And The Winner Is...

Posted by Nichole Giles

Yeah, I know, I've been bad. No posts for a whole week--so sad. But don't forget, I also post every week here, and twice a month here. And on Mondays, there's always something new from Cindy and I here. So if you ever come here missing me and don't find something new, check one of those places.

And now, on to the announcement you've been waiting for. The winner of an autographed copy of Martha's Freedom Train by C. LaRene Hall is...

Stephanie Humphreys. (Yahoo, cheer, cheer, dance, clap, clap, clap, whistle. Go Stephanie!)

Stephanie, if you'd be so kind as to send me your snail mail address asap, I'll get your book on its way.

This time, I only drew one winner, but in the event that I don't hear from Stephanie, I'll draw another name. Stay tuned, people. I have in my purse a gift certificate to a restaurant in Salt Lake City that will be next on my giveaway list. (Sorry to you out of towners! I promise to find something more universal as often as I can.)

Until next time, write on!

Nichole

Book Review: "Martha's Freedom Train" by C. LaRene Hall

By Nichole Giles

In honor of Pioneer Day, a Utah State Holiday celebrating the day the Mormon pioneers finally crested the mountains and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, I’m proud and honored to be reviewing this remarkable debut book by my good friend, C. LaRene Hall.

Cover Blurb:

With help from the Underground Railroad, Martha and her parents escape slavery. Because of her mamma’s poor health, Martha’s heart almost breaks when her papa sends her west with a wagon train of strangers. Along the way, she helps put out a fire, and after falling asleep beside the trail, is accidentally left behind. Upon reaching her destination, Martha wonders if she’ll ever see her mamma and papa again.

Martha’s Freedom Train is a wonderful little story about a slave girl who runs away with her parents in hope of finding a better life. Though her parents don’t make it very far, Martha ends up traveling west with a Mormon wagon train, in the company of an elderly woman Martha calls Grandma Miller.

Though Martha is heartbroken to leave her family behind, she comes to love the people with whom she is traveling, and they come to love her. She learns so much during her journey, like how to make buffalo jerky, prickly pear jelly, and journey cakes. One of the travelers takes on the role of teacher, and Martha has a rare opportunity to learn how to read and write. Grandma Miller even gives Martha her very own copy of the Book of Mormon.

Martha makes it all the way to the Salt Lake Valley with the pioneers, and even spends some time in Southern Utah helping plant crops. She learns more about religion, and discovers that she truly is a child of God, regardless of the color of her skin.

This little chapter book is such a fun, easy story to read. It’s well written, well researched, and the characters are enchanting. Also, the pencil illustrations are way fun. Though it’s perfect for six to twelve-year-old readers, I found it a delightful story and thoroughly enjoyed reading it myself. I’ll keep this one on my personal shelf—and my kids will have to borrow my copy. Or better yet, maybe I’ll get them their own so they’ll leave mine alone.

In case your interested in the life of the author, I interviewed her this morning, asking her questions that I felt would help me see into the deepest recesses of her soul.

Hi Connie! Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to visit with me today. I just have a few questions and then you can get back to writing your next book.

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

CLH: I like a lot of flavors, but don’t eat a lot of ice cream. I love peach sherbet and also chocolate chip shakes. I also like hot fudge sundaes.

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

CLH: That’s a hard one. I love variety and I read a lot so I don’t always stick with one author. My answer would probably be the author of the book I’m presently reading. Right now that would be Loyalty’s Web by Joyce DiPastena. If the book is good, has no bad scenes or language I usually like it. Something historical is generally my preference.

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

CLH: More than anything in the world I love to travel, but since I don’t always have the time or money I have to say my favorite thing is reading. When I read I can go anywhere I want and it doesn’t cost much. Also I can go places that people only dream about.

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

CLH: I love animals, and like people they are all different. Sometimes I’d love to be a kangaroo so I could hop all over. Other times I think a big cat like a tiger or lion would be great fun. Of course, a giraffe with a long neck so I could see off in the distance would be advantageous. Many days I’d love to soar in the air like an eagle. Wouldn’t it be fun to see the world from way up high every day. I just wouldn’t want to be a spider or any creature like that because people are always killing them.

NG: Do you prefer diamonds or pearls?

CLH: I love the diamond my husband gave me on our wedding day. It’s small and just right for me. I don’t like big or bulky jewelry. Pearls are pretty, but unless they are real small they aren’t for me. Of course, I love seeing fancy rings and necklaces on other people, and on occasion I do wear a little jewelry, just not often.

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

CLH: My all time favorite snack is chocolate. I’m not sure if that’s a power snack or not, but it keeps me going. The chocolate can be almost anything; candy, donuts, brownies, or cookies. If it’s chocolate I like it.

Thanks for the visit, and the answers to what makes an author tick.

Now for the fun part! This book is brand new off the printing press and I have a signed copy to give away in a drawing, just in time for Pioneer Day.

Here’s what you do:

1. Pay my good friend C. LaRene Hall a visit at her blog and become a follower, then come back here and leave me a comment telling me you signed up.

2. Leave me a comment telling me why you think it’s important for our children to learn about history—such as slavery, the Underground Railroad, and pioneers.


3. Pass the following link to all your friends through Facebook or Twitter, telling them to check out C. LaRene’s fabulous new book. Link: http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=55282

You have three opportunities to get your name in the drawing, and one week to get it done. On Thursday, July 29th, I’ll use a random generator to draw one lucky winner who will get their very own signed copy of “Martha’s Freedom Train.”

Good luck!

To buy your copies of Martha's Freedom Train, click here.

Random Measures of Strength, Quote #2

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will."

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Random Measures of Strength, Quote #1

“Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong--sometimes, it's letting go."

~ Unknown

Winner of the Summer Rocks Contest

By Nichole Giles

Today is the day I promised to announce the results of the drawing for the silver Roxy bracelet. The winner was picked using a random generator, and though I wish I had more than one bracelet to give away, I could only pick one lucky person for this particular contest.
And the winner of the bracelet is Ali Cross. (Cheer, clap, clap, clap, clap, cheer, hooray, and the crowd goes wild.)

Oh, but I couldn’t stand just picking one name! I have so many awesome followers and wanted everyone to win, so I had an extra name drawn as a runner up. In the event that I’m unable to locate Ali, this person gets the bracelet. But since I’m pretty sure that won’t be the case, the runner up will be getting a delicious chocolate stash in the form of either a Symphony bar or Hershey’s—her choice. So the runner up is Cindy Beck. (Dancing, clap, clap, clap. Cheer, and the crowd goes wild again.)
Congratulations, Ladies! Please contact me privately with your snail mail address information so I can get your prizes delivered this week.

Thank you so much for playing, and stay tuned this next few weeks for another fun drawing! (All you followers will automatically be entered—but watch for ways to increase your chances of winning.)

Have a happy, rockin’ summer! (And happy birthday to all my fellow July babies.)

Sunday Inspiration

Just a little something to remind us all why we try so hard. I didn't make this, nor do I know the person who did. But it was inspiring to me, so I thought I'd share.

The following is an Anthony Fernando creation:



Happy Sunday! Have a wonderful, spectacular, encoraging week.

PS. Don't forget to leave a comment and enter your name in the drawing. You have until midnight tonight to try and win the beautiful Roxy bracelet! For more details, scroll down two posts to the entry titled, Summer Rocks.

Book Review: "Loyalty's Web" by Joyce DiPastena

By Nichole Giles

Blurb from the back of Loyalty's Web by Joyce Dipastena:

In twelfth century France, King Henry II of England has just finished quashing a rebellion by his power-hungry sons and now seeks to tame the lawless barons who supported them in this corner of his "Angevin empire." To this end, the king has sent the Earl of Gunthar as his royal representative to ensure that Prince Richard and his former cohorts faithfully adhere to the terms of the peace treaty.

Far from being welcomed with open arms, Gunthar no sooner steps foot in the county of Poitou than he is greeted by a series of assassination attempts. All appear to be linked to the former rebellious prince through the agents of the family and friends of young Heléne de Laurant. A clever, intrepid young woman, she realizes that the only way to prove her loved ones’ innocence is by exposing the true assassin. Heléne races against time—and dark secrets of the past—to unmask the killer before the kingdom plunges back into war.

Fierce determination gives way to mutual attraction as Heléne and Gunthar spar over the identity of the traitor. But their blinding magnetism almost causes them to overlook an even deadlier threat from an entirely unexpected direction.

I have to be honest. I’ve been interested in reading this book since it was published. But for one reason or another, never got my hands on a copy. Then it was a Whitney Award finalist—and I wanted to read it worse. Still, it took me until this month to finally get a copy, and as soon as it came, I ripped open the package and started reading. (Even though I was in the middle of reading another book.)

Being a big fan of romance, and harboring a deep love of stories set in regency periods, I’ve read several books from this and similar time periods. However, it’s been a long time since I read one. Truth be told, I’ve never found one that didn’t make me blush at least twice, and cringe at least five times. Until now.

Loyalty’s Web is definitely as romantic as anything I’ve read—full of emotion and intrigue—and because the author chose to leave out those lurid scenes, I found the romance more invigorating and real. Definite thumbs up for that.

The plot twists led me in so many different directions, that even when I thought I knew who was behind the assassination attempts, I ended up being wrong (unusual for me). I did figure out one of the sub-plots near the beginning of the book, but found myself questioning the details behind it as I read.

In the end, I stayed up late for two nights in a row, and even made myself late to an appointment because I just had to see what happened next. This is definitely a book I’ll read over and over again.

I adore Joyce’s writing style—it’s clean, easy to read, and her voice draws you into the story in such a way that you are unable to put the thing down. Also, I loved learning more about the time period and the brutality and customs that were considered normal.

If I were to pick one thing that disappointed me—and here I have to be completely nitpicky, because there wasn’t really much—I’d say I wanted (because I’m selfish) another chapter, or at least another scene, to more firmly wrap up the conclusion. However, I was absolutely satisfied with the end, and am anxiously awaiting the next work by Joyce, Illuminations of the Heart, which I understand (and hope) is a sequel to Loyalty’s Web.

On a final note, there was one character in this story that I thoroughly despised—which, I believe, was intentional on the author’s part. Helen’s wicked, evil mother deserved to be hanged! Or worse. You want to know why? Sorry, you’ll have to read the book. Loyalty’s Web gets five out of five diamonds on my rating system.

To get your copy of Loyalty’s Web click here.

To pre-order your copy of Illuminations of the Heart click here.

To learn more about the works of the author, Joyce DiPastena, click here.

Up To The Challenge!

By Nichole (Duh!)



I suppose, being that it's already July 3rd, that perhaps I should map out my goals for Tristi Pinkston's July writing challenge. Considering how I'm participating this month, and all.



In April, I had some big, lofty plans for what I hoped to accomplish. But as it turned out, April was just not my month for writing, or editing, or even cleaning my house. And...I didn't get much of anything done. So, basically I blew the whole challenge. I was not up to it.



However, July is an entirely different story. For one thing, even though my kids are out of school for summer break, I will not have to carve out four or five days for a "spring break" family trip. (Our summer trip is weeks in the past, so that's a good thing.) Also, the Storymaker's conference isn't this month. I know I'm not involved in the planning for that conference, per-se, but because my writer's group is sponsored by the Storymakers, there was lots of plotting and planning going on--especially for social things among ourselves. We sure are quite the chatty bunch when we get together. Plus, we just don't see each other nearly often enough. Then, take away Easter (which requires shopping and preparation that the July holidays don't) and my daughter's birthday, and...yeah. July is looking more productive. I hope.
So--short story long--my official goal is going to be realistic enough to reach. Because, even given all the things I just listed, it's still summer, the kids are still out of school, and I still end up staying up late into the night if I want to write.


This month I'm planning to add 30,000 words to my work in progress--hopefully bringing it to a conclusion or coming close enough that I can go back and do some serious rewrites that will help shape the plot. That way, when I take my chapters to critique, I will know they're relevant.



Ta da! That's it.



Wish me luck!




PS. There's still time to enter my summer rocks contest. See the post below for details!