Jan 272016
 

Hello again, and how I’ve missed you all! Life took me away for a little while, but I’m back now to let you know how you can support LDS authors on Kindle Scout.

If you are unfamiliar with Kindle Scout, authors submit their unpublished books for 30 days and readers nominate their favorite books. If a book is selected it will be published by Kindle Press.

The beauty of this is that readers have a say in what books get published. Readers can also receive a free copy of the books they nominate (as per the terms found here).

Janette Rallison, Heather B. Moore (under her YA pen name), and Rachelle Christensen are LDS authors who have been successful with Kindle Scout. Listed below are LDS Authors who are currently participating and need your nominations (days left to nominate are as of 1/27/2016):

Two Runs of Stone – Full Circle by STEVEN D. NIELSEN (3 days left)

Orison by BRANDON GRAY (Braden Bell) (16 days left)

Echoes of Silence by ELANA JOHNSON (15 days left)

Wandaful by MICHAEL D. YOUNG (22 days left)

Death Thieves by JULIE WRIGHT (25 days left)

The best thing about the LDS reading/writing community is how supportive we are of each other, so go nominate! You might even get a free book.

 

 

Aug 242013
 

TheWitnessesUpcoming Release: The Witnesses by Stephanie Black

I am so excited about the upcoming release of The Witnesses by Stephanie Black that I want to shout from the rooftops, or at least post about it on the LDSWBR blog, which will probably reach more people and prevent my neighbors from thinking I’m crazier than they already think I am. (About books, that is.)

I have been waiting for this book for SEVEN years, since I had the opportunity to read The Believer back in 2006. In fact, we discussed The Believer in Episode 4 of the LDSWBR Podcast back in May 2006. (Warning: Podcast contains spoilers for The Believer.)

This was recorded in our pre-microphone-and-mixer days, gathered around my old iMac. I listened to it again for the first time since editing it, and in the intro I announce the contest Rob Wells was hosting for the release of The Counterfeit. Wow, I can’t believe how quickly time flies.

TheBeliever(Note: We never did post our Cheesy, aka “Funeral” Potato Recipes. Ah, well.)

(Note #2: About 20 minutes into the podcast I say something that made me laugh out loud: “One of the things I like is that the computers are like the size of a Palm Pilot. Hey, that would be nice! Maybe we’re on our way there.” If I had been listening to it on my iPhone I would have laughed even harder at Ignorant Me of 2006.)

Anyway, though The Witnesses is a follow up to The Believer, Stephanie made sure you don’t need to have read The Believer. I really enjoyed The Believer though, and if you can manage it, I encourage you to read it first simply because it is a great book.

If you are considering reading The Believer, Stephanie warns not to read the back cover blurb of The Witnesses because of spoilers. You can read more on Stephanie’s blog (see her post entitled The Witnesses).

While I’m not ready for summer to be over, at least I have The Witnesses to look forward to, as well as a reread of The Believer. It’s been so long since I read it, it will feel like the first time, and I’m excited to experience it all again.

The Believer is available on Kindle and DB Bookshelf. You can also preorder the paperback from Deseret Book.

The Witnesses will be released October 1, 2013. You can preorder it in paperback or audio CD from Amazon.

***If you can’t wait that long to read more Stephanie Black, check out her novella “Eye for an Eye” in A Timeless Romance Anthology: Autumn Collection.***

 

May 082013
 

TheContinuousConversion_detailThe Continuous Conversion

Author: Brad Wilcox

Publisher: Deseret Book

Published: March 1st, 2013

Hardcover: 232 pages

ISBN13: 978-1-60907-327-5

FTC FYI: Received a review copy

Posted by Mindy

Inside Book Jacket

“I can’t do this Mormon thing,” a friend told Brad Wilcox.  “I’ve tried, and the expectations are too high.”  And she’s not alone in her thinking.  Many people, as the feel themselves falling short of perfection, are tempted to quit trying.”

But are there only two options?  Think of it this way:  When a person is learning to play the piano, are the only two options performing at the Carnegie Hall or quitting?  Similarly, in mortality, are the only two choices being perfect or giving up?

“No,” writes Brad Wilcox.  “Growth and development take time.  Learning take practice.  Discipleship is a journey, and true conversion is a continuous process.”

In this hope-filled book, Brad shares his keen understanding and testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ as it relates to our own conversion.  Conversion occurs, he says, “when we stop trying to earn heaven and start trying to learn it….As we take each little step to show faith, repent, make and live covenants, seek the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end, we are not paying our way into heaven.  We are practicing for it.”

God isn’t just proving us, He’s improving us.

Product Review

I am so blessed to receive these amazing books that I get to tell you about.  The premise behind this book is beautiful.  As I go through my life, I find that it is all I can do to get through the day, sometimes.  My daughter said something to me just this last Sunday.

Mom, Sunday is my favorite day of the week.  I love going to church, and I love being with my family because we are there together, and we get to learn about Heavenly Father and Jesus and how to be better.

How blessed are we to have a loving Heavenly Father and Savior in our lives.  Reading this book will give you the reminder that perfection is not required of you, just strive to do your best.  The heading for Chapter 3 says it well.

A Mighty Change is Slow.  True conversion is not instantaneous.  It is continuous.  It includes making daily choices to reject the path that leads to becoming a natural man and to choose instead the path that leads to becoming a saint.  (page 53)

If you are looking for a Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gift, this book is it.

About the Author

Brad Wilcox is an associated professor in the department of Teacher Education at Brigham Young University, where he also works with programs such as Especially for Youth and Campus Education Week.  As a young man, he severed his mission in Chile, and he was later called back to that country to preside over the Chile Santiago East Mission from 2003 to 2006.  He currently serves as a member of the Sunday School general board.

Brad is the author of the bestselling book The Continuous Atonement and the BYU devotional “His Grace is Sufficient.”  He and his wife, Debi, are the parents of four children and grandparents of three.

Purchase Links

Deseret Book / Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Seagull Book 

 

 

May 072013
 

LDSLivingCover2_detailLDS Living: Best of Mothers ebook

Product Description from Deseret Book.com

Posted by Mindy

Motherhood. We cherish and celebrate it, and sometime we complain about it. Sometimes we yell at our kids, and sometimes they teach us the most profound lessons we could learn in life. The kids scribble on the walls, and they kiss us on the cheek when we’re feeling down. LDS Living wants to help you celebrate the ennobling and empowering journey of motherhood this year with a collection of our favorite articles on motherhood. Some will make you laugh, some will warm your heart, and some will make you think about the issues we as women and mothers face. We hope you enjoy the journey. Articles include: -“How to Love Life, See Good Days, and Not Doubt Your Ability as a Mother” -“What Not to Say To Stay-at-Home or Working Moms” -“A Mommy Time-Out” -“Celebrating Parents: Gifts That Give Back to Mom and Dad” -“Mothers Without Children” -“The Grass Isn’t Always Greener” -“Say It With Flowers” -“Happy Stepmother’s Day!” -“Mommy Knows Best”

LDS Living contacted me to help spread the word about this fabulous ebook.  It is a compilation of LDS Living’s best articles on motherhood.  There is a great variety from humorous, inspirational,  and some that address issues surrounding motherhood.  The best news, this ebook is free!  All you need to do is download the Deseret Book app.  Here are the links for Android and Apple devices, and also Web Browser.  Also, when you download the Deseret Book app, you receive 8 free ebooks! So, what are you waiting for?  This is a great idea for Mother’s Day, too.  Use this link download the book.

Feb 252013
 

Photo: Travis Riggs

Are you a fan (or parent or teacher of fans) of the 39 Clues series?

Scholastic has announced that on March 5, 2013, author David Baldacci will lead a webcast at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, taking teachers and kids on a virtual field trip where they will learn about the mysteries surrounding some of the artifacts from American history.

Below is a quote from Scholastic’s press release announcing the Decoding History Virtual Field Trip:

During the webcast, with David Baldacci as their guide, children and educators around the world will be taken on a behind-the-scenes tour of some of the most fascinating artifacts in the Smithsonian’s national collections, including the Lewis and Clark compass (an object that is featured in Baldacci’s 39 Clues book), Abraham Lincoln’s pocket watch, and the Star-Spangled Banner. Viewers will also “meet” renowned museum curators and explore some of the most mysterious moments and intriguing questions in American history: Who left a secret message in Abraham Lincoln’s pocket watch? Which is the real Lewis and Clark compass? Why is there a “V” on the original Star-Spangled Banner? The contents of the webcast will help teachers address the “Speaking & Listening” Common Core Standards for English/Language Arts.

The webcast will start at 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT and is free to watch. For more details visit the 39 Clues Decoding History Virtual Field Trip website: http://decodinghistory.scholastic.com/

Dec 222012
 

Hello everyone, this is Mindy. I have some sad news to tell you about. Shanda’s mother passed away suddenly early this morning. We are postponing the Countdown for a little while. Please fell free to keep commenting on the posts, and we will let you know when we resume the Countdown.

We appreciate you all, our dear readers, and wish you a Merry Christmas.