Mar 222010
 


I was more than happy to join in when Nichole Giles asked me to participate in her blog tour for The Sharp Edge of a Knife. As part of the fun, Nichole is holding a contest to go along with her blog tour. The contest details follow my review, so make sure you page all the way down. Here we go!

Sharp Edge - front cover - mediumTitle: The Sharp Edge of a Knife

Author: D.N. Giles

Published Date: 2010

Published by: Golden Wings Enterprises

ISBN#: 978-0-9794340-2-0






The Sharp Edge of a Knife is based on the real life experience of Nichole’s grandfather, told using the point-of-view of both Mel (her grandfather) and Jeneal (her grandmother). I’m glad Nichole told the story using both Mel and Jeneal; it worked quite well for me. Not only do we get to experience what is happening to Mel, we also learn what Jeneal is feeling and wondering during everything.

The Sharp Edge of a Knife isn’t a long book (142 pages), but it didn’t feel at all like a short story, either. The suspense lasted throughout the book, making the quick read a memorable one. Nichole’s writing is effective & the story is engaging, with just the right amount of detail, and reflects the time period as well (1950s). It was easy to picture the events in my mind as they occurred.

It was fascinating to see and read copies of actual newspaper clippings about the event at the end of the book. I concluded my reading with a great amount of respect for Mel and understand why he was and is so loved by his large and growing family. I highly recommend this book to all readers.

Well done, Nichole!



FTC FYI: The copy of this book I reviewed was provided by the author; this has no affect on my review.



Here is the contest info from Nichole:


The Sharp Edge of a Knife Blog Tour and Giveaway!

To celebrate the release of The Sharp Edge of a Knife, I’ve put together an exciting giveaway, with several opportunities to win. Since the book deals a lot with making choices, the prizes all have something to do with choice.

watchesbylisaAmong prizes I’ve been collecting, Lisa at Watches by Lisa has agreed to sponsor the giveaway by donating a custom made beaded watch and face. Head on over to her blog and take a look at the incredible selection.

So, choice number one:  the winner gets to choose a watch band and face so that their watch is personalized to their tastes and fashion needs.

Yes, I realize that a beaded watch is not exactly a prize to be coveted by a bunch of masculine men (though it makes a great gift for the woman or girl in your life), which is why I’m also giving away more great stuff. Check out the following really cool prizes:

1. Choice between: An autographed copy of the New York Times number one bestselling novel, Wings by Aprilynne Pike—or—a non-autographed copy of The Darwin Awards, Intelligent Design by Wendy Northcutt—or—a numbered, autographed copy of Recovering Charles by Jason F. Wright. Click here to learn more about Wingshere to read about The Darwin Awards, and here to find out about Recovering Charles.

2. Choice between: A $25 gift certificate to the Restaurant Morelia in Murray, UT (Sorry out-of-state peeps, this is local to Utah.) or $25 worth of vinyl lettering by Whaddayawannasay Vinyl Lettering—you choose your quote or phrase.

Bonus prize for author types

3. You may substitute any of the above selections with the following incredible opportunity: The chance to sit in on a critique session with my wonderful, amazing, incredible critique group. While there, you will be treated to not one, but six critiques on the first chapter of your work in progress. This is no ordinary group. We have in our midst some fabulous authors including Tristi Pinkston, acquisitions editor for Valor publishing and author of the Secret Sisters series, Danyelle Ferguson, freelance editor and author of (dis)Abilities and the Gospel—who will edit via internet, since she actually lives in Kansas—Heather Justesen, author of The Ball’s In Her Court and the upcoming release, ReboundKimberly Job, author of I’ll Know You By Heart, andKeith Fisher, up and coming author of women’s fiction and plotting genius, and Nichole Giles, also known as D.N. Giles.

**If you are not local to Utah, but would still like this option, we will still critique your chapter online.

**If enough people enter this contest, I reserve the right to choose extra winners and give away some, or all, of the prizes left after the top three winners have made their choices.

Entries will be accepted between March 15th and April 3rd. On April 5th Nichole will announce the contest winners on her blog. Entry requirements:

1. You must be a follower of my blog.

2. You must leave a comment telling me which prize you want to win and why.

3. For those wishing to win the watch, you must go to Watches by Lisa and become a follower, then come back and tell me which watch combination is your favorite.

Extra entries:

1. Blog about this contest, then come back and leave either a url address or a link in a comment.

2. Twitter this contest, tell me where to see your tweet in a comment.

3. Follow me on Twitter.

4. Follow Nichole on Twitter.

5. Facebook the contest. If your Facebook page is private, and I’m not your friend, I can’t see that you’ve done this, so you’ll need to friend me.

6. Become a fan of The Sharp Edge of a Knife on Facebook.

You may enter this contest here, as well as on any of the tour posts at the following blogs:

March 15th Cindy Beck, Review

March 16th David J. West, review, interview

March 17th Cindy Beck, Interview

March 18th Tristi Pinkston, review

March  19th Rachelle Christensen, review

March 22nd Shanda, LDS Women’s Book Review

March 23rd Kimberly Job, review

March 23rd Keith Fisher, Interview

March 24th Heather Justesen, review

March 25th Christine Bryant, Review

March 25th Connie Hall, Interview

March 26th Kimberly Job, interview

March 26th Heather Justesen, interview

March 27th Keith Fisher, review

March 28th Ali Cross, Review

March 29th Rachelle Christensen, Interview

March 30th Heather Gardener, Fire and Ice Book Reviews

March 31st Danyelle Ferguson review, interview

Dec 122009
 
13 Days until Christmas!

Janet Jensen has published two books, The Book Lover’s Cookbook (Wenger & Jensen, Ballantine, 2003) and Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys (Bonneville, 2007). She’s currently working on a spin-off of Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys called Gabriel’s Daughters, as well as another novel, And Grace Will Lead Us Home, about an illiterate man who is desperate to hide his disability in today’s very literate society.

Janet’s books can be purchased online at www.amazon.com and www.cedarfort.com.


More about Janet: Janet Kay Jensen is the award-winning author of Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys (Bonneville Books, 2007) and co-author of The Book Lover’s Cookbook: Recipes Inspired by Celebrated Works of Literature and the Passages that Feature Them (Wenger & Jensen), Ballantine, 2003. Her work also appears in Healing Ministry Journal, LDS Writing Secrets, Byline, Meridian, Everton’s Family History Magazine, Heart to Heart Newsletter (Intermountain Donor Services) and The Magic of Stories.

She holds degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from Utah State University and Northwestern University and is an adult literacy tutor. Recently, she had the opportunity to record an interview with her literacy student through National Public Radio’s StoryCorps® program. She has been a guest instructor in a creative writing program for county jail inmates.

Janet has won numerous awards from the League of Utah Writers, including first place in personal essay, humorous poetry, and short story. Her work has also won several honorable mentions in ByLine. She is a member of Authors Guild, Authors Den, LDStorymakers, League of Utah Writers, Romance Writers of America, Mortar Board, and Utah State University’s Old Main Society. She and her husband Miles are the parents of three grown sons who all attend graduate school. They have one remarkable grandchild.

You can visit Janet on her website: www.janetjensen.com and her blogs: Janet Kay Jensen and Janet’s #2 Blog (all about Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys).


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

JANET: We have a party for extended family on Christmas Eve. After potluck, we love to play Balderdash, the bluffing dictionary game.

Oh–and another Christmas tradition: I try to collect a Christmas ornament whenever I travel. That turns my tree into a history. And I have bout our sons ornaments each year. They reflect the interests or events that happen during the year. When the boys left home, they had a good start on a collection of their own. And even though they’re grown up, I still find them a new ornament every Christmas.

LDSWBR: What books are on your Christmas wish list?

JANET: I would love to have a set of the classics (considered to be the 50-100 best works in literature). There are many I haven’t read, and if I studied them in high school, I’d need a refresher course! They are the inspiration for many great books that followed them. Contemporary works also refer to the classics, so that would increase my understanding of current literature as well.

However, my husband and I are trying valiantly (with some success) to downsize at our house, and I’ve actually been giving books away. We still have a lot of books as my husband grew up in a bookstore and my mother was a librarian. I hate to think how many there really are downstairs! Genetically we were predisposed to collect books.

The concept of downsizing was driven home when an older couple who had lived on our street for many years had both passed away, and their children had to deal with all of their possessions. We could not believe the number of vans and trucks that came and went. And the there were the garage sales! We vowed not to do that to our sons. We could do much better, as we’re both sentimental about things, but we’re trying.

So–to finish a long answer, I think that rather than acquiring a set of the classics, it would be best for me to check them out from the library. I love libraries. Just waling into a library gives me a boost. And it’s much, much safer than walking into a bookstore!

LDSWBR: What books have you purchased/will you purchase for your loved ones this Christmas?

JANET: I would like our granddaughter (age 2 1/2) to have a steady diet of Dr. Seuss, Uncle Remus, Mercer Meyer and timeless folktales, so I’ll be adding to her collections. Anne Bradshaw’s Famous Family Nights is a great gift for everyone.


LDSWBR: Thank you, Janet. Have a very Merry Christmas!

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


Cindy Beck and Nichole Gile
s are the authors of the recently released Mormon Mishaps and Mischief, a first book for both of them. Cindy and Nichole have each written several short stories and articles. Cindy authors a monthly humor column in the newspaper and has several works in progress, and Nichole is working on a number of novel-length projects (no publication dates yet) and one short-length novella, The Sharp Edge of a Knife, which should be released in late January or early February.

Mormon Mishaps and Mischief ($10) is available for purchase at booksellers near you, as well as online at www.mormonmishaps.com and www.amazon.com.

Visit Cindy and Nichole on their website: www.mormonmishaps.com and their blog: LDS Humor.

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

CINDY: Ooo, I love eating Christmas goodies, drinking eggnog and watching the lights on the tree. Half of them blink and the other half don’t. But it’s never the same half twice in a row, so simple minds are easily occupied.

NICHOLE: We set up a treat table about mid-December and load it up with all the good holiday goodies. Some we make, some we buy, and some others give to us. All the kids in the neighborhood look forward to coming over to share our treats. Also, we love to drive around and look at the lights while we listen to Christmas music. Sadly, the family favorite is our “Elves Gone Wild” CD. Hardly spiritual, but lots of fun.

LDSWBR: What books are on your Christmas wish list?

CINDY: I’d like a leather-bound copy of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Hmmm, do they make leather bindings anymore? Well, if not, I’ll take polyester.

NICHOLE: Um, I’d like a whole lot of books this year so if Santa would please just stuff my stocking with a gift card to Barnes and Noble or Borders, I’d be okay with that. Otherwise, I’ll take any and all new young adult fantasy/paranormal releases as well as a few clean romance novels. A girl can never get enough romance, right?

LDSWBR: The three of us agree completely! What books do you plan on purchasing/have you purchased as gifts for loved ones this Christmas? (Unless sharing would ruin the surprise for someone!)

CINDY: Umm, oh … alas and alack … if I tell then Santa will be unhappy with me. :)

NICHOLE: Well, I don’t know what Santa has planned, but I’m thinking about giving out copies of the Family Record Keeper by Mary Greathouse. Also giving away a few copies of our book Mormon Mishaps and Mischief, because it really does make a great gift.

LDSWBR: Cindy and Nichole, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule during the release of your new book to share with us. Merry Christmas!

What traditional board or card games do you and your family like to play at Christmas time? If you don’t usually play games, do you have a street in your neighborhood or city that goes “all out” for Christmas that you and your family like to drive past?

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

Thank you so much!

Dec 082009
 

If you like to laugh, then I’d like to tell you about a book that will make you do just that!

Mormon Mishaps and Mischief-1 resized

The new book, Mormon Mishaps and Mischief by Nichole (N.D.) Giles & Cindy (C.L.) Beck, is being released Wednesday, December 9, 2009. The launch party will be at the Orem, UT Barnes & Noble (330 E. 1300 S./University Pkwy) from 6 PM to 9 PM. They’ll have treats, prizes and readings by contributors, so much fun will be had. They are authors of a humor book, after all!

If you’re looking for a great neighbor gift or stocking stuffer, Mormon Mishaps and Mischief, with a price tag of only $9.99, is a great choice.

More of Nichole & Cindy’s book signings:

  • December 12 – 11 AM to 1 PM – Barnes & Noble Gateway – SLC, UT
  • December 16 – 6 PM to 8 PM – Borders – Provo, UT
  • December 19 – 11 AM to 1 PM – Barnes & Noble – Sandy, UT

Learn more about Mormon Mishaps and Mischief on the website: www.mormonmishaps.com and on the blog: LDS HUMOR