Awesome Places to Win Free Stuff

Okay, people, this must be the week for awesome giveaways, because right after I announced my own contest, I started getting announcements for a bunch of others. There is some seriously cool stuff being given away this week--so I just have to share with you all. Consider it a benefit of reading my blog.

First, though, in my previous post, I announced the two winners of "Saving Madeline" by Rachel Ann Nunes, but I did not announce the winners of the multiple drawings for Joyce DiPastena's "Illuminations of the Heart." Those winners have been chosen and they are:

Jennifer B. won the autographed copy of "Illuminations of the Heart."

Park Avenue Princess won the $10 Amazon.com gift certificate.

Elizabeth Morgan won the $10 Deseret book gift certificate.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Okay, so now here's where you can go to win cool stuff:

Rachelle Christensen is giving away a Ribbon Box or ScrapMaBob on her blog, and all entrants will be entered into another drawing to win a Scrapbox, valued at $1,200. This thing is huge and way cool, people, so run over and sign up, fast!

Next cool giveaway is over at Cindy Beck's blog. She's giving away two books--and you can enter to win either or both by just leaving a comment. (Hint to you writers--one's a writing book.)

Anne Bradshaw is giving away a historical novel set in the pioneer era, by renouned LDS author, Shirley Bahlman. Ann always has great giveaways, so if you check back at her blog, you have a chance to win something every week.

And then, if you want to win a copy of Zion's Promise: Amidst War's Alarms, by Chris Jefferies, scroll down and sign up for my giveaway. Instructions are in the post just below this one.

So there you have it. Your chance to win lots of awesome prizes. Keep checking back--I have more things to give away in the upcoming months.

Also, don't forget--The Mazerunner is being released on October 6th. Make sure to grab a copy. Unless you've already pre-ordered it, in which case you can just plan to grab a copy for someone else.

In other news: Did I mention that my denial of summer might be coming to an end this week? Yeah, the weather man is predicting some serious cold temperatures in two days--which makes me feel a keen sense of loss. Put away the swimsuits, break out the sweatshirts. Whaaaaaaa.

Don't worry. I'll get over it. I suppose it's time to break out the Halloween decorations as well, considering it's practically October already. Sheesh. Guess I ought to figure out how to get my enormous pumpkins from my backyard garden up onto my front porch. Maybe I'll roll them...


Nichole

What's playing in my head today? Shooting Star by Poison.

Book Releases, Conference Stuff, Contests, and Winners

Okay, so last weekend I was at the League of Utah Writers' fall roundup, and then Thursday I was lucky enough to attend the very first ever Book Academy conference at Utah Valley University. I should be complaining about a brain fry or something along that line, but not so much this week. Both were way fun.

I have to say, the organizers of The Book Academy did an excellent job. It was a fun conference with great classes and keynote speeches. I'm sure I'll probably go next year if they do it again. So, if you're a writer, watch for that announcement next fall and come meet me in person if you haven't already. And if you have, we'll hang out anyway.

Also, I blogged on Thursday about why it's important to be gracious and thankful toward people, especially those with whom we associate for working or writing purposes. To read more, click here.

Now, I believe there were a few winners that needed to be announced. I've recently done several book reviews that have hosted giveaways, so hang on one second while I go figure out who won.

I'm back. So, the winners of an autographed copy of "Saving Madeline" by Rachel Ann Nunes are:

NightOwlMommy

and

Suze

(Neither of them are followers of this blog=(. I think that means we need to step up the commenting on book reviews people.)

Now Joyce DiPastena, author of "Loyalty's Web" and "Illuminations of the Heart," hasn't announced the winners of her drawings yet, but keep checking back since I expect to see those any day.

And speaking of contests and drawings, it's been a few weeks since I had one of my own. As mentioned a few weeks ago, I have started accumulating stuff to give away to my faithful and loyal readers. Just because, well, I love you all and appreciate your support more than you will ever know. So let me pause a momet and dip my hand into the pile and pick something to give away this week...

And the winner is: Zion's Promise: Amidst War's Alarms

Here's the blurb:

It is now 1862, and the Civil War is raging in the east. But Zion and many of its inhabitants do not escape the war. Adam Weldon, the son of the notorious outlaw Dick Weldon, is found innocent of complicity in his father's crimes. He and Laura Ould develop a mutual attraction and decide to marry, but first, Adam volunteers to drive a wagon in the Church's "down-and-back" wagon trains to bring indigent emigrants from Florence back to Zion. In Florence, Adam is asked to undertake a special mission to lead remnants of earlier Church settlements in Texas and Indian Territory to the Salt Lake Valley. Plunged into the midst of the Civil War in Indian Territory as he travels to gather the remnant Saints, Adam faces unexpected hazards as he is caught between the warring sides, and struggles to complete his mission.

There's more, but I'm not going to paste the whole thing here. If you want to read the whole thing, click here.

Zion's Promise is an award winning book, complete with a shiny bronze sticker on the front.

To win this highly sought after book as a prize, you can do a few things, and for each one, you'll get one entry:

1. Leave a comment on this post.

2. Become a follower if you aren't already.

3. Become my fan on Facebook (I'm behind the times, so I don't Twitter yet--I may never. I have enough time-wasters in my life.)

4. Tell me your top three favorite movies of all time. Or favorite movies this year. Or favorites from your childhood. (I'll explain this part in another post.)

So there you have them. Four--yes, four--chances to win this amazing book. I'll take entries until Midnight on Thursday, October 1st. Good luck!

Moving on.

I am scheduled to review several more books in the next few months, so I've decided to make a list and put it on the sidebar in the near future. Watch for those reviews if you want some help in finding great books to read.

There are some great books being released this fall, including books by some of my favorite authors.

James Dashner's "Mazerunner" comes out on October 6th. Yahoo! Let's all go buy a copy and help him get on the NYT Bestseller List. Oh, also, his other series, "The 13th Reality" is being released in paperback sometime this month as well.

Heather Justesen's "The Ball's In Her Court" comes out October 15th (I think). Launch parties are being held the weekend of Oct 23-24th, so watch for more information on those.

The fourth "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" is also being released on October 12th, so if you have young readers, that's a must have. (I pre-ordered it.)

So, go on out and buy some books, people. Winter is on her way, and what better time to do some reading?

Until next time, write on.

Nichole

The Let's Be Friends Award

Oh my goodness. After a day that was busy in the extreme, I finally sat down to check my email. Lo and behold, my good friend Joyce DiPastena had sent me a sweet email informing me that she has just awarded me a "Let's Be Friends Award."

That made me smile. It also made my day.

So, I clicked the link and visited her blog to read more. Here's what I learned:

"Blogs that receive the Let’s Be Friends Award are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers."

Let me first just say that I am completely flattered, and truly honored to have been given such a thoughtful gift. Thank you, Joyce. I'm so glad to have you as a friend.

Now to pass the honor on. I'm going to follow Joyce's example and give the award to my most diligent commenters:

Cindy Beck

L.T. Elliott

Connie Hall

Danyelle Ferguson

Rachelle Christensen

Christine Bryant

Ali Cross

David J. West

Thank you all, for being good friends who support me in my writing journey by actually reading what I have to say--and then leaving comments so I know you were here. There is nothing more gratifying to a writer than to have little reminders that someone is reading their words. But then, you all know that, don't you?

Book Review: "Alma" by H.B. Moore

By Nichole Giles

I first met Heather Moore at an LDS Storymakers writing conference. I remember thinking what a nice person she was, and wondering what kind of things she writes. That was several years ago (five, maybe?) and since then, Heather has released a number of books, including her Out of Jerusalem series and her Book of Mormon prophet series starting with Abinadi. She won Whitney Awards in 2008 and 2009 for Out of Jerusalem and Abinadi, and I’m positive her most recent release, Alma, will gather a nomination as well.

Here’s the blurb:

King Noah is thundering with rage. On Amulon’s watch, the former high priest Alma disappeared from the city of Nephi, and every night more believers manage to escape. The king threatens certain punishment unless Amulon recaptures Alma—a seemingly impossible task. But Amulon has a plan. An equally valuable prisoner is at his fingertips: Noah’s wife, Maia, whose newfound faith means bitter humiliation for the king and an opportunity for Amulon to seize power.

Amulon’s disavowed daughter Raquel is making plans of her own. Alma and his followers are building a colony by the waters of Mormon, and she’s determined to begin a new life there despite the deep grief she suffers daily as Abinadi’s widow. Abinadi’s watchful brother Helam deems the journey to Mormon too risky, but when Lamanites plunder and burn the settlement, Raquel has no choice but to flee with her young son.

Drama and danger escalate as Alma the Elder organizes the Lord’s church and baptizes its members, bringing an outpouring of divine grace and power. But even as they rejoice, the believers have profound and perilous trials to face, from the outward threat of Amulon’s treachery to the inward threat of pride and disobedience. With poignant emotion, gripping suspense, and rich inspiration, this new epic story from H.B. Moore vividly brings the Book of Mormon to life.

Yes, Heather and I are friends. And I’m really glad. But being the honest person that I am, I refuse to let that color my opinion of her writing. So here’s the truth. I read this book in two days. You know, because I actually did have to put it down to be the mom and stuff. Every time I put it down, I had to rush through whatever I was doing to hurry and pick it back up again. Loved the whole thing from beginning to end.

I know, I know. I should already know this story, right? (Ahem, that is, I should have read it in the scriptures—or at least a similar story.) Except this is very different from scripture in that Heather has done a smashing job of bringing the characters to life. It’s easy to read and, if you can believe it, romantic. That’s right. I said romantic. This story is loaded with romance, intrigue, and trial after trial of faith building experience for all the characters involved. Never in my life have I seen the scriptural prophets in such a human light as this. Heather has done an excellent job of portraying life as it might have been for the ancient believers.

Nitpicks:

Yeah, a while back, I committed to my readers that I’d do a nitpick section when reviewing. There are times when I find it extremely hard to keep that promise. Especially when I read a book that I love as much as this one. So…my nitpick for this book is going to be…hm. Oh, I know, how about that I have to wait another year for the next one. Yep, that’s it.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a conference where Heather taught a very informative and helpful class. We also got to hang out a little bit, which was way fun. She was even nice enough to let me interview her on the most important things every reader wants to know about excellent authors like her.

The Interview:

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

HBM: Dreyer’s Pink Peppermint ice cream—the one they sell only around Christmas time. I’ll have to try that Key Lime Pie flavor. Yum. But those orange cream shakes at Arby’s are really good too.

NG: Okay, that just sounds way too good right now. No wonder we get along so well. Well, that and because we both love to write. Speaking of writing, who is your favorite author? (Besides you or me, since everyone already knows we’re both awesome.)

HBM: Oh, that’s hard then. Besides you . . . two of my classic favs are Mary Higgins Clark and Maeve Binchy. I think I’ve read every single one of their books.

NG: Awesome. I love Mary Higgins Clark, too. Never read Maeve Binchy, but I’ll have to check out something by her.

(Takes time out to make a note on the list of books to be read.)

NG: Other than attending awesome, fun writing conferences, what is your most favorite thing to do when you’re not writing?

HBM: Reading! I read a lot—I consider it part of my job to read the bestsellers out there. Such a hard job J

NG: Well, hm. No wonder you love your job. For that matter, I love it, too. Reading rocks. I recently read a book about people who morphed into wolves. It was awesome. So, the question begs to be asked. If you were an animal, what kind would you be and why?

HBM: Lion. I’ve loved lions since I was a kid and still have many books on them. Something about being the king of the jungle has always fascinated me.

NG: So not what I expected. But definitely cool. You’d make a beautiful lioness. Personally, I’m more of a sea creature myself. Last week I thought I’d be a dolphin, but this week I’m thinking I’d be a mermaid. That way, I could swim along the bottom of the ocean looking for treasure. Speaking of which, do you prefer diamonds or pearls?

HBM: Umm . . . I have a diamond ring and a pearl necklace, but I hardly wear either. Maybe diamonds because they are so sparkly.

NG: Sparkles really do make a difference. You should wear both more often. Jewelry makes a girl feel good.

NG: One more question then I’ll let you get back to your writing. Name one or two power snacks that keep you going as you write.

HBM: Almonds and juice. (Did I mention that there is chocolate covering the almonds—does that count as a power snack?)

NG: Um, yes, definitely. Can we say almond M&M’s? Yes, chocolate does special things to the creative mind I think. And juice is just plain old good. Much better than the Dr. Pepper sitting next to me at the moment.

Thanks, Heather, for taking the time to let us have a glimpse into the important things that make an award winning author tick.

To learn more about Heather B. Moore, click here.

To purchase your copy of Alma click here.

For information on Heather’s professional editing services (along with those of her colleagues) click here.

Work or Recreation?

By Nichole Giles (Well, who else would it be by?)

This weekend I had the privilege and opportunity to attend another writer’s conference. This one was for the League of Utah Writers. I try to go to as many conferences as I can (you know, if time and budget both allow) because I am of the opinion that I need to learn all I can, and network, and all that good stuff. Plus, it’s fun.

It was held in Midway, Utah, which—if you’ve never been there—is a tiny mountain town, surrounded by trees, and grass, and gorgeous mountains. The view was absolutely stunning with the colors beginning to change and the sky going from clear, to cloudy, to rainy, and then clear again. But the most awesome part—aside from the uber-informative classes that will definitely help me hone my writing skills—was hanging out with so many awesome, incredibly talented authors.

Anyway, as a group of us were hanging out, we got into a discussion about movies, and the merits of watching them to see how the plots progress, and to notice dialogue and things. I have to admit, most of the movies that came up for discussions I either never saw or saw so long ago that I have about zero recollection of details. But the point is that we made the conclusion (or at least, James Dashner did, and then convinced us all to subscribe to his way of thinking) that seeing movies is as important a part of our job as reading books.

(In the picture: Taffy Lovell, Me, Richard Paul Evans, Connie Hall.)

Seriously, after the discussion, I decided James is absolutely right. I should totally see more movies. In fact, I should make a point to watch old movies when I can, too. (Remind me to ask my accountant if there’s any way I can deduct the price of movie tickets…)

(In the picture: James Dashner, Clint Johnson.)

What other people do in their off time for entertainment is actually part of what we do as artists and writers. I love that thought! And you know what else? Going to conferences where we can sit (or stand) around having intelligent conversations about the merits of this movie or that, or this book or that and why this worked but that didn’t is also part of our job. (I did know that, by the way.)

(In this picture: Rachelle Christensen, Connie Hall, Me.)

The problem I’m having is that it just doesn’t feel like work. Not that writing always does either, but at least that requires my butt being in a chair and my computer on (or notebook open) and concentrating for blocks of time. Hanging out chatting with friends (who also happen to be authors/agents/editors) feels more like recreation, just like seeing movies.

So the question begs to be asked: Can there be a more rewarding, fulfilling, awesome career on the planet?

Hm. I’m thinking no. No way, no how. I’ll take my rejections and run with them (and by the way, I’m accumulating quite the collection) because this is definitely where I want to be, what I want to be doing. It’s my dream career. How ever did I—lowly housewife and mother—get so lucky?

(In this picture: Heather Moore and Richard Paul Evans.)

For your enjoyment, a few pictures of some of my author friends at this conference. (Somehow, I failed to get a picture of all of us together, and didn’t get one of Eric Swedin, and a few others who were also our conference buddies. My bad, and now I’m sorry. Catch you all next time, guys! And just for clarification--I don't personally know Richard Paul Evans, but I did meet him and can testify that he is genuine, kind, and extremely smart.)

Book Review: "Saving Madeline" by Rachel Ann Nunes

By Nichole Giles

**Leave a comment on this blog and be entered into a drawing to win a copy of Saving Madeline. When I first learned that Rachel Ann Nunes was doing a virtual book tour, I put my hand in the air, and jumped up and down yelling, “Me, me, me, pick me!” After all, Rachel’s books are all excellent, wonderful reads, and I knew in a blink that Saving Madeline was a must read book. A minute or so later, I realized Rachel couldn’t hear or see me jumping up and down like an idiot, so I’d need to reply to her over Facebook or email to let her know I was interested.

How excited I was to get my electronic copy. The funny thing is that I intended to upload the book onto my iPhone so I could take it with me when I didn’t have my computer. But…I didn’t end up needing to. I read it so fast, there were only one or two times I wished I’d remembered to do that. Mostly, I’d come home from taxiing my kids, and rush to the computer to read more. Yeah, it was that good. (And all thoughts of me working on my own writing flew out the window during that time. No way could I concentrate on another story when I was so into this one.)

Here’s the blurb:

As a public defender, Caitlin McLoughlin dreams of someday locking the bad guys in prison instead of defending them. But prosecuting jobs are scarce, and Caitlin’s future seems bleak. When her current client is about to walk away from a brutal crime, she risks her career to make sure he doesn’t hurt anyone else. Yet what if her choice means sacrificing her career and the means to care for her mentally disabled sister? Then Caitlin meets Parker Hathaway, charged with kidnapping four-year-old Madeline. Just another criminal, another job, Caitlin thinks.

But Parker tells a far different story. Can Caitlin believe him, as her heart urges? Is she willing to put everything on the line to defend her client—a man who claims to be protecting the child he loves? Or is her trust better placed in the handsome deputy district attorney with his undefeated record in court? Caitlin’s pursuit of the truth swiftly thrusts her into a maze of unanswered questions and unexpected heartache.

Meanwhile, time is running out for Madeline. If Caitlin doesn't find the proof she is looking for soon, there may not be a future for any of them.

This story hit close to home for me. My husband’s job makes it difficult for me to ignore the stark reality of the world some people live in, and the choices they make. It’s even more difficult to know that this same type of reality exists for people I know and love.

So as the story unfolded, I found myself wondering time and again how I would handle this situation, or that situation, or what I would do in a certain position. For instance, in Caitlin’s circumstances with the guilty criminal, would I risk everything to see him punished? And what about her responsibilities for her sister? Or in Parker’s position, would I give up everything—including the possibility of love—to save my child from danger? Even if my choices could possibly land me in jail?

The truth is, this story may be fiction, but it deals with real-life issues for which the answers are never black and white, but instead, several different shades of gray. I love that about this book. I love a story that makes me think, makes me wonder, and evokes such powerful emotions in me that in the end I want to rejoice and cry at the same time.

And I especially love that even though I finished it two weeks ago, I still catch myself thinking about it. If you’re looking for a compelling, heart-wrenching, make-you-think love story, this one’s a must read.

I had the opportunity to visit a little bit with Rachel yesterday. She’s such an outgoing lady, and I was glad to get to ask the serious questions about the most important things in a writer’s life. She has very graciously allowed me to share that discussion here:

NG: Hey Rachel. Thanks for agreeing to chat with me today. I’m sure everyone asks you this, but it’s one of those all-important bits of information that we all really need to know. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream? Today, my new favorite is Ben and Jerry’s Key Lime Pie.

RAN: I like Caramel Caribou and Moose Tracks by Western Family. (Hey, I have six kids, including a missionary son and a daughter in college, so I have to budget wisely!)

NG: Hey, Western Family is a favorite at my house, too. Moose Tracks is high on everyone’s list, I think. (And definitely good on the budget.) So, now that I know the answer to the ice cream question, I have to ask. Who’s your favorite author? (Besides yourself or me, since everyone already knows we’re both awesome.)

RAN: I have so many. I mean, I read in so many genres. And then it seems like just when I recommend an author, they go and write something embarrassing so I'm eating my words. But I'll go out on a limb and say that I love some of the books by Anna Quindlen, Barabara Kingsolver, Kat Richardson, Brandon Sanderson, Alice Hoffman, Suzanne Collins, and many more. I adore reading, though, and I read quite widely in everything from children's fantasy and romance to urban fantasy and literary novels.

NG: See? That’s so like me. I read about everything I can get my hands on (well, you know, within reason. Phonebooks aren’t such a fun read). But besides reading, what’s your most favorite thing to do when you’re not writing?

RAN: I like swimming with my kids, spending time with my husband, reading, watching sci-fi series, walking, hiking, biking, and sleeping.

NG: Nice. Lots of exercise in there for us sit-at-the-computer-and-write-types. Good for you, I say! But it makes me wonder. You like swimming and walking, hiking, biking…so, if you were an animal, what kind would you be and why?

RAN: Probably some kind of bird. I've always been fascinated with flying. But I draw the line at killing mice or eating worms so maybe that wouldn't work out. Yuck! Have you ever thought about what might be inside the stomach of a mouse?

NG: Ew, ew, no. That is not a good picture at all. Neither of those two things sounds very appetizing to me, which is probably why I’d be a dolphin. Fish are safe for me—I like seafood. Not so much oysters, except for what you can find inside them. Speaking of which…Do you prefer diamonds or pearls?

RAN: Diamonds. Because I could always sell one and buy some pearls, too. :-)

NG: Good point. I’m going to remember that one. Sparkly and shimmery. A little bit of both goes a long way, right?

NG: Okay, one last question for all us writers looking to write the next brilliant novel. How about naming one or two power snacks that keep you going as you write.

RAN: Kirkland Weight Loss Shakes from Costco are a mainstay. I keep them in my office to snack on because I'm mostly too lazy to get up and make breakfast or lunch. It's a terrible habit, but it keeps me alive. When I do get up, I like fruits and vegetables. I don't like eating chocolate at the computer, though. As my website says, I love chocolate (Dove or Utah's Milk Chocolate Truffles) and writing so my family might never see me again. Not to mention that I'd have to buy all new clothes.

NG: Well, I can see how that might be a chore. Not to mention the time it would take away from your writing. Weight loss shakes sound like a great idea, though, and quite a time saver.

(Looks at watch.)

NG: Oh drat. We’re out of time. Could’ve used a few of those weight loss shakes today myself, since the day seems to go by much too quickly. Rachel, thanks so much for visiting with me and letting us have a glimpse into all of the most important aspects of an author’s life. See you at the next Storymakers conference.

To read more about Rachel Ann Nunes and her journey in writing this book, click here.

To purchase your copy of Saving Madeline click here.

Check This Out! (New Moon Trailer)

Oh my. So, I was checking some of my links--you know, visiting some sites I usually haunt. And look at what I found (linked from the official Stephenie Meyer Website--thanks guys).

Also, go on over there to check out the new Death Cab for Cutie song. It ROCKS!

Have a great Monday!

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

Fairies in My House?

It's Sunday evening, and I realize I haven't posted a blog here all week. I'd like to give a good excuse like I've been working on one of my books, or that I went on an awesome tropical vacation, or that I've accomplished a whole lot this week.


I can't even say I'm all caught up on my laundry, or that I shampooed my carpet or anything--that would be fiction, not fact. Darn. Anyone who wants to come over and do those things for me is totally welcome. Just be forewarned that my pile of clean-but-unfolded laundry is nearly as tall as me.


So, where have I been? Um, really, just hanging out, being the mom. In my defense, I wrote about half a chapter in Cursed and did get some cleaning done this week--and it was so desperately needed I can't even tell you. I peeled, cut, and froze a bucket of peaches, and picked and froze lots and lots of raspberries. Oh, and I've been doing some reading. I'll be reviewing several books in the next few weeks, so keep watching. This Wednesday is my tour stop for Rachel Ann Nunes's upcoming release of "Saving Madeline," and soon after that, I'll be reviewing "Alma" by H.B. Moore. (Both excellent and extremely well written books, BTW.) So, watch for those reviews and some possible contests and giveaways.


Also, I now have a fan group on Facebook, so come on out and join me there.


The good news of the week: Both my girls (and their teams) won their soccer games and we're heading into tournaments with lots of possibilities, all my kids are becoming quite skilled at both piano and guitar, and my oldest son didn't wreck my car when we went out driving this weekend. (Let's all sigh in relief together.)


More good news: When my refrigerator went out, it somehow luckily turned out that the compressor (an expensive, major part, I'm told) was under warranty, even after five years. Hooray! And when the speedometer on our truck decided to become stuck (sometimes on zero, others on one hundred twenty) that turned out to be recalled, and so is also under warranty. Apparently, I have a community of fairies living in my house because they're taking good care of me these days.


I wonder if they now expect some kind of thank you gift? Hm. I'll have to think about that.



Anyway, even though I haven't posted anything worth reading here, I still always meet my deadlines on the other blogs on which I participate. I blogged here last Thursday, and here Monday the 14th.



Have a wonderful week, and write on.



Nichole

Drawings, Winners, and Changing the World

By Nichole Giles

Last week, I asked my readers what they would do to help change the world. I love all the thoughtful comments, and am sad that I only have one prize to give away. The drawing was done by random generator—lest any of you think I believe you won’t be able to change the world exactly the way you hope.

I believe you all have the power to do exactly what you’ve said. In case you didn’t read the comment threads, here are some great examples of what we can do daily:

“Live a good, honest life and follow the promptings Heavenly Father sends my way…I’ll help many people, most importantly my family. And from there begins the ripple effect…” ~ Danyelle

“I’ve always tried to say a nice thing to everyone I meet, but of course, that’s being used. If I could write a scene in a book that touched hearts, and if that book was read by everyone, it would change hearts and make the world a better place.” ~ Keith

“This year I’ve decided to be happy. There’s so much to be unhappy about, that it would be easy to frown and be upset. You can either choose to laugh or choose to cry. And I choose to laugh.” ~ Elana

“I hope to simply love people, give them the benefit of the doubt, assume the best, and emphasize the positive.” ~ James and Lindsay Lattin

“I’m trying to change the world right around me by teaching my children.” ~ Jenn

“I want to teach my children a love of reading. I know being taught early to love books has changed my life for the better, so I can only hope my kids inherit that as well.” ~ Jason, Alicia, and Addie

“I’m trying to change the world by improving myself so I can give my best self to others. In this way I hope to be a better mother, wife, neighbor, friend, sister, daughter, and stranger. And, therefore, being an influence for good.” ~ The Fox’s

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful comments and suggestions. As for me, I believe I can affect the world by serving others. Everyone needs help in one way or another now and then, and I believe it’s good karma to jump in and offer assistance. Very often it is the small things we do for which we are most appreciated, loved, and remembered.

And now the big announcement. I'm giving away an autographed copy of The A-MAZE-ing Book of Mormon by Arie Van Degraaff (who is a GUY, despite my late-night-typing-finger-blunder) to all those who commented on my changing the world post. And the winner is…(drum roll please)

Keith Fisher

Cheer, dance, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, whistle, clap, cheer. Yahoo, Keith!

I’d instruct you to send me your mailing address so I could get this awesome maze book in the mail, except I’m pretty sure I’ll be seeing you before I’ll see the guy at the post office anyway. Plus, I already have your address. Enjoy!

For those people who are dying to get their hands on this book, you can find it at your local bookstore, or click here to buy it online.

*Don’t forget to scroll down and leave a comment on my review of Illuminations of the Heart by Joyce DiPastena. Each time you comment, you’re entered into the drawing for an autographed copy or one of three gift cards. This is a great opportunity, so don’t miss out!

Until next time, write on!

Nichole

Book Review: "Illuminations of the Heart" by Joyce DiPastena and a Contest

By Nichole Giles

Hello my loyal and faithful friends and readers. It's true, I've been doing a whole bunch of media reviews lately. And I sure hope you aren't getting sick of them. It's just that when I find a book or CD or movie that I just love, I can't help but want to share it with the rest of the world. So, I hope you'll indulge me once more. This one is definitely worth the read!!

Back Cover Blurb:

“Clothilde.” He spoke the name on a breath like a prayer. Then he lowered his head and kissed her.

Her heart is lost in that first embrace, her world shaken to its foundations. There is just one problem: her name is not Clothilde. It is Siriol De Calendri. Trained in the art of illumination in the far-off city of Venice, Siri is directed by her late brother’s will to the county of Poitou in France, where she enters the guardianship of her brother’s friend, Sir Triston de Brielle. Once in Poitou, Siri hopes to find employment in an illuminator’s shop—until Triston unexpectedly snatches her heart away with a kiss.

Triston is a man of quiet honor and courage, but the guilt he carries for the death of his late wife, Clothilde, has left him numb and hesitant to love again. Worse yet, Siri bears an uncanny resemblance to his lost love. Or does she? Her merry laughter and twinkling eyes are very different from his late wife’s shy smiles and quiet ways. Yet when he gazes into Siri’s face, all he sees is Clothilde.

Then Triston’s past returns to threaten them both. Will his tragic life with Clothilde be repeated with Siri? Trapped between the rivalry of the king’s sons on the one hand and a neighbor out for vengeance on the other, Triston realizes it would be safer to send Siri away. But how can he bear to lose her again?

Siri is determined not to be cast off and not to live in another woman’s shadow. She has illuminated many a priceless book with pen and paint. But can her own vibrant spirit illuminate the darkness in Triston’s soul and make his heart beat for her alone?

My Take:

Once again, Joyce DiPastena has outdone herself. I absolutely loved her first book, Loyalty’s Web, and wondered how she would ever write another one with so much depth, so many plot twists and turns, and let’s not forget the heart-melting love story (the kind that doesn’t make you cringe). But how could I have thought such a thing? Of course, Illuminations was up to par! I absolutely loved it.

Okay, first I have to warn you. I’m a sucker for a good romance. Really. But I’m also extremely picky about what I read, especially since I started writing myself. Other than Loyalty’s Web, it’s been quite a while since I found a sweet romance that I just couldn’t put down. But this one was definitely packed full of heart-pounding romance. The downside is that I’m going to have to wait for probably a year or more to read another book by Joyce. (Frown. That’s a long time!) The point is, Illuminations of the Heart has sealed the deal. I’m a fan for life!

My Nitpicks:

I have issues with this section of my reviews. There are those who think a nitpick section is uncalled for or unnecessary. And in most cases, that’s probably true. However, I feel that it’s important for my readers to understand that I will be honest in my review process, and if I end up reviewing a book I wasn’t fond of, that I’ll kindly let them know that, while pointing out the things I did like.

That said, I have a really hard time finding anything to nitpick in this book. Seriously! Oh wait. I got one. (Joyce, we already had this discussion.) After reading Loyalty’s Web, I’d grown very fond of all the characters—except Clothilde and Helen’s extremely EVIL mother—and so was sad to discover Clothilde’s death in Illuminations. Seriously, every time Triston thought of her, I got sad too. So, I guess my nitpick is that I got teary in several places, which can be embarrassing when you’re sitting in the orthodontist’s office waiting for your kids, or waiting in line to meet teachers at the school or something. But worry not. I grew to love Siri as well, and found the ending very satisfying.

So now I’m left wondering who’s story Joyce will tell next. Maybe Acelet's? Or Ettienne's? Hm. Only Joyce herself knows the answer to that question. The rest of us will just have to be patient.

I give Illuminations of the Heart a five on my diamond scale, and recommend that you run out and grab a copy as fast as you can so you can start reading it too.

Wait, running out would require leaving the computer. I’ll make it easier. Click here to order yours from Deseret Book or here to order from Amazon.

Oh, but that’s not all! Leave a comment here and be entered to win an autographed copy of Illuminations of the Heart or one of three gift cards. The best part is that this tour goes until September 15th, and you can leave comments on as many tour stops as you want, and each one counts as a new entry. (Tip: I’ve posted this blog in two places—comment on both for two entries.) Good luck! I belive the winners will be announced on Joyce's blog at the end of the blog tour, but I'll probably post the names here as well.

Being the sweet lady that she is, Joyce was kind enough to take some time out of her busy life to chat with me about the things that really matter in the life of an author.

NG: Hi Joyce! I know you’re super busy, so I’ll get right to the most important questions. What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream? Today, my new favorite is Ben and Jerry’s Key Lime Pie.

JDP: My favorite is Coldstone Creamery French vanilla with chocolate chips and roasted almonds. I guess you could say that chocolate chip is my favorite, but I LOVE being able to add nuts, which you can never find in a store brand chocolate chip.

NG: Awesome. That does sound yummy. And not just any nuts, roasted almonds. Mmm. Almost makes me wish we’d met in an ice cream shop for this interview. But hey, we can always pretend.

(Pauses to dream about ice cream.)

NG: Who is your favorite author? (Besides yourself or me, since everyone already knows we’re both awesome.)

JDP: Georgette Heyer, who wrote Regency romances, and Diana Wynne Jones, who writes fantasies, and I'm not even a fantasy reader in general, so you KNOW how much I must find DWJ awesome! Of course, that doesn't mean that all of either GH or DWJ's titles are as awesome as others. It's a good thing we're going to break that trend, and write NOTHING but awesome books ourselves, NG!

NG: You bet, Joyce! Trend-breaking is at the top of my priority list. Personally, I prefer to set my own trends and make my own fun. Speaking of fun, what is your most favorite thing to do when you’re not writing?

JDP: I spend way too much time on email and the internet. I don't know if that's because it's a "favorite" thing to do, or if I'm just cyberspace addicted. (Probably the latter.)

NG: Tee Hee. Aren’t we all? Wait, that was supposed to be redundant. I have a better question. If you were an animal, what kind would you be and why?

JDP: Ooo, that one's easy. I would be a cat. I've loved cats for as long as I can remember, and am quite sure I would have been born with a cat in my arms if my mom hadn't (presumably) vetoed that idea. I remember taking "cat lessons" from my grandparents cat when I was a very little girl. Besides, what's not to love about eating and sleeping all day in all the best places in the house?

NG: That does sound nice.

Pauses to dream about naps and snack foods.

NG: Speaking of eating, how about telling us what kinds of power snacks keep you going as you write.

JDP: When I'm being bad, a handful of Hershey Kisses. When I'm being good, a stick of string cheese.

NG: Chocolate and cheese? That pretty much covers the important food groups. One last question and then I’ll let you get back to your next masterpiece. Do you prefer diamonds or pearls?

JDP: Pearls. Don't know why, I just do.

NG: Because you’re classic and feminine. Your choice is unusual, which speaks of your character. Jewelry choice says a lot about a person. But I digress. Joyce, I know you’re super busy, so I’ll let you get back to work. Thank you so much for the visit, and the answers to what makes an author tick.

To read more about the author, click here or here.

Joyce DiPastena will be touring many Costco locations in Arizona. Watch her blog or website for dates and locations.

For My Friends

It seems like there's something in the air lately. I have an influx of friends, loved ones, and even just people I know casually who are struggling with making life decisions that are tough. And as usual, I'm among them.

Anyway, since Google has been down all day--or at least every time I checked--and Blogger let me in for a minute, I thought I'd hurry and post this video for a little inspiration.

It's okay, everyone. You have the power within yourselves to make the best choices for your future. Do what feels right to you, and it probably is. If not, it's still okay!