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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

5 Reasons to Read These Wonderful Austen-Inspired Novellas

by Chautona Havig · 45 Comments

A few months ago, I got an email from my “Regency expert.”  The woman I go to with any Regency question.  Her question? Did I want to take a look at her Mansfield Park inspired Christmas story?

Let’s see… my favorite Austen heroine and her misunderstood sweetheart?  YES!

I’ve been waiting for the rest of the collection ever since.  And last Friday, it came out!  A Very Austen Christmas is a delightful collection of four Christmas Novellas, all inspired by Jane Austen’s most beloved characters and even Jane Austen herself!

I bought it and immediately begged for interviews with each of the four authors.  They have, I might add, graciously complied.  So, without further adieu, let’s get to know the creative geniuses behind A Very Austen Christmas.

5 Reasons to Read these Wonderful Austen-Inspired Novellas

Links may be affiliate links that provide a small commission at no extra expense to you.

First up, with Her Christmas Gift by Robin Helm: 

Christmas at Rosings… How cruel can you be? What made you decide to torment poor Lizzy so?

It is a truth universally acknowledged that every Pride and Prejudice variation must have an ample serving of either Lady Catherine de Bourgh or Caroline Bingley. People love to despise them, and they provide a wonderful contrast to Elizabeth. In Her Christmas Gift, Lady Catherine had been too ill to travel to Hertfordshire and harangue Elizabeth. Therefore, her ladyship had not had her conversation with Darcy which had given him hope, and he did not make his second proposal to Elizabeth.

I actually think I was kind to Elizabeth in moving her from Longbourn to Rosings immediately after Jane’s wedding to Bingley. (Her mother, you know!)

If you could spend Christmas in any of the houses used in Austen adaptation movies, which would you choose?

I dearly love all of those houses (except Longbourn in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie). However, my favorite house of all, and I own nearly every miniseries and movie of Austen’s novels, is the 1995 Pemberley (Lyme Park exterior, Sudbury Hall interior). It would really help if I were twenty and young Colin was there to greet me.

What made you first decide to do an Austen retelling?

My sister discovered Austen retellings before I did, and she introduced me to the genre in 2005. She gave me Pamela Aiden’s Fitzwilliam Darcy,Gentleman trilogy. I loved it and bought other books in the genre by Carrie Bebris, Laura Hile, Susan Kaye, and others.

As I joined online forums to read works-in-progress, my Austen obsession grew until I began to think of the Austenesque stories I wanted to write. I published my first novel in 2011, Guardian (The Guardian Trilogy), portraying Darcy as Elizabeth’s guardian angel. The three books present a Scripturally accurate view of angels and demons, approved by my pastor. Since that time, I’ve published seven books and an anthology (A Very Austen Christmas), and I have plans for two more books I need to write in the next year.

Robin HelmDoes your family enjoy any wonderful food traditions inspired by Regency dishes? If not, are there any you’d love to convince them to love?

My husband and I are empty nesters, and when my daughters and their families visit, the food is all disgustingly healthy. Ha! However, during my childhood, my three brothers hunted rabbits, squirrels, pheasants, and deer. They also caught fish and frogs (frog’s legs), and we raised cows and pigs which Daddy slaughtered.

We were a family of eight in extremely rural South Carolina. Though we were relatively poor, we always had plenty to eat. Meat and fish, as well as vegetables from our garden, and the jams and jellies Mother canned from fruit we grew on our property, made up a large part of our meals, just as it did for people in the Regency.

I still use many of my mother’s holiday recipes – such as sweet potato casserole (such an exemplary vegetable). Being Southern, iced tea is always on my menu.

What modern element of Christmas do you think Austen would enjoy most?

If I lived in the Regency era and was transported to this time period, I would love central heating at Christmas. I grew up in a 200 year old plantation farm house with an oil heater which warmed only the family room. We froze in the winter and burned up in the summer. Our fire places smoked, so we didn’t use them. I can remember seeing my own breath in the bedroom I shared with my two sisters.

Austen wrote in Emma, “At Christmas everybody invites their friends and thinks little of even the worst weather.”

Based on that quote, I can imagine Austen would love the pageantry and music we use to celebrate Christmas in our churches, the decorations, and our easy modes of travel from one place to another. Can you imagine the difference between traveling in a chilly carriage or a warm car? We easily visit family that lives several hours away. They thought fifty miles was a long distance. Even if it was fifty miles of good road.

Lovers of Pride and Prejudice will love the skillful weaving of Miss Austen’s own words in many situations into this adapted story.  I was rather impressed with just how many familiar lines there were, sometimes in the least expected places!

Next up with The Christmas Matchmaker is Laura Hile:

So, Emma Woodhouse is at it again, is she?  What made you decide to mix Emma and Elizabeth?

Mash-ups add sparkle to Austen fiction. Actually, the idea of gracious, well-bred Emma Woodhouse confronting Caroline Bingley, the arrogant social climber, was what started me off. As for Elizabeth, Emma is instantly fond of her, and she is determined to put together a brilliant match. But her choice isn’t Mr. Darcy …

I’ve asked some of the other ladies about adaptations, so I’m going to throw you an Emma one.  Disregarding the movies themselves, just as actors only, Jeremy Northam or Jonny Lee Miller for Knightley?  Why?

Oh, tough question! I’ll go with Jonny Lee Miller –  he has a slight edge on the Knightley vibe (older, more worldly-wise), plus he is more, well … blunt with Emma. A very, very hard choice. Robin will tell you that Mark Strong is da man.

(And I agree on some points, but Jeremy Northam’s “Badly done, Emma” is far superior in my opinion.)

Laura HileDo you share your work with your students?  Did any read The Christmas Matchmaker?  What did they think of it?  And if you didn’t, why not?

My high school students would very much like to read my fiction; they ask, but I turn them down. My books are “clean” enough, but it’s kind of awkward to read “the teacher’s book.” What I can do is encourage them as writers, giving insider tips and editorial help. We analyze movies, watch selected TED talks, and pore over writing articles I’ve gleaned from the web.

When I, a published author, tell a student, “You could earn money doing this,” it means a lot. Seeing real books with my name impresses them more than anything. “If I can, so can you,” I say. “Learn the craft of writing by doing it. Don’t you dare give up.”

What Christmas tradition does your family have that you think Austen would enjoy most.  Is it a treat?  Your caroling service? Making special ornaments?

We go caroling with our church as a mob, hundreds of us storming the neighborhood – with guitars and tambourines and any instrument that can be carried, even drums. It’s a hoot. And after the Christmas Eve candlelight service, we come home to eat lasagna and watch The Shop Around the Corner (Margaret Sullivan, James Stewart, 1940). As boys, my sons rolled their eyes at this sentimental movie, but now they’re the ones hauling out the DVD.

Although I have to tell you, two years ago Mom was unwell, so I spent Christmas in California. My sons and husband were left alone at home, and what did they watch Christmas Eve? Can you guess? Sure you can. Die Hard.

I’ve been waiting for more since Darcy by Any Other Name… what’s next?

Since losing my mom this past summer, it’s felt like I’m walking in knee-deep sludge. I’m not depressed – she is home with Jesus – but my energy and flexibility are, like, gone.

Nevertheless, I do have a new project, which is not-so-new to you. I have acquired the publication rights to my three Mercy’s Embrace novels and will be re-releasing them as Indies, with gorgeous new covers and everything. I’m working to get the first one, So Rough a Course, out within the next two or three weeks. There are many new readers in the Austen genre, and they have yet to discover my Elizabeth Elliot. Exciting times!

(Austen Lovers, I HIGHLY recommend these!!!  I have reviews on them HERE)

Next up with No Better Gift is Wendi Sotis, whom I’d never read before this. 

And while I didn’t finish her story in time for this post, her writing is excellent and I’m intrigued by it.

When you chose your Austen character for this collection, what led you to Darcy and that particular time in the narrative of Pride & Prejudice?

Originally, I was going to write a variation story of Northanger Abbey, but I was having a bit of trouble getting started, probably because I’m used to writing P&P. About a year ago, I had downloaded an outline of Pride and Prejudice from the internet. Once in a while, I open that file and at each point of the outline ask, “What could change here?” to find story ideas.

When I got to December this time, this entire storyline simply popped into my head. I couldn’t have stopped myself from writing it if I had tried! Maybe the Northanger Abbey story I had been thinking about will get written someday.

Wendi SotisDo you have other Austen retellings we should know about?  Which is your favorite?

Promises, Dreams and Expectations, All Hallow’s Eve, The Gypsy Blessing, Foundation of Love (The Gypsy Blessing 2), The Keys for Love, and A Lesson Hard Learned. Safekeeping is not a true retelling, but the main character writes Austen retellings, and P&P influences her daily life.

I think the story I’m working on at any given time is always my favorite!

(this I totally get, by the way!  Feel your pain, Wendi!)

Of my unpublished short stories, I think the very silly mash-up between Star Trek and Austen’s works (Sense & Sensibility, Mr. Darcy, and Sharks in Space) is my favorite, though The Blanket is a close second.

If you could incorporate one Regency Christmas tradition into modern life, what would it be?

This is a difficult question. Before writing this story, I became lost in my research into all the wonderful Christmas traditions during the Regency!  I think I’d like to involve my family with making a plum pudding (stir up day, hiding prizes within, etc.), but I’m wondering how sanitary it would be to leave it hanging in a bag for weeks and then only boiling it an hour on Christmas Day!

And readers will want to know.  Adaptation heroes– Colin Firth or Matthew MacFayden?

I love them both (sigh) and I think my Darcy is usually a blend of the two, though I always lean more towards Colin. In Promises, since it was written as a cross-over between P&P and An Affair to Remember, when I pictured Darcy, he was a cross between Cary Grant and Colin Firth.

Squee… I must read Promises!!!

What can we expect to see from you next?  Anything exciting coming soon?

I’m always working on more than one story at a time. I’m in the middle of revising a non-Austen Regency (written in my usual Austenesque style) called The Pact. I’m hoping that will be ready to release in the first half of 2018.

I also have a few new Austen retellings in progress. The one I’ll probably finish first is currently untitled — titles are so hard for me! In it, before the original P&P novel begins, Elizabeth Bennet travels with her aunt and uncle to assist Aunt Gardiner’s ailing sister and brother-in-law, who are tenant farmers at Pemberley.

And the reason I even knew about this collection is because of Barbara Cornthwaite and her story Mistletoe at Thornton Lacey.

As an author of a series about Emma and Knightley, I find your choice of Mansfield Park (one of my personal favorites) very interesting.  Why did you choose Mansfield over Emma?

For a very practical reason: I didn’t want to mess up the next Emma/Knightley novel that I have planned!  Since this had to be a Christmas story, it would encompass the timeline of my next book, and I didn’t want to do that. So I had to pick another novel. Fortunately, Mansfield Park is very short on details about Fanny and Edmund’s engagement, so it gives a writer a free hand.

(Squeee… more from Emma and Knightley! If you want to understand what Knightley saw in Emma, you HAVE to read Barbara’s George Knightley Esquire series! I review them on my old blog HERE)

What is it about Austen fiction that captures your heart and imagination?

I think it’s the combination of humor, realistic characters, and emotions that ring true through the centuries.

I agree with you completely.  Her humor is stellar!

Barbara CornthwaiteAs an American living in Ireland, how are Irish Christmas traditions different from American ones?

Fruitcake (called plum pudding or Christmas pudding) is loved and eagerly awaited here, unlike most places in America!  Also, it seems like the season lasts much longer, since stores are decorated up the wazoo for Christmas starting November 1 (in other words, the day after Halloween).

Fewer people decorate the outside of their houses for Christmas, so driving around to look at Christmas lights is not really a thing. I miss that! Also, Christmas tends to be a bit more of a religious holiday than it is in the States, although it’s growing less so every year.

If you could only listen to one Christmas song ever again, what would it be?

It’s a tossup between “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “Mary Did You Know?”  Probably “Hark the Herald” is ahead by a nose–“God and sinners reconciled” is my favorite line from any song, I think.

What can we expect from you next?

I know what happens after Emma and Knightley get married!  And I hope to share it in a new book coming in the New Year!

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!  I am so excited for this!

 

As you can see, I gave them each five questions… So now let’s look at…

5 Reasons to Read these Wonderful Austen-Inspired Novellas

  1. A Very Austen ChristmasThere’s just something magical about an old-fashioned Christmas.

And let’s face it.  You don’t usually go past Victorian for old-fashioned.  Regency takes it to a whole new level—and with Austen!  C’mon!  That’s just cool!

  1. They’re short enough to read in a sitting.

Christmas is a busy time, so a full-length novel at Christmas can be a bit tedious, but a novella is a perfect compromise between time and tradition!

  1. We get to visit old friends!

Miss Bates?  Got it!  Darcy and Lizzie? Got ‘em!  Fanny Price? Lady Catherine de Bourgh? Yep!  All those beloved characters and more in one collection—and sometimes in one book!  I wasn’t sure about mixing up Emma and Lizzie, but it works, and beautifully!

  1. You get to try a variety of styles for one low price!

So often we find a book that sounds good, but do we want to invest the time and money into something we know nothing about?  In a collection like this, we get to sample several writers’ works at a very low cost.  And with four separate authors in this collection, you’re sure to find something you like.

  1. They’re clean.

I don’t know about you, but I get tired of books that have just too much smut.  While one of these stories dances a little closer to the TMI line, it shouldn’t cross it for most readers.  The author is a Christian and is conscientious about her work. In fact, that’s why I kept reading when I wasn’t sure what was going on!  Sure enough, she didn’t disappoint me.

And when I keep seeing pornography masquerading as Austen adaptations everywhere I turn, it’s nice to know that isn’t going to happen.  Just sayin’.

Although I’m not finished with Wendi Sotis’ story, I’m giving this collection five stars. 

Because I loved it.  I loved the originality in the stories, seeing old friends, and seeing the style and the era treated with respect and skill.

Good luck to the authors. I’ll be watching for your next works!

Congratulations Janashe!  You won!

Giveaway void where prohibited.

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Comments

  1. Regina Godden says

    March 31, 2021 at 6:41 pm

    No ebooks. Sorry.

    Reply
  2. janashe says

    November 21, 2017 at 2:45 pm

    woo-hoo!! as Gomer Pyle would say with a grin, Thank Ye, Thank Ye, Thank Ye! As all my beloved JA friends know, I do love these books, and especially those penned by authors at the AustenVariations site.
    This is a great Christmas treat for me and my daughters (who share all my JA-inspired reading material)

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      November 23, 2017 at 1:38 am

      Happy for you!

      Reply
  3. Lúthien84 says

    November 19, 2017 at 9:03 pm

    I love Jane Bennet as she is sweet and kind. And besides good things come to those who wait and she does get Mr Bingley in the end though she had her heart broken once.

    Reply
  4. Barbara Livieri says

    November 19, 2017 at 8:50 am

    Excited to read this one. My favorite B character is Mrs. Bennett. I marvel at her silliness and cringeworthy attitude while trying to marry off her girls to acceptable men.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      November 19, 2017 at 6:07 pm

      And every now and then, I meet the modern interpretation of her on Facebook!

      Reply
  5. Ginna says

    November 18, 2017 at 6:27 pm

    I like Charlotte. I think she’d make a great BFF.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      November 19, 2017 at 6:07 pm

      Charlotte is a sweetheart. So practical. I love that about her.

      Reply
  6. Kerri says

    November 18, 2017 at 4:00 pm

    Laura Hile’s body swapping DARCY BY ANY OTHER NAME was much fun I’m looking forward to reading her short story in this collection!! (Pick ME!)

    Favorite minor character: Harriet Smith (who is not as dumb as people think!)

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      November 19, 2017 at 6:09 pm

      I agree. I think Harriet got into a habit of “wearing” foolish stupidity because it wasn’t appropriate for her to say what she thought… considering her station etc.

      Reply
  7. Patricia Finnegan says

    November 18, 2017 at 7:57 am

    My favorite supporting character is Mrs. Gardiner. She seems to understand Elizabeth more than Mrs. Bennet

    Reply
  8. NovEllaandBanannabelle says

    November 17, 2017 at 2:58 pm

    These look like great novellas!!
    My favourite supporting character is definitely Georgiana Darcy :). She is so sweet.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      November 18, 2017 at 12:37 am

      If you know ANY really good Georgiana stories, I’d LOVE to know about them! 🙂

      Reply
    • Wendi Sotis says

      November 18, 2017 at 11:09 am

      Hi NovEllaandBanannaBelle! I agree, Georgiana is usually very sweet… but I’ve seen a couple of really nasty Georgianas, too. Thanks for entering 🙂

      Reply
  9. Danae says

    November 17, 2017 at 10:00 am

    The ever smarmy Mr. Collins. I can’t like him, but his proposal to Elizabeth is hilarious.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      November 18, 2017 at 12:40 am

      It’s like the well-meaning and yet the self-serving at the same time version of Darcy’s, if you look at it with a squinky eye!

      Reply
      • Wendi Sotis says

        November 18, 2017 at 11:12 am

        LOL about Mr. Collins. I’d have to agree! Good luck in the giveaway!

        Yes, Chautona, I see what you mean!

        Reply
    • Laura Hile says

      November 18, 2017 at 4:02 pm

      Gotta love Collins! As comic relief, he is priceless. If I’m writing a story about Darcy and Elizabeth, you bet Collins will be in it.

      And of course, he must propose…

      Oops. Spoiler alert! Thanks for entering the giveaway, Danae.

      Reply
  10. janashe says

    November 16, 2017 at 9:17 pm

    I like Col Brandon and Col Fitzwilliam …. oh, I hope I am not like Lydia! … I think they show us a lot about the main characters hidden personalities

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      November 16, 2017 at 11:53 pm

      I have a deep affection for Colonel Brandon–especially in the adaptation with Alan Rickman… sigh. He nailed it.

      Reply
      • Robin Helm says

        November 17, 2017 at 5:52 am

        Hi, janashe! Great to see you. I’m partial to Alan Rickman’s Colonel Brandon, too. Such a wonderful actor! However, I might choose Mr. Bennet as my favorite. I love his sly wit.

        Reply
        • Wendi Sotis says

          November 18, 2017 at 11:13 am

          LOL janashe – love those red coats, eh?! Thanks for entering and good luck!

          I agree about Alan Rickman. Love him!

          Reply
    • Laura Hile says

      November 18, 2017 at 4:06 pm

      Hi, Jan! Men in uniform, there’s something about them. (Not Wickham, ha!) Then there are the fine officers of the navy in Persuasion …

      Good luck in the giveaway, Jan.

      Reply
  11. darcybennett says

    November 16, 2017 at 5:46 pm

    My favorite supporting character is Jane Fairfax. I would have loved to see her in her own novel, perhaps with another beau as I always thought she deserved better than Frank. Thanks for this giveaway!

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      November 16, 2017 at 6:12 pm

      I agree with you on that. I wonder if someone could write their story from her perspective so we could see what SHE sees in him.

      Reply
      • Wendi Sotis says

        November 18, 2017 at 11:19 am

        Good luck, darcybennett! My biggest reason for never completely warming up to Jane Fairfax was my disappointment when finding out she fell in love with Frank for real… or did she? Hmmm… a story from her POV would be interesting!

        Reply
    • Laura Hile says

      November 18, 2017 at 4:10 pm

      Right, Darcybennet? Why does Jane fall for someone like Churchill? Talk about selfish!

      It’s sad to see fine women be swept off their feet by fellows who do not deserve them.

      Reply
  12. Susan (DE) says

    November 16, 2017 at 11:08 am

    This is a hard one. Maybe Captain Benwick from Persuasion. He is so delightfully MOURNFUL. I mean, not to make fun of his pain, but I enjoy him.

    Reply
    • Laura Hile says

      November 16, 2017 at 12:18 pm

      Susan, I am very fond of Captain Benwick too.
      In many ways, he would be a very good match for Anne. She must reunite with the handsome Captain Wentworth, but given the chance Benwick would have given the good captain a run for his money!

      Reply
      • Wendi Sotis says

        November 18, 2017 at 11:21 am

        Good luck, Susan! Captain Benwick is such an interesting character.

        Reply
  13. Elissa says

    November 16, 2017 at 10:00 am

    Mr. Bennett is a favorite for me. He has my sense of humor.

    Reply
    • Laura Hile says

      November 16, 2017 at 12:24 pm

      How he delighted in Elizabeth’s company! I’ve always felt a little sorry for Mr. Bennet, seeing his beloved girl marry and go off to Pemberley.

      Reply
    • Robin Helm says

      November 17, 2017 at 11:07 am

      Hi, Elissa! We are like-minded. Mr. Bennet is my favorite supporting character, too!

      Reply
      • Wendi Sotis says

        November 18, 2017 at 11:24 am

        Good luck, Elissa! I LOVE Mr. Bennet, too!

        Reply
  14. Eileen says

    November 16, 2017 at 9:01 am

    I’m going to go with Mrs. Bennet. I love her antics and hysterics.

    Reply
    • Laura Hile says

      November 16, 2017 at 12:21 pm

      Eileen, I love this. As annoying as these people are, what would a story be without them? Bo-ring, that’s what. And … the older I get, the more I understand Mrs. Bennet.

      Oh, sigh.

      Thanks for entering the giveaway!

      Reply
      • Wendi Sotis says

        November 18, 2017 at 11:35 am

        Mrs. Bennet is my all-time favorite, too, Eileen! Even when she’s not in my stories, she’s in my stories. Oh, Jane had so many great secondary characters, didn’t she? Good luck!

        Reply
    • Robin Helm says

      November 17, 2017 at 11:09 am

      Mrs. Bennet is a fun character to write. My husband quotes her to me all the time, intimating that I’M a Mrs. Bennet. The nerve of the man! My heart is all a-flutter, and I can get no rest day or night!

      Reply
  15. Anita Banks says

    November 16, 2017 at 7:52 am

    How exciting, love reading Austen’s collection multiple times.

    Reply
    • Laura Hile says

      November 16, 2017 at 12:20 pm

      It is delightful to escape holiday stress and frenzy –curled up under a blanket (and preferably before a bright fire with cookies) — with favorite Austen friends. We’ve been sighing over the beautiful cover — which exceeded expectations. Mr. Darcy in the snow … 🙂

      Reply
    • Robin Helm says

      November 17, 2017 at 11:10 am

      I reread them, rewatch the movies and BBC miniseries versions, rewrite them (Ha!), and quote them fluently. I LOVE Jane Austen.

      Reply
      • Wendi Sotis says

        November 18, 2017 at 11:42 am

        Hi Anita, good luck!

        I can’t tell you how many times I’ve reread the books and watched the movies and miniseries – though I haven’t seen the zombie one yet. The only one I don’t watch all the way through is the Oliver P&P. The first time I saw the scene at the end when Darcy is talking to Lady Catherine, I got so angry, I took the disc out of my machine and threw it away. Ah, but hubby bought it for me again, so I kept it. Now I just skip over Darcy talking to her. LOL!

        Reply
        • Chautona Havig says

          November 19, 2017 at 6:10 pm

          I love Greer Garson when someone says, “He’s so… so…” and she tosses in, “supercilious.”

          Reply
          • Kamely Fessler says

            February 13, 2018 at 2:19 pm

            If the author keeps in the language with the original I like it.. If i=I had to pick a favorite character I would have to choose Elizabeth Bennet because she is feisty Of the
            movies I prefer the BBC ones..

          • Chautona Havig says

            February 13, 2018 at 2:32 pm

            I’m with you on BBC. I love the A&E P&P. Colin Firth nailed Darcy and Jennifer Ehle… she was brilliant!

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Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
byChautona Havig

Fans of Lisa Phillips’ Last Chance County series are doing happy dances following the release of an exciting new spin-off series, Last Chance Fire and Rescue. Expired Return brings back a few favorite characters and kicks off another of Sunrise Publishing’s author/mentor led fiction seasons! Listen in to find out what happens when an author brings back a guy she dropped a building on a couple of books back…

 

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

When Fans Want More Exciting Stories, Smart Authors Listen and Deliver!

Let’s face it. Authors might SOMETIMES be “done” with a series, but readers often want more… indefinitely. Well, with the brilliance of Sunrise Publishing’s mentor model, authors get to collaborate with authors they trust to do their “worlds” proud while still having time to write new, exciting things as well. And some of the Sunrise lead authors even write in the spin-off series–like Lisa Phillips and Trisha Goyer!

This new Last Chance County series promises everything we love about Lisa Phillips’ world–danger, intrigue, heart-stopping suspense, drama… you know… all the feels. But in addition to her own release, Expired Return, this series also introduces us to new authors who have been carefully vetted and selected to ensure they do justice to Lisa’s Last Chance characters. I, for one, can’t wait to check it all out.

Lisa and I chatted about what she plans for the series,Lisa hinted about a possible super-secret reveal coming soon, and I even poked her with the idea of a Last Chance Christmas.

Help me convince them on that, will ya?

But this new book… Whoa…

Expired Return by Lisa Phillips

Pepper stood up. “How dare you.” She could spit fire at him right now. She’d loved and supported Victory since the day she was born. “You know nothing about me.”

“What’s this?”

Pepper whirled around at that voice. Heart. Breaking. She loved that gruff, commanding voice more than anything else in the world.

He wore a look a lot like Aiden’s. Blank, which she knew—or hoped—had to do with protecting his heart because he still cared for her. Except he probably hated her.

Donaldson sat back in his chair. “Allen.”

Former police officer Allen Frees had both hands on the wheels of his chair. He wore a fire department uniform of slacks and a white shirt. Emblems. A badge. His life of service hadn’t ended when he landed in that chair after a building blew up over his head.

As far as she’d been able to tell, it barely slowed him down.

She’ll give everything to protect her family.

He always knew she was the one.

Veterinary tech Pepper Miller lives a quiet life in Last Chance County. She’s watching her niece until her sister shows up…if she ever does. When Victory’s father demands he take over her care, Pepper knows something has gone wrong. With a new drug in town, and her sister embroiled in a dangerous bargain, it’s up to Pepper to protect the people she loves.

Even if it costs every secret she’s ever kept.

Fire Department liaison Allen Frees lives with the injuries he sustained as a police officer in a raid gone wrong. He’s put his life back together but getting the truck crew and engine squad to succeed might be his toughest assignment yet. When Victory is nearly kidnapped at a community event, Allen steps in to help Pepper keep her niece safe. The one thing he couldn’t fix was the love he lost, but he isn’t going to let Pepper walk away this time.

No matter what walls he has to break down.

Last Chance County returns in this blazing new series from Sunrise Publishing.

Last Chance Fire and Rescue

  • Book 1: Expired Return
  • Book 2: Expired Hope (coming soon)
  • Book 3: Expired Promise (coming soon)
  • Book 4: Expired Vows (coming soon)

Last Chance County

  • Book 1: Expired Refuge
  • Book 2: Expired Secrets
  • Book 3: Expired Cache
  • Book 4: Expired Hero
  • Book 5: Expired Game
  • Book 6: Expired Plot
  • Book 7: Expired Getaway
  • Book 8: Expired Betrayal
  • Book 9: Expired Flight
  • Book 10: Expired End

Learn more about Lisa and her books on her WEBSITE.

Learn more about the different seasons (series) offered by Sunrise Publishing or how to audition with them on the Sunrise Publishing WEBSITE.

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

  • Apple 
  • Castbox 
  • Google Play
  • Libsyn 
  • RSS
  • Spotify
  • Stitcher
  • Amazon
  • and more!
Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
Episode 206: A Chat with Lisa Phillips about Her New Spin-off Series
February 7, 2023
Chautona Havig
BONUS Episode: The Bookish Podcast Tag!
February 4, 2023
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Episode 205: A Chat about Cold Light of Day with Elizabeth Goddard
February 3, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 204: A Chat with Sarah Sundin about The Sound of Light
January 31, 2023
Chautona Havig
Episode 203: A Chat with Heather Greer about Window of Opportunity
January 27, 2023
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Episode 202: A Chat with Historical Christian Author, Laura Frantz
January 24, 2023
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Episode 201: A Closer Look at This YA Dystopian Series
January 20, 2023
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Episode 200: Comparing & Contrasting Two Split-Time Novels
January 17, 2023
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Episode 199: A Chat about Karl May with Robert Stermscheg
January 13, 2023
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Episode 198: A Chat about Everything Is Just Beginning with Erin Bartels
January 10, 2023
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Reposted from @courtneywalsh MY PHONY VALENTINE is Reposted from @courtneywalsh MY PHONY VALENTINE is officially available in e-book, paperback and in #kindleunlimited ♥️♥️

Treat yourself to this swoony, sweet romance! 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A chance meeting. A hunky hockey player. A fake romance.
Hardly an ordinary day in the life of Poppy Hart.

My days usually consist of agonizing over my failing restaurant, worrying about my mountain of debt and nursing my broken heart.

Everything changes when I bump into a man in the coffee shop and claim him as my new boyfriend. To my absolute horror, he turns out to be hockey’s most renowned bad boy, Dallas Burke. To my absolute delight, he goes along with my story.

When his no-nonsense manager and meddling grandmother jump in the picture, they see a win-win solution for my failing restaurant and Dallas’s less-than-stellar reputation.

A full-fledged fake romance complete with contract negotiations, pretend dates and phony PDA.

But as I get to know the real Dallas Burke, who is not the man the press says he is, it becomes clear that if this isn’t real. . . someone better tell it to my heart.

Link in bio 

 #amreading #readersofinstagram #readersofig #igreads #holidaybooks #newbooks #kindleunlimitedromance #kindleunlimited #readersgonnaread #bookstagram #booknerdigans #booknerd #holidaybooks #newbooks #sweetromance #bookworm #bookshelf #authorsofinstagram #authorsofig #amwriting #amwritingromance
Reposted from @steampunk_tales Death stalks Alice Reposted from @steampunk_tales Death stalks Alice at every turn, but will he catch up to her?
 #fantasyreads #fantasy #bookstagram #books #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookworm #book #bookaddict #reading #booknerd #bookish #bibliophile #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookcommunity #booklove #bookaholic #bookrecommendations #instabook #bookobsessed #instabooks #bookaesthetic #booklovers #readmorebooks #readingtime #bookishlove #booksofig #fantasybooks
Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first da Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first dates... no second dates. With his propensity to spout random (and often bizarre) animal facts while nervous (he's always nervous around women) it's no wonder. 
His sister has a solution--lots of dates. Great, heaping gobs of them. Go ahead. Be awkward. Get used to it. Then... then try with someone you really want to get to know. He's not so confident, but when a man gives his word... (Note to self: no more agreeing to Selby's plans without knowing what they are!)
Find out what happens in Random Acts (or is it Facts?) of Shyness.

This book just got a fresh makeover, thanks to the genius of @PlethoraCreative & @PerryElizabeth.
There's a link to how to find it in my bio.
#ChristFic
#ChristianRomCom
#InspiredByATrueStory
Reposted from @katherinereay My next novel A SHADO Reposted from @katherinereay My next novel A SHADOW IN MOSCOW will be available on June 13, 2023!! I can’t wait for you to meet Cold War spies, Anya Kadinova and Ingrid Bauer. You can pre-order your copy today!!
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#authorsofinstagram #authorlife #authorsofig #authorsofinsta #authors #writersofinsta #writersofinstagram #writerlife #writersofig #readersofinstagram #booklovers #booklove #readersofinsta #readersofig #stories #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstragramreels #bookstagramreel #booktok #books #bookreels #booksofig #storytime #newrelease
Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first da Heath Karras has a problem. Lots of eager first dates... no second dates. With his propensity to spout random (and often bizarre) animal facts while nervous (he's always nervous around women) it's no wonder. 
His sister has a solution--lots of dates. Great, heaping gobs of them. Go ahead. Be awkward. Get used to it. Then... then try with someone you really want to get to know. He's not so confident, but when a man gives his word... (Note to self: no more agreeing to Selby's plans without knowing what they are!)
Find out what happens in Random Acts (or is it Facts?) of Shyness.

This book just got a fresh makeover, thanks to the genius of @PlethoraCreative & @PerryElizabeth.
There's a link to how to find it in my bio.
#ChristFic
#ChristianRomCom
#InspiredByATrueStory
Reposted from @sarahsundinauthor The Sound of Ligh Reposted from @sarahsundinauthor The Sound of Light is now available from @revellfiction , and it received a starred review from Booklist!

In WWII Denmark, Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt assumes the identity of a common shipyard worker, rowing messages to Sweden for the Resistance. His life depends on keeping his secret hidden--a task that proves challenging when he meets Else Jensen, an American physicist who seems to see right through him.

Read more and find purchase links in the Linktree in my bio!
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#thesoundoflight #thesoundoflightbook #wwiifiction #wwiinovel #histfic #historicalfiction
Reposted from @celebratelit ONE MORE WEEK! ⁠ ⁠ Reposted from @celebratelit ONE MORE WEEK! ⁠
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One more week until the release of Promise of Purity by Marguerite Martin Gray! Preorder now for 30% off plus free shipping or the ebook copy for only $2.99. Bonus gift with either! ⁠
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Click on the publishing page in the linktree in our bio then the 30% off in the menu! ⁠
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