HearthLand is a serial novel released in episodes. Volume Four is a compilation of Episodes 19-24 Taking a step back in time–deliberately. After a trip to Walden Farm and an afternoon talking to Chad and Willow Tesdall, Ralph Myner caught a vision for what life could be like. Against the advice of his nephew, Ralph sinks his entire retirement account into an incredibly risky venture. Harlan Walker thinks his uncle has gone crazy. With the project in motion, all he can do is try to find people to invest their time, money, and even their lives into Ralph’s project before the man ends up broke and without means to survive. People come from all walks of life as they embrace a new world–the world of HearthLand. In Volume 4, wedding plans take over HearthLand, and it seems almost everyone is getting into the spirit of things—to the delight of some and disapproval of others. But just as everything seems right with the world, everything goes wrong. Ramiro and Susannah talk to Kirk and things get dicey. Fireworks explode in several directions, and leave everyone wondering what sparks were ignited by them! When a life change tears at the fabric of a family, another change comes to HearthLand. Ralph has an idea to solve Annie's problems, but she isn't convinced. The residents "mother" Ralph a bit as he endures forced "recuperation" again and instead, drive him crazy. Add to that a new investor who makes Ralph uncomfortable along with bad news from Keith, and life at HearthLand just got a whole, new level of interesting. Ralph is concerned that Annie's getting too close to someone he doesn't trust. Though Annie and Ralph enjoy a peaceful day together, but with the return of their newest investor, things heat up. Ralph struggles with the result of some of his choices and Annie's life seems in danger once more. As if all wasn't enough, a TV crew arrives and after a damaging feature on the Paisley Duncan show, it seems as if their attempt at an idyllic life is over.
Author
**fingers skittle across the keyboard. Stop. Eyelids blink over the top** Oh, was this bio day? Oops! I forgot. I was lost in my latest manuscript. Umm... bio. Yeah. Hi! I’m Chautona Havig. (for those who care, that’s Shuh-TONE-uh HAVE-ig). Yeah. Just work with me here. I should have used a pseudonym, but when you grow up with a name like Chautona, it kind of sticks. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. ~ Hebrews 10: 23–25 Those aren’t just words on a page for me–they’re why I write. I write to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ. The stories I create are to make people laugh, cry, question, consider. They’re for you. When the world screams for hope, I try to point you to the true Source of hope–Jesus. Sometimes life in the church no longer seems a refuge from the pain of a self-serving world around us, but through my stories, I try to point you to the only Refuge that can truly help–the Father’s Everlasting Arms. And sometimes we just need an escape from the monotony, the emptiness we see around us. We need joy, laughter–what I like to call “just the write escape.” Christian fiction without apology or pretense–lived, not preached. What does that even mean? It means I care–about you. About your walk with Jesus. I care about the words you put before your eyes, the mental pictures those words conjure. It’s difficult to express just how much I love my brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s difficult to share just how much I love you. But I do. And I write for you. I sit in my little house in California’s Mojave Desert and I write to show you why one sister believes one thing, why a brother believes another. I write to show you how some Christians handle trials or triumphs–for you. So when you’re faced with something–good or bad, it doesn’t matter–maybe it’ll spark a memory. Maybe that memory will smolder until you pull out your Bible and see what the Lord said about it–about His great love for you. For YOU! And maybe, just maybe, you’ll share that love with another hurting, confused, or blessed-with-more-than-she-knows-what-to-do-with soul. I just happen to think that’s the most blessed giving anyone could hope to receive.
