Author Spotlight + Giveaway: Chautona Havig -- Be My Inspiration

Here we meet yet another author in the Love Blooms on Valentines anthology, the sweet Chautona Havig!

Using story to connect readers with the Master Storyteller.

Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours, and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

First off, welcome to my blog. It’s so great to have you here!

Hey, thanks for having me. I love a good book chat!

What first sparked your passion for storytelling, and how has your journey as

a writer evolved over time?

At twelve, Mom gave me the book, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and said I might want to read it. That’s it. “Here’s a book. Might want to read it.” It was the first book I finished and started over again right away. There’s this scene where the protagonist, Francie Nolan, tells her teacher a whopper of a lie about how this tiny pie (think those itty boxes at Walmart checkout) saved the lives of twin girls. The teacher told her, “Tell the truth, but WRITE what should have happened.” I couldn’t get that out of my head.

What unique aspects of your faith influence your storytelling style or the

themes you explore?

I used to have a tagline across the top of my website. Now I think it’s on my bio page. Anyway, I said, “Christian fiction without apology or pretense–lived, not preached.” And that’s really what I write. Christians living their lives, responding well or badly to things life throws at them. I don’t always agree with what they say or do—or even with their theology. I just want to show Christians how maybe someone else might react. It’ll either

encourage them to consider something to emulated or drive them back to what they

understand to be truth. Either way, they’re headed back to Jesus for answers. And

that’s all that matters.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse or passage that has guided your writing or

life journey?

Okay. It’s a weird one, but work with me here. James 4:17. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. (BSB) It covers everything—how my characters react, how I put things into a book when I don’t want to but really think I should… so many things.

Who are some of your favorite Christian authors, and how have they

influenced your work?

Where do I begin? So many. For depth in faith, Michael Phillips. For the sweet, gentle living of faith, Suzanne Woods Fisher. To remember how to keep things fast paced when need be, Lisa Phillips. To keep things twisty, Jessica R. Patch. When I need to remember to slow down and embrace the beauty of a moment, Amanda Dykes.

If you could collaborate with any Christian author, living or deceased, who

would it be and why?

Okay, this one is tough. I want to say someone like Michael Phillips or C. S. Lewis to learn from them. But instead, I’m going to say Cathe Swanson. We’ve dreamed of writing a series together, wrote an introductory novella and loved the process, so her. Because we’d finally get it done!

What’s your favorite scene or moment in the book, and why does it hold

special meaning for you?

I think when Linus finds out all his gift attempts thus far have flopped. Big time. And his reaction is to take his next one up close and personal—to put himself into the line of fire despite knowing she has to be ticked. Because he wants it to be perfect for her.

Are there any surprising lessons or revelations you discovered about yourself

or your faith through the writing process?

Be My Inspiration is written in first person. I couldn’t understand why it felt like it had to be, but I did. One reader suggested that it was so I could understand him in a way that I never would otherwise. And she was right. Though I knew it was the best choice for the story (I can’t stand first person), knowing why made me happy I’d listened to my characters. It also taught me a bit about why we need to stay in God’s perspective—in His Word. It’s how we learn to truly understand Him—by getting into His perspective and staying there.

How do you incorporate prayer or spiritual reflection into your writing

routine?

I don’t know how to explain my process. Most of it is intensely private between me and the Lord. That said, my prayer journal is peppered with one liners like, “Keep me focused,” or “Show me what you want to come from this mess.” Nearly every day.

What do you enjoy most about connecting with readers, and what feedback

has resonated deeply with you?

I love it when readers let me into their daily lives. They email and ask how my dogs are doing—tell me how many eggs their chickens laid. Sometimes they send Neville (my dog) a quick note. But the best ones are when someone says, “I’d never taken that (insert Biblical passage or principle) seriously before. Thank you for showing why it’s important.”

Have you seen your book make an impact in someone’s life, and can you

share that experience?

One reader sent me pictures of her baptism—that she credited my books for encouraging her to do. Another said she’d never seen elders working in the lives of their congregations the way they do in my stories. She didn’t know that happened. When I get those, I know that I’m focusing where God wants me to.

What’s one thing you wish readers knew about the process of writing

Christian fiction?

It may be an act of love for readers and for the Lord, but it’s still hard work. If it’s historical, I have to look up almost every word I use (or it feels like that). If I am writing 1850, then if I haven’t seen the word in a Jane Austen novel, I’m going to look it up—make sure it was in use.

Logical assumptions—can’t make them. I learned that the price of sodas from machines stayed at five cents long past when they would have because it was too expensive to change over all the machines to accept more money. I’ve dragged kids across my floor to see how hard it is, tried to break out of duct tape and zip ties—all the things. Do I still get it wrong sometimes? Yep. But not for lack of trying to make sure I get it right!

How do you celebrate the completion of a book, and what does that milestone

mean to you?

Now that I’m back in “normal mode” where I make my own deadlines and such, I

celebrate by grabbing a book I’ve waited a long time to start and with an ice-cold Coke in hand, I read that thing until it’s done. Feels GOOD. When I had deadlines one after the other (not doing that again), I celebrated by taking a shower and opening a new document—time to write again!

As for milestone? I don’t think about that. I’m really too eager to play with new “friends.”

If someone were to adapt your book into a movie, what would be your dream

casting for the main characters?

Okay. Dream cast—so from any era? That could get fun. Safer, too since I’m not really “up” on who is popular and working now in Hollywood. I’ll do my best. Basically, I’m going by what I find on Google for folks who look like they might be able to pull it off. Um… For Linus, Freddie Highmore—at least I know him. He’d do the awkward well. For Dana… Elizabeth Olson. She kind of looks like Dana to me. I have no idea about Myla.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors who are just starting out?

Write. I know that sounds clichéd and frustrating, but write. If I had it to do over again, I’d start with short stories. Lots of them. Later, they can be rearranged into scenes for full-length books if you like, but the feeling of getting something done is a huge boost to be able to keep going. Although I didn’t have that “I’ll never be finished” feeling about books, I still think it would’ve been a great lesson in how to take an idea or a situation and convert it into an actual story. Oh, and if you think you should quit? It’s probably the LAST thing you should do.

Lastly, before you go…Can you talk about any upcoming projects or books

you’re working on?

Now that I’m done with all my deadlines, I’m working on things that have been back-burner items for far too long. The next Agency Files (suspens) novel, Pointed Suspicion, Seaside (the next in my contemporary fantasy series), and Looks Could Kill (the last of my Meddlin’ Madeline historical mysteries series). Sooooooooooo excited to get back to these and more. Wait! I almost forgot. Wee Bonnie Books! It’s my next Bookstrings novel set on the Isle of Skye! EEEP!

Now for her story "Be My Inspiration" in the Love Blooms on Valentines anthology...

Be My Inspiration - Chautona Havig

He's just trying to salvage his career... and his heart.

Award-winning songwriter, Tanner Lawson, believes that avoiding romantic relationships is the secret to his success. When writer's block strikes, he decides to win over a single mom at church. You know, for inspiration.

Dana Lyles thinks Linus is sweet—until she finds out he’s fake dating her. Sort of. Oh, and that he's not who she thought he was. Then come the botched Valentine's gifts. All fourteen of 'em.

With his secret identity (and his heart) on the line, Valentine's Day just got all kinds of complicated.

And Chautona decided to tease us of a snippet from her story:

Dad turned to me and gave me one of those … looks—the ones that pierce your soul and leave a mark forever. Then he said, “Son, if you want to write about enduring, true love, you’ve got to experience it someday. Otherwise, you’re only writing the shell—not the substance. The reason that your wife grows more beautiful every day has nothing to do with genes or feelings and everything to do with her making you so mad you want to throw things until you finally see her side of the issue. It’s a broken heart until she comes along and mends it again. That kind of stuff doesn’t happen outside of a lived life.”

They got up and walked up the basement steps, side by side (no easy feat on those narrow things) while I scribbled down as much as I could of what he said. My dad is a genius. And he’s terrifying, too. Because those words gave me an idea that could make or break me—and could do real damage if I’m not careful.

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a paperback copy!

(Giveaway runs for a week. Winner will be contacted by author.)