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Because Fiction Podcast

Because Fiction Podcast

By: Chautona Havig
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Digging deep into what's up in Christian Fiction to help you find your next great read!© Chautona Havig 2025 Art Christianity Literary History & Criticism Spirituality
Episodes
  • Episode 557: A Chat with Laura DeNooyer
    Jul 4 2026
    I've had so much fun chatting with Laura DeNooyer about her books, and The Broken Weathervane sounds amazing. Listen in as we talk about family secrets and see them across dual timelines. note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you. I love split-time novels, and I can't wait to read this one. We also chatted about being eclectic writers--people unable to stick to just one genre when stories demand different ones. The Broken Weathervane by Laura DeNooyer Two coworkers want the same truth. Only one of them can afford to reveal it. Leslie Wickersham has spent years hiding her connection to the legendary Buckwalter family—a secret her grandmother made her swear to protect. Now, thriving in her new role at Raymond University, she's tasked with helping brassy English professor Dr. Gregory Scott Stafford achieve full professor status. But there's a problem: Greg is racing to complete a biography of celebrated author Linus Fritz Buckwalter, and one final interview stands between him and publication. Leslie knows exactly who that interview subject is—her grandmother, Klara—and why speaking up could expose secrets her family has protected for decades. When Klara finally entrusts Leslie with her 1950s diary, the pages reveal why Fritz's brother, Edmund, quietly disappeared—and the devastating truth that fractured the family forever. As deadlines close in, Leslie finds herself caught between professional obligation and personal loyalty. The closer Greg comes to the truth, the more fragile Leslie's carefully guarded silence becomes—and the higher the risk of whatever choice she makes. Unfolding across dual timelines, The Broken Weathervane explores family loyalty, the stigma of mental illness, and the cost of telling the truth. Readers who enjoy thoughtful, book-centered fiction with layered timelines and emotional depth will appreciate this novel in the vein of Rachel Hauck, Susie Finkbeiner, Erin Bartels, Amanda Wen, and Katherine Reay. Discover The Broken Weathervane today and step into a story where the past refuses to stay quiet. Don't miss the Celebrate Lit Tour HERE. Learn more on Laura's WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads and BookBub. Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at: Apple Castbox Google Play Libsyn RSS Spotify Amazon YouTube and more!
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    30 mins
  • Episode 558: A Chat with Felicia Hurd
    Jul 6 2026

    Because Fiction is a celebration of fiction, but when I had the chance to chat with Felicia Hurd, I couldn't resist. Listen in and see why Count It All Joy is the first (and possibly only) nonfiction book we'll feature here.

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

    People often ask why we go through hard things, but hearing others' stories often helps us learn and grow.

    Count It All Joy by Felicia Hurd

    Count it all joy! Have you heard these words before? Is that even possible? How can you count it all joy when life's challenges are coming at you, often one right after another, before you have time to recover from the challenge before? You may have heard the saying, "count it all joy," in church for many years. While the phrase can be difficult to grasp the concept, it is possible in God's timing and strength.

    In Count It All Joy, you will see how first-time author Felicia A. Hurd reveals her account of trials and challenges that shook and eventually strengthened Felicia's faith. On this faith journey, from not trusting God to trusting God and studying His Word, Felicia has learned to count it all joy, even during trials, while learning to thank God in advance of the outcome, even if Felicia disagree with the outcome. God is a good Father, and Felicia has come to trust and believe that God knows what is needed and when.

    Welcome to the journey of Count It All Joy ~ Including the Broken Pieces

    Learn more on Felicia's WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads.

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

    • Apple
    • Castbox
    • Google Play
    • Libsyn
    • RSS
    • Spotify
    • Amazon
    • YouTube
    • and more!
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    38 mins
  • Episode 559: A Chat with Lisa Phillips
    Jul 11 2026

    One of my favorite series is Lisa Phillips' Brand of Justice. Listen in as we talk about the final book (Psst... it can be read as a stand alone) in this sixteen-book series!

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

    I've been holding out on finishing the series since I finished book three. IT's time. So once we got done talking, I loaded up the next book on my phone and wheeeeeee! here we go!

    Now Until Forever by Lisa Phillips

    **The Epic Stand-alone Finale**

    Born into a legacy, Eliana must find her own brand of justice.

    After moving to Chicago to work at the mysterious Shrine museum, Eliana is determined to uncover the family secrets she's never been told. When she stumbles upon her first ever dead body, everyone around her believes she should try and solve the murder. But taking cases isn't what she came here for. Despite her plans, things are about to turn far more sinister, and the path she's on seems determined to drag her back into a nightmare.

    Chicago PD Officer Carlos Ryson was born into a legacy of his own. He's here to look for his missing sister, Luci, and wants to enlist Eliana's help. This is a family problem, and only family working together can solve it. But Eliana has never forgotten the way Carlos shredded her heart. If he wants them to team up, he'll have to confront the damage he did and find a way to repair it.

    While the city around them descends into a chaos that resembles the end times, someone has seized the opportunity to get what they want from the Shrine. Only Eliana stands in their way, but if she's going to figure this out she'll need to trust that the people around her have her back.

    Before it's too late.

    Now Until Forever is the stand-alone finale to the Brand of Justice series, and is set in the near-future. It features a happily ever after romance mixed with high-stakes suspense in this gripping crime fiction story.

    Don't miss The Lazerus Protocol preorder, too1

    Learn more on Lisa's WEBSITE and follow on GoodReads and BookBub.

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

    • Apple
    • Castbox
    • Google Play
    • Libsyn
    • RSS
    • Spotify
    • Amazon
    • YouTube
    • and more!
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
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