Comments on: Award Season

By: Angela

Angela — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 01:53:50 +0000

Thank you Judy!

I was able to attend the Whitney award dinner last night, and it was a lot of fun. I’m looking forward to filling everybody in here at Segullah on Thursday.

By: Judy C. Olsen

Judy C. Olsen — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 05:24:06 +0000

As a Whitney Award finalist for my novel Beyond the Horizon, by Covenant, I’d like to say that this is a novel that explores some of what it means to be LDS–historically speaking.
I determined to write a story that had some adventure, some fun, some romance, but one that also reflected more fully the essence of what it means to grow in faith.
Other books I’m working on show characters within families, where struggles include personal journies that refine us spiritually. Always, of course, within an intriguing storyline.
I’ve wondered if there was an interest in LDS fiction with a more literary element. My publisher tells me there’s little interest in that, hence no financial incentive to go there. So many of us check books out of the library, as purchasing them seems so frivolous a use of money on a tight budget.
So, how far can I go to create a read that is entertaining while also suggesting deeper levels of insight to those who wish to find them? And are they worthy of someon’s hard-earned money?
I hope to find others who want more from their books. Because I love to write them.

By: Angela

Angela — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:30:23 +0000

Thanks to everyone who popped in. I’m looking forward to seeing some of you on Saturday.

By: Traci Hunter Abramson

Traci Hunter Abramson — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:37:05 +0000

Thanks Terry! I wish I could be there too. Instead, I’ll be heading out in a few minutes to stand in line all night (or rather camp in line all night) by the White House to get tickets for the Easter Egg roll. I hope it isn’t too cold!

By: c jane

c jane — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:18:20 +0000

Loved THIS IS WHAT I DID by Ann Dee Ellis and I am so happy to hear she is getting a nod from the association.

By: Terry A

Terry A — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 01:59:05 +0000

Traci,
I just read “Freefall” and loved it. Good luck on Saturday night. Wish you could be there.

Coke,
I can’t wait to read your book!
My daughter and I are headed for the conference in the morning…if only we had all the money and time in the world to read everything and then write our own.

By: Traci Hunter Abramson

Traci Hunter Abramson — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 01:39:18 +0000

Angela, I don’t know about being “cool” because of working for the CIA. All I’m sure of is that I get to go through the extra step of letting CIA’s Publication Review Board check out all of my intelligence based fiction before I can show it to anyone. Then again, it’s quite an ego boost when they say it’s going to take four weeks for their review and they send it back one week later.

The great thing about being former CIA is that I developed such a wonderful appreciation for how the government works and the incredible dedication by so many to maintain our freedoms. The bad thing is that I was trained to not talk about my work, which probably explains why a lot of people I go to church with still don’t know I write LDS fiction. Most of my friends found out about my first book when several ward members went on vacation to Utah and saw my novels on display in LDS bookstores. I guess I still have a lot to learn about publicity!

By: Coke Newell

Coke Newell — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:27:50 +0000

William is so much more hip and connected than I am… and to think I never even got to taste Postum previous to its departing… alas, his post-Postum postmortem particulars (as per his perspicacious web link) are particularly impressive, however depressing. But then, I never drank the stuff anyway.

By: Wm Morris

Wm Morris — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:41:39 +0000

Uh, Coke. I have some bad news for you about the Postum toast.

By: Chris Bigelow

Chris Bigelow — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:37:50 +0000

And here’s some more info and reviews on Whitney finalist HUNTING GIDEON, another book published by Zarahemla:

Tracking hackers and crackers for the FBIâ€™s National Infrastructure Protection Center looks like a vivid video game to an outsider, but the outcome of the play is deadly serious. Through her online feline avatar, Sue Anne Jones stalks the V-Net, the ultimate virtual-reality interface, in pursuit of evil in all its online forms. Her partner, ex-cracker Loren Hunter, provides cynical commentary along with his expertise in the V-Netâ€™s shadier alleys.

Their days of busting routine identity thieves and insidious corporate spies end when they get a new assignment: Hunt down a cyber-terrorist calling himself Gideon, who has infiltrated the financial system, rerouted supply lines, and murdered the supervisor of an automated factory. Now Gideon is sending taunting messages, quoting scripture, and warning Sue that she must join his crusade or sufferâ€”along with the rest of the virtual worldâ€”when he takes total control of the V-Net.

â€œThis book should find a wide audience. Itâ€™s cleverly written, fast paced, and unusual, and without the slightest preachiness, it gives some of the best answers Iâ€™ve seen to difficult questions.â€
â€”Jennie Hansen, Meridian magazine

â€œFast, funny, and fervently recommended! I can heartily recommend Hunting Gideon to any reader who likes adventure, mystery, sly humor, and that kind of male/female banter that signals slow but sure movement down the road of romance.â€
â€”Melanie Goldmund, LDS Readers blog