Lu Ann's Book Review

Missing in Action by Dean Hughes

2011-08-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Dean Hughes has become a master storyteller when it comes to capturing the reality of war, especially the time of World War II. Adult readers may be familiar with his Children of the Promise series, and the follow-up Hearts of the Children series. They may also know his stand-alone novel Saboteur, one of most intense and well-written spy novels I've ever read.

Younger readers may have already discovered Soldier Boys and Search and Destroy, both excellent novels that take MG/YA readers into the heart of battle and the cultural obstacles that too often keep us apart.

Missing in Action is no different. Jay Thacker is growing up in the Mormon community of Delta, Utah. Although he is part Navajo, his baseball skills and the respect his grandfather has from the other residents help him fit in, if you can call being nicknames "Chief" against your will as being accepted. The other kids think that all Indians are lazy alcoholic thieves, even though there is no reason to think so when it comes to Jay.

If being Native America didn't cause him enough trouble in town, the fact that his grandfather has hired a young Japanese-American from the nearby Topaz interment camp to help out on the farm almost puts Jay over the edge.

But to his surprise, Jay discovers that not only is Ken a hard worker who wants to join the American army when he comes of age, but that he is also great at baseball, the sport that Jay most loves.

Despite their differences, the two boys become friends--a situation that doesn't bode well for either one of them once the other boys in the community find out.

Beyonders: A World Without Heroes by Brandon Mull

2011-08-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

Jason Walker is an ordinary 13-year-old boy, bored by life and wishing for adventure. But he never imagines his trip to the zoo would result is his being transported from the hippo tank to another world, a place called Lyrian, ruled by the evil wizard, Maldor.

Of course, Maldor is nothing like the world Jason came from because this new land is dangerous and filled with evil. When Jason meets Rachel, another Beyonder (as people from Earth are called), the two of them set out on a quest to retrieve a secret word, one that will take away Maldor's powerand make Lyrian once again as safe place to be.

If you're a fan of Fablehaven, you're sure to love this first book in a new series. But be forewarned, Beyonders: Seeds of Rebellion isn't slated for release until March 12, 2012.

Janitors by Tyler Whitesides

2011-08-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

The janitors at Welcher Elementary School know a secret, and twelve-year-old Spencer Zumbro is the only one who can lead the charge against them and their evil plan. With the help of classmate Daisy "Gullible" Gates, Spencer sets out to discover who can trusted, and who cannot. The discovery of the truth might just save his school, and perhaps the world!

First-time author, Tyler Whitesides brings some of his own experience as a school janitor to the writing of this first book in a series perfect for elementary students. As Spencer and Daisy discover in their fight against crime, Tyler learned first-hand about the battle against the Toxites: Grime, Filth and Rubbish.

But don't expect this battle to be easy for Spencer. Fighting off janitors can be dirty work, and only those who are willing to put their hands to a mop even stand a chance of coming out unscathed.

Janitors captures the voice of a true sixth grader, and is perfect for a classroom read aloud. Kids will not be disappointed, and they will be begging for more.

Agent in Old Lace by Tristi Pinkston

2010-08-04T11:57:00.000-07:00

LDS Author Turns from History to Mystery

If you follow LDS fiction, then you’ve likely heard of Tristi Pinkston through the books she’s written, the blogs she writes, or the LDS Storymakers where she is serving this year as Vice-President and conference chair. Her previous novels—Season of Sacrifice, Strength to Endure, and Nothing to Regret—have been well-received by readers and critics alike.

Her most recent release—Agent in Old Lace—takes readers along an unexpected path—mystery. Pinkston’s other novels have been historical. “My first novels took a lot out of me emotionally,” she says when asked about the change of direction. “The first centered on Japanese internment camps and the atomic bomb, and the second was set in Germany with the concentration camps there. I did a lot of research into these hard historical topics. I felt the need to pull back emotionally and regroup. I'm not sorry for a minute about the things I learned and the stories I heard while researching for the other books, but there needs to be a balance in all things or you can find yourself too heavily weighed down by the sorrows of the world.”
So why did she choose mysteries? “I've always enjoyed reading mysteries and thought it would be fun to try my hand at one.” Agent in Old Lace is a modern story about a young woman—Shannon Tanner—who has a perfect life until she is kidnapped by her boyfriend and discovers he isn’t who she thought he was at all. Once she escapes Mark’s clutches, Shannon is paired with agent Rick Holden to try to solve the greater crime—Mark’s embezzlement scam.

Tristi says, “Writing the banter between Rick and Shannon was the most fun for me as I worked on this book. I didn't expect so many fun elements to enter into the story—I was expecting it to be a straight suspense, but when you allow a character to go their own way, you find yourself surprised by what they'll do. This was definitely the case with this novel.”

Although historical novels require a great deal of research time, books of other genres still require research to ensure the story rings true. “I looked into the names of various different drugs,” Tristi says, “and I talked extensively with Willard Boyd Gardner, former SWAT and also an author, to help me get all the police procedure stuff right, but I would have to say that the bulk of my research went into learning how to write in such a completely different genre from anything I've tried before.”

So far, the experiment has had positive results. Fans are asking for a follow-up novel about Shannon and Rick—a project Pinkston is considering—but the mystery bug has definitely bitten her. She has a new series starting in March 2010 called The Secret Sisters Mysteries. Tristi says, “They're completely off-the-wall and unexpected—picture Miss Marple meets the Relief Society. I've had the most fun writing them and can't wait to kick off the series come spring.”

The new series isn’t Pinktston’s only new venture, though. She and friends and fellow authors Candace Salima and BJ Rowley are embarking on a journey into the realm of publishing. “Valor Publishing Group LLC was started this year by Candace Salima, an author and public speaker who wanted to create a new way for authors and publishers to work together to bring high-quality literature to the reading public,” Tristi tells us. “Valor's marketing plan is forward-thinking and really in touch with the customers of today. I feel the books are truly outstanding.”
Valor’s first release is schedule for November. Written by Utah State Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, Am I Not A Man? The Dred Scott Story is already gathering buzz as a book to watch out for.

“I've had the honor of working for Valor for the last few months as the senior editor,” Tristi says. “I handle acquisitions as well as editing, so I get all the fun of interacting with these great authors and seeing their books come to life. I really love my job—it incorporates all the things I love to do into one awesome career.”

But when it comes to books, being an author is still Tristi’s first love. She says, “I'll be publishing with Valor as well, and I feel confident that I couldn't be in better hands.” And based on past experience as a reader of her books, I’m sure readers will be pleased to see what all she can do from both sides of the publishing world.

The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum

2010-08-04T11:54:00.000-07:00

Paranormal Romance is a Winner

When it comes to books, Lisa Mangum knows her stuff. An avid reader, Lisa graduated with honors from the English program at the University of Utah. Since then she has worked in numerous editorial roles, including her current position as an editor for Deseret Books and its national arm, Shadow Mountain.

“Words were always very important to me and growing up, I read everything I could get my hands on as well as writing lots of stories,” she says. “I was an author first.” But being an editor was just as important to her as being an author.
“When people found out I was studying for an English degree, they always asked, ‘So you want to be a teacher?’” Mangum says, “I’d always answer, ‘No I want to be an editor.’ I had to laugh a little when the response was, ‘Can you do that with an English degree?’”

In the beginning, Lisa’s creative writing took a back seat to her editing career as she tried to learn all she could about publishing books, but she says, “About five years ago, some friends at work and I started a writing group together. We were all aspiring, amateur writers and together we decided to make writing a priority. We meet every other week for breakfast and to talk about our projects. I can honestly say I wouldn’t have finished The Hourglass Door without the help and encouragement from my writing group. And the deadlines didn’t hurt either.”

Lisa continues, “The same day I came up with the story of Abby and Dante I was able to pitch it to Chris Schoebinger (Shadow Mountain’s product director over YA fiction) in a rather informal setting. He was excited about what I had done and encouraged me to write it. When I was finished, I handed it directly to him for his review. Once the manuscript was in Chris’s hands, it went through the same process as any other submission Shadow Mountain reviews. Ultimately, I knew that if Chris liked it, he’d say yes. And if he didn’t, he’d say no. His decision was based on the merits of the book, not because he knew me.”

Anyone who has tried to publish a book knows that the path to publication is not always so easy. Mangum says, “Having been involved with the publishing process for so long, I can say with certainty that just as no two books are the same, no two paths to publication are the same. My path, thankfully, was pretty short and uneventful, for which I am very grateful.”

The Hourglass Door, the first book in a planned trilogy, introduces readers to Abby Edmunds, a high school senior who is hoping to be accepted into Emery College, her primary choice. Her final year in high school seems promising. She has good friends, a cute boyfriend, and she is involved with the production of the senior play, but her satisfaction with it all alters slightly when she meets Dante Alexander, a foreign exchange student from Italy.

“I always knew the story of Abby and Dante would be a trilogy,” Lisa says. “That first day when I got the idea for the story and started outlining, I knew where book one would end, where book two would start, and where book three would end. Having some of those landmark scenes already in place before I started writing proved helpful as it kept the story on track. Whenever I’d run up against a roadblock, I’d think, ‘Well, what do I have to do to get the characters to this point?’ And I’d usually find an answer pretty quickly. While I have adjusted and revised my original outline, many of those key scenes have remained the same.”

The series deals with a bit of the supernatural in that time travel is involved. Lisa says, “I have always loved fantasy and grew up reading stories where the impossible is possible. It seemed like most of the stories I read about time travel went into the past. I wondered what it might be like to have the time traveling be into the future (at least, what would be considered the future for some of the characters). That gave me the chance to keep the story contemporary and still mix in some mystery and a touch of supernatural. I’m also a sucker for a good love story, so when it was my turn to write a book, I knew I wanted to blend those elements.”

Some readers might compare The Hourglass Door to Stephanie Meyers’ Twilight series, but Lisa herself worked hard to make her book unique. “I tried to write a strong female character in Abby,” Lisa says. “Someone who knew who she was and what she wanted. I wanted a character who acted more than she was acted upon; a character whose decisions and choices mattered. I also wanted to explore a unique view of time travel and how it might be accomplished and what it might mean for the people involved.

“Twilight has become the currency of conversation when people talk about YA fiction these days, a common ground and a convenient comparison point,” she adds. “So, yes, you could say my book continues the long-standing tradition of YA romance where a female character is faced with life-changing decisions, and she must choose between the divided desires of her heart. But that same formula is present in lots of other YA books, not just Twilight. The formula is part of what we love about the genre.

“Ultimately, I think what makes my book unique is what makes any book unique: the author’s voice. The story of Abby and Dante would have been different had another author written it,” Lisa says. “Good or bad, The Hourglass Door is the story as I wrote it, and I hope readers enjoy the writing style, the setting and mood and dialogue, the characters and the story.”

And as a reader, I for one enjoyed the book and The Golden Spiral.

Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers

2010-08-04T11:48:00.000-07:00

Myers takes the reader into Iraq (not long before Saddam is taken down as the leader) and shows what it's really like to be at war. The language is sometimes strong, but the quality of story makes this a book I would highly recommend to even my junior high school students. It also allows the reader to consider the thoughts of those on the other side.

Probably the best statement I've ever heard concerning the continuation of war there comes on page 224 where a U.S. Major is talking with a sheik and the sheik says:

"Sir, the war you began is over. That war you won. It was not beautiful in the end—there were no violins, no birds singing in the sky—but it is over. What is going on now is a completely different war. In this war you merely stand on the side and hold the coats. This war is not about you or America. You are trying to stabilize a government in Baghdad. But there are others who are creating—how do the English put it? A shadow government? And which government in the end will rule the Middle East is the new war. Look around you; it is my people who are being killed in the streets of Baghdad and Fallujah. Yes, yes, I know. They kill one or two Americans to make it look good is all."

Think about it.

Uprising by Margaret Peterson Haddix

2010-08-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

Can I give a book 10 stars? What a fabulous piece of historical fiction, but what would you expect when you take a former newspaper woman and turn her into a children's writer?

Haddix has well-researched this book about three women who first had roles in the attempt to unionize the New York garment industry, then had their lives shattered in the Triangle Garment Factory fire.

I've read other novels about this fire before (Ashes of Roses, which I also highly recommend) but Uprising goes into more detail, give more insight, and tells a richer story that give us not only fascinating background but the Author's Note at the end proves how we still have changes that need to be made in factory conditions around the world.

Read this book—you will NOT be disappointed, even though you might shed a tear or two.

Princess of Glass -- Jessica Day George

2010-06-01T16:11:00.001-07:00

Despite the fact I wasn’t familiar with the fairytale used as a basis for Princess of the Midnight Ball, I loved that book and have already recommended it to many of my students. This time, youngest sister, Princess Poppy, is back in a tale of her own that is woven into the more familiar Cinderella story which made for a delightful read.

It is no wonder that Princess Poppy doesn’t want to dance with the many potential suitors she meets in the royal exchange program her father and some neighboring kings have devised, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t interested in the handsome prince who promises her friendship . . . and perhaps more. But when the penniless servant Eleanora enters the picture, Poppy must unravel where the other girl gets those fine gowns she wears when she is somehow invited to the ball.

A Season of Gifts - Richard Peck

2010-06-01T15:55:00.000-07:00

Watch out readers—Grandma Dowdel is back, and her feisty spirit and creative way of dealing with trouble makers hasn’t gotten old, even though Grandma herself has.

In a story told through the eyes of 12-year-old Bob, the son of the new preacher and his family just moved to town, readers will enjoy yet another series of tales set in 1958 Southern Indiana.

Bob and his parents have plenty of trouble of their own, without adding Grandma Dowdel to the mix. Bob is harassed by a bunch of bullies; his older sister, Phyllis, is obsessed with Elvis, or anyone who might remind her of the King; and his younger sister, Ruth Ann, isn’t quite sure she still believes in Santa Claus, despite Grandma Dowdel’s efforts to offer proof to the contrary.

Like A Long Way from Chicago and A Year Down Yonder, this story will make you laugh, it may make you cry, and it will definitely touch your heart. This one will be a great read aloud for teachers to share with their students and parents will want copies for their own children as well.

Women of the Book of Mormon: Insights and Inspiration by Heather B. Moore

2010-04-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

If you’re looking for a perfect Mother’s Day gift, look no farther than Heather Moore’s new book, Women of the Book of Mormon. Don’t let this slim volume fool you into thinking it is light-weight, because it is not. The information is well-researched and documented, yet easy-to-read and interesting.

Despite the fact I had read the manuscript in its early draft form, I still found myself stopping often to ponder the information and insight Moore had provided into the lives of these women. One striking moment for me was the reason why male children were preferred over females—because females left a family to join the family of their husband, and males remain a part of their father’s household. Suddenly, I understood not just these women, but also the centuries-old preference for male children which still seems to exist around the world today.

Another strength with Moore’s book is the chapters devoted to women who are also in the Bible—Eve, Mary, and Sarah—making this an appropriate gift for your Non-LDS friends and family members as well.

The color illustrations add a new dimension to the text, allowing readers to visualize each of these women in their unique situations.

I know Women of the Book of Mormon is a book I will return to reread again during my scripture study, or when I need a moment to ponder how blessed I am in my own life trials. I know I will buy multiple copies of this book to share with my family members, of all Christian faiths.

Famous Family Nights - Anne Bradshaw, Editor

2009-09-11T20:02:00.000-07:00

Several months ago, I was invited to participate in a book project by fellow-LDS author Anne Bradshaw. Her idea was to collect a series of short essays by other well-known LDS artists on the topic of family home evening. I didn’t know how the project would turn out, but I wrote my essay, helped her obtain essays from both Alan and Amy Osmond who are friends of mine, then sat back to see how the entire project would come together.

This month I found out. Famous Family Nights has been released by Cedar Fort Publishers, and as soon as I got my copy, I sat down to read. What a wonderful experience this has turned out to be. Each essay has touched my heart in some way. I’ve learned new ideas to try with my own children during home evening, felt the spirit as I’ve shared in the experiences of other families, and seen how holding home evening can make a difference, even when you’re wrangling a bunch of kids who claim they don’t want to be there.

The essays in this collection come from a wide range of contributors—authors, musicians, artists, and educators among them. There are names you might know—Susan Easton Black, David Glen Hatch, Rachel Ann Nunes, and Dian Thomas to name a few. I feel lucky to have my name among the illustrious group that make up the entire list of ninety-one.

Famous Family Nights is great reading, even if you are only a family of one. Readers will discover that their family and situation is much like that of others as we all do our best to nurture and teach those around us in the basics of the gospel, while building the relationship between members of the family.

class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; line-height: 200%;">

Illuminations from the Heart - Joyce DiPastena

2009-09-09T19:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'll admit, I'm a sucker for a well-written romance. Throw in the fact that it's a well-researched and historically accurate romance and it makes me even happier. But, give me a well-written, historically accurate romance that remains clean, yet maintains just the right balance of romantic tension between the characters, and I am thrilled. This is exactly how I felt with Illuminations of the Heart by Joyce DiPastena.

Siriol de Calendri has been brought from her studies in the art of illumination in Venice to the guardianship of her brother's friend, Sir Triston de Brielle in Poitou, France. Although the purpose of her being there is to protect her from men who would hope to take advantage of her, Siri soon finds that the one man she truly wants is Sir Triston himself. However, her uncanny physical resistance to Triston's late wife, Clothilde, clouds the feelings of them both. And Triston's past may get in the way of their finding love--together.

Illuminations of theHeart is not a book to race through. It requires time to soak in the story, bask in the richness of the prose, and allow yourself experience the emotions of the characters. The detail and tone made me feel though I were in France in 1179, and it was a place I longed to be.

Now that I've experienced this novel, I look forward to reading DiPastena's first novel, Loyalty's Web as well. I'm sure I will not be disappointed.

The Route - Gale Sears

2009-08-31T19:13:00.000-07:00

Zipping along life's highway . . . Fifty makes you think. Thirty makes you morose, and forty makes you panic, but fifty makes you think. Half a century, and what is my life?

Does it resemble anything I dreamed at sixteen, or expected at twenty, or hoped at twenty-five? What am I doing here? . . . I thought of climbing to the top of a high mountain in Tibet to consult a wise man, but I like vacations where there ís indoor plumbing and vegetation. Since I already attended church, I thought perhaps I could pay closer attention. Maybe I’d been missing a great fundamental truth. Well, come to find out, I had been missing something. . . .

Carol, a middle-aged wife and mother, is pondering the meaning of life. On a trip to the grocery store to find some energizing dark chocolate, she sees a sign asking for volunteers to deliver meals to the elderly. When Carol decides to take a chance and help out, she’s in for a life-changing and route-altering experience.

As a fifty-something reader, I found myself first interested in The Route because of the hook: Fifty makes you think.

Next, the main character was a volunteer who delivers meals to the elderly. I was once visiting my mother when her local Meal-on-Wheels volunteer stopped by to bring her lunch and check to make sure she was doing well, so I had a personal connection to this concept as well.

And third, I had heard great things about the authors’ previous releases, and my fellow bloggers had already created somewhat of a buzz for this book as well.

Although The Route got off to a slow start, the story got a little better as I continued to read, yet I found myself wanting to know more about several of the characters. Sometimes Sears delivered, but other times she did not. I wanted to know more—to care more—about these people. I wanted them to have a story arc, but that never happened. Instead the events fell into the pattern of visit, chat, and the list of today’s menu, with some characters dying or moving away without me really understanding what had happened, so in the end I felt a little dissatisfied.

I can appreciate the service that Gale Sears gave in her own life as she delivered meals to the elderly. What a wonderful experience she must have had, and if her assigned visits were anything like some of these, I’m sure it was a wild, yet heartfelt time.

Thematically, the book did what it was intended to do. I learned to care about these people enough that I was touched at their loss. It made me start to wonder what I could do to help the elderly or neighbors who were homebound. I can appreciate why some readers identify with the novel, but for me, I wanted more.

Organize as You Go: Successful Skills for Busy Lifestyles

2009-07-27T19:10:00.000-07:00

I’m one of those people who can keep lots of projects all going at once. That means people think my house and office must be incredibly organized. But anyone who really knows me, understands that although I probably have a good idea where to find that lost “thing,” it’s likely going to take me some time to sift through the papers and junk to locate whatever it is I’m looking for.

I’ve often said I wanted Peter Walsh, the professional organizer from Oprah and Clean Sweep, as my best friend, but in reality, I probably don’t. He’d make me get rid of too much stuff to pare down the eternal searching. But that doesn’t mean I don’t still love listening to his advice, and I do try to get things more organized around me. I’ve spent a great deal of time this summer demucking my office which has become a more peaceful place to do some writing.

This desire to organize was what prompted me to accept the offer to review Marie Ricks’ new book, Organize as You Go: Successful Skills for Busy Lifestyles. If anyone has a busy lifestyle, I figured it was me. The day the book came, I had a stack of others in front of it, waiting to be read and reviewed, but something about this book called to me. I picked it up and started to read—and a few hours later, I finished, energized and ready to tackle a few more elements of my life that needed organizing.

I loved the concept Ricks uses at the beginning—ten minutes a day is all you need to get organized—and the short chapters allow you to add one new idea to your life each day. Moving beyond the typical ideas of how to organize your space, the author introduces readers to ways to take the stresses caused by family, vacations, holidays and more out of your life by being prepared. Her friendly style made this book pleasurable to read, and I never once felt I was being lectured about doing a better job at starting ahead of the paperwork that builds up around here.

Hey, surely I can find ten minutes a day and lead a better, more organized life, and if I can do it, so can you.

For more information about Organize As You Go: Successful Skills for Busy Lifestyles by Marie Ricks, visit www.houseoforder.com.

Catholic Roots Mormon Harvest

2009-07-27T18:05:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you take a former Franciscan nun with a degree in Catholic theology and a veteran of the information technology industry who served in various lay leadership roles relating to the ministry and put them together with a group of friends well-versed in Mormon theology? You get two converts and Catholic Roots Mormon Harvest, a well-written look at a husband and wife’s conversion from Catholicism to Mormonism, published by Cedar Fort.

Author Eric Shuster takes readers into the life journey of both he and his wife Marilyn as they are first introduced to the LDS church through their eventual baptism, a decision based on deep investigation of both theologies. “We have been telling our conversion story for years, and I was prompted to write about it,” Shuster says. But their conversion is just part of the book. The remainder of the text considers forty comparative doctrines in a fair, informational, and instructional way that makes the teachings of both churches accessible to anyone of any faith.

Although the Shusters have been converts for nearly twenty years, about two years ago Eric felt compelled to write their findings. “I have studied anti-Mormon literature for years and have felt prompted to ‘reconcile’ many misconceptions about Mormon theology,” Shuster says. “Catholics are fertile ground for conversion and it seems every Latter-day Saint has at least one good Catholic friend they regularly associate with—prompting me to provide a book that would give them something to talk about and help accelerate the discussion. I would often consult with Marilyn to make sure I had it right and she would validate, refine, or change things as needed. She is a jewel.”

An interesting story of her own, Marilyn left her religious life as a nun when it did not turn out to be what she expected, and she felt a strong prompting that marriage was the path the Lord was leading her to. She completed her Catholic theology degree and worked for the Catholic Church as a youth minister with plans to become a spiritual director, when she and Erin met and married. “Marilyn’s comprehensive Catholic background aided me in fully understanding some of the more complicated Catholic theology, which often reads more like a law manual than Christian doctrine,” Eric says. “While that robust Catholic background helped write the book, it was also a stumbling block during our investigation of the Church. When the Lord says you need to become as a child in order to enter the kingdom of heaven he wasn’t kidding! All of that Catholic knowledge and experience created mental barriers and lengthened the time it took for us to decide to be baptized. We both had to lay aside our adult stubbornness and pride in order to feel the spirit and recognize the truthfulness of the restored gospel. Once we did that, our backgrounds became assets and accelerators to gaining and building our personal testimonies.”

Although their study and research for the book originally included another twenty-five doctrines, practices, and principles, the sheer length of the original manuscript prevented everything from being published. “Unfortunately, one chapter we had to cut was the Plan of Salvation. When you compare the Catholic Plan of Salvation to the LDS Plan of Salvation it is quite shocking. The LDS plan fits together like a perfect jig saw puzzle, where the Catholic plan has a few pieces missing.”

Eric continues to work as the Executive Director of the Foundation for Christian Studies, which includes publishing blogs and short essays online, and he has several book concepts lined up for the future. “Some are LDS specific, while others are more universal towards the larger Christian audience,” he says. “The book I am working on now has to do with explaining and supporting LDS doctrine using only the Bible. I associate with many Bible-only Christians who are not of our faith and I find it very effective to teach them the doctrines of the restoration using the Bible first, and then move onto the other standard works.” He realizes that most of those he teaches will never join the LDS faith, and he says, “That’s okay. I simply want them to understand Christianity as we know and live it so they can have a clearer and more truthful perspective of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” And the book itself is a good place to start with building that understanding.

For more information about the Schusters, their book, or other of Eric’s writings, visit the Foundation for Christian Studies at www.studychristianity.org. The authors are available to speak at firesides and other venues.

The Chosen One - Carol Lynch Williams

2009-06-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

Carol Lynch Williams has been known and loved in both the Utah writing community and among readers across the nation since her first book, Kelly and Me, was released in 1995. A multiple-time winner of the Utah Arts Council Original Writing Competition, Nebraska’s Golden Sower Award, and this year’s PEN/Phyllis Naylor Award, Carol has just hit the big-time with her new book, The Chosen One, making last week’s New York Times Editor’s Choice list.

The Chosen One is the story of a 13-year-old girl, Kyra, who has been raised in a polygamist community her whole life, and has just been told by the prophet that she will marry her 60-year-old uncle. Because of her secret visits to the county bookmobile, Kyra knows a little about the outside world and desperately wants to make her own choices in life. Her pleas to her father and the prophet himself go unheeded, so Kyra is faced with choices—does she stay and do as she is told, or does she run away from the only life she has ever known?

I had a chance to interview Carol for my upcoming column in the Spanish Fork Press, but the interview itself was so good, and I could only use a small part of it in the column, so I’m posting the entire interview here so everyone could know the rest of the story.

Lu Ann: I supposed the most obvious question, and one you’ve likely been asked many times before, what brought a “good Mormon girl” to write the story of a girl raised in a polygamous community?

Carol: Oh thank you for thinking I’m a good Mormon girl! I do try to be. I love the Gospel and truly feel like it saved my life. I wrote this story, Lu Ann, because I wanted people to know that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not polygamists. Upstanding Latter-day Saints do not have more than one spouse. People still think weird things about our religion as a whole. My intention, when I started this book, was that a little LDS girls would meet a polygamous girl and people would see the contrast of the two as the story unfolded. But, as I have said, no Mormons were harmed in the writing of this story! Characters in books have a way of leading the tale. As soon as I penned the first line I realized every thought I had before for this book would have to be thrown out.

Lu Ann: How did your vision or understanding of that community grow or change as you wrote the book?

Carol: I realized that in every community—no matter what kind—religious or not—there can be good, loving people. And people who will try to seize control of others. It doesn’t matter who, what, or where. You see it around the world—and as close as next door. People act the way they are going to—whether they blame God for their choices—or themselves—or their victims.

Lu Ann: I’ve heard that you have a friend, a young man, who left a polygamous community at one time. How did he help you see the inside of the group you intended to portray?

Carol: Chris spoke very little of the community that he lived in. I had just started working on the book when he came to my home that first evening. He was so shy! I told him I was going to write a book about polygamy and asked if I could question him. He said yes. But when I would ask him something, he remained pretty tight-lipped at the time. Things have changed over the years. Now he and I speak openly about his experience. We’re pretty good friends. He’s a great person. Kind and loving and generous.

Lu Ann: Where do you see Kyra’s story going next? Will she meet up with Joshua, regret leaving her family, or learn to survive in the new version of her world? Why or why not? And what do you supposed happened back home with the other children after she is gone?

Carol: Argh! What do you think happened, Lu Ann? That’s a hard question. As far as Joshua—she is only thirteen! And of course she misses her family. I think she will for a long time. Forever, actually. I think she will learn to cope in her new world. She got away from the old one and that took tremendous courage. I know she’ll have help, too. And back home? I can’t even think what’s happening back home.

Lu Ann: Do you anticipate writing another book about Kyra at any time, or about any of the other characters we met in this novel?

Carol: Probably not. But who knows what the future brings? What I have seen from many other writers is that they have a terrific first book and a not-so-good sequel. I don’t want to do that.

Lu Ann: This book seems to be a breakout novel for you. Blurbs from many well-known authors and voices in the YA literature world have given you glowing endorsements. Other than the fact that you are a brilliant writer, as those of us among your longtime fans and friends have known, to what do you attribute this sudden notoriety?

Carol: First, thank you for your sweet comments, Lu Ann. I love you, too! I once asked several different authors what they did to write a successful book. Barbara Williams said, “Write a book about the Titanic before the movie Titanic comes out!” She was kidding—sort of. This book was purchased by St. Martin’s Press two days before the incident in Texas. Just two days. The timing, that I had no control over, has helped to fuel interest in this book, I’m sure. And also, St. Martin’s Press has gotten behind the book. They have wanted to see it succeed. How exciting is that, Lu Ann? You’re a writer. You know how important it is for the publisher to like what you have done. I’ve received this marvelous gift from my publishing house. And I have an editor there, Hope Dellon, whom I adore.

Lu Ann: Have you heard any inkling of nominations or awards pending for The Chosen One? What can you tell us about the PEN/Phyllis Naylor Award you recently won?

Carol: My sweet daughter Kyra is praying that I win every award possible! But, no, I haven’t heard anything except from friends. This is a crazy business. And there are a lot of good titles coming out from a lot of good houses. Kyra has tracked down what she thinks are my biggest competitors and is reading them. “This one, Mom,” she says, holding the book out for me to see, “this one is pretty good. You better read it.” I have a long list of books to read (growing ever longer because of Kyra, thank you very much!). I can’t say I wouldn’t love to win awards. But for sure, I want people to read this book and love it themselves. And the PEN/Phyllis Naylor Award! Wow! That was sooooo cool! I met Phyllis Reynolds Naylor again (I had once many years ago) and sat next to her at dinner. She is wonderful. And I had the chance to meet Lucy Frank (Oy, Joy! and The Homeschool Liberation League—both terrific novels. Really!) who is now a good friend. She was one of the judges and Lucy and I (and two of my girls) spent several hours together when we were in New York for the ceremony. Being with Lucy was like meeting a friend you haven’t seen for a bit. She is beautiful inside and out. My daughters still talk of how generous she was and how they liked her. Anyway, the whole experience was amazing. A real honor.

Lu Ann: You’ve had two books come out in recent months. What new projects are you currently working on? Do you have titles and release dates on future projects or are you still writing them?

Carol: At this point I know I have another book being published with St Martin’s Press. It’s tentatively called Lost in Peace. I have no idea when it will be out. The title will be changed—to what, I’m not sure. It’s the story of a girl who’s caring for her mom—and all the while her mother insists the girl’s dead grandfather is living with them. I also have a book coming out with Paula Wiseman Books called Glimpse. That will be out next summer. It’s the story of a girl whose older sister tries to kill herself. The main character wants to find out why.

Lu Ann: Now that you are seriously giving Stephenie Meyers a run for the money in popularity, what do you most want your readers to know and remember about you and your books?

Carol: Huh?! I don’t think that’s happening. You are so funny, Lu Ann! This is a good question. I want people to remember my character and think she was real. I want my readers to be compassionate to what they don’t understand. I hope they would be willing to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. I hope they have questions, that they look at the world in a new way, that they love Kyra and her heart. Gosh, I hope I can do those things.

Lu Ann: I’d like to thank Carol for taking the time out of her busy schedule to answers my questions. She just finished a hectic week as one of the organizers for the BYU Symposium on Writing for Young Readers last week, and is now hard at work on her next projects, although she did take some time off this weekend to help her youngest daughter with a cross-stitch project—a butterfly.

The Forgotton Warrior - Kathi Oram Peterson

2009-06-05T16:36:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity this past year to serve as a judge for two categories of the Whitney Awards, given to outstanding fiction written by LDS authors. As a result of my experience, I got to read books by authors who were among my longtime favorites and to meet new authors. One of the people I met at the LDS Storymakers conference where the Whitney Awards are given was Kathi Oram Peterson, author of The Forgotten Warrior, a book I recently finished reading and very much enjoyed.

In this novel, sixteen-year-old Sydney Morgan is forces by a crisis to find her absent father, which in turn begins a chain of events leading her to the last place and time she would have ever expected—the time of Alma where she finds herself among the stripling warriors.

Because of word constraints, I wasn't able to use the entire interview in my newspaper column, so I'm sharing the original here with you.

1. After reading your website, it appears that The Forgotten Warrior is your first published novel. What brought you to write for Young Adults?

A few years ago I decided to really apply myself to my writing. Plus, I wanted to write something that would inspire the youth. I had attended a class about books nominated for the Newbery Awards and decided to read as many of them as I could. That was a wonderful experience! I learned a great deal by reading other authors. So, I decided to try writing for YA. Loved it! I also enjoy writing romantic suspense.

2. How did publication happen for you? Did your manuscript immediately get accepted or have you submitted before and this is your first contract?

Oh man . . . my road to publication was long. I have a very deep file of rejection letters to prove it. But that was before I turned my attention to YA. The Forgotten Warrior was only submitted twice before it sold. Guess I finally found something that worked. The first publisher that read it didn't like Tarik and had a hard time believing a young woman could take on a Lamanite Warrior. Whatever . . . I'm so glad I found a home that loved my characters as much as I did. Plus, my fans seemed to love Tarik. And they believe that a modern-day young woman could take on Lamanite warriors, just like I do.

3. Where do you plan to take readers next? I assume there will be a sequel to The Forgotton Warrior. Do you have a release date? Is the manuscript written?

Book two of The Forgotten Warrior is finished and in my publisher’s hands. There are rumors of the book being released next year, but no firm date as yet. I have a Christmas book due out in October titled: An Angel on Main Street. Set in the 1950s, it is the story of a young boy, Micah Connors, whose father died in the Korean War. His little sister, Annie, is very ill and he fears she, too, will die. As Christmas nears, a nativity begins to appear in the town square. No one knows who is building it. Annie believes when the baby Jesus comes he will make her better. Even when Micah explains that the baby Jesus will only be a doll, she still believes, so he decides to find the nativity builder and the baby Jesus. No cliffhanger here, just a nice little Christmas story.

4. Although I’m not that into martial arts, I really liked the way you wove those skills into the novel. Was that your plan all along, or did your son influence your decision?

It sort of all fell into place as I plotted the story. I didn't want to take away from the stripling warriors’ strong faith and their courage in facing a mighty foe. But I also wanted young women to realize that with proper training they can do most anything they set their minds to. Giving Syd the ability to fight using karate helped to accomplish that, I hope. For years I've gone to karate meets with my son. I have met some very talented young women. One, in fact, worked for the sheriff's department. She could take down a man twice her size. My son's karate knowledge helped a great deal as I wrote the fight scenes. Many times I'd read him a scene, he'd tell me that doesn't work, and make me get out of my chair so we could go through the motions. Nothing like acting it out to put things into perceptive.

5. What kind of research did you need to do to make your story scripturally accurate?

I studied the Book of Mormon, especially Alma. When I was young I didn't like reading Alma because of all the war. But the book of Alma has become one of my favorites. There are so many heroes: the Ammonite fathers, Moroni, Helaman and, of course, the stripling warriors. And that's just a few. Another resource that helped me was Hugh Nibley's Teachings of the Book of Mormon series.

6. Why should readers pick up one of your books?

To read about characters who learn and grow as they are thrown into difficult situations. Isn't that what life does to us? One minute things are going along just fine and then all of a sudden your world can turn upside-down. Hopefully, my books can show that if you lean on the Lord, have faith and show courage you'll come out of it a better person.

7. Can you give a bit of advice to someone who would like to break into writing?

Believe in yourself, keep focused on your main goal and surround yourself with people who believe you and your talent. Also very important is the ability to take constructive criticism. I knew this was important before I was published, but I have since learned it's very important after publication as well. Also know that you can't satisfy everyone. There's always going to be someone who doesn't like what you write . . . and that's okay.

8. What have you learned specifically about the publishing process that might be helpful to readers who would like to publish someday?

It is a long process, so don't pin your hopes on one book. Keep writing, reading, and learning all you can about your craft. Once a publisher buys your novel, be as grateful and helpful as you can.

9. How do you see books in the LDS market, or books in general, working their way into the lives of teenagers, despite the demands on their time?

Harry Potter shot to pieces the notion that the youth don't read. Yes, there are many things demanding their attention, but a good book will open their imaginations. No movie can do that.

9. Many of my readers work with teenagers, and they always like to share some interesting tidbit about the author with their students. What was your favorite book as a teen or pre-teen? When did you first know you were going to be a writer?

Lassie Come Home and Christy are two books I loved. Both are classics and are wonderful reads. I first knew I liked writing when I was a sophomore in high school. The teacher wanted us to write a fantasy short story. I did and she chose mine as the best. Though I didn't much appreciate standing before the entire class and reading it. Not cool. And yet it was. After that I really didn't think about writing books just reading them. Then my mother suggested that I try writing one after my first child was born. I've been writing every since.

Thank you for the interview Lu Ann. I really enjoyed it!

Thank you Kathi for sharing some of your writing insights.

Meet the Dragon Lady: Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George

2009-05-30T15:37:00.000-07:00

As an avid reader, it’s exciting to me when I discover a new author whose books I absolutely loved. That’s what happened not long ago when I read Dragon Flight and Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow both by Utah author Jessica Day George. I had the opportunity to interview Jessica several weeks ago, but because I was a judge in her category for the Whitney Awards I had to wait to even read what I learned about her from the online interview. Since then, Jessica has released a new book in the Dragon series, Dragon Spear, and a retold fairy tale, Princess of the Midnight Ball, both books I’m excited to read.

I met Jessica at the Whitney Award Gala and I discovered, she’s not really a dragon lady, but she loves to write about them. Dragon Slippers was the first children's book she had ever written, and it ended up being the first book she had published. “My first six books are still languishing on my hard drive!” she says.

She says her publication story is a matter of being in the “right place at the right time. I went to BYU's Writing For Young Readers Conference, and during the Saturday morning pitch session I just happened to sit next to a girl who was setting up a small, by invitation only, workshop with Melanie Cecka of Bloomsbury as the guest of honor. I got to spend fifteen minutes talking to Melanie one-on-one, and she loved not only Dragon Slippers, but other ideas I threw at her as well.”

About her newest book, Dragon Spear, she says, it “will be the last adventure with Creel and Shardas, but I will definitely be going back to Feravel some day.”

Although Dragon Slippers, and the resulting series which included Dragon Flight, got her career off the ground, it’s her Norse folktale that makes her stand out from the crowd, ending up as a Whitney finalist in both Youth Fiction and for Novel of the Year. A longtime fan of Norse folk tales, regarding another book along those lines in the future, Jessica says, “I'm toying with several ideas, actually. I love writing about Norway! I might do a historical fiction with Vikings, I might take on another folk tale. We shall see. . . .”

Since I spend most of my time with seventh grade students, a perfect audience for her books, I asked Jessica why readers should pick up one of her books to read. “Because I try to write books that I would enjoy reading,” she says. “I like to have lots of humor, but also lots of fun characters and some good action thrown in as well.”

An avid reader herself as a teen, Jessica says her favorite books were “ANYTHING by Robin McKinley! With Diana Wynne Jones as a close second!” She has continued to write for this audience herself because “the ideas just kept coming! I've always been a huge fan of YA fantasy, and after writing six adult books, I suddenly (or should I say: finally) started getting idea after idea for YA and middle grade books.”

For those who might want to become writers themselves, Jessica says, “Never give up, never surrender! Just keep writing, and keep looking for opportunities to meet with editors, and it will happen.” But even once you’ve sold your book, the job of writing isn’t over. “No matter how much she says she loves your book,” Jessica adds, “your editor will find bajillions of things that need ‘work.’ Don't give up, and don't hyperventilate, just do it.”

Good advice for us all, but if you’ll excuse me now, I have two brand new books from one of my new favorite authors waiting for me on my bookshelf.

An Interview with Richard Paul Evans: The King of Christmas Fiction

2008-12-01T17:01:00.000-08:00

From December Issue of DESERT SAINTS MAGAZINE,
Please visit them ONLINE.

by Lu Ann Brobst Staheli

Nearly sixteen years ago, Rick Evans wrote a book—The Christmas Box—as a present for his daughters, Jenna and Alyson. But like all good things, this story soon took on a life of its own. Passed from hand to hand among friends and neighbors, the book was an instant favorite with those who read it, and soon they were begging for copies to give to their friends
and family. Unable to find a traditional publisher, Evans self-published the eighty-seven page novella in paperback and distributed copies to bookstores in the Salt Lake City area.

The Christmas Box became a local best-seller, and the next year it hit #2 on the New York Times best-seller list, despite it’s humble beginnings and self-published status. National publishers clamored for the opportunity to release the book in hardcover. After a bidding war that is now historic, Simon & Schuster came out victorious, releasing the book in hardcover and paperback in 1993, where both editions hit the number-one position on the Times lists simultaneously, a feat never before accomplished. And The Christmas Box has been a seasonal favorite ever since.

I had the opportunity to interview Rick, the undisputable king of Christmas fiction, and I learned about not only The Christmas Box, but also about his family.

How did The Christmas Box change his life? Evans was quick to respond: “I could write an entire book on this…in fact I did—The Christmas Box Miracle.” But, all joking aside, he also says, “Besides taking me away (from home) every Christmas since I wrote the book, it fundamentally changed everything.” Evans had been in marketing before, but with a run-away bestseller like this, his new business became writing.

But not all of his books carried on the theme of Christmas, although recently he has returned to his literary roots. I asked Rick what brought him to focus so strongly on this season as the focus of so many of his novels. “There is wisdom in the saying, ‘Dance with who brung you to the dance,’” he said. “After The Christmas Box trilogy, I tried to distance myself from Christmas. (The Last Promise, The Locket, The Carousel, The Looking Glass, The Letter) It was a mistake. I’ve now reclaimed the season and my books have done even better.”

And the theme of Christmas has become a centerpiece for both Evans’ life and work. In addition to his novels (Timepiece, The Locket, A Perfect Day, Finding Noel, The Gift, and this year’s best-seller, Grace), children’s books (The Christmas Candle, The Light of Christmas), non-fiction (The Christmas Box Miracle), and special publications (Christmas Every Day, First Gift of Christmas), Evans has inspired the dedication of Christmas Angel statues in the U.S., Canada, France, and Japan, as well as Christmas Box Houses across America and a sponsored orphanage in Peru.

With all this Christmas spirit surrounding him all the time, it might be easy for Evans to want to step away, becoming more like Scrooge than feeling like Santa, but he tells me, “When it comes to Christmas in my own home, I’m more like…Santa? Definitely Santa. I love Christmas and giving.”

I asked about a typical Christmas in the Evan’s household, and discovered they are very traditional. “My in-laws are Italian, my mother Swedish,” Rick says. “So we’ve taken the best of both of these worlds—celebrating Christmas with my mother on Christmas Eve after a festive Italian dinner at my in-laws. Unfortunately with the recent passing of my mother and Keri’s father, the traditions we’ve so cherished will change somewhat. But we’ll do our best to keep them.”

One tradition has always been to keep the kids close to home, and even though their oldest, Jenna, recently married, Evans thinks this Christmas will be even better than before. “We didn’t lose a daughter, we gained a son,” he says. “Jenna’s been gone away for school for quite awhile, so she’s actually closer now.”

This year, the Evans family—Rick, Keri, Alyson, Abby, Michael, McKenna, Jenna, and her new husband—plan to honor their traditions, and celebrate the memories of the family members who have passed away, while Rick’s fans enjoy yet another Christmas story by their favorite author.

Evan’s most recent novel, Grace, opens with the story of The Little Match Girl, then takes readers into a poor neighborhood in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1962, where we meet two brothers who spend as much of their free time as possible looking for treasures in the garage and working on their tree house. When the older boy, Eric, meets a young runaway girl, Grace, and decides to help her by allowing her to stay in the tree house, he doesn’t realize that it will be his life that is changed forever. And so will yours as you read Grace.

Lu Ann Brobst Staheli is Utah’s 2008 Best of State Educator K-12, and former Nebo Reading Council Reading Teacher of the Year, Utah English Language Arts Teacher of the Year, and Utah Reading Council Celebrate Literacy Award recipient. She is a member of the Wolf Hollow 1st Ward in Spanish Fork, Utah.

Pretty Like Us - Carol Lynch Williams

2008-10-11T10:51:00.000-07:00

From the very first novel I read by author Carol Lynch Williams, I have been a huge fan of both the author and her works. That’s why I was excited to not only read her latest novel, Pretty Like Us, but also to have the opportunity to interview her.

Pretty Like Us is the story of two girls—Beauty McElwrath and Alane Shriver. Beauty, a painfully shy sixth-grader, lives in a small town in Florida with her mother and grandmother, both strong-minded single women. Beauty wants to come out of her shell and make friends, but her efforts have always resulted in teasing from the other kids at school. The fact that her mother is dating her teacher doesn’t help matters at all, and Beauty is certain she is destined to always be a social outcast.

Then Alane moves into town. Before the girl even arrives in class, Beauty’s teacher has asked the students to be kind to the new girl who suffers from a rare disease known as progreria, an aging disease. When Beauty first sees Alane, she thinks there has been a mistake. Surely this is Alane’s grandmother, not the girl herself. No one in sixth grade could look that old.

But it is Alane, and she sits right next to Beauty. Just what Beauty thinks she doesn’t need to help her get over her shyness and absence of friends, until she starts to discover that beauty of often more than skin deep, and true friendship sometimes comes in odd packages.

This is truly a must read book for girls. Those who are shy will relate to Beauty, just as those who see themselves as different will relate to both girls. All girls have felt concern over being accepted at some time in their life, and Beauty and Alane’s story will not only let them see themselves, but will also give them lots of laughs along the way.

I'm always fascinated by the names Carol Lynch Williams gives her characters because they are truly unique, so I asked her where they come from. “There’s almost always a name in a book that I’ve written that belongs to a person I know,” she says. “For me, it’s a way to say I love that individual. In Pretty Like Us I had decided I would name one of the character’s after my very good friend Alane Ferguson. She’s a fellow writer—a mystery writer—and a terrific person. It turned out that Alane’s name actually means beautiful one—and so it fits right into plot of my novel. And by the way—Beauty’s name started out Grace Beauty. When I sold Pretty Like Us, I also sold a series another writer friend and I wrote with characters named George and Gracie. And you guessed it. I know someone named Grace—that’s my youngest daughter’s middle name!”

I was also interested in Carol’s choice of using Progeria in a middle grade novel. The disease is so rare, I didn’t know how kids would relate to it. “When I was young,” she said, “I met a girl who may have had Progeria. She was nearly blind and looked old—way too old to be ten or eleven. I haven’t forgotten how that little girl pulled out a magnifying glass to read. I was struck right in the heart at that moment. I still remember the incident—everything that was going on at the time. The event remained with me for many years, as well as wondering how this girl existed when children can be so cruel. So I did what writers do, I wrote about her.”

Like all good writers, Carol knew she had to do more than just create a story; she also had an obligation to make the story ring true. “Rather than just seeing the physical differences, I hope people see the similarities they have with these individuals. Like Alane wanting to be a writer, children with Progeria have goals and dreams, too. They are loved and when they die, they are missed.”

I wondered about the prognosis of children who suffer from Progeria, and Carol tells me, “At this point, the disease is always fatal, though children might live longer than twelve or thirteen years old. But there is good news—scientists have found the link between those with Progeria recently. This was hard to do because there are so few cases in the world at the same time. Many times, a child will die very young. You can ‘meet’ some wonderful families with children who have Progeria by researching on the web, like I did.”

Anyone who has ever tried to write a story knows that some parts come easy, and others are really hard. Carol says, “This novel came to me in spurts—based on several true events. There was the young girl I met when I was younger, but this story is also inspired by a woman I met at a local university, who at 45 was a grandmother already—and by a tornado in Texas. The hardest part about writing Pretty Like Us was that when I drafted this book the first time there were actually two stories in one. Once I was able to separate them, and make them both distinct, I was able to sell them both.”

When it comes to writing, Carol is an expert and a great teacher. I was curious about where she starts. “I almost always start stories with a character and an incident,” she explains. “So I kind of have this core knowledge of them as I tell the story. But my characters begin to come to life for me as I write and rewrite, as I discover who they are and what makes them tick. I’m usually exploring main characters even after many rewrites. Rarely does a character spring fully formed from my head—though there is the core of that “person.” And she’s usually interesting enough that I want to follow her for 150 or so pages.”

New writers always want advice about where to start. Carol says, “Write, write, write. And read, read, read. Join a critique group that will help you improve as a writer. Don’t believe what you have written has come from God—and know that your words can be changed if they aren’t working.”

If there were one thing she would advise the newly published, something she wishes she had known with her own first book, it would be, “A good book needs to have some push—or marketing— behind it, and that won’t come from the publisher. There are lots of good books out there that never get the marketing they need. We, as writers, need to help our books along. But, we as writers tend to be quiet and reserved. We don’t all know how to promote ourselves!”

Taking her own advice about reading, Carol is an avid reader. “When I was a kid,” she says, “I was reading adult novels. It wasn’t until I realized I was a mid-grade/young adult author that I started reading books for younger readers. So from 12 on I read the greats—like John Steinbeck, William Faulkner, Mark Twain, Flannery O’Connor, and Eudora Welty. Before that I read a lot of poetry (my mother was an English major—and became an English teacher!) and non-fiction. I am still fascinated by bees and the parts of flowers. I do remember being about 10 and being thrilled when I found out that L. Frank Baum had written an entire series based on The Wizard of Oz.”

Carol says she hopes readers find her books fun, and I believe they do. “Many times my books have characters experiencing tough situations—and living though them—mostly,” she says. “Books are a great way for readers to do something they’ve never done before. Another reason to read my novels is because Jim Jacobs—one of the men who’s helped shaped children literature—says I have a true middle grade voice. So there.”

And I’ll add my vote to that comment as well. Carol truly does have a great talent for finding the true voice of middle grade characters and bringing them to life in a funny, interesting, and believable way that will touch reader’s hearts and their funny bones as well.

Season of Sacrifice - Tristi Pinkston

2008-10-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

If you’ve ever looked into your family history, you might find stories there that are much more exciting than just the names and dates on a genealogy chart might predict. That’s just what happened for author Tristi Pinkston as she read two family history books and discovered that her ancestors had been among those who were on the wagon train known as the Hole in the Rock expedition. An idea was born, and soon Season of Sacrifice was underway.

Season of Sacrifice is the story of Sarah Williams, a young Welsh immigrant, coming to Utah to join her sister Mary Ann Perkins. When the Perkins are asked to join the San Juan mission to pioneer a trail through Southern Utah, they take Sarah along to help care for the children. But a six-week journey turns into six agonizing months of hard work and toil as the Saints blast their way through a cliff to bring their wagons through what would become the famous Utah landmark Hole in the Rock. Finally settled in the San Juan, Sarah's true hardship begins when her brother-in-law Ben Perkins asks her to be his second wife. With their faith and testimonies challenged to the core, both Sarah and Mary Ann struggle to find the true meaning of Christ-like love and obedience.

Tristi explains, “I was blessed to have access to a short life history written by my great-great-grandfather as well as several life sketches written by his descendants. I relied heavily on the family history books, as well as books written about the expedition that had been put together by scholars in that field. I also found another LDS novel which had been well researched. That gave me even more insight into the people and their experiences.”

When writing a novel such as this, it might be easy to offend a family member in some way. To insure this didn’t happen, Tristi visited with her father who assured her that the project had to go forward. “I didn't want any of them to feel that I was trying to make money off the story,” Tristi says. “My goal in writing this has always been to commemorate the past and to help my children understand the richness of their heritage, not to make money.”

Of course, when writing historical fiction, an author must take liberty in recreating people, conversations, and sometimes even events, but Tristi says, “I stuck as closely as I could to the journals and family history books. It's my hope that I've told it in a way that mirrors the real experience as much as possible. To be honest, I didn't know a lot about these ancestors on a personal level when I started the project. Of course, the stories have been passed down through the generations and I knew who they were, but it wasn't until I started the research that I felt like I came to know them as people.”

And through that journey, she feels she came to know Sarah the best. “I identified with each character in a different way,” Tristi says. “But I would have to say, I'm most like Sarah, my great-great-grandmother.” If there were any character she would like to know more about, it might be Tom Wilcox. “It might be fun to see what happened to Tom after Sarah set sail,” Tristi says. “Or to Thomas while in Australia. A lot of possibilities there!”

Many people don't understand that marketing plays a huge role in success as an author. When asked about her marketing strategies, Tristi says, “Mainly, I've gotten out there and interacted with the reading public as much as humanly possible. I've done book signings, library events, readings, boutiques, literacy events and firesides, all to create name recognition and to help people put a face to that name. I've also done virtual book tours and other forms of Internet marketing, which is hugely helpful.”

Her advice to anyone who wants to become and author? “Actually do it. Don't talk about how you want to write a book or how much you would like to be an author— do it. The only thing standing in your way is you. And after it's written, let someone who knows what they're doing edit for you. Don't be too proud to accept constructive criticism.”

Because many of my readers are students or teachers, I asked Tristi what were her favorite books as a teen. “Wow—what didn't I love! I'm an avid reader and gobble up anything contained within two covers. Let's see—Little Women, Girl of the Limberlost, Anne of Green Gables, A Wrinkle in Time, The Prydain Chronicles, everything by Norma Johnston and Ann Rinaldi. Ann is actually the author who got me interested in writing historical fiction.”

Although researching family history was an interesting experience for Tristi, she has decided to do something completely different for her next project. She says, “I'm writing a series of contemporary mysteries about an elderly Relief Society presidency who turns to espionage to save a family in their ward from wrack and ruin. It's off the cuff silliness and I've had so much fun writing it.”

And it sounds like a lot of fun for those of us who will be reading it.

If you’d like to read more about Tristi, or purchase a copy of Season of Sacrifice, visit her website at http://www.tristipinkston.com/.

Almost Sisters - Surprise Packages

2008-09-21T14:18:00.000-07:00

Part 2 of the Blog Tour for Surprise Packages

I had the chance to interview authors Nancy Anderson, Lael Littke, and Carroll Hofeling Morris via e-mail, and found out some background about not only Juneau, Deene, and Erin, but also each of the three authors. This is that interview.

Lael tells me, “For years Nancy, Carroll, and I vacationed together on writing retreats and worked on our own writing projects. Then in 1998 Nancy said, ‘Why don't we write a book together?’ It didn't matter that a novel with three authors had seldom been done. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, we said. So we figured out a character apiece, had them meet at BYU Education Week, and gave it a go. Nobody was more surprised than we were when it worked!” Carroll added, “At first, we approached writing the book in a casual manner. When we got together, we would read to each other what we’d written since the previous vacation. But we finally got serious when all of a sudden, it seemed, we had enough text generated that it began to look like a real book!” Nancy says, “I was just trying to think of ways to keep us vacationing together. And look where it has taken us. What an adventure.”

Each author has taken on the role of one of the characters in the books. Lael says, “We each wrote from the viewpoint of a single character with her own life and problems, then we intertwined those stories to show the influence the three women have on one another's lives.” Carroll recalls, “I still remember how Lael’s character, Juneau, showed up full-blown during our initial conversation! It took longer for my character (Erin) and Nancy’s (Deenie) to make themselves known.” Nancy adds, “It was great fun to write Willadene and to work with Carroll and Lael on the joint scenes. But to develop Deenie's story completely, I wrote what was essentially a whole novel. Chopping it down by 2/3s was surgery without anesthetic.”

I asked what the authors felt they might have in common with their characters, and Lael jumped in to say, “Quite a bit, probably. I think we've all three earned the title of Crusty Old Broads, which is in no way derogatory. It came up in the first book, when the mouthy grandson of Gabby, the woman Juneau, Erin, and Willadene are staying with for Education Week, gets angry at her and calls her a crazy old broad. The three women are shocked, but Gabby says, ‘To tell the truth, I don't object to the old broad part. There's something of longevity and strength in those words. It's the choice of adjective I don't like.’ They all consider what would be a more appropriate adjective, and Juneau suggests ‘. . . the oft-used and respected crusty.’ Deenie approves and says, ‘Like a fine sourdough bread. Warm and nourishing with some real texture.’ So that's what a Crusty Old Broad is, a term of honor.” Keeping their sense of humor about the title, Carroll says, “We actually use crustyoldbroads as our blog name!” Only women who are almost like sisters can get away with a nickname like that for each other.

Almost Sisters, as well as the other two books in the trilogy, almost didn’t come to exist at all. Nancy explains: “I never really thought as far as having the book published. I thought we'd go on and on forever just writing about the lives of these women. It was quite a shock to me that Lael queried Deseret Book and started the ball rolling. Making our gigantic manuscript into three books should have been easy, but by the time book two was finished our characters had changed so much, the material we had for book three didn't work any more and we had to start from scratch. That was a shocker!” Lael adds, “When our one book grew to be longer than the Encyclopedia Britannica, we got worried. I had been reading Dean Hughes's Children of the Promise series and suggested we try it as a trilogy.” And Carroll adds, “It was either that or a 1200 page book! it takes a truly dedicated reader to turn that many pages.”

Just because this series is over, doesn’t mean the three women are finished writing together. Lael says, “We are cooking up another book, but with different characters and in a different time period. We enjoy working together, and there's some kind of synergy that sets in when we brainstorm.” But Carroll says, “I think we’d have to reconsider another book though if Juneau, Erin, and Deenie start keeping us awake at night. So far, I’m sleeping well.”

Writing a book alone can be a daunting task, so I was curious what it was like to write with three women, all living apart from each other. Carroll said, “Technology was a challenge in the beginning, when we had computer and document compatibility issues. Nancy and Lael were writing in WordPerfect, and I wrote in Microsoft Word. They are PC users and I’m a dedicated Mac user. Also, Lael’s computer was so old, it didn’t even have a USB port for data transfer! But by the time we were on the second book, we were all using Microsoft Word, Lael and Nancy had new laptops, and we all had thumb drives for data transfer. What a relief!”

Lael talked about the positive aspects of writing together. “It's exciting when we work together and the ideas begin flowing and events connecting so that they lead somewhere. I don't know that it's more rewarding than writing a book alone, but it's lots of fun to be together, especially when we meet for a week at a nice resort. I have a couple of timeshares, and since my husband is dead, I like to invite people to use them with me. Nancy, Carroll and I have been all over the country for our writing retreats, which are actually thinly disguised vacations. Except when a deadline is imminent!” And Nancy agrees, adding “Writing alone is work. Working together is entertainment.”

As for other future projects, Nancy tells me, “Who knows what characters will present themselves. I have a young adult fantasy bubbling in the back of my mind that Carroll has expressed interest in working on with me.” Lael says “We're working on separate projects right now, with Nancy and Carroll doing another women's novel and me building another YA novel, which is what I did for decades before I met Nancy and Carroll. I wasn’t anticipating writing another book together, but one day three characters moved into my head, which was pretty well vacant at the time. They arrived almost fully developed, and when I told the others about them, Nancy and Carroll immediately began building onto these newcomers. So we have an excuse for more writing retreat/vacations together.”

Because many of my blog readers are jr. high school students and teachers, I was curious about books each of these three women loved from their own childhood, or books they have recently read that touched them in some way. Lael says, “My very favorite novel when I was a teenager was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. My mother gave it to me when I was 13, and totally loved it despite the fact that I lived on an Idaho farm and Francie lived in Brooklyn. I knew her inside and out because she was I. She was me. I was her. That book had a tremendous influence on the writing style I developed in college, and during the ten years I lived in New York City, I spent a lot of time in Brooklyn. As for a recent YA book, I liked Hattie Big Sky, probably because it took place in a Montana farming community, a familiar setting for me, and I liked its strong anti-prejudice theme.

Carroll says, “As grade schooler (a long time ago!) I loved Wilder’s Little House books and The Secret Garden. Other favorites (now and then) include A Separate Peace, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Light in the Forest, and the Great Brain series.

Nancy worries that her junior high school favorites are outdated for today’s readers. Because I teach there, I’m here to assure her, they are not. She says, “I loved reading Edgar Rice Burroughs, especially the Martian series. I was hooked on the novels by Jean Stratton Porter, published around 1910, as well, like Freckles and The Girl of the Limberlost. (My own personal favorites.) When my children were growing up I discovered Chronicles of Narnia and the Swiftly Tilting Planet series. I liked The Island of the Blue Dolphins and The Giver. My grandchildren introduced me to Harry Potter—a great read aloud. My granddaughter who is in her first year of high school recommended a series called Percy Jackson and the Olympians for fun and From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler to make you think. She especially liked the challenge and the story of The Odyssey.”

Their advice to writers who would like to enter the publication world has a similar theme to what we’ve heard from so many others. Lael says, “Go for it. Overcome rejection letters. Read a lot. Study. Develop your craft. Most of all, persist!” Carroll encourages writers to, “challenge yourself with new experiences. Meet all kinds of people. Ask ‘What if?’ Read, read, read. Write, write, write.” And Nancy says, “Keep on reading and writing in the genre that you like the most and don't let a rejection stop you!”

And that’s the same advice I would give as well. Thanks ladies for sharing more of the story behind the story.

Farworld: Water Keep by J. Scott Savage

2008-09-02T19:20:00.001-07:00

Six years ago a new member joined my writer’s critique group. Back then his name was Jeff Savage, and he only had one published book, Cutting Edge from Covenant Books. I’ll admit, I gave him a hard time on that one. It was a great story, but there were things about the writing that just bugged me, and if anyone has been a regular reader of my columns and reviews, you’ll know when something bugs me, I’m sure to let people know.

Today I’m happy to say, that Jeff’s (okay, J. Scott’s for this one) writing has improved, and his storytelling has become spectacular (listen to the jealousy and pride in my voice). Many a night I have come home from a late meeting of critique and not been able to sleep because of some scary scene that Jeff read from his latest horror novel, or I’ve found myself jumping at some noise because his latest Shandra Covington book had me seeing the boogie man around every corner.

This time though, we didn’t really have to worry about bad things that go bump in the night—well, there is the Thrathkin S’Bae, Bonesplitter, and the Dark Circle, but Kyja and Marcus can handle them. After all, this is young adult fantasy, and like Harry Potter and his friends, these two likable protagonists should be able to handle anything, especially since we know there are more books to come in this five book series.

Farworld is the story of a girl, Kyja, who wishes she had the use of magic in a world filled with spells, charms, and potions; and Marcus, a crippled boy who escapes his cruel surroundings by dreaming about another world. Together they take on the Dark Circle, prepared to keep Master Therapass’s secret and protect Farworld, while seeking the Elementals, and convince them to open a draft between the both worlds that will save both the children’s lives.

Because I know Jeff so well–and because I didn’t want to embarrass him too badly—I’ve asked him a few questions to let all of you know more about both his book and its author.

1. You know all your readers love that little ishkabiddle. What is your take on the reason why and why was that single scene at the beginning so surprising to you?

Well first of all, the ishkabiddle was a last minute throw-in. It was originally just a rabbit. But I needed the reader to understand we were not on Earth. But I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that the ishkabiddle became such a hit. One of the first rules of writing a thriller is to put an innocent in peril. And what is more innocent than a funny mother animal with cool little spinning thingies that come out of her feelers?

2. I've always wondered, did you write about the scenes where Marcus is being bullied so clearly because you were the bully or the recipient as a child?

I was bullied like you wouldn’t believe. But that’s probably what pushed me into reading, which in turn pushed me into writing. So, thanks—jerks! Plus I got some good advice on the initial dialog for an amazing writer who shall remained unnamed. Lu Ann.

3. You're committed to a five book series, and I would imagine Shadow Mountain intends that to extend over a period of five years. How do you, as an author, think you will be able to keep your momentum going for the series? Do you plan to write more than one "episode" each year or to wait and write them a book (and a publication year) at a time?

I will write more than one book a year, but not in this series. For me, at least, the story needs to stay fresh. When I’m writing a book, it’s the coolest story ever. But it’s hard to keep that enthusiasm once you are done writing. I’d hate to write all five books now and be bored out of my skull with the series by the time the last book comes out. The nice thing about this series is there is a clear progression in my mind. I know about the cool things that will build in each book. It’s not like, “Sammy goes to school,” “Sammy makes a friend,” “Sammy goes to prison.”

4. I hear you're planning a nationwide motor home book tour. That says to me you're planning to make enough money to pay for the gas (tee hee!) What fabulous cities do you plan to visit and will the school and bookstore visits also allow you enough time for sight-seeing?

Well. It can’t happen until book two at the earliest, and probably book three. But my wife and I would like to take our youngest boys on an RV tour of all 48 states. I would do school tours three days a week. We’d travel one day and week. And the rest of the time would be spent exploring this amazing country. I think it would be a one-in-a-lifetime chance for all of us.

5. I know you well enough to know you write fast and frequent, what do you plan to work on to keep your writing habit flowing freely between the segments of Farworld?

Yeah. I’m the ADHD author. I’ve got tons of other ideas. I’ll still keep my mystery series going, of course. But I’m also really excited about a series where a hit man/PI gets sent to hell and has to earn his way out. Kind of an urban fantasy with cool magic and weapons.

6. You've had a successful run as an author in a local niche market. What changes---both positive and negative---do you anticipate as you move into the national fantasy arena?

From a positive side, suddenly the whole world is your oyster. It’s great to be a bale to drop into a bookstore in Boston and say, “So do you have my book on order?” I even had a book ordered from Amazon.UK the other day. How cool is that? Plus I really like hearing from people who have never read a book by me before. I think it’s the truest test of whether your writing is any good when someone just picks your book off a shelf with no idea of who you are. On the other side of the coin, you’re swimming in deep water now. You can’t just be as good as the other regional authors. You’ve got to be as good as the big boys and girls or people will not try you again. It’s a challenge, but I think every author wants a chance to compete with the best.

7. What are five pieces of advice you've learned from other authors that you wish you had listened to more carefully?

I actually listen pretty carefully. I value the insights of other authors a lot. The problem is I didn’t really talk to any authors before writing my first book. But here are some good pieces of advice I’ve received:

★ Don’t quit your day job.
★ Find a good critique group.
★ Understand what each POV buys you and choose carefully.
★ Write for kids instead of to kids.
★ Don’t use back and that so much.

8. What are five pieces of advice you'd now share with other authors, now that you're among the ranks of those publishing?

Other than the whole SASE and prologue debates?

★ Don’t waste the first page. That’s where you win or lose your readers.
★ Avoid flashbacks unless they are absolutely vital.
★ Don’t break the rules of good writing unless you really understand them. (The first time you think you understand them, you don’t.)
★ Write because you love to, not to be published. That way, you’ll enjoy writing no matter what, and when you do get published it will be icing on the cake.
★ Don’t ask for feedback on your writing unless you are prepared to throw out anything and everything that doesn’t work. A good writer learns not to be defensive.

9. How does your wife really feel about you hanging out with the "Ladies of Wednesday night"?

Well at first, she was a little jealous about me spending one night a week with six beautiful women. But once she met them and saw that they are great people, she was totally cool with it. Plus I’m not real fond of pizza so she and the kids make that their pizza night.

10. Come on, we all know there's one question you've been dying to answer, but that none of us have been astute enough yet to ask you. What is it? And what would be your answer?

Hmm. How about, “Did you ever take a girl on such an incredibly creative date that even after she got married she said it was the best date she ever went on?” Answer yes. “Did she kiss you good night?” Nope. She totally blew me off.

11. Tell everyone one more time, just how important was I to the final process of your getting this book published and in having such great discussion questions at the end.

I hereby testify that without Lu Ann’s incredibleness Farworld would never have happened!!

And without Jeff (Scott) as a member of my writing group, I wouldn’t have gotten as far myself as a writer or an editor. I think you’ll all love Farworld, and I hope everyone who reads this book goes out and buys a copy. Of course, maybe I am biased. (Having my name in the Acknowledgment section of a nationally published book is a little heady—see page 419.) But it sure is nice to see such a nice guy make it good in the book market.

If you’d like to know more about Jeff, or just hear what his voice sounds like, listen to the podcast I did with him Saturday, April 28, 2007, by going to my blog for that day titled “It's a Techno-World, After All!” and clicking on the podcast icon.

If you'd like to win an advanced reader's copy (ARC) of Farworld, listen to the podcast and correctly answer this question in a reply to this post on either of my blogs. He gives the answer during the podcast, so only that answer will do. I'll draw a winner from all correct answers on Tuesday, September 9, 2008. Good luck.

The trivia question is: "What is one of Jeff's favorite things to do?"

To buy a copy of Farworld, visit here:

Make Me a Home by Tamra Norton

2008-09-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

Recently I had the opportunity to interview author Tamra Norton, whose previous novel, Make Me a Memory, was selected by the Utah Commission on Literacy as the state’s prestigious ‘Book of the Month’ for April 2006. This time, our topic of conversation was her new book, a sequel to that previous one, titled Make Me a Home.

Make Me a Home is the story of sixth-grader Allie Claybrook, who is the new kid at Edna Elementary School after she and her Mom move to Grandma’s while Allie’s dad is deployed in Iraq. When another new girl comes to town, Allie works to become her best friend, giving them a united front against the most popular girl in their class and her mean friends.

Norton tells me, “Allie is a combination of so many people. Her name came from my youngest daughter (I borrow a lot of names for my writing). Allie is also part of me, as all of my main characters are. I always write first person to really get into the head of my main characters, and a little (or sometimes a lot) of me always comes out—often personality traits. But most of all, I’d like to think that Allie is every child who has had to go through some sort of separation from a parent.

Even though Allie is a fictional character, Norton says she still does some research to get the character and the experiences just right, although she bases many of Allie’s experiences on how Norton thinks she would feel if she were separated from someone she loved. “These military families aren’t super-human,” she adds. “They are like you and me—they laugh and cry, and they worry about the ones they love. They have been given a unique set of circumstances and must deal with them every day.”

“Over the past few years, through school visits and email exchanges regarding both books, I’ve had the honor of meeting many children dealing with the deployment of a loved one,” Norton says. “I am constantly amazed and humbled by these strong and resilient children. Through this difficult situation, they courageously carry on, much like their deployed parent.”

The story idea itself originated while Norton was watching the news. “I was sitting in my Houston suburb family room watching TV as a military group based at Fort Hood near Killeen, TX, was being deployed to Iraq for a year. I watched as these families said good-bye. I saw children hugging their soldier-fathers or mothers for the last time in an entire year—they were crying, I was crying, and I instantly knew there was a story to tell. . . from the home front. How would these children be doing a week, month, or six months? A story was born.”

When asked if there will be more books about Allie, Norton says, “When I talk to children—especially military children—who have read the stories, they’d really like to see more. Because their lives are so mobile, they’d like to see Allie move to various Army bases around the country. They’ve also told me though, that they’d like to see Allie return to Edna, Idaho—perhaps to visit her grandma for a summer so she can reunite with characters such as Ivy, Ty and even Celeste.”

“When Mrs. Huntsman and The Utah Commission on Literacy selected Make Me a Memory as a Book of the Month, I was deeply touched and honored,” Norton says. “Not only did it mean that every school library in the state would receive a copy of my book, but it opened doors for me to come to Utah and visit about two dozen schools. School visits are by far my favorite part of being an author because I get to meet face-to-face with children and talk about my two favorite things: reading and writing. I truly believe that if a child has a strong foundation in these two areas, anything is possible.”

Although Norton’s previous novels were written for teens, she admits, “To be honest, my favorite books to read are middle-grade novels—perhaps because I didn’t read a lot as a kid and I’m playing catch-up, but maybe because there are just so many wonderfully written children’s novels out there. After reading so many of these, I knew that I wanted to write one and extend out to a national audience at the same time.”

"My main goal in writing a story is that the reader enjoys the experience. The best feeling ever is to get an email from a child or teen that says, ‘I’m not much of a reader, but I picked up your book and couldn’t put it down. I want to read more.’ It doesn’t get much better than that.”

Balance is the key to any good book, and Norton agrees. “Even though some of my books deal with some serious issues, I try to bring a lot of humor into my stories. I really think we need to laugh a little more. It’s good medicine!”

Because I work with young writers, I asked Tamra Norton what she knows now that she wished she had known when she started. She says, “It might have been nice to know a little more about the business side of writing—especially marketing. Writing is only part of the equation. Unless you’re a rare phenomenon like J.K. Rowling or Stephenie Meyer, there’s a whole lot more you’ll need to know to help your book get noticed.”

Her advice to new writers also includes, “Read, read and read some more—especially the genre you’re interested in writing. Then apply the BIC technique: Bum in Chair! I have to make a date with my computer every day (or night) and keep it. Even if I only write a page a day, after two-hundred days, I have a manuscript.”

She also encourages writers to, “Join a writer’s group, a critique group, or find other writers online through blogs or yahoogroups and ask lots of questions. Read books on writing and attend writing conferences. There’s so much an aspiring writer needs to learn before sending out that manuscript but the information is readily available.”

Despite her busy life as a mother of seven, Norton continues to plan her writing career into the future. “I’m currently working on a fairy tale for the national children’s market as well as a YA novel for the LDS market. Also, for the past few years I’ve been involved in developing The Bearubs with artist David Lindsley. (www.bearubs.com) We have picture book manuscripts and television scripts written, and an entire cartoon series mapped out. Things are moving right along with this project, and I’m very excited about the future of The Bearubs.”

And as an avid reader, I’m excited too.

If you’d like to know more about Tamra or her books, visit her website at: www.tamranorton.com.

Surprise Packages

2008-08-31T13:36:00.000-07:00

by Nancy Anderson, Lael Littke, and Carroll Hofeling Moriss

I’ve been reading LDS fiction for a long time; at least since I joined the church in the 1970s. The novels of Shirley Sealey were my first introduction to Mormon fiction. Although I loved them at them time, I can certainly see how far the genre has come in the past thirty years. Stories are more complex, situations more realistic, and the authors themselves work hard to hone their craft and bring us novels we can be proud to say we read.

Although I have loved many of the novels I’ve read along the way, I’ve begun to feel more recently that many of the books are no longer about me—often about younger women still looking for their eternal mate. I enjoy those stories, just as I like the crop of mystery, historical, and even fantasy I’ve read recently.

When I agreed to do this review as part of a blog tour, I had no idea that I would be in for such a treat. Surprise Packages was indeed my surprise. With characters that are older—although the photo on the front cover still depict women that are not as old as the ones I see in the story—at last, a Mormon women’s novel that speaks to me.

Characters Juneau, Willadene, and Erin—three women who met fifteen years ago at Education Week—were first introduced in Almost Sisters, supported each other in Three Tickets to Peoria, and remain supportive to each other despite the miles of difference here in book three of The Company of Good Women trilogy.

I wish I’d known about the series with enough time to read all three because there were times in my reading that I realized I didn’t know a character or her history well enough to feel supported in the reading, but overall, I enjoyed this novel and shared so much in common with its characters.

One part that especially spoke to me was in chapter eight, when Erin takes a serious fall. She had the felling she should make the climb (just I like I had a feeling about moving my foot to hit that rock), and her question rang true to me: “How are we supposed to tell which of the fleeting feeling and random thoughts we have every day are worth paying attention to?” Like Erin, I’d be more likely to respond in the right way if I could see a neon sign. But the Lord doesn’t work that way, and that message is easier to take when delivered through the pages of a well-written novel like Surprise Packages.

Told through three unique voices, each woman has a story that is interesting and filled with challenge. Willadene—known as Deenie—has recently moved to Florida and wonders if the move to a new place should also be a call for her to improve herself; Juneau’s feeling of guilt must be faced when a childhood secret resurfaces; and Erin takes another chance with love—with unexpected results.

Although not always together, these women keep in close contact, giving support whenever needed, and wondering how they will have changed from their first meeting to now when they reunite.

I’ll admit that time got away from me and I haven’t finished the novel yet, but the first half has been so good that I know I will, maybe yet today. In the meantime, I’m posting my blog tour entry on time and waiting for answers to some interview questions I sent the authors. Check back in sometime this next week as I may have more to share with you about the book or its authors. In the meantime, I’m outta here—time to go read a few more chapters on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Land of Inheritance by H.B. Moore

2008-08-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

The fourth and final book in the Out of Jerusalem series, Land of Inheritance, by H. B. Moore is as satisfying to the heart of a romantic as reading the scriptures is to the soul of the believer. Through meticulous and documented research, and a flair for a well-told story, Moore takes readers into the trials and triumphs of the Book of Mormon prophet Nephi and members of his family as they at last reach the New World, a place more foreign than any land they crossed before. Readers will find themselves pulled into the story immediately, and they will feel well-fed when they are done.

Heather Moore brings an interesting personal background to this series. Although she was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and spent most of her childhood in Orem, Utah, her family traveled back and forth between the Middle East and Utah. “I lived in Israel when I was seven,” Moore says. “We traveled with a BYU student group and my mother home-schooled us. We moved to Egypt for a year, and I remember having friends from all different countries.” At the age of eight, while living in Egypt, Moore was baptized in the Red Sea.

When she was 16, her family again lived in Jerusalem. “Life is much different there,” she adds, “from the food, to the clothing and living conditions. Most people live in small apartments. The women dress very modestly. It wasn't uncommon for me to take a sharoot (shared-taxi) to go meet my friends. I went to a private high school where only nineteen people were in my grade. All my friends spoke two or three languages and had traveled the world.”

Moore’s personal experience is evident in the richly told details of her series. “Since I've lived in the Middle East, I know the sights, sounds, smells, etc. of those countries,” she explains. “I've always marveled at authors who are able to travel to the countries they set their stories in. I guess you could say I was able to do the same thing with the first book in the Out of Jerusalem series since Lehi and Nephi lived in Jerusalem. In the subsequent books, I've relied on watching documentary films set in Arabia and Guatemala.”

“I rely heavily on research when plotting and developing my stories,” Moore continues. “Of course my series is unique in the fact that it follows the events in the Book of Mormon. I stay as close to the scriptures as possible, and by reading my chapter notes, you'll find that if something didn't actually happen, it was very plausible. As historical fiction, my books must be as accurate as possible. If there is a large issue I am dealing with, I'll explain my approach in the preface and follow-up in the chapter notes found at the end of each book.”

The daughter of noted scholar S. Kent Brown (FARMS), Heather Moore has an inside track when it comes to research. “I continually consult with my father about locating the most updated and most respected research that is available from Book of Mormon scholars and historians of ancient civilizations.” And that research and knowledge shows.

“I've had readers tell me that I make the Book of Mormon come to life. This would not have been possible if I didn't have articles, essays, and books by scriptorians and historians to base the story on. I am the creative thinker, but I owe the richness of my stories to the scholars who have dedicated their lives in careful study. Reading my series, the reader will be able to picture the geography, understand the complex family relationships, and ponder the important role the women played in the journey from Jerusalem to the promised land. I also hope the reader will be touched by the incredible perseverance of Nephi. There is something in each book that readers will be able to relate to, whether it's sibling rivalry, developing a testimony, relying on the Lord, remaining faithful in the midst of trials—all things Nephi dealt with.”

Readers who have enjoyed the Out of Jerusalem series will be glad to know that more novels will be coming. “I'm currently writing a new series set in Book of Mormon times. The first book introduces the prophet Abinadi as a young man. He receives his call to be a prophet in his mid-twenties, and subsequently will be put to death before he reaches the age of thirty. There is no hint to Abinadi's age in the scriptural text, which made me consider a new approach. Most LDS art has depicted Abinadi as an elderly man, but I thought it would be more compelling to tell a story about a young man who dies for his faith—and still has his entire life ahead of him.”

The 13th Reality: The Journal of Curious Letters - James Dashner

2008-06-10T10:49:00.000-07:00

Looking for a new fantasy series that will make you laugh, while taking you places you never knew were possible? Then The 13th Reality series will be the books for you. Atticus Higginbottom —Tick—just can't get past being a nerd. Of course, wearing a knitted scarf to cover a birthmark doesn't help his image either. But once the mysterious letters from M.G. begin to arrive, Tick's skills at deciphering riddles and Internet research come in handy. Being friends with his dad doesn't hurt either, especially when they travel together to Alaska—a dangerous trip for them both. Despite the fact Tick can't quite figure out the required magic words, he will not burn his letter and quit. Soon he is attacked by evil creatures, meets Mothball and Rutger, and finds two other kids also solving the clues. The question is—will they all figure out everything in time?

Fantasy or not, Dashner has set his book in reality, researching both quantum physics and locations for this first book in the series. “I had never been to the place in which it begins, Deer Park, Washington,” he says. Perhaps influenced by his own favorite series, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson, Dashner allows himself, and his main character, to delve into the alternate worlds that Thomas Covenant dared not believe in, despite the fact he suddenly found himself there to fight for that land, and to be the reincarnation of its greatest hero, and The 13th Reality Book 2 will be no different. James adds, “The Hunt for Dark Infinity is in the editing stage. It was a lot of fun for me because I was mostly done with the setup. It jumps right into action and other alternate realities.”

Readers should pick up The Journal of Curious Letters because, as Dashner himself states, it is “unique, fast-paced, full of riddles and plot twists, some humor, kick-butt ending. I'm biased, however! It has gotten some excellent reviews from the likes of Kirkus and the Chicago Sun-Times.” And also excellent reviews from the students of Payson Jr. High School who read it this year in their 7th and 9th grade English classes. As a matter of fact, many of those students also got to read the early draft of The Hunt for Dark Infinity and are now anxious for James to write Book 3.

The 13th Reality is not the first book James Dashner has published. An earlier series, The Jimmy Fincher Saga is also still available from Cedar Fort. But Dashner feels he has grown as a writer since he published his very first book. “Hopefully I'm a much better writer now, and boy would I love to give my first four books a nice revision—all the technical writing skills I’ve learned since then.”

As most writers know, not every book that is written actually gets published. When asked about his unpublished novels, James says, “There are only two, and one is undergoing a major rewrite while my agent tries to sell it on proposal. This one—The Maze Runner—is at ten publishers as we speak. Keep those fingers crossed! The other one, I doubt it. In fact, I've cannibalized it for other ideas, not the least of which is the name used in The 13th Reality: Atticus Higginbottom.”

But how can budding authors break into the business? James says, “Practice. Write a lot. No matter how bad it comes out, keep writing. Also, attend every writer's conference you can possibly afford to. The things you learn and the networking you accomplish are invaluable.” Speaking of networking and getting people to know about your book, he adds that “networking is by far the best route to go. You need to get to those conferences and meet agents and editors face-to-face.” Advice that couldn’t be more true if you want to be a writer.

But, even if you’re just a reader looking for a book that is fun, exciting, and appropriate for both you and your family, The 13th Reality: The Journal of Curious Letters is the book for you.

It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff

2008-06-06T17:57:00.000-07:00

by Peter Walsh
(Free Press, 2006)

I’ll admit, I’m a Clean Sweep junkie who went into withdrawal when TLC took the show off the air. I needed those daily insights from professional organizer Peter Walsh to help me have the drive to sort the junk drawer, get rid of clothes that no longer fit, or encourage my kids to follow the “one item in one item out” rule that I’d been working on achieving myself.

I guess the law of attraction has worked, because Walsh has come to my rescue with a very friendly, extremely helpful, and massively insightful book that speaks to the clutter junkie in us all. I devoured the book and immediately felt inspired to once again sort, discard and organize.

As I look around my office, I know this is a book I will come back to again and again, but listening to Walsh’s message makes it easier to learn to let go when the clutter starts to overwhelm us. Once we do, then our lives have room for the good that is ready to come and enrich our very souls.

Spires of Stone - Annette Lyon

2008-05-17T19:17:00.000-07:00

Annette Lyon has made quite a name for herself in the publishing world in the years since she released her first book. The winner of the 2007 Best in State Medal for Fiction, Lyon has brought readers not only well-written LDS romance, but also introduced them to a little state history through her temple series. The latest installment. Spires of Stone, is set in Salt Lake City, in the late 1860s.

Research plays an important part in a novel such as this, and Lyon says, “I've been fortunate to find wonderful resources that actual historians have unearthed and compiled. For Spires of Stone I relied on a number of resources, but the most valuable was a thesis about the Salt Lake temple written by Wallace Alan Raynor. It was written some time ago and included interviews with people who had actually worked on the temple and were still alive. Fascinating and priceless information.”

But history is not the only research she used for this particular novel. “Back when I was writing contemporary novels,” she says. “I thought it would be fun to do a modern-day retelling of Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing. Then I found my historical niche and felt like I had arrived home, writing-wise. At that point I tossed out the idea of a retelling, but eventually it dawned on me that there was no reason I couldn't tell the story in the 1800s. Those familiar with the original will notice many similarities, especially in some of the early dialogue. Some things are different, of course, like how I combined two characters from the play into one. Plus, my ending doesn't quite match because some characters started making decisions I hadn't expected. But the basic storyline and themes are the same.”

Spires of Stone is the third book Annette Lyon has published which uses a Utah temple as its backdrop, yet each novel is a stand-alone. “My first historical novel, House on the Hill (focusing on the Logan temple), had one character in the epilogue whose story doesn't wrap up in a tidy bow,” she says. “Readers insisted that I tell what happened to him next. As a result, my second temple book, At the Journey's End (the St. George temple), is the rest of his story, although you don't have to read the first book to pick up that one, and aside from the hero and his mother, no one else from House on the Hill appears in the book. Spires of Stone begins much earlier than either of the first two and has a completely different cast of characters. The story is unconnected to the first two books as well,” She adds, “Just for fun, I put in two characters from House on the Hill in very brief cameos as a hello to those readers who might recognize them from before.” Fans of the historical series will enjoy looking for them in this latest installment.

But the series is not over yet. Lyon says, “I have a book coming out in May 2009 about Manti and its temple, which will complete the four oldest temples in Utah. ”

She has considered writing about the more contemporary novels, and says she might do “a handful of the newer ones.” But she is quick to add, “Historical fiction is my forte. ”

When asked why readers should pick up a copy of one of her books, Lyon says, “First and foremost, because they're fun, gripping stories.” As a reader, I’d have to agree. Lyon continues, “I love hearing that a scene made readers laugh or cry or gave them chills—or even better, kept them reading until 4 o'clock in the morning. If I've entertained you, I've done my job. If you happen to learn something about what life was like in Utah back in the 1800s, so much the better, but that's not my goal. My goal is to entertain.”

Perhaps it was that love of entertainment that first drew Lyon into books in the first place, an avid reader, she says her favorite book as a teenager was The Blue Castle, by LM Montgomery. “She's best known for Anne of Green Gables (which I also loved),” Lyon says. “But this book just resonated with me. It has great characters with depth and humanity. The story had me laughing and crying and wishing it were longer. It's still one of my favorites.”

In addition to writing, Annette Lyon also gives presentations about writing to local groups. Her advice to budding writers is, “Learn all you can about the craft: go to conferences and workshops, read books on writing, enter contests for feedback, and write like crazy. When you're ready, join a critique group. Attending a good group was the single best thing I ever did for my writing.” She also warns that, “getting a book contract is not the finish line, but the beginning of an entirely new race. Somehow I thought I would feel as if I had arrived, that all my writing problems would be over. But the self-doubt continues. So does writer's block. New (and just as daunting) challenges creep in. The great part, of course, is the success thrown into all that, which keeps you going during the rough patches.”

She reminds writers “acceptance and rejection are not personal decisions. They're business decisions, marketing decisions: Will this sell? Will this make our company a profit? Is it a good fit with our tried and true audience? When you as a writer can consciously take the personal nature out of the equation, rejection doesn't sting so much, and you can have a better idea of which markets to target and how to make your work fit the markets you're aiming for.”

And Annette has found success in that market.

To purchase a copy online, visit: http://www.covenant-lds.com/osb2/itemdetails.cfm?ID=2077

Mount Vernon Love Story: A Novel of George and Martha Washington

2008-04-26T14:34:00.000-07:00

(Pocket, 2003)

This was actually Clark’s first published novel in 1969 under the title Aspire to Heavens, the Washington family motto.

The story opens as Washington waits for the inauguration of his successor and is told though a series of flashback moments that lead him to change his desires from Sally Carey toward the little widow named Martha Custis, also known as Patsy.

An interesting look into the life of our nation’s first president.

What’s So Great About America by Dinesh D’Souza

2008-04-26T14:32:00.000-07:00

(Penguin, 2003)

In these troubled times, we sometimes wonder why the attacks upon our country, especially the country we feel was organized though divine purpose and destiny. There are those who hate it, or at least essential elements of it, from radical Islamists to the likes of Patrick Buchanan (on the right) and Jesse Jackson (on the left). But, this former member of the Reagan administration and India-born U.S. citizen tells all of us what IS right about our country and how we can protect it from those who would do it harm.

An interesting read, one I could not put down and that I felt compelled to share with my husband.

No Place Like Home - Mary Higgins Clark

2008-04-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

(Pocket, 2006)

The Queen of Suspense never fails to satisfy, and her latest paperback release is no exception. Celia Nolan has a perfect life with her son and a perfect husband who would give her the world. But when Alex surprises his wife with a new house in Mendham, New Jersey, Celia is suddenly brought back to the horrible memory of her childhood—a childhood spent in this very house where Celia, then known as Liza Barton, shot and killed her mother.

“Little Lizzie Borden,” as the media called her, had awakened to find her step-father, Ted Cartwright, attacking her mother, Audrey. When Liza grabs the gun in self-defense, Ted shoves Audrey toward the girl just as the gun goes off.

Now, twenty-four years later, the nightmare of that evening is back and Celia is faced with the decision to tell her new husband the truth or keep her secret. But when other people connected to the house are murdered, Celia fears the spotlight will be right back on her, especially if anyone ever discovers her true identity.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

2008-04-26T14:22:00.000-07:00

(Warner Books, 1988 reissue)

A classic novel set during the Depression, this is the story of the South, told through the eyes of eight-year-old Scout Finch, which brings to the forefront the issues of racism, class divisions, and the fairness of the judicial systems.

The story opens the summer before Scout starts school when Scout, her brother Jem, and Dill Harris, a boy who spends the summers with his aunt in Maycomb, find all sorts of fun during the hot summer days. Their biggest goal—get a look at Boo Radley, the local bogeyman, who is their neighbor. When their father, Atticus Finch, is called upon to defend Tom Robinson, a young black man accused of raping Mayella Ewell, the daughter of a drunk and violent white farmer, the aging children begin to understand the reality of their lives in a small town, including knowing the truth about Boo.

This is one classic you will not want to miss, the novel is definitely one of the best ever written by an America author.

Montmorency thief liar gentleman? By Eleanor Updale

2008-04-26T13:10:00.000-07:00

(Scholastic, 2003)

While serving time in a London cell block, career criminal Montmorency and his severe wounds attract the attention of a brilliant young doctor named Robert Farcett. A series of operations by the doctor convert the thief into more of a living illustration than a man with feelings.

Brought before large groups of people by the doctor to show off his fine work and discovery about the human body, Montmorency overhears many interesting conversations which eventually lead him to the information he will need to survive once he is released from prison, and allows him to hatch his idea for new thievery by using the underground sewer system in London. But in the vein of Jekyll and Hyde, Montmorency quickly realizes he must have two separate and distinct personas if he is to survive. Therefore, Scarper is given to a life of thievery, lies, and scavaging the sewers, and Mr. Montmorency is born to a life of aristocracy, affluence, and the social world of Victorian London.

I read this book aloud to a class of 9th graders, and although they were hooked at the beginning, the story became too slow for them to listen to. Several students finished the book on their own and liked it that way. There are some rather interesting descriptions of what can be found in the London sewers that readers might want to be forewarned about.

Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt

2008-04-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

(Front Street Books, 2006)

Keturah is a storyteller, and she promises one of magic and love, daring and death, one to comfort the heart and the truest ending of any she has ever told. This story is her own quest to discover true love.

Keturah is drawn into the woods to see the famed hart which has evaded death from skilled hunters. Soon she is lost, and as three days pass, she knows her fate is sealed. But she still has a story to tell and shares one so compelling that Lord Death wants to know more, granting her another day to find true love, before he comes again.

In the style of Shannon Hale (River Secrets) or Mette Harrison (The Princess and the Hound) Leavitt delivers a retold tale with a twist. This novel will engage older adolescents who love stories like Cinderella but want things to work out in a darker way.

Last Shot by John Feinstein

2008-04-26T13:00:00.000-07:00

(Alfred A. Knopf:, 2005)

Stevie Thomas is thrilled when he wins a trip to New Orleans and the basketball play-offs to cover the games as a student newspaper reporter. The only problem with the trip is that he has to work with the other contest winner, Susan Carol Anderson. Not only is she a girl, but she also is a fan of Duke University, the arch-rival of Stevie’s own favorite Philadelphia team, St. Joe’s.

Things heat up for the cub reporters when they overhear a conversation between star player Chip Graber and a suspicious-looking man in a charcoal gray suit. Immediately, Stevie and Susan Carol know what the conversation means—Chip Graber is being blackmailed, and the kids know they are the only ones who can help the superstar ballplayer at this stage of the game.

An interesting story, mixed with the knowledge of basketball and the play-offs, kept this book an interesting read. There was one instance of strong language.

The Friend by Sarah Stewart Illustrated by David Small

2008-04-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

(Farrar, Straus & Giroux: 0374324638)

Annabelle Bernadette Clementine Dodd is a very lucky girl. Although her parents are gone most of the time, Belle has one very special friend. Bea is part maid, part nanny, and mostly mother to the young girl, teaching her life skills such as cooking, cleaning, and other housework chores each morning, then taking her to the beach each afternoon to play. When Belle becomes too bold one day, Bea is there to save her life.

This is the fifth picture book collaboration by this husband/wife team. Another of their picture books, The Library, is one of my favorites. I had the chance to get to know them at the recent UVSC Forum on Children's Literature, and they are wonderful people. Their genteel qualities show in the beautiful books they write and illustrate.

Squashed by Joan Bauer

2008-04-26T12:50:00.000-07:00

(Putnam Juvenile, 2001)

When Ellie sets out to do something, she intends to do it in a big way. And big is exactly what she needs if she intends to win the pumpkin growing contest at the Rock River Pumpkin Weigh-In. Only 200 pounds more to go and she thinks she’ll have it, if she can protect her giant squash from pumpkin thieves.

Of course, growing that pumpkin is not her only challenge. For her life to be perfect, Ellie wants to have a better relationship with both her dad and Wes, the cute new guy at school, while dropping a few pounds of her own.

Be ready to laugh right out loud.

Tony and Me: A Story of Friendship by Jack Klugman with Burton Rocks

2008-02-17T12:20:00.000-08:00

The definitive Odd Couple, Tony Randall and Jack Klugman were much more than two stars who happened to perform together on a hit television show. The tribute, written by Klugman, traces the history of the duo from their beginnings in show business through Randall’s death at the age of 84. Klugman gives praise to Randall’s talent and friendship, giving Tony credit for his own survival through the loss of his vocal chords and his return to the Broadway stage.

Whether you’re a fan of The Odd Couple or not, you’ll walk away learning something about friendship is you read this book. The book also contains a CD of bloopers from the show, but be warned, it is not family fare. (Good Hill Press, 2005)

Real Change: From the World that Fails to the World That Works by Newt Gingrich

2008-02-17T12:10:00.000-08:00

"We're standing on the edge of a potential golden age for America. Advances in technology, science, engineering, and medicine hold the promise of benefits our parents couldn't even dream of. If we make the right choices now, America will enjoy a level of prosperity, safety, and freedom unknown to previous generations. But if we make the wrong choices, we will suffer the very serious consequences of a set of challenges we choose to ignore. . . . We the people can force real change and can secure the kind of future America and our children and grandchildren deserve."

All the candidates claim they are the candidate of change, but according to Gingrich, the only way America can get the change they desire is for every one of us to insist that change—real change—happens. From our national leaders to the local ones, we can influence the way our country is moving by demanding results.

This book is fascinating, filled with information about everything from the political system to the war on terror, including the commonalities that keeps us from truly being divided between the red and blue states as the media would like us to believe. If you want to know what you can do to keep America strong, this is the book that can change your life. (Renergy Publishing, 2008)

River Secrets by Shannon Hale

2007-11-04T09:37:00.000-08:00

In Goose Girl readers were introduced to the land of Bayern and characters who could control the elements of nature. Isi was able to control the wind, and reader’s learned in Enna Burning that Enna can control fire.

In this novel, their friend Razo fears that Enna’s power has caused the burned bodies he has found. Has she either broken her promise about the use of fire, or is she burning in her sleep? His quest to discover the truth about Enna leads him to discover the truth about himself.

Sent in a brigade of soldiers to accompany an ambassador on a peacekeeping mission to the Tiran capital, Razo learns his gift is to see and remember everything, making him an excellent spy. A touch of romance is added as Razo becomes friends with the ambassador’s daughter, Lady Dasha, who also has powers to control the elements of water.

Fans of the two previous novels will be excited to read this latest chapter, and also be happy to know that Hale is working on yet another book set in the world of Bayerne.

If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries What Am I Doing in the Pits? - Erma Bombeck

2007-11-04T09:26:00.000-08:00

Perhaps at one time of the other, every mother in the world has felt that they are spending more time in the pits than they should. Aren’t mothers supposed to be cherished? Then why do they have to work so hard? House-cleaning, cooking, chauffeuring, sewing, counseling, helping with homework–it’s a never-ending, often thankless job, but still one that women step into willingly every day.

In her characteristic good humor, Bombeck delivers one-liners such as “It’s frightening to wake up one morning and discover that while you were asleep you went out of style,” “I looked into a mirror. The reflection looked like Milton Berle with a migraine,” or “Next to hot chicken soup, a tattoo of an anchor on your chest, and penicillin, I consider a honeymoon one of the most overrated events in the world” that remind us all to take the time to laugh. And that’s exactly what you’ll do when you read any of Erma Bombeck’s books.

LDS Author Takes Readers to Iraq and Back

2007-10-13T19:15:00.000-07:00

by Lu Ann Staheli

If you’re looking for a great book, Counting Stars by Michele Paige Holmes will fit the bill.

“Jane was hoping for a date—maybe even a boyfriend. What she wasn't expecting was Paul Bryant's completely original and sincere pick-up line: Hi. I'm Paul. I have terminal cancer. My wife was killed in a car accident, and I'm looking for a woman to raise my children.

“It was never Jane's plan to fall in love with a dying man and his two infants. But her seemingly simple decision to date someone outside her faith leads to one complication after another. With the stakes this high, is choosing to help Paul a choice to be alone forever?

“And how can Paul feel so confident that this woman—who's never managed to keep a checking account for more than six months—should be the one to raise his children?

“How can something that seems so unbelievably insane feel so completely right?

“Sometimes love is found in the least likely places, and the greatest blessings are discovered while counting stars.”

A romance with something to capture the heart of even the most skeptical of readers, Counting Stars author Michele Holmes admits she spent hours researching both Seattle and Iraq, as well as other details that allow the story to ring true. For Seattle, Holmes was lucky enough to spend five days in the city, including time riding the ferry and on the island where much of the story takes place. She also read about Seattle, watched videos about places she wasn't able to see on her visit, and studied the real estate market there. She says, “Jane's cottage is based on a real home I saw and photographed during my visit.”

“Learning about Iraq was a bit more difficult,” Holmes admits. “I read a lot of books—beginning in the children's department at the library. I saved and cataloged newspaper articles about the war. I purchased books on the different types of helicopters and aircraft used by our military. I also spoke with author, Kerry Blair (Ghost of a Chance), who has a son stationed in Iraq. He was kind enough to answer any questions I had, which Kerry then forwarded to me.”

In addition, Holmes used the internet for research, watched documentaries, and did additional reading about premature babies, heart problems in infants, and liver cancer and its various treatments. She adds, “Via the internet I was able to take a virtual tour of Swedish Medical center's newborn nursery where the twins spend a lot of their time.”

Those who enjoy Counting Stars will be glad to know more books are in the works from this talented author. “I am working on a sequel, of sorts, right now. Covenant was kind enough to allow me to put a teaser for the next book in the back of Counting Stars. Without giving too much away, I'll just say that the next book—tentatively titled A Canopy of Stars—is a romantic suspense about the guy who doesn't get the girl (Jane) in the first book. Though it is a sequel, it will also be able to stand alone. In addition, I am working on two other books that involve characters from Counting Stars. One will be a romantic comedy about Jane's friend, Tara and the other will be about Jane's sister, Caroline.”

Counting Stars is Holmes’ first published novel. When asked why readers should pick up a copy of her book, she said, “I feel very confident saying that it is a really great story. The tag line on the back cover says, "You'll laugh. You may cry. You might even see stars." I feel like all of that is true for this story. It has fun and funny characters, poignantly sad moments, and a romance that will touch your heart.”

And I couldn’t agree more.

Ethan Frome by Edith Warton

2007-10-07T15:41:00.000-07:00

Twenty-years after a dreadful accident, a stranger who is living temporarily in Starkfield, Massachusetts, becomes curious about the sad life of Ethan Frome.

Piece by piece the stranger learns that fate seems to have kept Ethan tied to his family farm, first as he lived with his aging parents, then as he married Zeena, the young woman who had come to help care for them. After Ethan’s parents die and he marries, Zeena herself falls ill, at least in her own imagination, and must be cared for.

Then one winter, Ethan thinks perhaps his life will at last get better. Zeena’s young cousin Mattie Silver comes to work for them, and Ethan finds himself falling in love.

First published in 1911, this novel, told through the narrator’s eyes in a flashback, ends with one of the best examples of tragic irony that I’ve ever read.

My Almost Epic Summer by Adele Griffin

2007-10-07T15:34:00.000-07:00

Irene figures with both her friends away for the summer she will be the only one with a boring life. Fascinated by the hairstyles of famous novel heroines, Irene hopes the portraits she is drawing will help her when she opens her own hair salon someday, just like her mom.

But maybe Irene isn’t cut out to be a hairstylist; she can’t even keep her job working for Mom’s shop, and soon finds herself spending the summer as a babysitter for Evan and Lainie Prior. Her summer starts looking a whole lot better when she takes the kids to the local beach where Evan’s almost drowning introduces her to the crazy, but total knockout lifeguard who calls herself Starla.

“If only I could be like her,” Irene starts to dream. The question soon becomes, “Would I really want to be?”

This cute, light-hearted look a romance and summer vacation will be a welcome release in these freezing cold days of winter.

Crispin: At the Edge of the World by Avi

2007-09-30T17:47:00.000-07:00

Crispin has escaped those who wanted to kill him at the end of the previous book, but now he and Bear, a juggler Crispin has adopted as his father, must flee those members of the Brotherhood who want to kill Bear.

Fearful that Bear is a traitor to their cause, the three men have already been successful at severely wounding him with an arrow. Although Crispin has removed the shaft, he cannot cure the fever that begets his only source of safety.

Despite his fear of more harm, Crispin must trust Troth, the cleft-lipped girl who finds them in the woods, and Aude, the old hag who is something of a mid-wife physician. Before Bear can completely recuperate from his injury, Aude is murdered and the three men are found to be nearby. There is no choice except for Bear, Crispin and Troth to join together and head for the sea, what appears to be their only escape from their own untimely end.

Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate

2007-09-30T17:38:00.000-07:00

We’ve all found ourselves in a time of turmoil, where the stress of everyday life seems too much and the demands on our time and resources seem more than we can bear. Kate Bowman has reached that point.

With a new baby, time away from her high-profile Chicago job, and a chance to be with her husband, Ben, at her grandmother’s Missouri farm, Kate should find plenty of time to stop and smell the roses. But the rest of Kate’s family is counting on her to convince Grandma, whose frail health and forgetfulness might lead to danger, that she should leave the farm that has been her home for almost half a century.

Struggling to deal with mounting debts and medical bills, Kate begins to read from her grandmother’s journal, which almost miraculously appears with exactly the tale Kate needs to hear at any given moment. Maybe Grandma’s mind isn’t as far gone as her family thinks it is. After all, her advice to Kate— "Maybe you should start wanting less."— makes sense to us all as readers.

Although a little predictable and maybe somewhat sappy at times, everyone I have ever recommended this book to has enjoyed the message Wingate tries to portray, and even if we only slow down for the time it takes us to read the book, she has been successful.

Welcome to Lu Ann's Book Review

2007-09-29T15:17:00.000-07:00

I write book reviews for many venues, including:
Read All About It - Spanish Fork Press
Out of the Best Books - Spanish Fork News
LMC - Library Media Connection Magazine
The SIGNAL Journal - International Reading Association
The ALAN Review - National Council of Teachers of English
I get many requests for book recommendations, so I decided to share my reviews where more people could find them. That's what I intend to do here, and I hope you'll find my comments useful as you find the perfect book for you.