Strength and its Measures: Quote #4

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage."

~Lao Tzu

From the mouth of my nine-year-old this afternoon: "Mom, you should send us to Hawaii for school. Then you and dad could move there too, and we could skip school and live in a happy house." ~McKay My response: Oh boy, I couldn't agree more! Let's all skip school and move to Hawaii!

Don't forget to enter to win a signed copy of The A-MAZE-ing Book of Mormon by Arie Van De Graaff. If you don't remember the details, click here or scroll down to the post below this one. The contest is open until Midnight Wednesday night (or Thursday morning, technically.) Good luck!

You Too, Can Make a Difference

This week's random stuff:

It's been a while since I gave something cool away. I recall promising to give away a gift certificate to a Utah restaurant a few weeks ago--however, said certificate has temporarily disappeared. (Hazard of owning more than one purse and having to swap contents regularly.) In any event, I still have other things to give away until that particular prize shows up again. So, keep reading to find out what I'm giving away this week and what you should do to enter.

Okay, next, I'm getting excited about the release of Mormon Mishaps and Mischief: Hilarious Stories for Saints. It doesn't hit shelves until December, but that'll be here before we know it. Come find us on Facebook, or read updates about our book at the Humor Blog. (Our being mine with my coauthor Cindy Beck.)

Also, today I blogged about making tough decisions over at LDS Writer's Blogck. Check it out and leave me lots of comments. (Because, all bloggers just love comments.)

And best of all, in honor of last night's wicked awesome Nickelback concert, I'm posting this video. I truly believe that we all have the power to change the world, so this is inspiring to me.







Now, about the contest. This week I've decided to give away a fun book of mazes called The A-MAZE-ing Book of Mormon by Arie Van DeGraaff. This book is super fun, and full of mind-bending mazes that will keep you / your child busy and quiet for hours. Plus, the illustrating is amazing. Oh, and it's autographed.

To win, you can do a few things:

1. Leave a comment here telling me what you can do to change the world--even if it's just for one person.

2. Check out Arie Van DeGraaff's website or blog and leave a comment telling him I sent you. (Following him is also a great idea.) Oh, and then make sure you tell me you visited--so I know.

3. Log onto Facebook and become a fan of Mormon Mishaps and Mischief. (That's my book that will be released in December!) We love fans! Ooh, and one extra entry for everyone that invites lots of their friends to become fans too. Yes, definitely.

Do one or all of these things by no later than midnight next Wednesday, September 3rd, and you'll be automatically entered to win.

Just in case lady luck is not with you this week, and you want to buy your very own copy of this awesome book for children, click here.

That's it. Good luck everyone!

Nichole

A Lucrative Obsession

By Nichole Giles

Everyone has a hobby, right? And most people collect something—even if they don’t realize it. Or, at least that’s what I tell myself as I consider the collection we have going at my house.

It all started with a little toy house that came with a tiny plastic baby. The 1980 Fisher Price Little People house (brown) to be exact, complete with car, beds, chairs, tables, and Little People family. We found it one day at a swap meet when our kids were two and four (and we must have had an infant, because our girls are only 20 months apart). Anyway, our daughter picked up that baby and wouldn’t put it down—insisting that we buy it and take it home so she could keep it forever.

What we didn’t realize at the time was that even then, the toys were considered collectors items. Fisher Price had stopped making them a few years earlier, and they were in high demand. I remember thinking that the woman was asking an awful lot for a used toy—but we bought it anyway. Because, out two-year-old daughter was pretty darn hard to resist.

Fast forward a few days to a visit to grandma’s house, where we told grandma—laughingly—about our purchase. “Oh, no. You already have some of those toys—they’re downstairs,” she said. Thus, we collected a Little People Main Street and Circus Train.

After that our children—all of them—adored those toys. They played with them more than just about any other toy we owned. But as I mentioned before, Fisher Price had stopped making the old version, and replaced it with a newer, chunky version of people that wasn’t nearly as interesting or fun (this according to our kids). So, we scoured garage sales, secondhand and charity stores, and occasionally eBay.

A few years later, our collection had reached obsessive and almost ridiculous proportions. And it was so much fun. For several years, we were forced to wend our way through entire cities set up on our living room floor. And the funny part was that my husband and I loved the toys almost as much as the kids.

But over time, our kids have grown, as they tend to do, and those toys have been delegated to a closet (their very own) in the basement, where they’ve collected dust for over two years.

And now to the present day. It’s time to clean out the closet, and allow other children—little ones—to enjoy these wonderful toys. So…after allowing our kids to each pick a set (or two), we’re selling our collection.

So far, we’ve sold about half of what we listed, and still we have a lot left. It’s harder than I thought to watch these sweet things walk out my door. But they’re worth a nice amount—especially for collectors—and will help pay some bills.

I have to admit, though. Of all the things we could’ve collected, there aren’t many that could’ve been more enjoyed, more fun, or retained their value while we played with them. Goodbye, Little People. The Giles Family will miss you.

Well, the ones we sell, anyway. We are keeping some. You can sell the collection away from the collector, but never the whole thing. And you can’t cure the obsession. I have to admit, they’re pretty darn cute. Maybe we’ll start going to garage sales again…

Music Review: Lori Cunningham, Unseen

By Nichole Giles

The day I opened my mailbox and found my new Lori Cunningham CD, I was on my way out the door to run some errands. I took the time to open the package and slide the disk in my car stereo so I could listen as I drove.

As it happens, I was also feeling quite introspective, and even a bit emotional that day, so Lori’s melodious strains turned out to be just the balm my soul needed. I found her new age style unique and her vocals very clean, and smooth. My first instinct was to compare her to Enya, or even possibly Evanessence, but her sound is different enough that I think Lori Cunningham is in a category all her own.

My favorites: Some of Lori’s songs touched a deep chord of emotion in me.

Everytime (song # 4) is a thoughtful, introspective look at mistakes, and how we make the same ones over time and time again.

Inside (song # 6) is a powerful look at who we are on the inside, as opposed to what people see when they look at us on the outside. This particular song rang true for me, as I often wonder, and sometimes struggle with what people really see when they look at me. Wonderful, deep thoughts in both lyric and music.

Tears of a Rose (song #8) is—I think—my favorite. I can’t decide if it’s the deep lyrics or the haunting arrangement. Or maybe it’s the combination of the vocals and music. In this song, Lori’s voice is as pure and sweet as any instrument, and melds with the accompaniment in what can only be described as a poignant, evocative song about the deepest sadness inside a heart, and the unfathomable love that causes it. (Or—at least, that’s my interpretation.)

My nitpicks: in a few places on a couple of the songs, I thought the keyboard synthesizer was a little heavy and overpowered some of the vocals. For me, her voice is sweet and strong, and I was disappointed that it was more difficult to pick out over the music. But, that’s just me being—well, nitpicky.

I was privileged to have the opportunity to interview Lori recently, and thought I’d share with my readers some of the information they’re all dying to know.

NG: Hi Lori! Thanks for taking time to meet with me and share your deepest, darkest, innermost secrets with my readers. So tell me, what’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?

LC: I've been known to make a mean French vanilla coconut ice cream - all completely healthy and natural. BUT... when I'm not able to make that or just in the mood to be bad, my all time fave is Chocolate Cherry Nut Truffle from Smith's, the Kroger brand. Nothing else even comes close! *drool drool*

NG: Ooh, that French vanilla coconut sounds delish! And I have to admit to never having tried the Kroger one. I’ll have to pick up a carton next time I’m there. Now I want some.

(Listening to Lori’s CD in the background…)

NG: Wow, your music is inspired. You must listen to other artists a lot. Who is your favorite musician or artist? (Besides you or me, since everyone already knows we’re both awesome.)

LC: That's a really tough question! It just really depends on what I'm in the mood for and it has changed over the years. Today my favorite musicians or group is Blue Stone, hands down. I can't stop listening to them!

NG: Since we all know you have a life besides your music, can you tell us your most favorite thing to do when you’re not writing/ performing?

LC: You mean what I really love doing or what I have to do, LOL! If it's my most favorite thing of what I love to do is read. I'm an avid reader. In fact, several of my songs over the past couple of years are inspired by books I've read. My favorite genre is fantasy/romance, though I'm reading a lot of young adult books lately. They're intriguing and I don't have to think deeply. It's a nice break. I also love to spend time with my family in a non-stressful, fun way. And singing. I'm always singing! Now, what I have to do... there's actually something extremely satisfying and stress relieving having a newly cleaned house. Not that it stays that way for very long.

NG: Nice! You read my writing genre. (I’ll let you know when my book is released.) Sounds like you’re one busy chick. Wait, you’re not really a chick. And that almost sounds—well, not nice. But hey, if you were an animal, what kind would you be and why?

LC: A cat! Because I love kitties. I grew up always have a lot of cats around and I can't think of another animal that I love more. And sometimes I can ignore someone really good, just like a cat. Selective hearing, if you will.

NG: Interesting. Now that we’re really getting to the heart of the artist in you, time for the all important question. Do you prefer diamonds or pearls?

LC: Diamonds all the way. Not that I wear them a lot. In fact, I only wear my wedding ring about once a week, if I remember. I think they're much prettier than pearls.

NG: And, after all, diamonds are a girl’s best friend, right? One last question and then I’ll let you get back to work. What power snacks keep you going as you work? We all have them.

LC: Well, considering that I actually can't eat while I work, especially while singing, that wouldn't be very feasible! But when I record vocals, I have to have a water bottle with a drop of peppermint and citrus fresh essential oils. It keeps my throat hydrated and cuts out on all those "mouth" noises that a sensitive microphone picks up. Those really bug me! Otherwise, I can't live without at least one apple a day and a green smoothie. Those are my power foods, all the way.

NG: Nice! Now, I know I said that was the last question, but I can’t help but wonder how you find the time to compose and record—aren’t you also a stay-at-home mom of three?

LC: I'm the ultimate multi-tasker! I take a piece of paper around with me everywhere and write down random lyrics. I try to stay focused on the song at hand, even when I'm not able to work on it. My #1 tool is my cheapo mp3 player and stereo in the kitchen. Most of my lyrics and melodies are written and worked on while I'm cleaning and making dinner. I have it playing and I'm singing my little heart out, writing down lyrics that work. To actually record, I have to be a bit creative. During the summer, I have to wait until my husband is home so he can watch the kids. Needless to say, I don't get much work done in the summer! When school is in session, I have recorded either during naptime of my youngest, or when he's gone at preschool. I'm not able to totally lose myself for hours at a time like other recording artists do and I'm not a night person, so staying up into the wee hours of the morning is also not an option. I work with what I'm given! So while it takes me longer to have a finished product, I do it right and the best to my ability.

NG: Okay, seriously, that sounds really familiar. Just today I’m celebrating the fact that my kids are back in school so I can actually finish the rough draft of my current book. And the notebook thing? Whoever invented notebooks deserves a special place in heaven as far as I’m concerned.

Thank you so much for letting us have a glimpse into the life of a recording artist / mother. You’re truly an amazing person who makes remarkable music. Oh, and also, thanks for the CD. I’ve been listening to it for the better part of two weeks. It’s great writing background.

Here's a little taste:

Inside
By Lori Cunningham

Is what I show
The person deep inside
The person deep inside of me
Who really knows
The person deep inside
Screaming to be seen (free)

Trying to be
What others want you to be
Not really living
Never truly free
Clouding your vision
So even you can’t see
Who you are meant to be.

Hurry now to buy your copy of Lori Cunningham’s Unseen.

Click here to visit Lori’s website and learn more about her and her album in progress.

Kreativ Blogger Award

My good friend Ali gave me an award this week, and even though I had another blog idea floating around in my head, I decided to blog the award instead.

Why? Well, because Ali is a super smart, super fun friend, and it’s an honor to get such an award from her. Oh all right. I like getting awards from anyone, but still, it’s an honor. So, here it is.

The Kreativ Blogger Award . . .

I'd like to pass this award on to
Tristi Pinkston
Cindy Beck
Christine Bryant
Heather Justesen
Danyelle Ferguson
Kim Job
Keith Fisher
Connie Hall
Rachelle Christensen

Each one of these bloggers has influenced me in a very positive and creative way. I appreciate their feedback—which is given freely and regularly—and consider each of their talents unique and special. They are beautiful, creative artists, and I’m glad to have them as part of my writing circle.

You’ll notice I gave the award to more than seven bloggers. But if you’ve been reading for a while, you should know I can’t stick to the numbers given for these things. I always have to sneak in a few extras—because in my book, all the blogs I read are top quality, valuable blogs.

If I had my choice, I’d award a lot more people—but I know it’s only fair that I leave a few of my friends for others to award. This is a chain award, after all.

So…I’m leaving it to you, my trusted awardees, to pass this highest honor on to the other creative bloggers like you.

Thank you again Ali!Now, here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might not know.

5. Nominate 7 Bloggers.

6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.

7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

All right. So, now you’re wondering about my list of seven things. Well, here it is at the very end. (I know, something a little different, huh?) The question is, are there seven things left that you all don’t already know?

1. My family (husband, kids, and myself) used to collect Fisher Price Little People. Not the new kind, the vintage kind that were made in the 70’s and 80’s. They are now officially antiques. More about this in a future blog—it’s a long, and somewhat funny, story.

2. I love a good road trip. Granted, my tolerance for length depends on who is in the car, and how much room we have, but there’s something amazing about watching the scenery change as it flies by from town to town and state to state. When my kids are older, I plan to often get in the car with my husband and just drive to wherever suits us at the moment.

3. My eyes change color depending on my mood, what I’m wearing, and the weather. (Blue to green to gray.)

4. I watch the food network every night as I’m winding down before bed. Not that I’m big on cooking, but it’s better than a whole lot of other late night stuff, and mostly pretty interesting.

5. My favorite drink (and also my biggest vice) is Dr. Pepper. When you see me with that drink in my hand—that’s what it is. Unless it’s a water bottle with colored stuff. Then it’s my daily dose of green tea. You know, anti-oxidants to combat the bad stuff in the pop.

6. There’s always a soundtrack playing in my head, and it varies depending on my mood and emotional well being. Here’s where I’m like Ali—when my emotions get stuck, I also turn to music for the much needed release. It’s amazing how the right song, or grouping of songs, can bring out my feelings.

7. Since Ben and Jerry’s discontinued my favorite ice cream a few years back (Island Paradise) I haven’t had a true favorite. But since they came out with the new Key Lime Pie flavor, it’s seriously growing on me. I think it may be the new winner.

There you go! Have fun, kids. Until next time, write on.

Random Stuff for Random-ish

First thing’s first. If you didn’t notice, I’ve changed the name of my blog. Nichole’s Musings just felt so…boring. And, being a writer, I knew I could come up with a more creative name than that. Still, it’s hard to know what to name the place where I post so many random tidbits of life for all the world to see.

Random. That was a keyword in all my thoughts. My fifteen-year-old son uses it often, and because of that it’s a word not easily forgotten. But my thirteen-year-old daughter (who, by the way, is now about to surpass me in height) finds it necessary to attach an “ish” to every word or phrase she uses. Living with these two brilliant minds, and hearing their teen-lingo on a daily basis tends to combine and imprint such words into my writerly head. Therefore, as I considered the idea of renaming my blog, Random-ish seemed a natural transition. After all, everything I post is rather randomish.

Now that I have explained that, a few other minor things. This past month, I have accumulated a stack of books and music that I intend to review over the next several weeks. Along with these reviews, I intend to give away some great prizes, so keep your eyes open for more free stuff. (Because, lets face it, we all want free stuff!)

All right, what else? Oh, I don’t know if I mentioned it or not, but this is not the only blog on which I regularly post. Along with other authors, I also post every Thursday on LDSWritersBlogck, and every second and fourth Monday on Writing Fortress. This week, I’ve posted in both places. Click here to see my recent blog about emotional writing, and here to see one about the transition between being called a writer and an author.

Moving on. Valor Publishing has recently announced the release of Am I Not A Man: The Dred Scott Story by Utah State Attorney General Mark L. Shurtleff. They are offering a discount to everyone who pre-orders their copy before Labor Day. Also, on top of the discount, the pre-ordered copies will be signed and numbered, limited editions. There are only 5000 available special-edition copies of this awesome book, so click here to order yours and get the lowest number possible. Very cool stuff!

Here’s the blurb:

An illiterate slave, Dred Scott trusted in an all-white, slave-owning jury to declare him free. But after briefly experiencing the glory of freedom and manhood, a new state Supreme Court ordered the cold steel of the shackles to be closed again around his wrists and ankles. Falling to his knees, Dred cried, "Ain't I a man?" Dred answered his own question by rising and taking his fight to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Dred ultimately lost his epic battle when the Chief Justice declared that a black man was so inferior that he had "no rights a white man was bound to respect."

Dred died not knowing that his undying courage led directly to the election of President Abraham Lincoln and the emancipation proclamation.

Dred Scott's inspiring and compelling true story of adventure, courage, love, hatred, and friendship parallels the history of this nation from the long night of slavery to the narrow crack in the door that would ultimately lead to freedom and equality for all men.

Go ahead, order it. You know you want to!

Finally, The Leteiner Gang Book Review Spot is holding a contest to give away an Advance Reader’s Copy of James Dashner’s new book, The Maze Runner. The much anticipated release on this book is October 6, and by entering, you might be the lucky winner who gets his or her copy before it even hits store shelves. Even I am entering this contest, because James has been talking about this book for three years and I want an ARC, too! Click here for more details. (Don't forget to tell them I sent you!)

Okay, so I’m thinking there were more things I intended to mention, but since I’ve been forced to stop four times in the process of writing this post (once to pick up kids from the pool, once to answer the door, once to break up a fight, and the last to cook dinner) everything else I wanted to say has fled my mind. I guess that’s another post for another day.

Have a great weekend my friends!

Nichole

Random Measures of Strength: Part 3

“True strength lies in submission which permits one to dedicate his life, through devotion, to something beyond himself.”

~Henry Miller

Canyon Prayer by Jessie Alexander

Jessi Alexander - Canyon Prayer (Official Music Video) - More bloopers are a click away

Book Review: "Organize As You Go" by Marie Ricks

By Nichole Giles

A few weeks ago, author and master organizer Marie Ricks asked if I’d be willing to do a review of her book on my blog. When she told me that the book is nonfiction about how to live an organized life, and how to keep some semblance of control over the busy, fast pace society tends to live these days, I said, “Sign me up!”

In truth, there are days when I feel like I don’t have control of anything, and others when I’m absolutely certain I have everything taken care of, only to have it all fall apart on me. So, you can understand why I was so eager to get my hands on a copy of “Organize As You Go.”

Here’s the blurb:

Have time to smell the roses again. Bring greater organization to your busy life! It is often the small, but important changes you make in the way you think, what you do, and how you respond to your daily stresses that makes all the difference in your capacity to have an ordered, more productive life. Are you seeking for answers and wanting to implement major changes? If so, this book is for you. Learn about 50+ organizing as you go personal, family, and home organization principles to change your life for the better, beginning today!

As I read “Organize As You Go,” I was pleased to realize that I am already using many of Marie’s techniques in life, having figured out over time what does and does not work in certain situations. But I have to say, it would’ve been nice for me to have read this fifteen years ago, rather than having to learn the hard way.

Other techniques I don’t use, but really need to start. For instance, in one section, Marie talks about how important it is to listen to the needs of your body, like when you need a nap, and how to build time into your day for those crucial little things that keep you going. All I could think when reading that section was, “Really? I can have a nap sometimes? Hallelujah!”

This book is sectioned into small, easy to read portions, and can be used as a quick reference for anyone looking for something specific. She includes tips on home, work, family, travel, and personal organization that all come together to help make our lives easier and more enjoyable.

I highly recommend it to anyone who feels a need to be more in control of their time and other aspects of life. Not only that, I’ve listed this book on my list of possible Christmas gifts (see, I’m already planning ahead) for my extended family members.

Thanks Marie!

To learn more about the author and her other work, click here.

To purchase your copy of “Organize As You Go” click here.

Watch For It!

by Nichole Giles

Just a quick note to let everyone in on a secret. This coming monday, August 10th, is the beginning of the blog tour for "Illuminations of the Heart" by Joyce DiPastena. This tour goes through September 18th, so be sure to check out some of the participating reviews (especially mine, on September 3rd.)

Now, here's the coolest part. This tour includes an ongoing contest. All you have to do is leave a comment on one or more of the participating blogs. You can enter as many times as you want, and at the end of the tour, the winner gets an autographed copy of "Illuminations of the Heart."

Stop by to learn more about the book, and the author!

August 10
Mormon Hermit Mom's
Book Habit
August 11
Amesbury Reads
August 12
Heather Justesen
August 13
Rachelle's Writing Spot
August 14
Cami's Books and Fit Mommas
August 17
Jewel's World
August 18
Of Writerly Things
August 19
Frespa Fan
August 20
Of Good Report
August 21
Rachel Rager
August 24
Boojoos and Aprilcots
August 25
Musings from an LDS Writing Mom
August 26
Queen of the Clan
August 27
Write Bravely
August 28
Dreams of Quill and Ink
August 31
*Trisit Pinkston
September 1
Vicissitudes
September 2
Tangeled Words and Dreams
September 3
Random-ish by Nichole and LDS Writer's Blogck

September 4
SeriouslyŠ and latterdayauthors
September 7
Lu Ann's Book Review
September 9
Reading for Sanity
September 10
Taffy's Candy
September 11
The Write
Blocks
September 14
Why Not? Because I Said
So! and LDSWomensBookReview
September 15
Ink Splasher
September 16
Reviews by Jaimey
September 17
Blog the Day Away
September 18
Walnut Springs Press

See you all soon!

Nichole

Book Review: "Altar-ed Plans" by Rebecca Cornish Talley

By Nichole Giles

The Blurb:

The perfect day. The perfect marriage. The perfect groom. What could go wrong?

Caitlyn has been preparing for her perfect wedding all her life. But when her fiancé abandons her at the altar, Caitlyn vows she’ll never love again.

Going to BYU doesn’t make that easy, however, and avoiding all social contact can only last so long. When her bishop calls her to be the “mom” of her family home evening group, Caitlyn is suddenly thrust into surprising circumstances that leave her flustered—the attention of two unwanted suitors.

Travis, the FHE “dad,” has plans to woo Caitlyn by using his cowboy charms, while Chase has his own ideas for dating her. Will Travis or Chase change her mind about love? Or will it be de¢ja¢ vu?

Follow Caitlyn through all the flirtatious looks, dates, ex-girlfriends, and unexpected surprises. Altared Plans is a light-hearted romance that is sure to please.

My take:

Every little girl spends at least half of her growing-up years dreaming of the perfect wedding. And of course, not only does that include the perfect dress, flowers, cake, and reception venue, but most importantly it means that we have, in fact, found the perfect groom.

What we don’t dream about is having that groom ditch us on the day we’ve spent our whole life waiting for without even bothering to show his face to tell us goodbye. So, right off the bat I had sympathy for Caitlyn.

This story was fun, easy to read, and romantic in the end. Plus, the guys in it are the yummy type we all dream about…I mean, dreamed about…when we were still young, single, and dating. But not now. Not if we’ve been married for seventeen years with a bunch of kids, a house and two dogs.

Anyway…I was lucky enough to interview the author, Rebecca Cornish Talley, who I’m now sure will turn the subject away from married women dreaming and tell us some really important information.

Hi Rebecca. I’m so glad you’re willing to join me today. I only have a few questions, then I’ll let you get back to writing your next best selling book.

NG: What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream? (Today, my new favorite is Ben and Jerry’s Key Lime Pie)

RT: That's easy, Chocolate Seduction. Doesn't that just sound delicious in a "you shouldn't be eating this" kind of way?

NG: Who is your favorite author? (Besides yourself or me.)

RT: That's really hard because I love so many authors. I guess I'd go with Jerry Spinelli since he wrote my all-time favorite book, "Stargirl."

NG: What is your most favorite thing to do when you’re not writing?

RT: I love to play with my family. My favorite activity is playing with my family at the beach, building sandcastles and swimming in the ocean. Of course, I live in CO so we only get to the beach every year or so, but I love to do that with my family. I'd say that doing anything with my family is my favorite thing to do when I'm not writing. My kids love to make up songs and plays and then perform them in front of the fireplace and I really enjoy watching them do that. And, I love chasing my 3-year-old around the house and hear him squeal with giggles when I catch him.

NG: If you were an animal, what kind would you be and why?

RT: I would be a horse because horses are so majestic, strong, and beautiful. Horses have a certain mystique about them. I love their sleekness and the way their coats shine in the sunlight. I love how they smell and their graceful movements. Yep, I'd be a horse.

NG: Do you prefer diamonds or pearls?

RT: Diamonds. I love how they shimmer in the light.

NG: Name one or two power snacks that keep you going as you write.

RT: I eat almonds while I'm writing because they give me brain power (or so I believe).


Thanks so much for your time, and for writing such an enjoyable book. And also for sharing your most intimate secrets with us. These are things every reader needs to know about their favorite author.

And now, back to work on your next novel.

To learn more about Rebecca Cornish Talley and her work, click here.

To buy a copy of “Altared Plans,” click here.