12 days until summer!

Tristi Pinkston is the mother of four, author of six (soon to be seven) and the wife of one. She loves reading, watching good movies, and taking ridiculously long naps. She is a freelance editor, a virtual book tour coordinator, mentor, writing instructor, Cubmaster, and headless chicken.

Visit Tristi on her website: www.tristipinkston.com and blog: Tristi Pinkston, LDS Author

Follow Tristi on Facebook and Twitter: @TristiPinkston

LDSWBR: If you had an entire day to read (on the beach, at the lake, by the pool, etc.), what book(s) or genre would you reach for first?

TRISTI: Cozy mystery is my choice these days, but I also enjoy historical fiction and general fiction. I just love books, can I say?

LDSWBR: What book(s) do you look forward to reading the most this summer?

TRISTI: I look forward to the possibility of possibly, maybe, finding time to read anything at all, if I can fit it in. Life has been crazy lately, but books are necessary for survival!

LDSWBR: How would you describe the perfect summer day?

TRISTI: The perfect summer day is warm, but not too hot, and has a gentle cooling breeze blowing. My hair turned out really well, I’m dressed in cute clothes, and my perfectly behaved children are walking respectfully at my side, speaking kind words to each other. My handsome husband takes my hand and tells me I’m more beautiful today than on our wedding day, and someone drives up and hands us a million dollars. That would be a perfect day. Oh, and I’m skinny.

LDSWBR: Nice! Thanks, Tristi. Have a great summer!

Dearly Departed by Tristi Pinkston (Walnut Springs Press; January 2011) is available for purchase from Amazon.

Do you get to read as much as you want? What types of things often keep you from reading?

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***Countdown to Summer 2011 Contest***

LDSWBR will hold a drawing on June 25, 2011 for a $50 Amazon gift card, as well as a variety of books being offered by some of the LDS authors featured in the Countdown. This will be a raffle-type drawing, so more entries means more chances to win. There are several ways to enter the Countdown to Summer 2011 contest. See details below.

Book prizes generously donated by the authors:

• The Upside of Down by Rebecca Talley

• Gifted by Karey White

• Bumpy Landings by Donald J. Carey

• Captive Heart by Michele Paige Holmes

• The Perfect Fit by  Michele Ashman Bell

• River Whispers by Kathi Oram Perterson

• Hazzardous Universe by Julie Wright & Kevin Wasden

• Hearts Through Time by Marie Higgins

• Double Deceit by Stephanie Humphreys

• The List by Melanie Jacobson

• The Forgotten Locket by Lisa Mangum

• The Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah M. Eden

• Blackberry Crumble by Josi S. Kilpack

• **Bonus Prize** An autographed copy of BLOODBORNE by Gregg Luke (released August 2011)

Do ANY of the following to enter:

• Post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Summer 2011 author posts. Comments can be added on any of the author posts anytime during the contest period (June 1, 2011 through June 24, 2011). Only one comment per person per Countdown to Summer author post will be entered into the drawing. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you’d like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.

• Send LDSWBR an email to ldswbr AT gmail DOT com telling us which of the following you have completed. If you already do these things, email us and let us know. Each item gets you 1 entry.

1. Follow LDS Women’s Book Review on Facebook
2. Follow @LDSWBR on Twitter
3. Subscribe to LDSWBR by email (see top right sidebar on website)
4. Follow LDSWBR with Google Friend Connect (right sidebar beneath “Follow LDSWBR”)

• On each Countdown to Summer author post, leave a comment telling us which of the following you completed or already do. Each item gets you 1 entry.

1. Follow the author’s blog (if they have one)
2. Follow the author on Twitter (if they tweet)
3. Follow the author on Facebook (if they have a Facebook page)

• Tweet this message each day. One entry per day. Just copy and paste into your twitter message window to send it (LDSWBR must be able to see the tweet): LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2011 – Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card & great summer reads! http://bit.ly/kZ5jXw @ldswbr

• Blog about this contest on your blog then send us the link to your specific blog post. You can find the Countdown graphic badge/button to include in your blog post here. (5 entries)

• Post the following on your Facebook page (3 entries) then send us an email (ldswbr AT gmail DOT com) telling us that you did: LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2011 – Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card & great summer reads! http://bit.ly/kZ5jXw

Here are the rules:

• Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MDT on June 24, 2011.
• Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MDT on July 2, 2011 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.
• LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a “thoughtful” comment.

Let’s keep counting down to summer with some great reads!