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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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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 264: A Chat with Romance Author, Sarah Monzon
byChautona Havig

Finally getting a chance to chat with Sarah Monzon was a total delight, and learning all about her latest release, All’s Fair in Love and Christmas was equally awesome.  My copy is here and waiting for me to dive into the battle of the celebrations!  EEEP! Listen in to see what that even means!

Note: I sound like I’m underwater. We heard it during our interview, but I couldn’t make it behave and couldn’t fix it. Sorry!

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

How Does an Intense Christmas Competition Lead to Love?

All’s Fair in Love and Christmas has so much going for it that I don’t know where to start! Fun mom who made our heroine’s childhood Christmases an international delight without ever leaving home?  Check!  Social anxiety adding to the stress of competing for a promotion?  Check?  Romcom hilarity?  Check, check?  And add to all that Sarah’s wonderful writing and delightful characterization?  I’m all in.

We also chatted about why she chose to write about a woman with social anxiety, her preferred reading methods, and some of my favorite books by her. For a refresher, those are The Isaac Project, 12 Days of Snowmen, and Book Nerds & Boyfriends (a collection of three novellas).

All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon

Two workplace rivals. One festive competition. And a romance that upends it all.

Every December two things are guaranteed for graphic designer Mackenzie Graham–Christmas celebrations and the annual promotion at her workplace. Those two things are by no means mutually exclusive. In fact, the better an employee is at harnessing the Christmas spirit, the more likely they’ll win the new job. With her social anxiety, Mackenzie never thought she’d be a contender in her company’s holiday competition, so how exactly has she found herself dueling her workplace crush with wrapping paper tubes and using tinsel as her weapon of choice for a much-needed raise?

Jeremy Fletcher’s life is meticulously planned out, including how to win this year’s promotion at work. Not only will the new position fulfill some of his career goals, but as a single guardian to his twin niece and nephew, he needs the salary increase to support his family. Jeremy has barely noticed Mackenzie Graham around the office, but now that she’s his rival, he can’t stop thinking about her. Her quirkiness intrigues him, and he’s afraid that if he can’t get his head on straight, the promotion isn’t the only thing he’ll end up losing to Mackenzie.

“Inspirational rom-com readers are going to love this one.”–BETHANY TURNER, bestselling author of The Do-Over

You can learn more about Sarah on her WEBSITE.  Also follow her on BookBub and GoodReads.

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

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Episode 264: A Chat with Romance Author, Sarah Monzon
Episode 264: A Chat with Romance Author, Sarah Monzon
September 26, 2023
Chautona Havig
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
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Episode 261: Chatting with Christian Youth Fiction Author, Candice Yamnitz
September 15, 2023
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Episode 260: A Chat with Rachel Hauck
September 12, 2023
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Episode 259: A Chat with Debut Author, Laura Conaway
September 8, 2023
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Episode 258: A Louisiana Christmas to Remember
September 2, 2023
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Episode 257: A Chat with Fantasy Author, N. Ford
September 1, 2023
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Episode 256: A Chat about Summer in the Spotlight w/ Liz Johnson
August 29, 2023
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Episode 255: A Chat about He Should Have Told the Bees
August 25, 2023
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