Some of you may remember our Countdown to Christmas 2009 last year. It was so much fun that we’ve decided to do another countdown for summer!

From June 1 through June 21 on the LDSWBR Blog we will be highlighting different authors and their books that were published, or will be published, between January 1 and July 31 of this year. You are sure to discover several great books to add to your summer reading list.

Just like the last countdown, we will be holding a contest as well. Read on to find out how you can be entered into the drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card, a 3 chapter/30 page critique by author Nichole Giles, and one of 11 awesome books donated by the authors participating in our countdown.

Hillary and I arrived at the Provo Marriott on Friday morning, relieved to find a parking space on the top level of the parking garage. The rain was steady and that particular level was exposed to the elements, but even sloshing through several deep puddles in sandals couldn’t dampen my excitement. (Sorry, couldn’t help myself.)

As soon as we entered the front lobby, we could feel the energy surging through the hotel. Hillary and I made our way to registration through a crowd of faces; some were familiar and greeted with an ecstatic “Hi!”; others were unfamiliar, though they wouldn’t remain that way for long.

Welcome and Introduction

I was amazed at how packed the ballroom was as I made my way to the table where Hillary was waiting for me. We flipped through the binders discovered in the handy green bags provided for us, marking the classes we wanted to take and reading syllabuses.

While we waited for the conference to begin, Hillary and I traded cards with the other ladies on our table. We all introduced ourselves and I realized that sitting next to Hillary was Paulette Inman from Pendragon’s Book Binding. I had seen Paulette’s work when Karen Hoover brought a book Paulette had made for her to the podcast recording in April. I made my first book purchase of the day- an adorable fairy-tale themed book I intend to use as my youngest daughter’s journal once her baby journal is full.

Once the conference began, first-timers at the conference were asked to raise their hands. I was blown away by how many people were there for the very first time. So many newbies, just like me and Hillary, ready to learn and be inspired. I knew I was going to have a great time at the conference, but the video they played during the introduction confirmed that these people were my kind of people.

The Classes

A few more comments and then we were off, a mass of students intent on getting a seat in the classes we most want to attend. For Hillary, Sheila and I, that first class was Heather (H.B.) Moore’s How to Avoid the Common Mistakes of a Novice Writer. This was the ideal class with which to begin, setting the stage for everything else I was to learn that day.

I sat next to Sarah M. Eden in Janette Rallison’s class on self-editing (major cool moment for me). I learned that I over-use the word “as.” I think I better double check this entry before I post it.

I already knew that authors can be the best manipulators when it comes to their readers. I learned in Jeff Savage’s class, Villainous: Creating Characters We Love to Hate, that writing an excellent bad guy is one area in which an author’s skill at manipulating their readers’ feelings can really shine.

I finished up my first day of classes with Krista Marino and The First Five Pages. This class was beneficial to me both as a potential author and as a book reviewer. I hadn’t fully realized just how important those first five pages of a book are, not just in getting a publisher’s attention, but the reader’s attention as well. Of course there’s the hook that snags the reader, but what amazed me in the examples Krista shared was how much information, and how many unanswered questions, can be packed into those first five pages.

Keynote

After classes had finished for the day, everyone gathered in the ballroom once again to listen to Dave Wolverton’s keynote address. The amount of knowledge and experience Dave has is impressive, but even more than that is his willingness to share those things with everyone around him. His speech was encouraging and motivating.

Hanging Out

After a delicious dinner, Hillary and I headed over to the south hall to chat with old friends and make some new ones. We recorded our first set of interviews that will be available in upcoming posts. The first day of my first LDStorymakers Conference was done, and it was awesome.

We have so many goodies coming your way. We had a great time at the Storymakers Conference this past weekend. There are more great photos and entertaining interviews coming soon!

How much fun did we have at the 2009 Whitney Awards?

More fun than we would have if Howard Tayler and Julie Wright hadn’t been there. Thanks for the laughs, Howard and Julie. You are a riot!

Visit the LDSWBR Blog to find out who won the Countdown to Christmas 2009 Contest!

Lynn Gardner is the author 12 novels: ten in the gem series and two Maggie McKenzie Mysteries. Pursued is her most recent release. She also participated in Famous Family Nights with Anne Bradshaw.

Victoria Gunther’s first book, The Girl in a Whirl by “Dr. Sue” and Other Things that Women Do, was published in September 2009.

Read more about Lynn and Victoria on the LDSWBR Blog. This is our last Countdown to Christmas 2009 author post, and today is the LAST DAY TO COMMENT and enter to win a $25 eGift Card to Deseret Book or one of 17 great books donated by generous LDS authors. For contest rules and a list of book prizes, visit the LDSWBR Blog today!

Laurie (L.C.) Lewis is the author of four published novels: Unspoken (2004), and her Free Men and Dreamers series, Dark Sky at Dawn (2007), Twilight’s Last Gleaming (2008), and her most recent release, Dawn’s Early Light (2009).

Read more about Laurie on the LDSWBR Blog. Don’t forget to comment to get your entry into our Countdown to Christmas 2009 contest where you could win a $25 eGift Card to Deseret Book or one of several (we’re up to 17!) books donated by their generous LDS authors. There are only TWO DAYS LEFT to enter, so go comment right now! For contest rules and a list of book prizes, visit the LDSWBR Blog.

Jennie Hansen is the author of 21 novels and five short stories in compilations. Shudder is her most recent release. Jennie was kind enough to donate a copy of Shudder for the Countdown to Christmas drawing.

Linda Chadwick’s first published novel, Second Chances, was released in August 2009.

Read more about Jennie and Linda on the LDSWBR Blog. Comment on the Countdown to Christmas author posts for your chance to win a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book or one of 16 great books donated by the authors. Don’t wait- there’s only THREE DAYS LEFT to enter. For contest rules and a list of book prizes, visit the LDSWBR Blog.

Rachel Ann Nunes is the author of 29 books. Saving Madeline is her most recently published novel. Rachel’s next book, Imprints, is scheduled for a March 2010 release.

Read more about Rachel, her family’s fun holiday traditions, and her extensive book gift list on the LDSWBR Blog. With only FOUR DAYS LEFT to enter our Countdown to Christmas 2009 Contest, don’t delay leaving your comments to enter to win a $25 eGift Card to Deseret Book or one of 16 great books donated by their authors. For contest rules and a list of book prizes, visit the LDSWBR Blog today!

Gregg Luke is the author of four published novels, including his most recent release, Altered State. His next thriller, Blink of an Eye (working title), is currently in it’s initial review.

Rebecca Irvine is the author of two books, Adventures with the Word of God and Family Home Evening Adventures.

Read more about Gregg and Rebecca on the LDSWBR Blog. There are only FIVE DAYS LEFT to enter the Countdown to Christmas 2009 Contest. Don’t wait until the last minute to post your comments and enter to win a $25 eGift Card to Deseret Book or one of 16 great books donated by generous LDS authors. For contest rules and a list of book prizes, visit the LDSWBR Blog.

Liz Adair is the author of six novels. Her most recent release, Counting the Cost, was a Finalist in the National Best Books 2009 Awards.

Gale Sears is the author of four novels, two Christmas booklets, and one children’s picture book. Her most recent releases include The Route and Christmas for a Dollar.

Read more about Liz and Gale on the LDSWBR Blog. There are only six days left to enter the contest by commenting on the Countdown to Christmas author posts, so don’t miss out on your chance to win a $25 eGift Card to Deseret Book or one of 16 books donated by generous LDS authors. Visit the LDSWBR Blog and leave your comments today!

There’s only ONE WEEK LEFT until the drawing! Go back and comment on all the Countdown to Christmas author posts you haven’t commented on yet and get those entries in!

Traci Hunter Abramson is the author of six novels, including her most recent release, Lockdown (March 2009). Traci has two novels scheduled to be released next year- Crossfire in January 2010 and Backlash in September 2010.

Read more about Traci and her holiday traditions on the LDSWBR Blog. Don’t miss out on your chance to win a $25 eGift Card to Deseret Book or one of 16 great books donated by their authors. This is the biggest contest LDSWBR has ever held and we don’t want you to miss out. Visit the LDSWBR Blog and enter today!

Tristi Pinkston is the author of four novels, including her most recent release, Agent in Old Lace. She is currently working on a new series called The Secret Sisters Mysteries.

Read more about Tristi on the LDSWBR Blog. There’s only 8 days left to enter the contest, so don’t wait to leave your comments and enter the LDSWBR Countdown to Christmas 2009 Contest. You could win a $25 eGift Card to Deseret Book or one of several books donated by generous LDS authors. For contest rules and a list of book prizes, head on over the LDSWBR Blog today.

Joyce DiPastena is the author of two novels, Loyalty’s Web and Illuminations of the Heart, and a short story, An Epiphany Gift for Robin, that was just published in a Christmas story anthology called Stolen Christmas and Other Stories of the Season.

Read more about Joyce on the LDSWBR Blog. Leave your comments on the Countdown to Christmas 2009 author posts to enter to win a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book or one of many books donated by their LDS authors. For contest rules and a list of book prizes, visit the LDSWBR Blog today!

Stephanie Black is the author of three novels. Fool Me Twice and Methods of Madness, her most recently published books, are both mystery-suspense novels. Stephanie is currently working on her next suspense novel.

Read more about Stephanie on the LDSWBR Blog. Our Countdown to Christmas 2009 Contest is still going, so don’t forget to leave your comments to enter win a $25 eGift Card to Deseret Book or one of 16 books generously donated by their authors! For contest rules and a list of book prizes, visit the LDSWBR Blog.

Dorothy Keddington is the author of seven romantic-suspense novels and co-author of the non-fiction biography of Ahmad Sharifi, A Square Sky. Dorothy’s most recent novel, The Fairy Thorn, released just this month, is a romantic-suspense set on Washington State’s Whidbey Island and Mazatlan, Mexico. Granite Publishing will be re-releasing Dorothy’s previous novels, beginning with Jayhawk.

Read more about what Dorothy is currently working on, as well as her family’s Christmas traditions on the LDSWBR Blog. Don’t wait until the last minute- start leaving your comments on the blog today to be entered into the LDSWBR Countdown to Christmas 2009 Contest. You could win a $25 eGift Card to Deseret Book or one of several (we’re up to 16 now!) books by some great LDS authors.  For contest rules and a list of book prizes, visit the LDSWBR Blog today!

Heather Justesen’s recently published book, The Ball’s in Her Court, is her first novel. Heather’s second book, Rebound, featuring secondary characters from The Ball’s in Her Court, will be released in May 2010.

Diony George’s first novel, Torn Apart, had it’s second edition release in February 2009. She is currently working on a book titled Shaded View, the story of a wife and mother who thinks getting a divorce will fix everything wrong in her life. She learns the answer is changing herself.

Don’t forget to visit the LDSWBR Blog and leave your comments on our Countdown to Christmas 2009 author posts to enter to win a $25 Deseret Book eGift Card and one of 15 books by great LDS authors. With up up to 24 chances to enter and win, you don’t want to miss out! Forward this email on to your family and friends to let them know about the biggest contest LDS Women’s Book Review has ever held! For contest rules and a list of generously donated book prizes, visit the LDSWBR Blog.

Janet Jensen has published two books, The Book Lover’s Cookbook, and Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys. She’s currently working on a spin-off of Don’t You Marry the Mormon Boys called Gabriel’s Daughters, as well as another novel, And Grace Will Lead Us Home, about an illiterate man who is desperate to hide his disability in today’s very literate society.

Cindy Beck and Nichole Giles are the authors of the recently released Mormon Mishaps and Mischief, a first book for both of them. Cindy and Nichole have each written several short stories and articles. Cindy authors a monthly humor column in the newspaper and has several works in progress, and Nichole is working on a number of novel-length projects (no publication dates yet) and one short-length novella, The Sharp Edge of a Knife, which should be released in late January or early February.

Read more about Janet, Cindy and Nichole on the LDSWBR Blog. The drawing for a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book (and several books donated by generous LDS authors) will take place in just TWO WEEKS (Christmas Day!) so head on over to the LDSWBR Blog today to leave your comments. With up to 24 opportunities to enter, you don’t want to miss out on your chance to win some great prizes!

Only two weeks left!!

Anne Bradshaw is the author of four books, including her recent release, Famous Family Nights.

Visit the LDSWBR Blog today to read more about Anne. Leave a comment and enter to win a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book, or one of several books donated by generous LDS authors (including the very recently released The Fairy Thorn by Dorothy Keddington). For a list of book prizes and contest rules, go to the LDSWBR Blog.

LuAnn Staheli’s published work includes When Hearts Conjoin (Richard Paul Evans Publishing), an essay in Famous Family Nights (Cedar Fort) and another in Teaching Ideas K-12: What Really Works (Christopher-Gordon). LuAnn is currently working on Supermind with mentalist Jim Karol (details are still being finalized).






For more details on the LDSWBR Countdown to Christmas 2009 Event & Contest and how you could win a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book or one of several books donated by generous LDS authors, visit the LDSWBR Blog.

Josi Kilpack is the author of ten novels. Her most recently published books, Lemon Tart and English Trifle, were both released in 2009.

Devil’s Food Cake, the next book in her culinary mystery series, is scheduled to be released in March 2010.

Visit the LDSWBR Blog to read more about Josi and her family’s Christmas traditions. While you’re there, leave a comment on each of the Countdown to Christmas 2009 author posts to enter our drawing. You could win a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book, or one of several books donated by some wonderful LDS authors. Our Countdown to Christmas 2009 Contest runs from December 1 through December 24, giving you up to 24 chances to enter. For contest rules and to see a list of book prizes, visit the LDSWBR Blog.

The new book, Mormon Mishaps and Mischief by Nichole (N.D.) Giles & Cindy (C.L.) Beck, is being released Wednesday, December 9, 2009. The launch party will be at the Orem, UT Barnes & Noble (330 E. 1300 S./University Pkwy) from 6 PM to 9 PM. They’ll have treats, prizes and readings by contributors, so much fun will be had. They are authors of a humor book, after all!

If you’re looking for a great neighbor gift or stocking stuffer, Mormon Mishaps and Mischief, with a price tag of only $9.99, is a great choice.

More of Nichole & Cindy’s book signings:

• December 12 – 11 AM to 1 PM – Barnes & Noble Gateway – SLC, UT
• December 16 – 6 PM to 8 PM – Borders – Provo, UT
• December 19 – 11 AM to 1 PM – Barnes & Noble – Sandy, UT

Learn more about Mormon Mishaps and Mischief on the website: www.mormonmishaps.com and on the blog: LDS HUMOR

J. Adams is the author of four novels and several ebooks. The Journey is her most recent release.

Visit the LDSWBR Blog to read more about Jewel Adams. Leave a comment and be entered to win a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book or one of several books by some talented LDS authors. Find Contest Rules and a list of Book Prizes on the LDSWBR Blog.

Angela Eschler’s first book, Love Letters of Joseph and Emma (cover art by Liz Lemon Swindle), was released in October 2008. She’s currently working on two inspirational books for women.

Angela Eschler is a freelance editor and writer with ten years experience in the field. Most recently retired as senior in-house editor with book publisher Covenant Communications, she has also worked for many other publishers, businesses, individuals, and universities in a freelance capacity. Her greatest expertise lies in editing fiction and nonfiction of various genres. She especially enjoys speculative fiction, women’s fiction, and informational and inspirational nonfiction. Angela is the founder and projects manager of Eschler Editing, a large team of skilled freelance writers and editors specializing in diverse fields.

Click here to read about Angela’s Christmas traditions and the books on her Christmas wish list. Don’t forget to comment to enter the LDSWBR Countdown to Christmas 2009 Contest. You could win a $25 eGift Card from Deseret Book or one of several books donated by LDS authors, including an autographed copy of Love Letters of Joseph and Emma!