An Interview with Tristi Pinkston, LDS Author AND a Contest!

I am very excited to have had the opportunity to interview Tristi Pinkston, LDS Author, about her new book Season of Sacrifice. You've heard me tell you before what an inspiration Tristi is to me, and not the least of the many things I admire about her is her passion and love for her family and for the gospel.

In Season of Sacrifice, Tristi tells the story of her own ancestors and their efforts to follow the will of the Prophet of the Lord. You can read an awesome review of Season of Sacrifice here.

Following the interview with Tristi,
read up on how YOU could win a $15.00 gift certificate to Amazon.com.

Having published with a publishing company, and self-published, do you now have a preference? Or how would you identify the pros and cons of each?

There are definitely pros and cons either way. A huge pro in self-publishing is having ultimate power. (I like power. Power is good.) However, the huge con is that I obviously don't have the promotional dollars that a publishing company has. I would definitely choose a publisher over self-publishing, inasmuch as it's possible.

This month you are on a blog tour - stopping by blogs across the internet, answering questions and touting your new book Season of Sacrifice. Obviously, you are hoping to increase your exposure and book sales. What are your plans to continue that trend once the blog tour is completed?

I'm going to retire to Argentina on my riches. And if that doesn't work, then I'll keep the book up on my website, continue to take it with me when I promote, and keep spreading the word.

Your book, Season of Sacrifice, features a rich period in Mormon history.
While preparing your research, did you encounter any information that was new to you, or that surprised you?

Not really -- the story and all its attendant facts have been passed down in my family my whole life, so I wasn't caught off guard or anything. I was pleased to learn that Sarah and her parents were on the first train that used the Transcontinental Railroad when it was constructed. That was pretty cool.

Your book includes your own great-great-grandfather's experiences with polygamy. How do you feel knowing that you are the descendant of a polygamist?

I've never been crazy about the idea of me, personally, practicing polygamy (so I don't have that idea) but it doesn't bother me in the slightest that my ancestors did. They were people of faith, obedience and courage -- I'd claim them no matter what.

Polygamy is a hot-topic in the news today. If you could speak to the issue, particularly as it relates to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, what would you say?

I would seek to draw a very clear line between polygamy as it was practiced by the LDS Church in the 1800's and how it is practiced by the FLDS Church today. The LDS Church has not practiced polygamy since 1890, and any members found to be practicing it today are excommunicated. It took place for a short period of time as the men of the Church were killed by mobs and disease, leaving their wives alone and unprotected. When the Saints settled in Utah and their numbers were a bit more even, the practice came to an end. You can read more of my thoughts on the subject at the following links:

http://josikilpack.blogspot.com/2008/05/author-interview-with-tristi.html

http://candacesalima.blogspot.com/2008/03/review-pinkstons-season-of-sacrifice.html

http://tristipinkston.blogspot.com/2008/04/mormons-and-fundamentalist-mormons-not.html

Is there a message that you hope your readers take away from Season of Sacrifice?

I would like my readers to come away from the book feeling a sense of the Lord's hand in the lives of these pioneers and to know that nothing is impossible for God. He is there for us in all our trials, physical and emotional.

~ Contest! ~

Please help me help Tristi sell some books! This is an awesome book that ought to be on all of our bookshelves and those of our loved ones! So, here are the rules:

1. You must leave a comment on this post with an email address or some other way so I can reach you should you win.
2. For every copy of Season of Sacrifice Tristi sells on her website, I will enter your name in a drawing.
3. On June 1st, I will have some third party (probably a child) draw a name from a bowl or something. I will announce the winner here on June 1st!

So come on, be a winner ... buy a book (or two, or three!)

You can purchase your own copy of Season of Sacrifice
by clicking on the picture below ...
For a limited time, Tristi is offering autographed copies of her new book for $15.00!