  Glad you asked!

Now my first “Christmas Book” wasn’t intended to be.  I started Advent back in… um, I think it was 2005 or 6.  I had this character that I didn’t know what to do with. All I knew was that he made really good money but acted like he lived in near poverty.  Then Lita showed up and nearly stole the show. She was fun, confident, a bit too teary-eyed for my taste, but I’ve met people like her who truly can cry when they aren’t upset–even just startled.  Overactive tear ducts aren’t a sin!  😀

But the more the story emerged, the more it centered on things like office parties, Secret Santa, Christmas traditions like dinner, trees, stockings, the Nutcracker, gifts…  And bam!  A “regular story” became a Christmas story just by the setting and timing of it.  Put any other time of year, it would just be a sweet romance.  (How that galls to type!)

Around the same time, I started working on 31 Kisses.  That wasn’t actually going to be published.  I just needed to get OVER my issue with writing kisses.  I figured if I had to do 31, then hey!  That should numb me to the pain, right?  (for those who don’t know my issues, see the graphic below).  Well, I thought about mistletoe, but GAG.  So I tried to think of some other time of year or reason… but Christmas really is the right one.  So, I went with it.  Again, time of year, setting, a Christmas tradition, and BAM!  It’s a Christmas story by default!

Jillow Quote

Note: links in this post may be affiliate links and I’ll receive a small commission to infuse the Denny’s fund at no extra expense to you!  Thanks!!!

But things got tricky with the Christmas part!

Tarnished Silver came along, and well, again we had the same issue.  It was written to have super minor parallels to my anniversary since we celebrated 25 years of marriage that year … ON RELEASE DAY!!!  There are minor things in there that are totally US.  Just sayin’.  Anyway, I argued with myself over whether it was “Christmassy enough” and decided, “It takes place over the holiday, that’s enough. If the holiday hadn’t been there, Audrey wouldn’t have needed house help, Kelly Cox would never have gotten nosy, and well… for those who read HearthLand (link to the complete collection–on sale just through the end of this month!), you know what would NOT have happened!  So…. yeah.  It’s Christmas Fiction!

Matchmakers of Holly Circle began the theme with the name of the street.  Taking place during Christmastime (mostly) helped.  Having the town “Gifter” enter the scene (and reveal a few subplots by doing it….) and bam.  It’s not all about saving the town from losing the nativity scene because Neal Kirkpatrick is on a rant or something.  It’s not all about getting Christmas gifts to kids who got burned out of their house or whatever.  But it is about introducing one old guy to the “non-radioactive Jesus” instead of the radioactive one on the fronts of his Christmas cards!

Then there came….

Carol and the Belles.  Well, if they hadn’t been launching a gift shop for the Christmas season, Carol would never have come to America.  If Christmas parties hadn’t kicked in a few competitive things, a proposal might not have happened.  But mostly, it took place at Christmas time with Christmas elements and bam. Done.  I count it (but it’s the least Christmassy of all mine, I’ll admit).

Some asked me how Christmas Embers was a “Christmas Book” outside of taking place at Christmas time/day.  Well, it all started with a Christmas Project.  One that had small elements that mirror the Christmas story (stoning anyone?) and finally, the Christmas tree they assemble is the catalyst the promotes healing.  It’s not as lighthearted as Advent or 31 Kisses, but I think it’s the Christmassyest one I’ve written (if you don’t count my utterly unChristian Moore’s Code).  Yes. I went there.  I wrote “Christmassyest.”  😉

But why do I write Christmas Books?

I’ve made it an annual tradition to write a Christmas novel every year. Why?  Well, because I LOVE Christmas. I love Christmas movies and books and presents and… WHEEEE!!!   We even release it on “Black Friday” every year as kind of a, “Hey!  It’s been a long day of post-Thanksgiving recuperation and possibly shopping!  Here’s an escape.  Just the Write CHRISTMAS Escape!”

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Episode 42: A Chat with J'nell Ciesielski
by Chautona Havig

The cover got me first.  It was “my” Madeline, but of course, no one could tell if they didn’t know the photographer’s work. So, combine WWI, poppies, and “my” Madeline… well, I had to read it, right?  Yeah. Among the Poppies (review here) by J’nell Ciesielski was the best debut novel I’ve ever read.  Bar none.  I became an instant fan of J’nell Ciesielski that day, and I’ve read everything she’s written ever since.

So, when I heard about her newest release, of course, I wanted to read it.  I wanted to talk to her about it–all the things. So, let’s talk about this book.

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

My First “Top Book” of 2021 Begins HERE!

I had a wonderful discussion with J’nell about her newest release (as in releases TODAY!), Beauty Among Ruins, about her vision for writing Christian fiction, and the goals Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins has for some of their Christian fiction titles/authors!

Let’s start with this book: Beauty Among Ruins.  Guys… this book. Lily and Alec just hit the top tier of favorite characters ever. Not only that, but J’nell Ciesielski adds depth and richness to her cast by having supporting characters that I’m dying to know more about.  Sequel perchance?  I’d love that. Just sayin’…

We learned the history of the book, how it got its title… hint, the original was hilarious but um… yeah.  Not one that I’d grab off the shelf unless I saw J’nell’s name on it!), and some of the research she had to do to keep her from using the hackneyed old solutions to familiar problems in early 20th century England… well!  WHEW!

Oh, and speaking of those problems… One of J’nell’s most brilliant skills is taking the spine of a story you think you’ve read before and turning it into something fresh and new. For example, in Beauty Among Ruins, you have an American heiress, an aristocratic family who are floundering to keep up the family estate, a crumbling manor house turned into a hospital, and wounded soldiers.  Sound familiar?

It’s not. And that’s the brilliance of J’nell.

Add to that a storyline that keeps you guessing and full of rich history that never weighs you down with preachiness (seriously, preachy fiction isn’t just for Bible. It also happens with science, politics… and history!

Speaking of preachy fiction…

As much as I loved talking about her book, one of the highlights of the interview is getting an insider’s understanding of where Thomas Nelson is taking some of their fiction.

I’ve been an outspoken critic of the lack of spiritual content in the Christian Fiction coming out of Thomas Nelson in recent years. When you buy “Christian fiction,” you expect to find something other than just “clean fiction.”

In my discussion with J’nell, she described the publisher’s goal of using fiction with a Christian worldview and subtle elements to bridge the gap between Christian fiction and the general market. Knowing this is the plan rather than just a watering down of faith or something. Knowing that those elements are woven into subtext to be a gentle reach to readers who otherwise might not pick up Christian fiction makes that lack of overtness much more palatable.

Additionally, J’nell didn’t just write a “clean” book. The spiritual elements are in there. They’re just layered into that subtext. I found myself going to the Bible to see what it said about several things.  This is what I want from my Christian fiction.  I don’t’ need a token prayer or Bible verse.  Those do nothing for me. But give me something to chew on for a while, and I’m thrilled.

J’nell Ciesielski does that beautifully and has from the very first book of hers I read.

She also told me about a book coming out this summer… The Ice Swan.  Isn’t that cover GORGEOUS?

I’m so excited about Beauty Among Ruins  that I’m also giving away a copy of J’nell Ciesielski ‘s book to one commenter.

Go to https://chautona.com/because-fiction-42 and tell me if you’ve ever read anything by J’nell and what your favorite was if you have. I’ll try to draw next week when I do episode 43.

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

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Episode 42: A Chat with J'nell Ciesielski
Episode 42: A Chat with J'nell Ciesielski
January 13, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 41: A Chat with Jennifer Pierce
January 5, 2021
Chautona Havig
Episode 40: My Favorite Book of 2020
December 8, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 39: A Chat with L.K. Simonds
December 1, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 38: Dan Smith & Saving Ebenezer
November 24, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 37: A Chat with Sara Beth Williams
November 17, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 36: A Chat with Jennifer Beckstrand
November 10, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 35: What Is This NaNoWriMo Thing All About?
November 3, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 34: 5 Cheap & Easy Ways to Feed a Book Habit
October 27, 2020
Chautona Havig
Episode 33: 2020 Christmas Collections
October 20, 2020
Chautona Havig
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I can scribble!!! Justified Means: book one in the I can scribble!!!
Justified Means: book one in the Agency Files, is on tour with Celebrate lit. Visit celebratelit.com to find a link to follow the blog tours and check out the reviews. 
#christiansuspense
#christianfiction
#Christfic
#KindleUnlimited
Reposted from @karitrumbo Repost from @tabithaboul Reposted from @karitrumbo Repost from @tabithabouldin
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Who wouldn't want it?  Justified Means: book one Who wouldn't want it? 
Justified Means: book one in the Agency Files, is on tour with Celebrate lit. Visit celebratelit.com to find a link to follow the blog tours and check out the reviews. 
#christiansuspense
#christianfiction
#Christfic
#KindleUnlimited
Reposted from @becausefictionpodcast Episode 42: A Reposted from @becausefictionpodcast Episode 42: A Chat with J'nell Ciesielski

I had a wonderful discussion with J'nell about her newest release (as in TODAY!), Beauty Among Ruins, about her vision for writing Christian fiction, and the goals Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins has for some of their Christian fiction titles/authors!

Stay tuned for more in depth show notes in just a bit!

© © Chautona Havig 2020
@jnellciesielski
#becausefiction
#podcasts
#Christfic
#christianfiction
Kind of depressing but true... Justified Means: bo Kind of depressing but true...
Justified Means: book one in the Agency Files, is on tour with Celebrate lit. Visit celebratelit.com to find a link to follow the blog tours and check out the reviews. 
#christiansuspense
#christianfiction
#Christfic
#KindleUnlimited
Justified Means: book one in the Agency Files, is Justified Means: book one in the Agency Files, is on tour with Celebrate lit. Visit celebratelit.com to find a link to follow the blog tours and check out the reviews. 
#christiansuspense
#christianfiction
#Christfic
#KindleUnlimited
Lots of great books up for grabs for a lucky winne Lots of great books up for grabs for a lucky winner... not to mention that gift card!
Happy New Year to you!! To celebrate you along with the new year, I have teamed up with Celebrate Lit to do a special giveaway!

We want you to have a chance to win 40+ books or a $500 Amazon card to buy a ton of books yourself in Celebrate Lit's Have a Fab New Year Multi-Author Giveaway!

Click the link in my bio to enter!

The event and giveaway is going on now through January 17.
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