The Farworld Blog Tour is Here AND a Contest!

Welcome Fantasy Readers the World Over! Come get a taste for a great new epic fantasy adventure and enter to win your very own copy!


Farworld: Water Keep is a glorious adventure that young and old will enjoy. This wild ride will take you to places I guarantee you have never before imagined, and you will love every minute.

I don’t want to give away the fun twists and turns that I enjoyed so much, but I will tell you—when you read this book, read with your 3-D glasses on. You will be so blown away by the wild creatures J. Scott Savage has invented for our enjoyment! There are some pretty freaky things in there that make you really wonder what it must be like inside this guys’ head.

I loved it, and I know my boys will likewise thoroughly enjoy the varied and mind boggling creatures, and the anything-is-possible vibe to this book.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, and highly recommend it.

Don’t hesitate to pick up a copy as soon as you get the chance. In fact, you can go here to pre-order your own copy from Amazon.com. Or, you can get some of your own creative juices flowing and enter my contest to win your very own Advanced Reader Copy of Farworld: Water Keep.

**Contest**

Think about this passage from Farworld: Water Keep:

“Listen to me,” he said, his face dark and serious. “You are right. Everything does have magic in it. From the smallest of insect to the mighty trees of Before Time.”
Kyja looked up at him miserably. “But not me.”
Master Therapass smiled. “Even you, little one. But magic is not just spells. The magic you see on the outside—making pots and pans fly or brewing potions to make boys swoon before you—is but a tiny fraction of the power of true magic. The real power of magic lies within you. Who you are, what you do, and most importantly of all, what you may become.”
Kyja wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “You really think I might have some magic inside me then?”

The wizard nodded. “I know you do.”

Now. Answer me this. Imagine Master Therapass was speaking to you, today. Sitting at your kitchen table, enjoying your homemade chocolate chip cookies and some lemonade. You are Kyja, desperately hoping that he might be right and there might in fact be some magic in you after all.

Tell me what his words mean to you. What do they tell you about yourself? About your life? How might his words change how you see things, see yourself? You can either email me at ali at aworkofheartphotography dot com or leave your entry in the comment trail for this post.

Because it’s my blog and I’m the Queen of GrrlWrrld, I’m going to pick the answer I like best. So there. I'll give you until August 15th to get in your entries, and then I'll pick the winner! Make sure you give me some way to contact you to let you know you've won.

Seriously folks, this is a book you are gonna want on your bookshelves. And how cool to have your very own ARC, which hardly any other people have?

**Q&A**

Now, while you’re noodling over how you’re gonna knock my socks off with your answer to the magical question above, let’s enjoy a nice chat with J. Scott Savage, author of Farworld: Water Keep:

Scott and I hopped a plane for Edinburough, Scotland. It was a long flight, but we still had the energy to rent a car and drive into the countryside where we found an old, stone hewed castle. Forget jet lag, we happily hiked the time-worn stairs to gaze out at the countryside below. The rocks feel almost smooth beneath our elbows as we lean over the precipice and gaze out at eternity. In the distance we can see the waves crashing against the rocky shore. I crack open the tartan thermos we picked up at the market in town and pour us each a cup of hot chocolate. Mmmm.

So Scott, how do you like the biting chill of the Scottish countryside when it’s baking hot back home?

Aye, yer a fine lassie indeed. I feel like raisin me voice to the sky and singin yer praises. Bet I fear the wee little birdies would die of fright at the sound of me voice. Sorry, I guess it was the Tartan thermos that pushed me over the edge. I’m okay now. This is great. How can you not be inspired to write fantasy in a setting like this.

Do you have a nice air conditioned office in which to create your literary masterpieces or do you have to keep a damp rag on hand with which to regularly pat your brow?

Fortunately I have A/C. But my laptop occasionally needs a damp rag.

Standing here, overlooking the gorgeous Scottish countryside, does any of it remind you of Farworld?

Yes. At least the parts of Farworld we’ve seen to this point. Very green and lush. But other parts of Farworld remind me a lot of the deserts back in Utah. And so far I haven’t seen any men in Farworld walking around in skirts and carrying bagpipes. But hey there’s still four books to go right?

I can't wait to see what goes into them!

Scotland has a rich history of mythical beasties. What would they think of some of the creatures you’ve conjured up?

Can any fantasy creature really compete with Nessy the Loch Ness Monster? I think even JK Rowling’s Dementors would have taken one look at her and said, “Dude, let’s go back to harassing those Quidditch players.” Got to admit though that I’d really like a Frost Pinnois to go flying overhead.

Oh man! The Frost Pinnois was my favorite creature from your book! The visuals on that guy were amazing. I can still totally picture him.

And magic is no stranger in this place either. In fact, even today you’ll find many people who believe they possess magic, or that magic is all around them. Would you feel right at home in a place like this?

Either you’ve been reading my mind or reading other interviews. I do think that there is magic all around us. Especially on a day like today where everything seems to glisten and sparkle, I totally expect to see a Leprechaun come bouncing up out of the clover. I wouldn’t want to live here year round. But if I could sit up in this castle with my laptop, writing my next book, I would be in seventh heaven.

Do you possess any magic of your own? Maybe a superpower? Care to share? I promise I won’t tell.

Well, I don’t like to brag or anything, but I can grow super weeds. Seriously, nine, ten feet tall. Dogs go looking for their balls in those weeds and they never come out. The military has asked me to create an entire troop of them for dangerous duty situations, but my weeds are for the good of all mankind.

Ahh, then you'd fit right in here in Scotland--the rest of the world sees the Scottish Thistle as a noxious weed, but we Scots know the truth. But I think maybe you do too? The Thistle is one of the Scots' might jokes on the world.

You know they have a wicked sense of humor—surely you noticed that on our ride through town? Do you have any wickedly funny jokes to share?

What you mean the three old codgers who mooned us on the way over? I wonder who wrote “Go” “Home” “Yanks” on their bums with lipstick? Now that would be hazardous duty! You mean you didn’t think my farm jokes were wickedly funny? How about this. What did the skeleton order in the bar? A beer and a mop! Okay, so stand up comedy is not my strong suit.

I love it. That's just the kind of fun humor I enjoyed with your barn animals--have to admit, taht was one of my favorite parts of the book! Well, guess what Scott, I’ve got a few superpowers of my own, and I predict that Farworld: Water Keep will be a huge hit.

That is a superpower I can get behind. How can it fail with great interviews and reviews like this?

No kidding! Thanks for coming on this trip with me Scott, and for talking with me about magic and beasties—It was great fun!

It was great. Thanks for inviting me. I love hanging out with whirling girls who say, “beastie.” Thanks so much!!!!

And Now ... Forged in the Refiner's Fire

Where was this book when life was particularly trying for me? When I got the opportunity to participate in Candace’s blog tour, it was short notice with little time to read (and I’m a slow reader.) However, I had to jump at the chance because I’m a fan of hers. It was quite unusual then, when I managed to read the whole book in one sitting because I found it so captivating.

A collection of personal experiences by a variety of authors, this book deals with many tender subjects from infertility to substance abuse, from life-threatening injuries to lifestyle-altering job concerns, and everything in between. I believe I’ve read a book or two that tried to address these issues, but it seems to me they always tried to make me feel like somehow, somewhere, I had failed to do something that would have made these trials easier to bear.

What I loved about Forged in the Refiner’s Fire, is that the people sharing their stories, shared their whole stories—the good, the bad, and the ugly. They did not paint themselves as saints worthy of translation. They willingly showed their faults and shared the lessons they learned while suffering through their tribulations.

I was truly touched by the stories, the personalities that shone through the words and the testimonies that were shared. This book will have a place on my bookshelf because it promises to be timeless in its value for me—for though I do not seek trials, I know they will not stop coming until I have stopped living!

I am grateful for this book and all it strives to offer its readers. I encourage you to read it for yourself, whether you are currently experiencing a challenge, or have in the past, you can bet you likely will in the future, and the stories contained in Forged in the Refiner’s Fire might just offer you the keys to enduring it well.

What prompted you to want to produce a book like Forged in the Refiner’s Fire?

Elizabeth Cheever, my co-author, is the one who came up with the original concept. When she approached me, I was very busy but drawn to the whole idea of Forged in the Refiner’s Fire. While we were deciding the direction we wanted the book to go, Elizabeth came up with a list of questions that would shape the kind of stories we wanted. We needed stories of real people going through real life trials and tribulations. Those people needed to have made it through that trial and drawn closer to God in the process. And even then, I did not understand the powerful book that would come to be, not until I held the first copy in my hands.

Can you share any experiences you might have had while compiling it?

During the compilation and writing of the introductory chapter (Elizabeth) and the concluding chapter (me), Elizabeth and I were in full writer and editor mode. I can’t speak for her, but for me I could sense the power of the stories but was very wrapped up in grammar, punctuation, structure, flow and order of the stories. So no, I felt no special experiences. But the first day it came out my publisher brought me a case of books to the hospital where Alvin was. We cut it open and Alvin settled back in his bed while I read to him. Three pages into the book I began to cry until I could no longer read. That was when the full magnitude and power of what Elizabeth and I had pulled together hit me. It was all we had hoped for and more. Average people with tremendous trials who’d made it through. That is Forged in the Refiner’s Fire.

Why did you choose to compile stories as opposed to writing a book yourself?

I actually am going to write a book about everything Alvin and I have been through over the last six years, but to me, there’s seems to be more power in the collective stories of others. While a certain reader may not connect with Robin’s story they may certainly be hit hard by Donna’s. With the compilation we manage to have something for everyone.

How did you come to work with Elizabeth Cheever?

Elizabeth and I met at the very first LDS Storymakers Writers Conference in the spring of 2004. She is a shy woman, but very tall. We were both unpublished authors at the time. There was something about her that drew me to her, so I shot her a smile and invited her to sit with me on the front row of the auditorium. I told her tall women needed to stick together and I’d snagged us some seats with leg room. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Turns out we had a world of things in common. When she approached me with the idea, I couldn’t say no.

Forged in the Refiner’s Fire has a strong message of personal worth and the love of God—do you feel it is your mission to share His love with His children?

With everything in me I believe that is part of my mission. We are so beloved by our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. If we only stop to consider the sacrifice they both made.

Jesus descended from His heavenly throne to come into a world where His message would be rejected by His own. He was ridiculed, scorned and scoffed at. At the conclusion of the crowning glory of the world’s history and future, the Atonement, Jesus Christ was betrayed by a childhood friend, one of his own apostles. After having literally bled from every pore because the agony was so excruciating, that we might gain eternal life, He was arrested, rushed through a kangaroo trial, mocked and beaten with the cat of nine tails (a whip with sharp objects sewn into multiple tails) which tore at His flesh causing the blood to run freely. He was betrayed by the very people he’d come to save and ultimately crucified. And as our Lord and Redeemer hung on that cross, after enduring unimaginable agony, He said, “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.”

Now step back for a moment and consider the parent, Heavenly Father, who had to watch this and could not step in and stop it. As His bled from every pore He couldn’t rush to His side, cradle Him in His arms and whisper, “It’s okay, Son. I won’t let them hurt you anymore.” No, in order to save us all, He had to allow Jesus Christ to suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane and then die in a cruel and excruciating fashion. His Father’s heart must have torn from the sheer agony of not being able to protect the Son He loved so much.

And it was all because they love us. Oh yes, I do believe that is my mission.

How has the creation of Forged in the Refiner’s Fire differed from other books that you have written?

It was so exciting to literally let the Gospel of Jesus Christ flow out of me. It was an incredible experience and one I am anxious to repeat. But I am a lover of fiction and my first book, Out of the Shadows . . . Into the Light, was a page-turning romantic suspense, which is my favorite genre. It was so much fun to write and I am loving writing fiction again.

My second book, 13 and 0: Reflections of Champions, was one I was approached to write by my publisher. Never in a million years would I have anticipated writing a sports biography. Not in any parallel universe or any period in history. But it turned out to be a wonderful experience. I count it a privilege and a blessing that I was able to bring the story of these young men who achieved the perceived impossible to the written word. A university nestled in the Rocky Mountains took the national title in football in 1984. Wow, it was a blast to write and I love having young athletes read it and realize the characteristics of true heroes rather than those we see in the media.

Is Forged in the Refiner’s Fire available in stores? Where can my readers buy a copy?

It is available, but the numbers are dwindling. Forged is in another print run, even as we speak. But in the meantime, to insure your readers can continue to purchase copies until those books hit the shelves, they can go to my website: http://candacesalima.com/inPrint.htm.

Are there any parting words you would like to share with my readers?

Hope. The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings hope to the most faint-hearted of us. And with that hope comes an understanding that we are not alone and were never meant to walk this thorny path of mortality alone. Jesus Christ stands as our Lord, Savior and Redeemer and through Him we can gain the strength to get up and keep moving forward, keeping our eye single to the glory of God and He who waits to welcome us home. You are not alone, you’ve only to look to Him.

The Heaven Scent Tour is Here!

Heaven Scent by Rebecca Cornish Talley, is a poignant LDS young adult novel. It tells the story of Liza Compton, a high school basketball star with a world of opportunities before her. However, Liza is disheartened by her father’s change in attitude toward her family and it makes her question his love for her and the security of her home life. When tragedy forces Liza to face those things she most fears, we are given a sweet opportunity to learn and grow right along with her. If you love LDS young adult novels, than this book might just be the one for you!

My family has read Rebecca’s other published work Grasshopper Pie and found it to be incredibly fun and entertaining. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a writer with such a whacky and creative approach to life (which I love, but how would that translate into a YA novel?), but Heaven Scent was very different. The mother of ten children, Rebecca has a unique insight into the minds of children and their worlds—that insight is evident in this, her latest book.

Look for Heaven Scent on Amazon.com, or in your local LDS Bookstore. You can't miss it--it's the one with the gorgeous pink cover.
I am grateful Rebecca has taken the time to answer a few questions I thought my readers would be interested in. Thank you Rebecca!

On Writing:

With such a busy household, how do you find time to write?

I just fit it in whenever I can. I try to write every day, but that doesn’t always happen. If I write while the kids are sleeping that seems to work the best, but again, that doesn’t always happen. I’ve also given up other hobbies and interests to carve out time to write (though I’ll never give up my chocolate time).

What has been your favorite part of the writing process? And your least favorite?

I love seeing the story take shape. I love words and stringing them together to create a story that’s uniquely my own. It’s way cool when it all comes together.

My least favorite part is marketing/promoting. I’d much rather spend my time writing, but I’ve learned that marketing/promoting is a very important part of the process.

How long did it take you to write this book and then to get it published?

I’ve worked on this particular story for years. It started as a short story in high school. I then decided to expand it and worked on it between pregnancies, nursing newborns, toddlers, kids, teenagers, and caring for my ailing grandparents (who raised me).

I submitted it to Cedar Fort in November 2006. It was accepted in May 2007 and was published in February 2008.

Do you have any advice to aspiring writers?

Never give up. If your dream is to be published, keep working toward that goal. Network with other writers, attend conferences, and join critique groups. Read, Read, Read. Write, write, write. And, love what you do.

On Your Family:

One of your children is an artist and illustrated your children’s picture book Grasshopper Pie. How do you encourage your children to follow their dreams?

I try to encourage them with my words and actions to pursue what makes them happy. I’ve sat through sports, concerts, plays, talent shows, and read lots and lots of stories in an effort to help my kids find and develop their talents. I want each one to follow his or her dreams.

Do your children support you in your writing pursuits?

Absolutely. My husband is also very supportive. He’s driven me to conferences, watched the kids while I attended conferences, and bought me books and computers to help me. I could never write without my family’s support and encouragement.

On Heaven Scent:

On the Dedication page of Heaven Scent, you speak to your mother “whose fragrant visits have strengthened me and my testimony and inspired this story.” What did you mean by that?

My mother wore a very distinctive perfume. It was an oil-based scent that worked with each person’s body chemistry to produce a unique fragrance. My mom passed away when I was nine years old. Over the years, especially during trials, I have smelled her perfume and felt her so close I could almost reach out and touch her.

Do you know any Liza’s? Is she modeled after anyone you know?

I knew an amazing basketball player in high school. She could sink a shot from anywhere on the court. Liza isn’t based on anyone in particular, though.

In your book Heaven Scent, one of Liza’s challenges is that she does not have a variety of skills or talents that she can rely on. What is the message you hope readers will learn from Liza’s experience?

I hope people will realize they have many talents. Some may not be as developed as others, but we all have talents.

If you could sum up the moral of this story in one sentence, what would you say?

No matter what life brings, there is always hope.

Where can my readers get a copy of Heaven Scent?

It is available at Deseret Book, Seagull, Amazon, Barnes and Noble (online), Target (online), and independent LDS bookstores.

Any final thoughts about your book, your family, or the writing process that you would like to share?

It’s really a dream come true for me to have this book published. I’m thrilled every day I’ve been given the opportunity to share this story with others.

Thank you so much for the review and the interview, Ali. I so appreciate your time and willingness to host my book tour. Thank you!

~~

Thank you Rebecca for allowing me the privilege to interview you and to participate in your blog tour--it was an honor!

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!

Heaven Scent by Rebecca Cornish Talley

My brand-spankin' new copy of Heaven Scent
by Rebecca Cornish Talley has arrived straight from the publisher! Sweet!

I have the distinct privilege of reading Heaven Scent, giving it my honest review and then I get to interview Rebecca! How cool is that?

My interview with Rebecca will be June 19th, so keep posted. I'll be putting up my review some time over the next week or so, as well.

Looking forward to reading it Rebecca!