Jennie Hansen & Linda Chadwick – Countdown to Christmas 2009

 Posted by  Countdown to Christmas, Special Features
Dec 222009
 
3 Days until Christmas!


Jennie Hansen is the author of 21 novels and five short stories in compilations. Shudder is her most recent release. Jennie was kind enough to donate a copy of Shudder for the Countdown to Christmas drawing.

Shudder is available for purchase at Seagull Book, 1-800-999-6257, or any store that carries LDS books.

Visit Jennie on her website: www.jennielhansen.com and her blog: Notes from Jennie’s Desk.

LDSWBR: What favorite holiday traditions do you and your family participate in every year? Will you be starting any new traditions this year?

JENNIE: I love Nutcrackers and I have a pretty large collection. It’s a challenge to find places to display them all. Some of my favorites include a modern day Army soldier in combat fatigues, an Uncle Sam, and a fireman hero of 9-11 with an American flag. There’s a Canadian Mounty I bought in Victoria that’s pretty special too. I even have the twelve days of Christmas characters as nutcrackers. My grandchildren love to try them all out and I think they’ve each had at least one picture taken with my biggest nutcracker which stands almost four feet tall. Another favorite is a small metal nutcracker that really cracks nuts, one of my last surprises given to me by my Dad.

We celebrate Christmas Eve with dinner, a program performed by our grandchildren, read the nativity from St. Luke, then we exchange Christmas presents. We love doing this so that our children can all be with us on Christmas Eve and they are free for Christmas dinner or whatever with their spouses’ families on Christmas Day. Exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve works well too because our grandchildren never mix up gifts from us and other family members with the Santa stuff on Christmas morning and we get to watch them open their presents.

LDSWBR: What books are on your Christmas wish list this year, Jennie?

JENNIE: I don’t really have a wish list since I get to read most new LDS fiction in order to review it for Meridian Magazine. And the non-fiction, I just buy for my husband, then borrow it back. I’ve been looking at the Joseph Smith Papers, Exploring the Connection Between Mormons and Masons, Sacred Walls, Agent Bishop, Senator Bennett’s book and Mark Shurtleff’s book. Of course, that list grows every time I’m in a bookstore, which is really often this time of year.


LDSWBR: What books will you purchase/have you purchased for loved ones this Christmas? (Unless it would ruin the surprise!)

JENNIE: That would be telling! Hmm, I guess it’s safe to say I bought signed copies of Gale Sears’ Christmas for a Dollar and Val Bagley’s Art Kits for some of my younger grandkids. One grandson wants Dashner’s third book in his series which isn’t even out yet! I’m thinking of getting By the Light of a Star for the ladies I go visiting teach to, since I gave them the Spirit of Christmas by me, Betsy Green, and Michele Bell last year. One thing’s for sure, everyone in the family will get a book for Christmas. I do a good share of my Christmas shopping while (at least before or after) I’m doing book signings!

LDSWBR: Thank you, Jennie. Have a Merry Christmas!

****************************************


Linda Chadwick’s first published novel, Second Chances, was released in August 2009.

Second Chances is available for purchase at Deseret Book, Seagull Book, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Cedar Fort, and Amazon.

More about Linda: I was born and raised in Providence, Utah where I attended Cache County Schools and graduated from Mountain Crest High School in 1988. I married the love of my life on November 28, 1987. Our marriage was later solemnized in the Logan Temple on June 3, 1989. Together we have five wonderful children, including a set of twins!

I love to write, watch movies (anything without blood and guts!) and read. In the summertime my favorite thing to do is go camping with the family. There’s nothing like sitting around a campfire to inspire your writing. I also love to watch the Jazz (when they’re on a winning streak). Second Chances is my first novel, but I hope to have many more.

Visit Linda on her website & blog: www.lindachadwick.com.

LDSWBR: Linda, what favorite holiday traditions do you and/or your family participate in every year?

LINDA: Our favorite holiday tradition is on Christmas Eve the whole family gets to open one gift, and it’s always new pajamas! We then watch The Polar Express, complete with hot chocolate.

LDSWBR: What books are on your Christmas wish list?

LINDA: Santa Maybe by Aubrey Mace.

LDSWBR: What books will you purchase/have you purchased for loved ones this Christmas? (Don’t ruin the surprise!)

LINDA: For the kids, Hashbrown Winters and for the adults, well, that’s a secret.

LDSWBR: Thanks, Linda. Merry Christmas!

Jennie has a large collection of nutcrackers. The only nutcracker we have in our house is an ornament that my girls fight over when it’s time to decorate the tree. We do have a good collection of crocheted snowflake ornaments, some of which were made by me. Do you have a collection of certain holiday decorations or elements, intentional or otherwise? Where did you get your most original pieces for your collection? Would you like to start a collection? If so, what would you like to collect?

Don’t forget to nominate your favorite 2009 books by LDS authors for Whitney Awards by December 31! Can’t remember what you read? Visit the LDS Publisher blog for a list of books published by LDS authors in 2009.



***Countdown to Christmas Contest***


LDSWBR will hold a drawing on Christmas Day for a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book, as well as a variety of books being offered by some of the LDS authors that will be featured on the blog. Simply post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Christmas author posts to enter. Here are the rules:

  • LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a “thoughtful” comment.
  • Only one comment per person per “Countdown to Christmas” author post will be entered into the drawing. This allows the potential for 24 entries per person at the end of the contest. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you’d like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.
  • Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MST on December 24, 2009. Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MST on December 31, 2009 to claim their prize. After that time, another name will be drawn to receive the prize.
  • Book prizes can only be shipped within the contiguous United States.

Books that have been generously donated by the author for drawing prizes:

  • Loyalty’s Web by Joyce DiPastena
  • Hidden Branch by G.G. Vandagriff
  • Altared Plans by Rebecca Talley
  • A Modest Proposal by Michele Ashman Bell (includes a bonus copy of Michele’s Christmas booklet, A Candle in the Window)
  • Her Good Name by Josi Kilpack
  • MISSING by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
  • Famous Family Nights by Anne Bradshaw
  • Love Letters of Joseph and Emma (autographed copy) by Angela Eschler
  • Family Home Evening Adventures by Rebecca Irvine
  • Counting the Cost by Liz Adair
  • Shudder by Jennie Hansen
  • Mormon Mishaps & Mischief by D. N. Giles & C. L. Beck
  • Dawn’s Early Light by Laurie (L.C.) Lewis
  • The Fairy Thorn (brand new release!) by Dorothy Keddington
  • Torn Apart (signed copy) by Diony George
  • Pursued: A Maggie McKenzie Mystery by Lynn Gardner

Thank you so much!

Rachel Ann Nunes – Countdown to Christmas 2009

 Posted by  Countdown to Christmas, Special Features
Dec 212009
 
4 Days until Christmas!



Rachel Ann Nunes is the author of 29 books. Saving Madeline is her most recently published novel. Rachel’s next book, Imprints, is scheduled for a March 2010 release.

Saving Madeline is available for purchase at Amazon and Deseret Book.

Visit Rachel’s website: www.rachelannnunes.com, Rachel’s Ramblings on her website (must be a member to see) and her blog: Rachel’s Ramblings.

Listen to our podcast with Rachel at www.ldswomensbookreview.com.


LDSWBR: Rachel, what favorite holiday traditions do you and your family participate in each year? Will you be starting any new traditions this year?

RACHEL: On Christmas Eve we have a bubblegum blowing contest, which I always win (so far!). Then we turn out the electric lights, light every available candle in the house, and have a special dinner (with turkey and codfish dishes). The kids love the candles! Then we sing Christmas songs and talk about the meaning of Christmas, open our new Christmas pajamas and one present from a sibling. Then we change into our bathing suits and head for the hot tub, where we sing more songs at the top of our lungs so our neighbors can share the joy. There are other things we do, including sledding, gingerbread houses, treat-making, but we have the most fun on Christmas Eve.

LDSWBR: What books are on your Christmas wish list?

RACHEL: My husband got me a Kindle for Christmas, which I opened early so I could download a bunch of urban fantasy novels, which is a current phase I’m going through. Don’t remember the titles (which are many and varied), but I read the first chapters, and if I’m hooked, I read it. The great thing about the Kindle is that I can buy and read books anywhere–in the car, at the tire shop, in the mall…

LDSWBR: What books have you purchased/will you purchase for loved one this Christmas? (Don’t spoil any surprises!)

RACHEL: My children want books more than anything else (yay!), and my husband loves to read so I bought him some books too. Some of these are:

Syren (Septimus Heap, Book 5) by Angie Sage
The Gathering Storm (Wheel of Time) by Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson
Eyes Like Stars: Theatre Illuminata, Act I by Lisa Mantchev
The Amaranth Enchantment by Julie Berry
Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George
Leven Thumps and the Ruins of Alder by Obert Skye
Mister Monday (Keys to the Kingdom, Book 1) by Garth Nix
Grim Tuesday (Keys to the Kingdom, Book 2) by Garth Nix
Drowned Wednesday (Keys to the Kingdom, Book 3) by Garth Nix
Sir Thursday (Keys to the Kingdom, Book 4) by Garth Nix
Lady Friday (Keys to the Kingdom, Book 5) by Garth Nix
Marco? Polo! (Time Warp Trio) by Jon Scieszka
Oh Say, I Can’t See (Time Warp Trio) by Jon Scieszka
Summer Reading is Killing Me! (Time Warp Trio) by Jon Scieszka
Hey Kid, Want to Buy a Bridge? (Time Warp Trio) by Jon Scieszka
Me Oh Maya (Time Warp Trio) by Jon Scieszka
Sam Samurai (Time Warp Trio) by Jon Scieszka
See You Later, Gladiator (Time Warp Trio) by Jon Scieszka
You Can’t, but Genghis Kahn (Time Warp Trio) by Jon Scieszka
The Riddle of Zorfendorf Castle (Secrets of Droon #25) by Tony Abbott
The Chariot of Queen Zara (Secrets of Droon #27) by Tony Abbott
The Moon Dragon (Secrets of Droon) by Tony Abbott
Pirates of the Purple Dawn (Secrets of Droon #29) by Tony Abbott
In the Shadow of Goll (Secrets of Droon) by Tony Abbott
Escape from Jabar-loo (Secrets of Droon) by Tony Abbott
Queen of Shadowthorn (Secrets of Droon) by Tony Abbott
Flight of the Blue Serpent (Secrets of Droon) by Tony Abbott
Treasure of the Orkins (Secrets of Droon) by Tony Abbott
Moon Magic (Secrets of Doon Special Edition) by Tony Abbott
The Lost Empire of Koomba (Secrets of Droon) by Tony Abbott
In the City of Dreams (Secrets of Droon) by Tony Abbott
Orphanage by Robert Buettner
Semper Mars: Book One of the Heritage Trilogy by Ian Douglas
Rogue Clone by Steven L. Kent
The Clone Republic by Steven L. Kent

LDSWBR: Now that’s a nice reading list! Kudos to you! Thanks for sharing with us, Rachel. Merry Christmas!

Rachel’s family obviously loves series. What book series do you and/or your children enjoy? Do you wait until there are several books in a series published before starting to read, or do you anxiously await each book in a series and grab it as soon as it’s published?

Don’t forget to nominate your favorite 2009 books by LDS authors for Whitney Awards by December 31! Can’t remember what you read? Visit the LDS Publisher blog for a list of books published by LDS authors in 2009.



***Countdown to Christmas Contest***


LDSWBR will hold a drawing on Christmas Day for a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book, as well as a variety of books being offered by some of the LDS authors that will be featured on the blog. Simply post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Christmas author posts to enter. Here are the rules:

  • LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a “thoughtful” comment.
  • Only one comment per person per “Countdown to Christmas” author post will be entered into the drawing. This allows the potential for 24 entries per person at the end of the contest. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you’d like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.
  • Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MST on December 24, 2009. Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MST on December 31, 2009 to claim their prize. After that time, another name will be drawn to receive the prize.
  • Book prizes can only be shipped within the contiguous United States.

Books that have been generously donated by the author for drawing prizes:

  • Loyalty’s Web by Joyce DiPastena
  • Hidden Branch by G.G. Vandagriff
  • Altared Plans by Rebecca Talley
  • A Modest Proposal by Michele Ashman Bell (includes a bonus copy of Michele’s Christmas booklet, A Candle in the Window)
  • Her Good Name by Josi Kilpack
  • MISSING by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
  • Famous Family Nights by Anne Bradshaw
  • Love Letters of Joseph and Emma (autographed copy) by Angela Eschler
  • Family Home Evening Adventures by Rebecca Irvine
  • Counting the Cost by Liz Adair
  • Shudder by Jennie Hansen
  • Mormon Mishaps & Mischief by D. N. Giles & C. L. Beck
  • Dawn’s Early Light by Laurie (L.C.) Lewis
  • The Fairy Thorn (brand new release!) by Dorothy Keddington
  • Torn Apart (signed copy) by Diony George
  • Pursued: A Maggie McKenzie Mystery by Lynn Gardner

Thank you so much!

Gregg Luke & Rebecca Irvine – Countdown to Christmas 2009

 Posted by  Countdown to Christmas, Special Features
Dec 202009
 
5 Days until Christmas!

Gregg Luke is the author of four published novels, including his most recent release, Altered State. His next thriller, Blink of an Eye (working title), is currently in it’s initial review.

Gregg’s books are available for purchase at Deseret Book and Seagull Book.

Learn more about Gregg on his website: www.greggluke.com.

Listen to our podcast with Gregg on www.ldswomensbookreview.com.


LDSWBR: What favorite holiday traditions do you and your family participate in each year?

GREGG: Too numerous to mention. We always try to visit Temple Square for the lights. As far as personal traditions, we have our big Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. The kids usually give a play or message and then we read Luke 2.

LDSWBR: What books are on your Christmas wish list, Gregg?

GREGG: Books are my favorite gift, so any book is a wonderful surprise to me. Unfortunately, I have little patience when it comes to getting a book from my favorite authors. I usually go out and buy it myself rather than waiting for Christmas or my birthday.


LDSWBR: What books have you purchased/will you purchase for loved ones this Christmas? (Don’t spoil any surprises!)

GREGG: I sent a number of copies of my novels to friends and family. I also picked up Stephanie Black’s and Jennie Hansen’s latest.


LDSWBR: Thanks, Gregg. Merry Christmas!

****************************************


Rebecca Irvine is the author of two books, Adventures with the Word of God (Oct 2008, Horizon/CFI) and Family Home Evening Adventures (Nov 2009, Horizon/CFI). She is currently working on a manuscript with plans for submission in January.

Family Home Evening Adventures is available for purchase at Cedar Fort, Deseret Book, and Amazon.

Visit Rebecca on her blog: Rebecca Irvine.

LDSWBR: Rebecca, what favorite family traditions do you and your family participate in every year?

REBECCA: My favorite holiday tradition is Christmas morning brunch with my family. My mother makes a delicious ham, home fried potatoes, eggs, fruit, and croissants. It is so yummy–my mom is an amazing cook! And with brunch there are Christmas Crackers, a traditional English holiday game. Before we eat we open these fun packages that are full goodies: crowns, jokes, and trinkets. It is always exciting to see what little gifts were inside everyone’s cracker. After the crackers and brunch we turn on some carols and head in to the tree to open gifts.

LDSWBR: What books are on your Christmas wish list?

REBECCA: The Joseph Smith Papers (vol. 1 and 2), Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Agent Bishop, Altared Plans, and The Ball’s in Her Court.

LDSWBR: What books will you purchase/have you purchased for loved ones this Christmas? (Unless it would ruin the surprise!)

REBECCA: I have already bought each of my kids a new book for Christmas: The Red Badge of Courage for my son, a Nancy Drew for my oldest daughter, and a Junie B. Jones for my first grade daughter. I plan on getting my father a book as well, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise!

LDSWBR: Thanks for sharing with us, Rebecca, and for donating a copy of your book as a prize!

Rebecca’s mom puts together a delicious brunch. Who does the holiday cooking in your house? Do you share cooking and baking duties, or does one person do the bulk of the food preparation? Do you or someone in your family have a special dish that only you/they can make just right?

Don’t forget to nominate your favorite 2009 books by LDS authors for Whitney Awards by December 31! Can’t remember what you read? Visit the LDS Publisher blog for a list of books published by LDS authors in 2009.



***Countdown to Christmas Contest***


LDSWBR will hold a drawing on Christmas Day for a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book, as well as a variety of books being offered by some of the LDS authors that will be featured on the blog. Simply post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Christmas author posts to enter. Here are the rules:

  • LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a “thoughtful” comment.
  • Only one comment per person per “Countdown to Christmas” author post will be entered into the drawing. This allows the potential for 24 entries per person at the end of the contest. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you’d like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.
  • Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MST on December 24, 2009. Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MST on December 31, 2009 to claim their prize. After that time, another name will be drawn to receive the prize.
  • Book prizes can only be shipped within the contiguous United States.

Books that have been generously donated by the author for drawing prizes:

  • Loyalty’s Web by Joyce DiPastena
  • Hidden Branch by G.G. Vandagriff
  • Altared Plans by Rebecca Talley
  • A Modest Proposal by Michele Ashman Bell (includes a bonus copy of Michele’s Christmas booklet, A Candle in the Window)
  • Her Good Name by Josi Kilpack
  • MISSING by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
  • Famous Family Nights by Anne Bradshaw
  • Love Letters of Joseph and Emma (autographed copy) by Angela Eschler
  • Family Home Evening Adventures by Rebecca Irvine
  • Counting the Cost by Liz Adair
  • Shudder by Jennie Hansen
  • Mormon Mishaps & Mischief by D. N. Giles & C. L. Beck
  • Dawn’s Early Light by Laurie (L.C.) Lewis
  • The Fairy Thorn (brand new release!) by Dorothy Keddington
  • Torn Apart (signed copy) by Diony George
  • Pursued: A Maggie McKenzie Mystery by Lynn Gardner

Thank you so much!

Liz Adair & Gale Sears – Countdown to Christmas 2009

 Posted by  Countdown to Christmas, Special Features
Dec 192009
 
6 Days until Christmas!



Liz Adair is the author six novels. Her most recent release, Counting the Cost, was a Finalist in the National Best Books 2009 Awards.

Counting the Cost is available for purchase from Amazon, Inglestone Publishing, and book clubs can download a PDF for free or purchase for book clubs at half price at www.lizadairfreebooks.com.

Watch the book trailer for Counting the Cost here.

Visit Liz on her website: www.lizadair.net and her blog: Liz Sez.

LDSWBR: What favorite holiday traditions do you and your family participate in every year? Will you be starting any new traditions this year?

LIZ: Christmas Eve is the day our family spends together. We meet at mid day to carol at the local nursing home. If we start practicing in September, our low-brass family band is able to play a few numbers, but this year we were laggards and didn’t start building up our lips in time, so we‘re just singing.

After we finish at the nursing home, we have our Christmas Eve dinner. As we take our places at the table, there’s a small gift box at each plate containing a 24-piece puzzle with a personalized limerick written by Grandma (me). Each person puts his puzzle together and reads it aloud, after which we enjoy our Christmas feast.

Then we all gather in the living room to watch the young ones act out the Nativity as Grandpa reads the Christmas story. We finish the evening by singing carols, and then the old folks (Grandpa and I) go home and the younger people watch a Christmas movie.

Christmas morning, each of our children carries on the tradition we began when they were little, taking turns opening our gifts as we sit around the Christmas tree so the giver of the gift can watch as his gift is opened and appreciated.

As far as traditional food is concerned, every year I make my mother’s fudge recipe, and some years I even make her fruitcake. I’ll be blogging about the fudge the week of December 15.

LDSWBR: Liz, what books are on your Christmas wish list?

LIZ: After reading Laurie Lewis’ action packed Dawn’s Early Light about the War of 1812, I’m interested in reading a biography of Dolley Madison. I’m going to ask Laurie which is the best one for a non-scholar like me, and I’ll put the word out to family that it’s on my list.


LDSWBR: What books have you purchased/will you purchase for loved ones this Christmas? (Don’t spoil any surprises!)

LIZ: I have a sister-in-law who loves to read, and I usually try to give her several books for Christmas. She’s a Marsha Ward fan and so I’m giving her the third in Marsha’s saga about the Owen clan, Trail of Storms. I’m also giving her Joan Soward’s newest book, Haunts Haven, and Tanya Mills’ topical book set in Iraq, The Reckoning.

I’ve got a bookworm granddaughter that I’m giving Janette Rallison’s clever and hilarious My Fair Godmother.

LDSWBR: Thank you for sharing with us, Liz. Merry Christmas!

**************************************


Gale Sears is the author of four novels, two Christmas booklets, and one children’s picture book. Her most recent releases include The Route and Christmas for a Dollar. Gale is currently working on her next book, The Silence of God (working title), a historical fiction novel set in 1917 Russia during the Bolshevik revolution.


Gale’s books are available for purchase at Seagull Book, Deseret Book, Amazon and Costco (Christmas for a Dollar).

Learn more about Gale on her website: www.galesears.com and her blog: Stories Around the Kamp Fire.

LDSWBR: Gale, what favorite holiday traditions do you and your family participate in every year?

GALE: My background is Danish so I’ve carried on the Kamp family tradition of having Aebleskeivers for Christmas morning breakfast.

LDSWBR: What books are on your Christmas wish list?

GALE: A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity. All the others I’ve already purchased for myself!

LDSWBR: What books have you purchased/will you purchase for loved ones this year? (Unless it would ruin the surprise!)

GALE: Women of Virtue and Master (the other must remain a secret).

LDSWBR: Thank you, Gale. Happy Christmas!

Fudge is one of my favorite Christmas treats (after the Oreos dipped in dark mint chocolate that I make each year). Some people don’t care for fudge (I know, hard to believe). There’s a candy shop in Gardner Village near where I live that makes a pumpkin spice fudge in fall that is quite yummy. What are your thoughts on fudge? Do you make it, or just eat it? What is the most unusual flavor of fudge you’ve eaten or seen, and what’s your favorite fudge flavor? Do you have a link to a great fudge recipe?

Don’t forget to nominate your favorite 2009 books by LDS authors for Whitney Awards by December 31! Can’t remember what you read? Visit the LDS Publisher blog for a list of books published by LDS authors in 2009.



***Countdown to Christmas Contest***


LDSWBR will hold a drawing on Christmas Day for a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book, as well as a variety of books being offered by some of the LDS authors that will be featured on the blog. Simply post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Christmas author posts to enter. Here are the rules:

  • LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a “thoughtful” comment.
  • Only one comment per person per “Countdown to Christmas” author post will be entered into the drawing. This allows the potential for 24 entries per person at the end of the contest. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you’d like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.
  • Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MST on December 24, 2009. Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MST on December 31, 2009 to claim their prize. After that time, another name will be drawn to receive the prize.
  • Book prizes can only be shipped within the contiguous United States.

Books that have been generously donated by the author for drawing prizes:

  • Loyalty’s Web by Joyce DiPastena
  • Hidden Branch by G.G. Vandagriff
  • Altared Plans by Rebecca Talley
  • A Modest Proposal by Michele Ashman Bell (includes a bonus copy of Michele’s Christmas booklet, A Candle in the Window)
  • Her Good Name by Josi Kilpack
  • MISSING by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
  • Famous Family Nights by Anne Bradshaw
  • Love Letters of Joseph and Emma (autographed copy) by Angela Eschler
  • Family Home Evening Adventures by Rebecca Irvine
  • Counting the Cost by Liz Adair
  • Shudder by Jennie Hansen
  • Mormon Mishaps & Mischief by D. N. Giles & C. L. Beck
  • Dawn’s Early Light by Laurie (L.C.) Lewis
  • The Fairy Thorn (brand new release!) by Dorothy Keddington
  • Torn Apart (signed copy) by Diony George
  • Pursued: A Maggie McKenzie Mystery by Lynn Gardner

Thank you so much!

Traci Hunter Abramson – Countdown to Christmas 2009

 Posted by  Countdown to Christmas, Special Features
Dec 182009
 
7 Days until Christmas!


Only ONE WEEK left until the drawing! Go back and comment on all the Countdown to Christmas posts you haven’t commented on yet. Send your emails and post on your blogs. Get all those entries in!

Traci Hunter Abramson is the author six novels, including her most recent release, Lockdown (March 2009). Traci has two novels scheduled to be released next year- Crossfire in January 2010 and Backlash in September 2010.

Traci’s books are available for purchase at Deseret Book.

Learn more about Traci on her website: www.tracihunterabramson.com and her blog: Traci Hunter Abramson, Author.

LDSWBR: Traci, what favorite holiday traditions do you and your family participate in every year? Will you be starting any new traditions this year?

TRACI: We start out the month with the kids debating who gets to put the ornament up on the advent calendar first and then we try to squeeze some time into our schedule on a family home evening night to put up the Christmas tree. My children’s stockings are insanely large (thanks to my sometimes favorite sister) so when Santa arrives he typically fits all of his gifts into the kids’ stockings. Of course we bake cookies for Santa, sugar cookies in the shapes of trees, candy canes and ornaments…and occasionally an Easter rabbit. My creative children ice them in red, blue and green followed by too many sprinkles. I typically sit by and hope for failures that I can dispose of properly.

Years ago I baked date nut rolls as gifts for my neighbors. These same neighbors have all informed me that this tradition WILL continue whether I have time to bake them or not. According to them, the recipe that my stepmom handed down to me simply doesn’t work the same in their kitchens. I have my suspicions that they aren’t really complimenting my cooking, but rather buttering me up to ensure my contribution to their own holiday traditions. I have to admit, it really is cute to see my kids load the foil-wrapped concoctions into their red wagon and deliver them to everyone on the cul de sac.

For Christmas Eve, we always have a nice quiet meal of grand proportions like my mom used to make when I was a kid (basically a mini-Thanksgiving dinner). Following dinner, my husband reads us the Christmas story and then everyone opens one present to hold us off until the main event on Christmas morning. As for Christmas morning, the children have already been warned not to wake us up until after 7 AM. Translated, this means that at 6 AM my teenagers will send my five-year-old into my room to ask us what time it is. He still has the cuteness factor that protects him from all those dire consequences we warn the older kids about. The good news is that we always have plenty of leftovers from Christmas Eve dinner so I don’t have to cook at all on Christmas Day.

LDSWBR: What books are on your Christmas wish list this year?

TRACI: Any! All! Okay, if I had to actually name specific titles, here are my top three:

Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington: This is one of my favorite books, but I keep buying the economy version of it and then end up giving it away. My latest purchase seems to have disappeared again.

An unabridged dictionary…and no, I don’t just want this because I’m an author. My family loves to play Boggle and my dictionary is seriously outdated. I’m hoping that a new dictionary might help me have an even chance against my husband and my sister (the same sister that gifted those insanely huge stockings to my children).

Surround Yourself with Greatness by Chad Lewis – What can I say? I love football.

LDSWBR: What books have you purchased/will you purchase as gifts for loved ones this year? (Unless sharing would ruin the surprise!)

TRACI: I actually bought multiple copies of one book for several of my friends and family but I’m afraid that information still falls into the “Top Secret” category.

LDSWBR: Thanks for taking the time to share with us, Traci. Have a great Christmas!

Luckily for Mom and Dad, our kids have been known to sleep until 9 AM on Christmas morning. However, my dad liked to drag us kids out of bed early, sometimes 5 or 6 AM (he was more excited than we were!). What time do your kids usually wake you up? What’s the earliest they’ve tried to get you out of bed to open presents? If you don’t have kids, how early were you up on Christmas morning as a child?

Don’t forget to nominate your favorite 2009 books by LDS authors for Whitney Awards by December 31! Can’t remember what you read? Visit the LDS Publisher blog for a list of books published by LDS authors in 2009.



***Countdown to Christmas Contest***


LDSWBR will hold a drawing on Christmas Day for a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book, as well as a variety of books being offered by some of the LDS authors that will be featured on the blog. Simply post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Christmas author posts to enter. Here are the rules:

  • LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a “thoughtful” comment.
  • Only one comment per person per “Countdown to Christmas” author post will be entered into the drawing. This allows the potential for 24 entries per person at the end of the contest. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you’d like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.
  • Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MST on December 24, 2009. Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MST on December 31, 2009 to claim their prize. After that time, another name will be drawn to receive the prize.
  • Book prizes can only be shipped within the contiguous United States.

Books that have been generously donated by the author for drawing prizes:

  • Loyalty’s Web by Joyce DiPastena
  • Hidden Branch by G.G. Vandagriff
  • Altared Plans by Rebecca Talley
  • A Modest Proposal by Michele Ashman Bell (includes a bonus copy of Michele’s Christmas booklet, A Candle in the Window)
  • Her Good Name by Josi Kilpack
  • MISSING by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
  • Famous Family Nights by Anne Bradshaw
  • Love Letters of Joseph and Emma (autographed copy) by Angela Eschler
  • Family Home Evening Adventures by Rebecca Irvine
  • Counting the Cost by Liz Adair
  • Shudder by Jennie Hansen
  • Mormon Mishaps & Mischief by D. N. Giles & C. L. Beck
  • Dawn’s Early Light by Laurie (L.C.) Lewis
  • The Fairy Thorn (brand new release!) by Dorothy Keddington
  • Torn Apart (signed copy) by Diony George
  • Pursued: A Maggie McKenzie Mystery by Lynn Gardner

Thank you so much!

Two More Ways to Enter the Countdown to Christmas 2009 Contest

 Posted by  Countdown to Christmas, Special Features
Dec 172009
 

More Ways to Enter!


Have you seen the awesome list of books available as prizes for the Countdown to Christmas 2009 Contest?

Have you already picked out what you’re going to use the $25 eGift Card on at Deseret Book if you’re the lucky winner?

Did you know that you can go back at any time within the contest period and add your comments to past Countdown to Christmas 2009 author posts?

Want to find out how you can get two more entries into the drawing?

Good for you! Here’s how:

1) Send an email to every friend & family member you can think of, tell them about the Countdown to Christmas 2009 contest and include a link to the LDSWBR Blog. Then email us at ldswbr at gmail dot com and tell us how many people you emailed about the contest. Bingo- extra entry #1!

2) If you blog, write and publish a post about the Countdown to Christmas 2009 Event & Contest and include a link to our blog in the post, directing the readers of your blog to the contest. Then, comment in the section below with a link to your blog post, or email the link to your blog post to ldswbr at gmail dot com and YIPPEE- extra entry #2!

Just so you know: It’s occurred to us that our readers & listeners may not be aware that LDS Women’s Book Review is not affiliated with or compensated by any publishing house, company, or author. With the exception of the occasional free book sent for our review from any number of authors and publishers, large and small, we do not get anything but satisfaction out of recording the podcast and reviewing the books we read. The $25 eGift Card offered in this contest comes from our own personal funds because it’s fun :). And we really like talking about books with people who really like books. Merry Christmas and good luck in the contest!

Shanda, Sheila & Hillary :)

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