Have I Been in Hiding?

I had someone drop me an e-mail asking me if I had been in hiding. The answer is "no" not hiding, it is just the end of the year round school year for me. I have been averaging grades, getting report cards ready, moving into the classroom next door for next year and taking naps. My energy has been low and I am relieved that this is the last week of school. I have many great things planned for the blog once school is out. Of course I have my list of over 50+ books I plan on reading. I hope that you come back soon!

My Review of "33 Habits of a Really Good Man" By Yvonne Swinson

I just finished reading a great non-fiction book called "33 Habits of a Really Good Man" by Yvonne Swinson. This book would make a great Fathers day gift for a husband, father or grandfather. I also feel like the wisdom shared in this book is for males and females.

Yvonne wrote this book to honor her late father, Bills Wells. You can tell there was a lot of love put into the book. Here is the blurb found on the back of the book...

Bill Wells wasn't a famous man, but he left an invaluable legacy for those who knew him. He lived his life by a few simple words of wisdom, recorded in a little black notebook, and taught his children to do the same. Now, with this collection of mini-memoirs, his daughter Yvonne Swinson shares his legacy with you. 33 Habits of a Really Good Man includes Bill's favorite memories and experiences and shares ideas on how these habits can lead to a “really good” life. Available just in time for Father's Day, 33 Habits of a Really Good Man is the perfect way to show your appreciation for the most important men in your life.

The 33 habits that are listed in this book are wonderful, but simple things that will make our lives happier. Each mini-memoir includes one of Bill's favorite bits of wisdom and how making it a habit can lead to a "really good" life.

-Dream Big

-Laugh Often

-Know Where You're Going

-Don't Worry

-Change Begins with Me

-Speak Softly

-Optimism

-Learn to Work

-Choose to be Happy

-Lose the Stubborn Streak

-Stretch Your Mind

-Seek Truth

-Make It a Habit

You can get a taste of what great things can be found in this book. I tried to pick which one was my favorite and would help me the most. I knew I couldn't blog about the whole book so I finally chose habits #21 Don't Worry and #22 Optimism.

#21 Don't Worry: There is a quote on this page that says,"Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere."-Van Wilder. This chapter starts like this...

"Why waste time worrying? This went hand in hand with his (Bill Wells) continual optimism. I suppose he worried sometimes, but it was never evident to us. My father's approach was very practical: envision the worst case scenario, decide how you would handle it, and then move on. "

I am a constant worry-wart, so the advice here is good for me. Worry can not rule a person's life because like the quote said, it will not get you anywhere.

#22 The quote on this page says, "Every cloud has a silver lining, if we provide the sunshine."-unknown This chapter started with this...

"Along with preparing for the worst came expecting the best. My father always did. I have known of few people in my life who could match my father's optimism. He simply refused to take a gloomy view. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I heard "Well on the bright side..."

Yvonne goes on to say how with this optimism it may have contributed to her father's lack of preparation for the inevitable when he became seriously ill. He didn't show how bad he was feeling because he refused to wear it on his face. This chapter not only made me cry a little but also made me respect Bill Wells for his strength and courage.

"33 Habits of a Really Good Man" is a short book, only 79 pages long; but it is huge in the value you will receive from reading this book and applying the principles in your life. I can tell what a wonderful man he was. He reminds me a lot of my own father, Rolla Windley. He was not well schooled, but was strong in the wisdom and advice he has always shared with his children and grandchildren. I think that I will be buying a little notebook for him to write down his favorite sayings and words of wisdom.

Thank you Yvonne for sharing your father with us. I know the 33 habits your father lived by will bring hope and happiness to all who read your book.

Biography

Yvonne Swinson and her father, Bill Wells.

Yvonne Swinson was born in North Carolina and spent the rest of her childhood moving around the southeastern states. She was an avid reader from a young age and has read many thousands of books. One of her childhood dreams was to someday write her own. She now resides in sunny Southern Utah with her husband and five children (soon to be six). Her other interests include hiking, gymnastics and homeschooling.

---

You can find this book at

-Deseret Book

-Amazon.com

-Seagull Book

If you would like to learn more about Yvonne and other books that she has written you can go to her blog or her website.

Review Disclaimer: Sometimes a book I review has been sent to me for free by a publisher or an author. This in no way effects my review, which is my own opinion about whether the book was a good read for me, fit my tastes, and if I would recommend it to others. Other than possibly a free book, I am not compensated in any way for posting a review. (This is borrowed from my friend Danyelle Ferguson's book review site "Queen of the Clan" because she is so much more eloquent than I am.)

Get a First Chapter Preview of Gregg Luke's New Novel, "Blink of An Eye"

Author Gregg Luke has a new thriller out July 1, 2010 called "Blink of an Eye". I love the cover of this new book. Gregg has written some fabulous mystery/suspense novels such as "Do No Harm" and "Altered State". These books are so good, that they have been finalists for a Whitney Award in the mystery/suspense category for the past two years. I don't have any doubt that "Blink of an Eye" will be a finalist again for a Whitney.

Gregg has made available the first chapter of "Blink of an Eye" to readers. You need to read this! It will definitely hook you into wanting more on July 1st!

Blink of an Eye CHAPTER 1.pdf(25KB)

Gregg was willing to answer a few questions for me to give us a brief look at the writing of his new book.


1-What is "Blink of an Eye" about?

BLINK is about Joseph Ramirez, a young man who suffers a severe head trauma, and instead of it causing amnesia, it brings to mind things he had no idea he'd ever experienced. Most of these events take place in his early childhood, including an instance where he may have murdered his father. Overall, the book is about relationships and how powerfully they can influence our lives.

2-The title of this book is awesome! Did you come up with this title?

Yes, I came up with the title. It indicates not only how fast Joseph's life changes after the accident, but also how fast he repressed the horrific memories he could no longer live with.

3-How long did it take you to write "Blink of an Eye"?

I wrote BLINK in about 11 months. Then were several weeks of agonizing rehash, rewrite, and editing. Ugh!

4-Is this your favorite book you have written?

I love how BLINK turned out. It has some very intense moments and moments that stir the emotions. There's also a little humor in it. It's quite a bit different from my previous novels in that there's not much chemistry in it. The science is still accurate but it only takes a secondary role in the story.

5-Are you going to be having a book launch where people can go to buy your book and get it signed?

I don't know about an official book launch, but Covenant does schedule me for several book signings around the time of release. I love to meet fans and learn about their love of reading.

You can also learn more about Gregg Luke by going to his website.

My Long Awaited Review of, "A Time to Die" By Jeffrey S. Savage

A Time To Die by Jeffrey S. Savage

Here is the blurb from the back cover:


When reporter Shandra Covington finds her best friend, Bobby Richter, close to death on Shandra’s apartment floor, she knows the bullet was meant for her. Making matters worse, Bobby’s fiancée is making sure Shandra gets nowhere near the hospital room where Bobby lies in a coma. With her apartment in shambles and possibly still dangerous, Shandra is forced to stay with her tough-as-nails Harley-riding private investigator friend. In an attempt to clear her mind, Shandra agrees to do a newspaper story on the death of a prominent politician’s daughter. But what she thought was a simple overdose story soon grows into something much more sinister when she finds a common thread with the recent deaths of several young women—all thought to be overdose victims. What do the clues mean? The only person who knows for sure is the Time Keeper—a self-proclaimed true romantic who devotedly tapes a picture of each new love to the bedside wall of his ailing sister. However, the pictures are obituaries spreading across the wall like macabre wallpaper. Time to unravel the mystery is quickly ticking away as Bobby’s life hangs by a thread—and the next “girlfriend” on the Time Keeper’s list is Shandra.


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
All I can say first is...I loved it!! It was well worth the LONG wait. I think it is the best in the Shandra Covington mystery series. I read this book in less than 24 hours...not consecutively, I had to sleep. The bad guy in "A Time to Die" is super creepy.You know what kind I am talking about, the kind that makes you squirm and feel nauseous. The Timekeeper is one bad guy you won't forget for a long time. I have a feeling that we may be seeing more of him in the future.

The best part of all, is that you finally find out what happened to Bobby! I hope in the next Shandra book we get to see and hear more from Bobby. I also could not help laughing every time Officer Dashner and Officer Wells are talking in the book. Jeff has included two of his real life author friends{James Dashner and Rob Wells} as characters in his story. Funny thing is, every time one of them says something in the story, I can see the real person saying it. Thanks for a good laugh with that.

The last thing I will say is this, PLEASE Jeff Savage, don't make us wait so long until the next Shandra book comes out. You of course, ended this book with another cliffhanger that will just keep your readers coming back for more. At least this time, I know what happened to Bobby!

View all my reviews >>

"Shiver"...What did I really think?

This past weekend I finished "Shiver" by Maggie Stiefvater. I had really looked forward to reading this book. I had heard many good things from my friends who had already read "Shiver". For those of you who have not heard about "Shiver" or have not had a chance to read it, here is the blurb about it...

"For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human... until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever. "

Here is an excerpt from the book; the beginning of chapter one:

Chapter One Grace

15°F

I remember lying in the snow, a small red spot of warm going cold, surrounded by wolves. They were licking me, biting me, worrying at my body, pressing in. Their huddled bodies blocked what little heat the sun offered. Ice glistened on their ruffs and their breath made opaque shapes that hung in the air around us. The musky smell of their coats made me think of wet dog and burning leaves, pleasant and terrifying. Their tongues melted my skin; their careless teeth ripped at my sleeves and snagged through my hair, pushed against my collarbone, the pulse at my neck.

I could have screamed, but I didn't. I could have fought, but I didn't. I just lay there and let it happen, watching the winter-white sky go gray above me.

One wolf prodded his nose into my hand and against my cheek, casting a shadow across my face. His yellow eyes looked into mine while the other wolves jerked me this way and that.

I held on to those eyes for as long as I could. Yellow. And, up close, flecked brilliantly with every shade of gold and hazel. I didn't want him to look away, and he didn't. I wanted to reach out and grab a hold of his ruff, but my hands stayed curled on my chest, my arms frozen to my body.

I couldn't remember what it felt like to be warm.

Then he was gone, and without him, the other wolves closed in, too close, suffocating. Something seemed to flutter in my chest.

There was no sun; there was no light. I was dying. I couldn't remember what the sky looked like.

But I didn't die. I was lost to a sea of cold, and then I was reborn into a world of warmth.

I remember this: his yellow eyes.

I thought I'd never see them again.

As I have read reader's reviews on goodreads.com, I noticed most of the reviews were "I really loved it!" to "I didn't like it at all". I am truly somewhere in between. This wasn't a bad book, but it didn't leave me with that "WOW" factor that I would recommend this book to all of my friends . I was instead left with a "ho-hum" attitude. I have been trying to put my finger on how I feel about this book. The premise is great and I like how the temperature affects when a wolf changes into a human and then the human changes back into a werewolf. I just felt like more could have been put into the plot. I also didn't like the fact that the werewolf is not a supernatural being that does anything exciting; it's just a wolf. At least in the Twilight series the werewolves have incredible strength and have the same awareness that they had when they were human.

Another problem I have with this book for teens, was how easy and "right" it was for the main characters to sleep together and eventually have sex. This is not the message I want to send to my daughter or to other teens. I also hated how Grace's parents had no clue that she had Sam in her room all of those many nights/ weeks. **sigh**

I know that I will read the sequel, "Linger" when it comes out soon.{I have the book on hold at the library} I am hoping that it has more of a storyline to keep me interested. I really wanted to like this book a lot, but it truly was missing something for me; so this book gets 3 stars.

My Review of "Rebound" By Heather Justesen

"Rebound" by Heather Justesen is the second novel by this great new author. Her first book, "The Ball's In Her Court" came out last year. You can read my review of her first book here.

Here is the info about "Rebound" found on the back cover:

"Lily's life is perfect--a perfect lie. With a successful husband, a gorgeous home, and a growing family, Lily Drake has it all. But when the FBI shows up, she realizes her husband is not the man she thought he was. Meanwhile, Lily's friend Curtis is about to be drafted by the NBA, but he suddenly feels pulled to find his birth family, and no one is prepared for what he'll discover. With so many obstacles in their way, Lily and Curtis must learn to rely on each other if they're ever going to find peace and learn to love again. In this heartwarming family drama, Heather Justesen, author of The Ball's in Her Court, weaves a stirring story of hope. Reunite with your favorite characters and discover how determination, love, and faith can overcome even the toughest trials. "

Let me first say that I was very impressed with this second book by Heather. I felt that her first book was very well written, but this second book even topped her first. Once again, though, there is a clean romance hidden away in this story, but it is not the central focus of the whole book. Heather knows how to weave so much more into her novels. You will find struggles, heartache, suspense, laughter and much self-growth and awareness from her characters. Of course you will also find even more kisses that make your toes tingle, without being smutty.

The main character, Lily, is amazing! To face what she does, husband in jail, losing her home, seven months pregnant, chasing an active two year old and having to find a job...my heart went out to this character. I am grateful that Heather makes Lily struggle a lot, because this makes the story realistic. There are no quick fixes to Lily's problems or a fast & easy highway to a new romance. We, as readers, take this ride with Lily, as she learns to move forward, gather strength and instill confidence in herself again. As someone who has gone through divorce and had/still am trying to pick up the pieces of my life, I could relate to the feelings and doubts that Lily had about her future. I can't thank Heather enough for making this character and her life situation so real. I also loved that Lily is a teacher!! Lily's teaching moments were also portrayed realistically. I sat and giggled and groaned as I read about her teaching days. Heather has got to have teacher friends to have nailed this so spot on!!

I also enjoyed revisiting the characters from "The Ball's In Her Court", Denise, Rich and Denise's siblings. One of her siblings, Curtis, is the love interest for Lily in this second book. I would love to have a Curtis around like him that babysits, helps with car problems and he even changed baby Sophie's diapers. I also like how Curtis was portrayed as kind, patient, loving and persistent. You did such a nice job on this character Heather.

There were moments when I had to grit my teeth and not scream out loud. Lily's ex-husband and her ex in-laws are just down right nasty people!!! Bleech! (Is that really a word?) In certain situations, when confronted with their mean and vindictive ways, I don't think I would have been as patient and as calm as Lily was. This again is another example of great writing from Heather, in that I was yelling at Lily what I thought she really should have said to these creepy snobs. Thank goodness my children are used to me talking to the characters of the books I am reading. {I did hear in the background one night while reading..."Mommy's crazy"}

"Rebound" needs to be on your summer reading list. I read it quickly because the story moved fast and there were no dull moments for me.

Rebound can be purchased at these locations:

-Barnes and Noble

-Amazon.com

-Deseret Book

-Heather's Website, where you can buy an autographed copy

You also need to head over to Heather's blog where she is going to have a big week of giveaways on her blog the week of June 21st to 25th. I know that I am planning on checking it out.









I want to thank Heather and Cedar Fort publishing for my review copy of "Rebound". Receiving this free copy did not in any way influence my review of the book. I just tell it like I read it.

My Review of "Awakening Avery" by Laurie Lewis and Contest to Win Your Own Copy

Avery can't cope with the death of her husband and is finally convinced by her son to return to the family's Anna Maria Island vacation spot.
With the help from some new-found friends, Avery swaps her house with a widower named Gabriel. As Avery and Gabriel step into each others lives, they begin a correspondence that leads to spiritual and emotional awakening for each of them.

Laurie Lewis, well known as L.C. Lewis, author of the "Free Men and Dreamers" historical fiction series, has written a heart warming and very emotionally driven book. There are many feelings that are brought up in the reader as this novel progresses. I was hooked from the very first page.

"Everyone knew it was inevitable-everyone but Avery Elkins Thompson herself. She smashed the television first, though she hadn't intended to. She had fumbled with the remote for ten minutes, trying to figure out how to record an NBC special, and when the TiVo brought up the screen with the list of programs to record-his list...she lost it. She hurled the remote across the room, not intending for it to hit the center of the screen, but it did."

Right after you read this first paragraph, you want to know more about Avery. Why is she so angry? Why did she lose it? What happened to her to lead to this point in her life? As a reader you are drawn in so quickly to the emotions of Avery and her heartache. She is someone that is flawed, but you choose to cheer for her from the start.

Avery is turning 50, so she is not a young female that is usually seen in many novels. Avery is a woman who has loved and lost. She is being pulled in so many directions, from her grown-up children and their problems to dealing with the loss of her beloved husband. In "Awakening Avery" we go on a journey of healing with her. I found the characters to be so real, with emotions seen in all of us. The grief was portrayed realistically, as was the loneliness and pain of being single again.

In the book, Avery is a famous author. She sets forth to write another novel. As she tries to find the muse to jump start her writing career again, she remembers what her Grandfather told her many years ago.

" 'Don't just tell a story, Avery Xandra. Take me somewhere. Teach me something.' The challenge had always seemed so daunting at first. 'What could I possibly teach you Grandfather?' She still remembered his soft, encouraging rebuke, delivered with a cock of his head and a rapid click of his tongue, 'Has anyone else dreamed your dreams? Asked your questions? Seen inside your heart? Show me those things-teach me about those things.'
Avery thought again about her life. She had seen, lived, loved, and lost much. What have I learned from these things?' "

This was my favorite part of the whole book. I felt like Laurie was talking to me, an aspiring author. I am going to keep these words somewhere close to me as I write. This was a lesson for me from a master storyteller. My heart also loved the character of George, Avery's fellow LDS friend. She learned many lessons from this wise, older friend. I wish that more of the relationship had been played out between Gabriel and Avery, but the way it was presented, was clever and it worked in the long run.

Laurie truly knows how to draw the reader in and never let you go until the very last page. "Awakening Avery" is a story that will stay with you for a very long time. You can visit Laurie at her blog here.
This book can be purchased at Amazon.com



Summer's here and what better way to kick it off than with a blog tour for
Awakening Avery by Laurie Lewis as Awakening Avery
is the perfect poolside read.



Walnut Springs press is giving away 3 fabulous prizes.
Two readers will win their own copy of Awakening Avery! Yeah. There will be one lucky grand prize winner who will the beautiful necklace below. The contest opens June 2 and
will close June 13 at midnight MST.

June 1 Sheila Staley
Why Not? Because I
Said So!

LDS Women's Book Review


June 2 Alison Palmer
Tangled Words and Dreams

June 3 Kimberly Jobs
Scribbled Scraps

June 4 Nichole Giles
Random-ish by Nichole

June 7 Deanne Blackhurst
The Book of Deanne

June 8 Tristi Pinkston
*Tristi Pinkston, LDS
Author

June 9 C.S. Bezas
For the Love of the Written Word

June 10 Joan Sowards
Joan Sowards

June 11 Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
The Write Blocks

Entering the contest is easy--all you have to do is blog, tweet, follow, or
comment and then fill out this little form HERE.

1. Follow our reviewers blogs.
(1 entry for each blog you follow.)

2. Leave a comment on a
review. (1 entry for each review you comment on.)

2. Blog about Awakening Avery, the contest, or a review. (3 entries
for each blog post.)

3. Follow us on twitter. (1 entry
for each person you follow.)
Walnut Springs Press
http://twitter.com/walnutspringspr
Nichole Giles
http://twitter.com/nicholegiles
LDS Women's Book Review
http://twitter.com/LDSWBR
Sheila Staley
http://twitter.com/ssdawn2002
Kimberly Job
http://twitter.com/kimberlyjob
Joan Sowards
http://twitter.com/joansowards

4. Tweet about the contest. (2
entries for each tweet.)

5. Post about the contest on your
Facebook. (2 entries for each facebook post or status update
about the contest.)

6. Become a fan of Walnut Springs Press on Facebook. (1 entry for becoming a fan.)

7. Anything else you can think of that
will spread the word. (3 entries for every social media site you post
on.) If you mention it on goodreads, shelfari, google buzz, make it your
status on gmail chat, MSN or yahoo messenger let us know. We'll reward your
creativity with entries.


.

Interview with Author David J. West and review of his book, "Heroes of the Fallen"

Author: David J. West

Publisher: WiDo Publishing

Published: 2010

ISBN: 978-0-9796070-3-5

Hardcover: 306 pages

Heroes of the Fallen By David J. West

Product Description:

Heroes of the Fallen is a chronicle that dramatizes the tragic end of a great civilization. That era is now lost to us, except through oral legend, myth, and a golden book of lore. Stand alongside daring heroes with swords bared against sinister villains, never knowing which will fall--Captain Amaron and his Ten Scouts, Zelph the White Lamanite, or Anathoth the Lamanite General, agonizingly loyal to the despised King of Tullan-- all must
face the chillingly evil Gadianton Master Akish-Antum and
his numerous followers. Witness the plans of mighty kings and

lowly thieves. See the dreams of Bethia, a prophet's daughter,
as she runs away from home seeking independence, only to
find confusion and wickedness in a land at war. Heroes of the Fallen
s full of tragedy and triumph. It echoes universal themes
of mankind: fear and courage, faith versus doubt, hunger for power and love, and sacrifice for the greater good. Intensely researched, Heroes of the Fallen is a literary work of art, presenting revolutionary viewpoints in a
cross-genre's ancient American landscape.

I always love to read historical fiction from Book of Mormon time. This book is like one that I have never read before. It is not very often, that I read a novel that includes the Gadianton robbers and the final days of the Nephite people. The Book of Mormon people are brought to life in this novel. David uses rich detail, in his writing, to perfectly describe each of the nations that were at war with each other.

I was impressed with the amount of research that David put into this book. As you read, you know that much of course is fictional, but also you realize that this book is full of historical facts. I am not sure that I will ever want to write a historical novel. I think that they research more than any other writers.{I could be wrong here since I have not written a novel yet.:) }

Another exciting thing about this book, it is part of a series of book about this time period. The sequel will be called, "Blood of Our Fathers" and will be released in 2011. I think that this series will eventually be looked at as a great Book of Mormon epic. There is a lot of action and intrigue throughout the novel. There are many different stories and plot lines being played out. You also need to be on your toes to keep everyone straight at the first. Even though these are names you have heard before, I had to seriously pay attention or I would have been lost. This is not a novel to pick up and read casually, you will want to focus on each of the main characters and who they are interacting with.

One thing that really made an impact on me was how truly evil the Gadiantons were. All of my life, while reading the Book of Mormon, I knew that they were evil. David brings to the forefront how truly conniving and wicked this group of people were. You could see how Satan led them in all of their dealings with others. David paints a clear picture of who the true heroes were during this time. I truly loved reading about Captain Amaron, a true leader who stuck to his values and religion.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this novel, by the very talented, new author,

David J. West. Once I started reading, it was so hard to put down; you had to read chapter after chapter to see what would happen next.Then you had to read the next chapter and then the next etc. I lost some sleep as I read well into the wee hours of the morning.As I have said before, that is a sign of a well written book. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Go visit David's blog here


Here is a fun interview with David. I hope that you will enjoy reading it.

1. When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?

I have always told stories. I won an award in second grade for a short about a family of wolves evading and then getting revenge on a hunter and his dog. So it's always been there though I was devoted mostly to poetry in my teens and 20's. I didn't actively start working towards being published until a couple years ago when it dawned on me that IF this is what I want to do-why aren't I really working toward it? There has to come a time when you have to quit talking about your dreams and do something about it.

2. When did the idea for your book, "Heroes of the Fallen" come to you?

I have of course always been fascinated with the visceral elements of the Book of Mormon, the battles and arm-lopping etc (what boy isn't?) and the thought of doing an action-adventure in the Book of Mormon realm was always sitting in the back of my mind-but there was nothing more there until I read about Joseph Smith during Zion's Camp and the revelation he had regarding Zelph-"the white Lamanite". That fascinated me and I wondered for several years why hadn't anyone told his story yet? So I came to a point in early 2004 when I decided I would tell it. It began with short adventure stories that all linked together until it only made sense to do a novel/series.

3. How long did it take you to write this book?

I used to write in notebooks all my ideas and roughs but honestly wrote almost nothing in 2005, I just talked about it to people while the ideas gelled. I did come up with some good ideas but I still recommend always working and not getting hung up on doing more research than story, after all I am writing fiction and even historical-fiction has to have a great story over research details.

I was building stake centers in 2006 and wrote almost all of Heroes and its sequel while out of town in Kentucky. Finished the last bits when I moved back to Utah and had virtually both books typed up in summer/fall 2007. I submitted it and third time was the charm, that was early 2009.

4. I know that you are working on the sequel to "Heroes of the Fallen", how many books

are going to be in this series?

I don't honestly know at this point but since you asked I would like to do at least 7 if not 12. I see it as having a lot in common with the big epic-fantasy's that I like to read and that's who I hope to scoop up as readers-all the saints that love reading those big epic series. Hope that's not too daunting, I try to make sure the reader is captured and NOT bored NOR overwhelmed with detail-that there is always a good clip to whats happening.

5. Are there other genre's that would like to write in the future?

I have sold some fantasy short stories to the national market and they will be in print this fall. So I write what I like to read-historical s and fantasy's. I have a number of fantasy novels that will be submitted to that market by the end of the year.

6. When is the best time for you to do your writing?

After midnight when the house is still and quiet. My children are young and its just the best time to get things done uninterrupted.

7. Was "Heroes of the Fallen" your first manuscript you ever sent out?

It was the first novel I ever sent out. An awful lot of learning curve there.

8. What advice would you give to aspiring writers like me?

If writing is what you want to do, you have to stop talking about it and just do it. (I should have said this to myself 5 years ago)

Excuses will not make a book.

Don't get so wrapped up in research that you're not writing.

And the absolute most important thing to me is make sure its a good story that makes the reader feel something.

Thanks so much David! You have a wonderful writing career ahead of you.

Having Books in the Home Helps Children Succeed in Education: From Scholastic

"Having books in the home helps children succeed in Education"; you would think this idea is a no brainer. Unfortunately, there are still many children in the United States who have very few or no books in their homes.

At one of my favorite blogs, On Our Minds @Scholastic they discussed this issue. They sited this 20 year study, “Family scholarly culture and educational success: Books and schooling in 27 nations,” was published in the journal, Research in Social Stratification and Mobility (online at www.sciencedirect.com).

This is the basic conclusion of the study where it stated:

"For years, educators have thought the strongest predictor of attaining high levels of education was having parents who were highly educated. But, strikingly, this massive study showed that the difference between being raised in a bookless home compared to being raised in a home with a 500-book library has as great an effect on the level of education a child will attain as having parents who are barely literate (3 years of education) compared to having parents who have a university education (15 or 16 years of education). Both factors, having a 500-book library or having university-educated parents, propel a child 3.2 years further in education, on average."

I love what the bloggers at Scholastic had to say about this study, "For those of us trying to ensure that every child has a chance at succeeding in school and in life, this is huge."

I happen to agree 100% with my friends at Scholastic. Throughout my many years in teaching, I have seen those children who were raised, from infant hood, with books. These children have been the ones reading earlier than their peers. They are more interested in the reading process. They also tend to do better in other areas of learning.

Being a sociologist,Mariah Evans was particularly interested to find that children of lesser-educated parents benefit the most from having books in the home. She has been looking for ways to help Nevada’s rural communities, in terms of economic development and education.

“What kinds of investments should we be making to help these kids get ahead?” she asked. “The results of this study indicate that getting some books into their homes is an inexpensive way that we can help these children succeed.”

I agree with the researchers, that having books in the home allows us to give ALL children an early start in learning. So what do you think? Did you grow up in a home with many books? Do you feel like this gave you a great start? I would love to hear from all of you.

My Review of "The Golden Spiral" by Lisa Mangum

His eyes. His touch. His kiss. Dante was unlike anyone Abby had ever met. Now he' s gone, and Abby will do anything to get him back . . . The hourglass door has closed behind Dante, sending him back in time to hunt down Zo, Tony, and V. Abby knows that Dante, as a Master of Time, is the only one who can stop them from destroying time itself. She also knows that he will need her help. But almost immediately, things start to change, and Abby s worst fears are realized when Zo begins targeting her past specifically. As Abby s world fractures around her, she must face a terrible truth: either Dante didn' t make it through the door, or he is lost forever. So with Dante s blueprints in hand, she begins construction on a new door, a new time machine that will either save Dante or doom him. With each new change that ripples into her present, Abby s life continues to spiral out of control. Her relationships with Jason, Natalie, and even her family are threatened to the breaking point and beyond. Zo s power is greater than Abby ever imagined, but as she struggles to free Dante, she receives help from an unexpected and unlikely ally. The bank is eroding. The barriers are thinning. And time is running out.

Wow! That is the first thing I said after reading "The Golden Spiral". It is the sequel to the very popular, "The Hourglass Door" by author Lisa Mangum, that came out last year. The third book in the trilogy, "The Forgotten Locket" will be coming out Summer 2011.

When I first started reading I was very confused. In the prologue I was desperately trying to remember all of the characters and what they had done in book one. I highly suggest that you re-read "The Hourglass Door" again before reading "The Golden Spiral". Once you get to chapter one, things start making sense again.

As in the case of most series written, I enjoyed reading the second book more. It comes down to the fact, that the first book usually establishes characters and storyline. In the following books the author can do more with the characters. You already know the characters, how they will react to something; you either really like them, such as main characters Abby and Dante, or you really hate them such as the character of Zo.

Abby carries the storyline in this book. She is strong, confident and brave. Her devotion to the man she loves makes you sigh. There is a lot of romance in the story that female readers will love! I am not sure the male readers will react as favorably to that as women, but I am glad that the romance is there. The romance shows why Abby would sacrifice everything for the man that she loves. You have to understand this in order to appreciate the lengths that Abby goes to so she can save Dante. Speaking of Dante, he is a very yummy, Italian man. You can understand why Abby would do anything and everything to have him in her life.

I love how Lisa shows time travel in her books. It is unique and believable, as far as time travel goes. The whole idea of a river of time, that controls all of our lives and how it can change when someone disrupts the flow, is brilliant to me. "The Golden Spiral" has a lot of action and mystery. You are constantly wondering, what in the world will happen next?

There is an important lesson at the end of the book that the character Zo talks about.

"I've learned lot since I've started traveling at will through the river. I've made some mistakes, sure, but I've tried to learn from them. One of the things that fascinated me about the whole process of changing events is seeing how people's choices can change what happens to them. The chain reactions are fascinating. Sometimes things work out exactly as I planned...sometimes I have to improvise."

In point #9 in the reading guide it says, "The book touches on the importance of making choices of our own free will, of shaping your own destiny and future. Are there choices you have made that have changed the course of your life?'"I think that this question applies to adults as well as the young adults who this book was mainly written for.

So, I recommend this book to all people that like speculative fiction, a nice, clean romance, lots of action and surprises thrown in throughout the book...read "The Golden Spiral". The book ends in a way that will make you wait anxiously for next Summer and "The Forgotten Locket". Way to go Lisa Mangum! I really loved this book.

Rating: 4 stars

Recommend this book? Yes, 100%

Read it Again? You can count on it