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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

A Bear, a Tardis, and a Blue Ox Walk into a Great Mystery

by Chautona Havig · Leave a Comment

The next Ever After Mystery has released! When the Pilot Falls is a harrowing tale of stunt pilots in the infancy of such shenanigains! via @chautonahavig

Another Ever After Mystery was ready to release when I got the word that the hero of When the Pilot Falls had gone missing.  I mean, seriously?  With everything going on, we now have to go hunting for this guy?  Well, I did what any reasonable author would do.

I made a graphic.  #becausereasons

Isn’t it cute?

After the Pilot Falls

There we had it.  All set.  Everything should go on just swimmingly, right?

Yeah… not so much.  Sandy, our publisher, put out a call.  ALL authors needed to be on the lookout for Hugh.  Great.  Just great.  I’ve got books to write, people. I’ve got this Marine recruiter over here who needs to convince a recruit’s sister that he’s not sending her little brother to his premature death if the brother joins the military.

This is tough.  Especially when that sister has a fiction-influenced, over-active imagination.  But, when a fellow author needs help, you do what you’ve gotta do.  I just had no idea where this thing would take me!

When the Pilot Falls

A Bear, a Tardis, and a Blue Ox Walk into a Great Mystery

It all began with a blue police box—no, really, it did! I was in a little gift shop with all kinds of odd curiosities as well as the typical souvenirs and tchotchkes. They even had a few fun antiques like an old spinning wheel, red satin ballet slippers, and these funny clamshells on a string.

But right there in the middle of the room was this enormous, blue, police box just like you’d see in a Doctor Who episode! Yes, I confess, I even looked at it sideways a few times, just wondering if David Tenant or Matthew Smith would step out of it—or maybe race out chasing some odd-looking creature.

Instead, this hulking, bear of a guy stepped out and shook his head at the store owner. “It’s too small.”

I couldn’t help myself. I said, “You know, I’ve heard some of them are bigger on the inside.”

He gave me a look that would have quelled anyone who didn’t have the power of his story in her hands. That’s when my grin went from a seedling in my heart to a truly scary display of teeth. “Gotcha.”

Apparently, this guy wasn’t a Whovian. Poor soul.

Turns out, he was looking for something to turn into a “little free library.” And this was too small. I wanted to ask if he knew how many books could fit in that thing when I noticed just how big he was. We’re talking a mammoth dude! Hadn’t April Hayman been complaining that her character kept escaping from the pages of her book, and she couldn’t find him anywhere? Hadn’t Sandy insisted we find him!

Look, guys. April and I live in the town. I don’t know if Liz really saw him or not, but you have to admit that it’s pretty suspicious for me to just happen to see this huge guy fitting April’s description at one of our local gift shops. In a police box, no less. Considering she’s writing about the 1920s, it’s not a far stretch to wonder if he was trying to get back to his own time or something.

I guess I must have stared for too long because he started acting weird. Really weird. So, to keep him from bolting, because I’m sure that’s what he was about to do, I kind of accidentally-on-purpose knocked over a tall bookshelf full of glassware.

Hey, it’s the only thing I could think of. I mean, it blocked the door and everything!

Apologizing up one side and down the other, I promised the store owner that I’d pay for everything and went in back to “call a clean-up crew.” Sure, I’d get one out here, but first I called April and told her that I’d nabbed her guy and that she needed to get here pronto. Then I called in my kids.

Look, when you have a bunch of kids, don’t expect them to do daily or weekly chores anymore, AND still pay their car insurance, you get to call in favors. This was one of those times.

Alas, when I hurried back out to reassure everyone we’d be set in no time, the bookshelf had been righted and the guy was gone.

“Where’d he go?”

The still-stunned owner blinked twice and said, “I think he said something about finding that blue ox.” She looked over at me again. “He meant, box, right? He’ll be back to buy it?”

I suddenly had a sneaking suspicion about two things.

  1. I was about to become the proud owner of a Tardis-looking little free library and
  2. April’s character had just taken off to Minnesota, land of Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe.

I hope she finds the guy. April needs to get him back in the book where he belongs before readers get to his page and find it blank!

As you can imagine, the authors of the Ever After Mysteries are excited to announce the release of…

When the Pilot Falls by April Hayman

When the Pilot Falls (Ever After Mysteries Book 3) by [April Hayman]

In 1923, there aren’t many pilots, but Willie Labeau didn’t let that stop… her.

A bear of a man, Hugh Taylor, needs a stunt plane pilot, and despite their rocky introduction, Willie sets off for golden California and a new life as his pilot. There’s just one little thing she has to do in addition to flying.

Leave his past alone. Period.

When the flame of her own curiosity becomes fanned by encouragement from Willie’s sister, the feisty pilot can’t help but do just a little investigating.

And Hugh vanishes.

Friends rally around her, and with all the information she can find in hand, Willie sets off to rescue Hugh and battle the evil family holding him hostage.

A fierce air race, a sincere act of humility—are they enough to free Hugh and give Willie a chance to be with him… forever?

Find out in this next book in the Ever After Mysteries, combining beloved fairy tales and mysteries. When the Pilot Falls offers a retelling of “East of the Sun, West of the Moon” that will keep you gripped to the edge of your seat as you watch hearts soar and daring dos.

Through My Muddy Fingers, Ever After Mystery

You definitely want to visit all the other authors and see what Hugh’s been up to.

(and get entries in for giveaways!)

Rebekah Jones (9/7)

Denise L. Barela (9/8)

Celebrate Lit Publishing (Sandy Barela) 9/9

Liz Tolsma (9/10)

Chautona Havig (ME!–9/11  note, the rest of the links won’t work until “their day”)

Cathe Swanson (9/12)

Marji Laine (9/13)

April Hayman (9/14)

And here’s where you get those entries in!

 

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 155: Chatting with Heather Day Gilbert & Jen Cudmore
byChautona Havig

To Love a Viking by Heather Day Gilbert and Jen Cudmore has been released, and I got to chat with them about it last week. Guys, this series!  If the Christian influence on Viking history isn’t enough, what about adventure, fight scenes, and romance that won’t make you blush? How about that a damsel is in distress and… gets rescued by another woman instead of the stereotypical DUDE! Listen in!

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

Are You Ready for an Exciting New Viking Series from 2 Great Authors?

 

One of the biggest surprises I recall from researching books by different authors was that the cozy mystery and suspense author I liked and respected, Heather Day Gilbert, had also written historical Viking books! I made the erroneous assumption that they were romance and skipped them (for the time being… I knew I’d read them some day), and then something happened.

A few months ago, I saw this cover.  With Heather’s name on it.  And some other gal I hadn’t heard of–Jen Cudmore.  What is this deliciousness?  The cover was AMAZING… not stereotypical nor was it inauthentic.  It was just GOOD (not to mention gorgeous) and with the Celtic frame (the Vikings did go over to Scotland/Ireland after all), I just felt like it hit all the sweet spots.

Well… the book is here, folks.  And I’ve got a copy in my hot little hands.  No, really. It’s July. And I live in the desert.  My hands are totally hot and in totally all the wrong ways. Just throwin’ that out there.

Anyway, Heather and Jen chatted with me about To Love a Viking, and oh my!  This book sounds fabulous. We know Viking women were strong. Even those that weren’t warriors had to survive Nordic winters. Ergo, strong.  But what about strong enough to build a new society with people they’d once fought against. Oh, and rescue a damsel in distress #BecauseYeah!

I’m ready to dive in to To Love a Viking myself, and I hope you’ll grab a copy, too. It promises to be incredible.

To Love a Viking by Heather Day Gilbert and Jen Cudmore

Get swept up in an enthralling new romance series featuring women who rule the hearts of Viking men.

ELLISIF Forced into a financially advantageous marriage that spirals into a nightmare, Ellisif cannot help but imagine what might have been and ache for what was lost. The only lights in her life are her daughters and the friendships she’s forged with the household servants.

Though seven years have passed since Ellisif wed another man, Dagar still cannot forget the woman who captured his youthful heart. As the Viking warrior battles for his country’s future, he finds himself entangled in a personal war for Ellisif’s freedom that could cost his family their reputation and standing with the king. If he risks all, can he save the woman whose face still haunts his dreams? And if given another chance, will she choose him?

INARA Escaped slave Inara is determined to start a new life. Under the guidance of warrior and shipbuilder Håkon, her sword skill grows, as does her confidence that the Viking men will accept her as a warrior in her own right.

When she is selected to lead a perilous rescue mission to protect Ellisif, Inara finds herself blindsided by feelings for Håkon…and by threats to her freedom far closer than she feared. As dreams and desires collide, she wrestles against the lies holding her captive. Can she conquer her doubts before all that she’s hoped for slips from her hands?

Written by award-winning historical author Heather Day Gilbert and fresh voice Jen Cudmore, two love stories entwine in this sweeping Viking-era romance, the first novel in the Tavland Vikings series.

You can find out more about the series and the authors on Heather’s WEBSITE.

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Episode 155: Chatting with Heather Day Gilbert & Jen Cudmore
Episode 155: Chatting with Heather Day Gilbert & Jen Cudmore
July 1, 2022
Chautona Havig
Episode 154: A Chat with Romantic Suspense Author, Sami A. Abrams
June 28, 2022
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Episode 153: A Chat with Historical Author, Tracie Peterson
June 21, 2022
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Episode 152: A Chat with Contemporary Romance Author, Amy Anguish
June 14, 2022
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Episode 151: A Chat with Christian Romance Author, Carrie Padgett
June 10, 2022
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Episode 150: A Chat with Mystery/Thriller Author, Steven C Harms
June 7, 2022
Chautona Havig
Episode 149: A Chat with Jennifer Sienes about Night Songs (and more!)
June 3, 2022
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Episode 148: A Chat with Author, James R. Hannibal
May 31, 2022
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Episode 147: A Chat with Biblical Fiction Author, Jubilee Lipsey
May 27, 2022
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Episode 146: A Chat about The Sweet Life by Suzanne Woods Fisher
May 24, 2022
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