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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Your Heart Might Be with Your Treasure, but There’s Trouble There, Too

by Chautona Havig ·

Where Treasure Lies is a split-time novel that kicks off the new Suamalie Islands series set in the South Pacific and full of adventure! via @chautonahavig

When Amanda Tru told us our assignment was to “write about travel troubles,” I just sat there. Dumbfounded. How on earth was I supposed to choose between the trek across New Mexico in the back of a pickup truck? In July? Without sunscreen (why did I think “tanning oil” was protection from the sun instead of frying oil for my skin?  #because15. That’s why)?  Or would it be the time we drove home from North Dakota across Montana, down through Idaho and Utah (no, those aren’t adorable little Mormon girls, folks!), into Nevada, and across the desert to home… in July. With the HEATER BLASTING because we had the mistaken idea that it might keep our car going (turned out to be five $0.49 parts. “Fusible links,” the mechanic called them.

Maybe I should tell about the time I flew to Grand Rapids for a meeting with my publisher… and was on three flights before my plane even took off from LAX. My luggage didn’t arrive with me (shocker), and then I got stuck in the Grand Rapids Airport for 14 hours until they took pity on me and sent me to a hotel to try again the next day.  Oh, and when I finally DID get to LAX… guess what?  The jetway wouldn’t work, so they had to bring a fire truck with a ladder to help us get off the plane. No joke. First, they won’t let me out of there, and then they want to keep me on the tarmac. FOREVER.

where treasure lies

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

Your Heart Might Be with Your Treasure, but There’s Trouble There, Too

Hmm… I think we all get the issues with airports, so I’ll go with the time I was sitting right there in sight of the door to the jetway and never heard them announce my flight.

Yep, you read that right. There I was at the American Airlines terminal at Sky Harbor when I looked up to see… emptiness. Not a soul. And the plane was backing out away from the jetway. WHAT?

Seriously, you know how it is in airports. They’re constantly calling names, demanding that “Joe Doe hurry up because the doors are closing.”  I have excellent hearing.  I didn’t hear a word. Not. One. Announcement.

At first, I thought it was just me. Then I found out my niece and her family were all in the same airport on the same day at the same time… and nearly missed their flight as well. The American Airlines sound system must not have been working.

I got me set up on another flight the next day, got me a hotel room, and got me a shuttle to the hotel. Author Perry Kirkpatrick found out I was stuck there and drove over to spend a few hours chatting with me (made it worth the hassle, let me tell you!).

I got to North Carolina. Got to my writing retreat. Got on a plane. Got back to Sky Harbor, and folks!  I am not kidding you. It nearly happened again. The doors were about to close, I was sitting RIGHT THERE. I heard nothing. I got up and walked over to see why everyone was gone and the gal said, “We’ve been calling for you.”

I was like, “Um… I’ve been sitting RIGHT THERE. Your system still isn’t working.”

She gave me a look like I was nuts, but I didn’t care. I got on the plane and got home, and um… I think you’ll understand why I won’t go through Sky Harbor on American Airlines until I KNOW they’ve fixed that issue. #becauseduh!

So why did Amanda Tru make us all share travel stories?  Well… the first OFFICIAL book of the Suamalie Islands series released on Tuesday!  And we’re all having a BLAST with the release fun! What’s it about? Well it’s a split-time novel you won’t want to miss!

Where Treasure Lies TruWhere Treasure Lies by Amanda Tru

Two stories…thirty years apart. Will solving the mystery of the past provide the key to the present?

Scott Connelly arrives in the Suamalie Islands determined to acquire property for his father and leave as soon as possible. But he doesn’t count on the animosity of the residents, the fascinating local legend of a sunken Spanish treasure ship, or the highly unavailable waitress who comes to his rescue. The fabled treasure promises to buy his freedom, but even seeking it may be a dangerous risk.

News of her father’s death precedes Tavia Connelly’s arrival in the Suamalie Islands. Despite the hatred of the island residents, Tavia’s determined to settle her father’s affairs and return immediately to assume her role as head of the family company. But her father’s wishes require her to find out what happened long ago, given only Scott’s mumbled clues, crazy rumors, and a centuries-old fable.

Tavia should be safe after all those years, but her presence attracts a lot of resentment, and the ghosts of Scott’s enemies may still lie in wait for someone to come searching for a treasure that may have never existed.

But what if it did?

Take a trip to the Suamalie Islands where palm trees sway, the sand and sea pulse with life, and the people will steal your heart.

Check out some of the other travel stories by our islands authors!

Amanda Tru (February 28)

Susan K. Beatty (March 1)

Chautona Havig (March 2)

Melissa McKay Wardwell (March 3)

Tabitha Bouldin (March4)

Marguerite Gray (March 5)

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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
Chautona Havig
Episode 480: A Chat with Tracie Peterson
October 20, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 479: A Chat with Connilyn Cossette
October 18, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 478: A Chat with Julie Klassen
October 17, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 477: A Chat with Kate Angelo
October 13, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 476: A Chat with Katie M. Reid
October 11, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 475: A Chat with D. T. Powell
October 6, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 474: A Chat with Ann Swindell
October 4, 2025
Chautona Havig
Episode 473: A Chat with Jennifer Willcock
October 3, 2025
Chautona Havig
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