Dec 012011
 

24 days until Christmas

 

Stephanie Black has loved books since she was old enough to grab the pages and has enjoyed creating make-believe adventures since she and her sisters were inventing long Barbie games filled with intrigue and danger or running around pretending to be detectives. She is a three-time Whitney Award winner for Best Mystery/Suspense, most recently for Cold as Ice (2010).

Stephanie was born in Utah and has lived in various places, including Arizona, Massachusetts, New York, and Limerick, Ireland. She currently lives in northern California and enjoys spending time with her husband, Brian, and their five children. She is a fan of chocolate, cheesecake, and her husband’s homemade bread.

Connect with Stephanie: WEBSITE | BLOG | Twitter | Facebook

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LDSWBR: What Christmas-related activity would you like to do this year that you have never done before?

STEPHANIE: I’d like to take the family to go see the Christmas lights at the zoo. My daughter used to volunteer at the zoo, so it holds fond associations for me. While she’s home from college, it would be a fun time to go see the lights.

LDSWBR: If you could find one book under the tree this year, what would it be?

STEPHANIE: Cold River by Liz Adair.

LDSWBR: What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory?

STEPHANIE: I absolutely loved Christmas–there’s no one particular memory that stands out as my favorite. But I think the gift I wanted more than I’ve ever wanted any gift in my life, before or since, was a Princess Leia Barbie doll (okay, technically she probably wasn’t a Barbie, but that type of doll). I was maybe nine years old. My sister and I were a little late to the Star Wars bandwagon–we didn’t see the movie the first time it was released, but when it was re-released later, we finally saw it and became instant fans. And I wanted that Princess Leia doll so much. To my joy, on Christmas morning, there she was. She had Princess Leia’s long white dress and signature hairdo–I still remember how to fix that Princess Leia hair: you’d make ponytails, then pull the hair through the center of these brown plastic donut-things, tuck the hair around the donuts, and use another elastic to hold the hair behind the donut so it looked like she had giant buns of hair. We loved playing with those Princess Leia dolls!

LDSWBR: Princess Leia dolls – how fun! Thanks, Stephanie. Merry Christmas!

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Buy Rearview Mirror by Stephanie Black

SEAGULL BOOK | DESERET BOOK | AMAZON

Read our Combined Review of Rearview Mirror.

Did you have a favorite doll (or Star Wars toy) as a child? 

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To enter the Countdown to Christmas 2011 contest, complete the following and then tell us what you did:

  • **Required entry (+1) – Leave a thoughtful comment on this post. (More than just “Great contest!” please) You must leave a comment on this post for your other entries to count. If you are reading this post through email or an RSS reader, please click through to leave a comment.
  • Bonus entry (+1 total) – Leave a comment on our Combined Review of Rearview Mirror. Don’t forget to leave a comment on this post first!
  • Additional entries (one time +1 entry each) – 1) Subscribe to LDSWBR through email 2)Follow @LDSWBR on Twitter 3) Like LDS Women’s Book Review on Facebook (all found at the the top of the right sidebar on the LDSWBR blog). NOTE: If you already subscribe through email, follow us on Twitter, or Like us on Facebook you must tell us in a comment for the extra entries to count.
  • By leaving a comment and entering the Countdown to Christmas 2011, you agree to the contest information found here.

 

***If you haven’t read the contest rules and info, read them here.***

Book prizes donated by their authors:

  • Rearview Mirror by Stephanie Black (paperback or Kindle)
  • The Next Door Boys by Jolene B. Perry
  • Winner’s choice of one of the books in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series by Josi S. Kilpack (including Banana Split which will be released in February 2012)
  • Seeking Persephone by Sarah M. Eden
  • Obsession by Traci Hunter Abramson
  • Circle of Secrets by Kimberley Griffiths Little
  • Indelible by Lani Woodland and a swag bag!
  • Identity by Betsy Love
  • The Hainan Incident by D.M. Coffman (autographed copy)
  • Count Down to Love by Julie N. Ford
  • Geek Girl by Cindy C. Bennett
  • The Breakup Artist by Shannen Crane Camp
  • Seers by Heather Frost
Don’t forget to comment! Merry Christmas and happy reading!

  14 Responses to “Rearview Mirror by Stephanie Black – Countdown to Christmas 2011”

  1. I was a wee bit excited to see the giveaway. Glad you’re doing it again! Also glad you’re spotlighting Stephanie. She’s a big bright spot in the LDS market!

  2. Commented on the review post!

  3. And of course, I follow you on Twitter.

  4. I remember going to see Star Wars in the theater as a kid when it was first released and enjoying it (even though I thought it was WAY too loud), but I don’t remember ever playing much with Star Wars toys. I did enjoy dolls, however, and my mom would sew little doll clothes for me. My favorite Christmas present one year was a little wooden doll cradle that my grandpa made for me.

  5. I also commented on the review post.

  6. I did have a favorite doll as a kid, it’s name was Baby Beans, I don’t really remember much about it, other than it’s name.

    I follow you on facebook and get e-mails.

  7. Stephanie, you should dress up as Princess Leia at the next Whitney dinner :-)

  8. I want my husband to make homemade bread for me-yum! I remember getting a few Holiday edition Barbie dolls from my Grandma. Did anyone else get these?! They always had big, poofy red sparkly dresses or something similar on.

  9. I loved the Falcon. :) And I was in love with Luke Skywalker.

  10. 1) I had the opportunity to work with Stephanie at the LDStorymakers this last year and would love to read her new book
    2) I’ll go leave a comment right now
    3) I follow on twitter
    4) I like you on FB

  11. Just left a review!

  12. My favorite doll was a soft, holly-hobby style doll with the name “Amanda” embroidered on the front of her dress. She had a blue sunbonnet. We almost went to see the “Zoo Lights” at the national zoo this year over Thanksgiving weekend, but didn’t quite make it.

  13. I think that would be fun to go and see the lights at the zoo for Christmas!!! I still have a doll that I was given for Christmas………….it’s called Baby Beans. I keep it put up to preserve it!

  14. I am a subscriber to LDSWBR through e-mail and also follow you on Facebook!!

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