Spotlight: Twelve Stones to Remember Him by Teresa Hirst

Spotlight * Guest Post

Twelve Stones to Remember Him: Building Memorials of Faith from Financial Crisis

Book Description:

The Lord commanded the children of Israel to mark their miraculous crossing of the Jordan River with a memorial of twelve stones. Modern prophets encourage us to remember God s hand, even as we come upon life’s challenges. With the economic upheavals of the last several years, many Latter-day Saints have faced financial setbacks such as unemployment, reduced income, or the loss of a home.


This book contains true stories of individuals and families who’ve crossed financial crises with faith. From their journeys, you will learn to witness the power of God in your life. More fully trust in Him, even in uncertain times. Build spiritual memorials to cope with trials. Leave a legacy of love greater than money.


Guest Post from Author Teresa Hirst:

My husband discovered my hidden love note slipped between two folders in his bag while riding a train 1000 miles from home. His coworker captured a photo of my penned message written across the front of the envelope, “Do not open until February 14.”

I shared that same warmth of discovery in a homemade card he left for me on another day of love when we were apart. Without any extra money for even a purchased one, his heartfelt remembrance became a treasure to me.

Expensive, elaborate celebrations, or even proximity to each other didn’t bring that feeling. Simply being remembered did. Love springs into and from our heart. But recalling memories—of love given and received—can spark our minds to know and then feel love.

During a challenging time of financial crisis in our family, the simple yet abundant manifestations of God’s love nurtured and sustained me. Recognizing, receiving, and recalling these evidences of God’s love helped me remember that He loved me, even with bleak physical circumstances.

“It was very funny that in the midst of all of this, we felt so much . . . gratitude,” Emalee shares from her own trial in Twelve Stones to Remember Him. “My heart was overflowing to the point of tears at how loved I felt and how blessed I felt and all the things I could see. I know because I prayed to be able to see. I felt almost like my eyes and my heart were opened to things that nobody else saw.”

This pattern to remember divine love in the very moment of loneliness, sickness, sorrow, or anxiety is not a shallow response to real challenges. It takes time and practice to trust in gifts that are intangible, answers that won’t go viral, or peace that seems imperceptible.

Even still, remembering God’s love invites gratitude and humility into minds and hearts. Increased faith motivates us to remember others and express love. And those become the notes of true love we all want to hold close.


About the Author:

Teresa Hirst grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, studied journalism at Brigham Young University and graduated in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. She has worked for a newspaper, in public relations, and as a freelance writer and editor.

Today, Teresa observes and tells insightful stories—both nonfiction and fiction—that characterize our emotional experience with life. She lives in Minnesota with her family and loves cooking, sentimental movies, and Sunday afternoon walks. To learn more, Like her author page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TeresaHirstAuthor
 or visit www.teresahirst.com .

Book Signing Event:

Meet Teresa in person on your lunch break on Friday, February 28, at noon at Eborn Books in Salt Lake City at 254 S Main St.

Title: Twelve Stones to Remember Him: Building Memorials of Faith from Financial Crisis
Author: Teresa Hirst
Publisher: Walnut Springs Press
Published: January 2014
ISBN: 978-1-59992-898-2

Purchase Links: Amazon | Kindle | Deseret Book | Barnes & Noble

Blog Tour: Day of Defense by Scott Thormaehlen

*Guest Post*

Day of Defense: Positive Talking Points for the Latter Days by Scott Thormaehlen

Guest Post:

I want to thank Andrea for allowing me to share a post with her friends and audience on her blog.  I spent some time in South Carolina while serving in the United States Air Force as a meteorologist.  Through my experiences with other Christians and searching online, I was exposed to a new world of how nonmembers view The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I hoped to put together a simple book that would allow investigators to quickly review their stumbling blocks or misconceptions in light of what the Church and Bible teach. 

I draw mostly from the Bible than I do from too many LDS-unique sources to allow the Bible believer to match the book they revere and are familiar with to LDS doctrines.  The publisher is Cedar Fort, Inc. in Springville, UT who publishes primarily to LDS audiences.  Therefore the book is geared to the LDS audience have to be the initial wave of individuals to be aware of this book and the ones to share it with the non-member audience. 

Each chapter begins by briefly stating the negative commentary that critics bring against Mormonism, then goes on to illustrate where and how Mormon theology fits with the Bible and in the overall historical context. This book seeks to show that the Bible covers Mormonism and to help mend the way much of the world perceives Mormonism in relation to Christianity and the ancient text. 

In the Introduction of ‘Day of Defense’, I state the purpose of my book in this way:

“The primary goal of Day of Defense is to act as a guide to help Mormons and those interested in Mormonism be aware of common misconceptions and negative commentary that create a wall between the world and the truth of the Restoration.”

I closed my introduction with this quote from Elder M. Russell Ballard:

“The growing prominence of the Church and the increasing inquiries from others present us with great opportunities to build bridges . . . and pass on accurate information. But it can also present a greater possibility of misunderstanding . . . if we allow others to define who we are and what we believe rather than presenting it ourselves” (Ballard, Faith, Family, Facts, and Fruits).

Last Sunday I gave a talk in church on being in the world but not of the world.  During the research for my talk I found a quote from David O. McKay, who says:

“The solution of the great world problems is here in the Church of Jesus Christ. Ample provision is made not only for the needs of individuals, but also for the nation and groups of nations. I realize that it is a great claim. … It is simply the application of God’s plan to the world problems (Gospel Ideals, Salt Lake City: Improvement Era, 1953, p. 5).

In my final thoughts in ‘Day of Defense’, I close by saying:

“C. S. Lewis echoed Christ’s sentiments when he said, “Enemy-occupied territory—that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage” (Lewis, 46). The great campaign of sabotage, of course, means sabotaging the tactics that Lucifer uses to divide us and keep us from becoming one as Christ’s children. As we overcome our own lustful desires, greed, envy, hatred, dishonesty, and slothfulness, we turn our worst potential as humans into positives. If we seek to be more grateful, loving, honest, giving, and responsible in all the environments, circumstances, and every-day situations we find ourselves in, then we have “overcome the world” and have become a true disciple of Christ.”

In this book I do not address Blacks and priesthood, women and the priesthood, but I briefly touch on homosexuality. I also do not get into problems people have with the Book of Abraham or specifics about early LDS polygamy.  I hope to address these in a second book that focuses on concerns that ex-mormons would find interesting. 'Day of Defense' was inspire largely from what other Bible believers misunderstood.

I believe for any Latter-day Saint, the goal of removing intellectual barriers between potential converts and the Church is a worthy and achievable goal.  I hope that all Latter-day Saints get ahold of this book and the misconceptions can make way for the Church do perform its intended purposes.  

Scott Thormaehlen
scott-thormaehlen@yahoo.com

Follow Author Scott Thormaehlen:

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Title: Day of Defense: Positive Talking Points for the Latter Days
Author: Scot Thormaehlen
Publisher: CFI, an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc.
Published: May 2013
ISBN: 1462111726

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle | Books & Things

Blog Tour: Power Parenting in the LDS Home by Randal A. Wright

*Guest Post*

Book Description:

The best wisdom comes from experience. Here Dr. Randal Wright has compiled the experiences of over 500 adults and their responses to his question: What parenting worked and what didn’t work in your parent’s home? Each chapter is based on the most commonly repeated mistakes and successes to help you become the successful parent you want to be.

Guest Post:

Be an Example
By Randal A. Wright

A few years ago I was asked to speak at a Know Your Religion in Mesa, Arizona. Earlier that day, I spoke to the Dobson high school seminary classes in Chandler. My topic was the importance of being a good example. That night after the KYR talk, I decided to go see a movie that several LDS friends had highly recommended. As I pulled up to the theater, I noticed most of the movies were R-rated along with the PG-rated one that I had come to see. As I walked up to the ticket booth, I saw a poster for a well advertised, highly acclaimed historical R-rated movie. For a split second, the thought passed through my mind, “You are in Tempe, Arizona and don’t know one person here. No one would ever know which movie you went to see.” Immediately, another thought came to mind. “Yes, at least two people would know—Heavenly Father and me.” I walked up to the ticket booth and told the teenage worker that I wanted one ticket to the PG-rated movie. When I said that, the young man started to smile, as if pleased with my choice. I wondered why he cared which movie I saw. As he handed me my ticket, he said, “Thanks, Brother Wright.” Startled, I asked him how he knew who I was. He said he was at the talk I had given to the seminary students earlier that day. A tremendous feeling of relief rushed through me. I thanked my Heavenly Father for helping me have the courage to resist temptation

After the movie, I imagined what the result would have been if I had made the wrong movie choice that night. I believe at the very least the young man would have lost respect for me, and thought I was a hypocrite. I then thought of a far worse scenario. What if his parents would have preached one thing to him and then did the opposite themselves?

Many years ago, President George Q. Cannon taught, “Where parents set proper examples to their children, and with those examples join good precepts, the influence is felt throughout the lives of their children. There may be some who will forget or disregard that which is shown and taught them, but they will be the exceptions. As the children grow in years, they will think about the examples and precepts of their parents. Increasing years will add weight to all that they have said and done.”

Years ago I had the privilege of serving with President Kent Richards in the San Antonio Mission presidency. He is a direct descendant of Willard Richards, a 5th generation mission president and now a general authority. I wondered how one man could have so many faithful descendants and what we could learn from him? A statement made by Brigham Young about Willard may answer those questions: “He was as true and unwavering in his course as the sun is to the earth. There is not a shade of deviation from the principles of righteousness.”


About the Author:

Randal Wright has been fascinated by the study of families for many years. Seeking ways to raise righteous children led to his receiving a B.S. and M.S. with emphasis in the family area and then a Ph.D. in Family Studies from Brigham Young University. He worked for many years as an Institute director for the Church Education System and taught at BYU in the religion department. He has written several books in the past on family topics including Families in Danger: Protecting Your Family in an X-rated World, Building Better Homes and Families and The Case for Chastity: Helping Youth Stay Morally Clean. He has spoken across the United States, Canada and England and has been a frequent speaker at BYU Campus Education Week and the Especially for Youth program for many years. Randal and his wife Wendy live in Austin, Texas and are the parents of five children and sixteen grandchildren.

Title: Power Parenting in the LDS Home
Author: Randal A. Wright
Publisher: CFI an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc.
Published: January 2014
ISBN: 1462113796

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle | Books & Things

Blog Tour: Heroes of Faith by Marlene Bateman Sullivan

Spotlight * Guest Post

Tour Schedule

Book Description:

Our fast-paced society loves adventure and it loves a hero—but what about Latter-day Saint heroes? Are there any? There are plenty! 

Heroes of Faith, True Stories of Faith and Courage, is a collection of twenty-four riveting stories about people who rose above difficulties and impossible odds to emerge triumphant. You’ll read about stalwart men and women who stood firm and valiant in the gospel in spite of dangerous mobs, flying bullets, physical handicaps, extreme hardships, and dictatorial regimes.

It's fascinating to read about the exploits of real heroes and when that hero is acting in accordance with the principles of the gospel, the adventure is not only thrilling, but inspiring as well. In these days of increasing trials and tribulation, we can all use some worthy role models, especially those that strengthen our faith and increase our testimonies.

Guest Post on Researching by Author Marlene Bateman Sullivan:

Writing non-fiction means doing a lot of research, so if you are trying to decide if you prefer writing non-fiction or fiction, make sure spending time in libraries is something you enjoy.

For Heroes of Faith, I did most of my research at the Church History Library, the Church Archives, BYU Library, and the library at Utah State University. I also used local libraries. As I was researching, I would find interesting topics and write them down for ideas for future books. When you research, be sure and write down your ideas and keep them in a file!

Years ago, as I was researching, I came across amazing stories about angels who came to earth to comfort, inspire, or direct early latter-day Saints.  In time, I found enough material to write three books:  And There Were Angels Among them, Visits from Beyond the Veil, and By the Ministering of Angels. There were so many experiences that I had to limit them to people who had either seen or heard an angel. So, keep your eye open for ideas for future books.

One thing to remember is that although computer searches are wonderful, they are limited.  Make sure you’re using a data base that pulls up information from ALL sources. Don’t just search one collection. Ask a librarian if you’re unsure.

It’s helpful to type in different words as you search. When I was researching for Gaze Into Heaven, (a book about near-death experiences in early church history), I typed in near-death experiences, then also searched for “heaven,” “Spirit World,” and “next life.”  Go through your thesaurus if you need to and come up with different words to describe what you are looking for.  Also, watch out for hyphens. When I typed near-death and near death, I got different lists.

Be sure to check out related subjects—these usually appear either on the side of the computer screen or at the bottom. They may lead to rich new sources of material.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The people at libraries are happy to assist you. During your first visit, ask them to explain the layout of the library. They will give you great advice. It really helps to get their expertise on how to use the computer to navigate their particular system.  Asking for their help will save you a lot of time!

Anyone who writes nonfiction must love to research, and I do. It was wonderful to read these inspiring stories. It was a testimony to me that God lives and loves us and that the Church is true. Good luck and happy researching!

About the Author:

Marlene Bateman Sullivan was born in Salt Lake City, Utah.  She graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in English. She is married to Kelly R. Sullivan and they are the parents of seven children.

Her hobbies are gardening, camping, and reading.  Marlene has been published extensively in magazines and newspapers and has written a number of non-fiction books, including:  Latter-day Saint Heroes and Heroines, And There Were Angels Among Them, Visit’s From Beyond the Veil, By the Ministering of Angels, and Brigham’s Boys. Marlene also wrote the best-selling novel, Light on Fire Island.

A busy writer, Marlene is set to have three books published this year. Gaze Into Heaven, a fascinating collection of over 50 documented near-death experiences in early church history, was published earlier this year. Next came Motive for Murder, the first in a mystery series featuring the quirky private eye, Erica Coleman. Then, Heroes of Faith, a collection of stories about people who acted heroically in the face of grave trials and handicaps was released by Cedar Fort Inc.

Author Website

Title: Heroes of Faith: True Stories of Courage & Strength

Author: Marlene Bateman Sullivan

Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.

Published: July 2013

ISBN: 1462111289

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Blog Tour: Emma: A Latter-day Tale by Rebecca H. Jamison

Review * Guest Post * Giveaway

Tour Schedule

Book Description:

NOT Looking for Love: Single woman (23) seeks best friend to chat on the phone, shop the clearance racks, watch chick flicks, try out messy cooking projects, and eat Dove dark chocolates.

Emma isn’t so good at the whole life-coaching thing. Her first client ended up with a broken heart and is threatening to relapse in her bad habits. Now Emma has problems of her own to deal with, and all those problems start with one name: Justin.

Justin is her best friend, so it’s hard for Emma not to feel betrayed when she suspects he is falling for her childhood rival. And she knows she’s losing him despite her best efforts. No matter how much she tries, she keeps running up against obstacles. How is she supposed to help other people when she’s drowning in her own failures?

Fans of Jane Austen’s Emma will love this modern retelling of the classic romance novel. Fall in love with Emma’s latter-day tale of redemption, forgiveness, and the quest for true love.

Review:

I typically prefer books where the main character is likeable early on. Don't get me wrong, I like a good character transformation, but there's just something about being able to root for someone from the get-go.

That in mind, Emma isn't my favorite Austen story, what with Emma's cluelessness and somewhat selfish actions. HOWEVER, Jamison's modern re-telling of Austen's story is good because even if you are put off by some of Emma's actions initially, you know that she will transform for the better.

Emma's personality transformation includes quite a bit of entertainment with some quirky supporting characters and laugh out loud situations. By the end, Emma is quite likeable, and the romance that comes together is great! There's even a touching moment that brought tears to my eyes.

Emma: A Latter-day Tale is well-written LDS fiction with a good message about self worth and forgiveness.

If you are looking for a light and fun read (especially if you enjoy Austen's Emma), don't miss Emma: A Latter-day Tale.

Guest Post from author Rebecca H. Jamison about how she met her husband:

"Do you want to get together and play spin the bottle?"  That's what it said on the note my husband wrote to ask me out on our blind date.  He thought if he wrote something really obnoxious, I wouldn't want to go out with him.  He'd had a few bad blind dates and really didn't want to add another to his list.  Plus, he was dating someone else.



There was another problem too.  He had a mustache.  I have always had issues with facial hair.  If I had to rate my disgust for it, it would look something like this (with 10 being really gross and 1 being sometimes acceptable):

1. a 3-day to 1-week old beard
2. a well-groomed goatee
3. a well-groomed, short beard
4. a longer goatee
5. a short mustache
6. a medium-sized beard
7. a mustache on a woman
8. a long mustache
9. a love patch
10. a handlebar mustache

So it's a really lucky thing that I promised my friend I'd go out with him before I read the note.  It's also a good thing he didn't have a handlebar mustache.



We ended up having probably one of the longest blind dates in history, during which we ate at Chick-Fil-A, browsed a bookstore, watched a movie, read short stories out loud, made milkshakes, and went grocery shopping.  A few dates later, he shaved off his mustache--phew.



The bad thing about having a successful blind date is that it makes me want to set other people up on blind dates.  Sad to say, I don't have the talent for it at all.  Either that or the people I set up just happen to avoid me for months afterwards.



Have you had a memorable blind date?  I'd love to hear about it.

Giveaway:

Publisher Cedar Fort is offering an eBook of Emma: A Latter-day Tale to one lucky Literary Time Out follower. Enter before midnight (EST) on August 12th by using the Rafflecopter form below. The winner will be contacted via the email address provided on the form.

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About the Author:

Looking for love? Rebecca H. Jamison would love to set you up with that special someone, but you’re better off reading her books. She has a terrible track record as a matchmaker.

Rebecca grew up in Virginia. She attended Brigham Young University, where she earned a BA and MA in English with an emphasis in creative writing. In between college and graduate school, she served a mission to Portugal and Cape Verde.

Rebecca enjoys running, dancing, reading, and watching detective shows. She and her husband have six children. You can learn more about her on her website.

Website | Facebook

Title: Emma: A Latter-day Tale
Author: Rebecca H. Jamison
Publisher: Bonneville Books, an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc.
Published: August 2013
ISBN: 1462112609
FTC FYI: I received an eCopy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Deseret Book

Blog Tour: Table Talk by John and Tina Bushman

Strengthening families is an important topic, and that is what the new book Table Talk addresses. As part of the Blog Tour I'm happy to share a guest post from the authors, John and Tina Bushman, along with my review and a giveaway.

About the Book

Nothing has a greater or more lasting impact on children than their parents, yet our society tries to weaken that influence. Talking and teaching are two things best done at home. Using hundreds of fun questions and quotes from this book, watch as your family comes together to discuss the most important issues of life—patriotism, values, fun, faith, and more.

To find out more on Table Talk and authors John and Tina Bushman, visit their website.

Guest Post

Thank you so much for hosting us on this blog tour. John and I are so excited for Table Talk to finally come out! We started this project after a date night of asking each other questions and then later testing them out on our kids. It’s been so fun getting to know each of our 5 children a little better by asking them get-to-know-you-type questions but it’s also been very insightful to hear the answers they have for some of the deeper questions like “How would you change the world?” One said, “I would make everything out of candy.” While another one said, “I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s just the way it was intended to be.” John and I feel that Table Talk can be helpful to families trying to establish healthy lines of communication through fun and insightful questions. We hope it will give parents a tool to get their kids talking and to help parents teach values in an informal way. As children develop a pattern of talking with their parents about a wide range of topics, they will be able to turn to their parents in times of great need. As our kids are “dished up” and “served” many positive and negative values each day from so many different sources, family discussions can help children learn their family’s values and expectations more clearly. This is what Table Talk does. It gets kids talking...and talking about what matters.

Thanks again for having us. Visit us at www.tabletalkbook.com. We’d love to hear about your family’s memorable dinnertime conversations.

My Review

My first impression of Table Talk came when I pulled my review copy out of the envelope. I love the miniature size (4x6) and thought that that along with the cover art makes for a very cute package. I'm not sure that you'd tote this around to dinner parties, but it's the perfect size if you are inclined to do so. And, quite a few of the questions inside would be great at extended family get-togethers.

I liked the variety of questions. Some sound great for a child to ask a parent, while other questions definitely fit best for a parent asking a child. There are also questions that would work well for relatives or friends you aren't as familiar with. I also liked how some of the questions were very important (like what to do in case of certain emergencies). Other questions were on a much lighter side, but are a great way to get to know and understand your family (and those around you).

There are 200 questions, and almost all of them are accompanied by a related quote or two. Many of the quotes are by well-known authors, political and religious leaders, and even comedians. One quote that stood out to me and made me laugh went along with a question about games:

"The perfect family board game is one that can be played each time with fewer pieces." - Robert Brault, American Writer

Another quote that I liked went along with a question about swearing:

"The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low that every person of sense and character detests and despises it." - George Washington, first US president

Some of the questions are somewhat leading, but there are no rules. You can use the questions to get ideas for other questions that might be relevant to issues that are currently facing your family. I thought Table Talk was very well put together, and I'm looking forward to using it with my family.

Meet the Authors

John and Tina Bushman find their greatest joy in spending time together as a family. They are the proud parents of five wonderful children. The most rewarding moments in their family life are watching their children learn, discover and grow, whether it’s in a formal setting, around the table, in the car, or on an outing. John and Tina grew up in Arizona and both attended Arizona State University, where they met and started their happily ever after.

John has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology and has been an educator and speaker for over 15 years with youth and young adults. John has also written the book Impractical Grace. Tina studied Physics and Secondary Education but left that season for a better one. She loves her stay at home status and enjoys creating and capturing fun times with her children. The Bushmans now live in beautiful Washington State where there are field trips just around the corner.

Website | Video | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest


Purchase the Book

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books & Things


Giveaway

I received an extra copy of Table Talk from the publisher, and I am excited to give it away to one lucky Literary Time Out follower. This giveaway is open for followers with mailing addresses within the continental United States. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below by March 3rd. I'll post the winner on March 4th, and will mail the book within 72 hours of receiving the winner's mailing address. Good luck!

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Blog Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: Make It Happen by Kylee Shields

Welcome to the Make It Happen Blog Tour hosted by Lexi at The Book Bug. I'm happy to have a guest post today by author Kylee Shields, along with a tour Giveaway.

About the Book

Title: Make It Happen: A Guide to Happiness for LDS Singles
Author: Kylee Shields
Release Date: October 2012
Publisher: Walnut Springs Press
Genre: LDS Self Help

Do you know what it means to be a kigatsuku person? Are you currently in a “hurricane” relationship or a “bridge” relationship? Do you know what it takes to be “righteous in the dark”? Have you struggled to find your place in the world as an LDS single? Do you feel like a misfit or a menace—like a circle trying to fit into a square?

If so, you’re not alone. It used to be an anomaly to be twenty-one and single in the LDS culture, but now there are entire stakes filled with single adults. In this book, author Kylee Shields explains how you can make the most of your single life, even if your current situation isn’t what you expected.

Make It Happen is a collection of principles, blog entries, stories, and conversations had on couches, floors, kitchen tables, and at many single-adult gatherings. It is filled with practical ways to make changes in your life, find hope, increase faith, strengthen relationships, and build the kingdom.

Guest Post: Validation
By Kylee Shields
In my book there are a few themes that circulate throughout. I talk a lot about wandering, loneliness, trials, goals, validation, hearts, etc. When I started putting this book together the one thing I really wanted to do was put my heart into this book in a way that people who had never met me could feel it and understand it. I was also hoping that as my heart whispered to their heart they could feel inspired, heard, and most importantly VALIDATED!!

Here is an excerpt from chapter seven, “Validation”

You know what it feels like to have someone give you a compliment just when you need it. Someone who hasn’t seen you in a few weeks says you look like you’ve lost a lot of weight. Little did she know you skipped the gym a few too many times lately and feel fat. Timing is everything! A person reads a story you’ve written and gives you positive feedback. A call comes when you least expect it to tell you that you matter. A student in the back of the classroom who rarely talks makes a point to let you know you are his favorite teacher. A handwritten personal note lets you know your smile matters. A random stranger tells you she loves your outfit or hair. A girl notices that her date has opened all her doors, paid for everything, walked her to the door at the end of the night, and been a perfect gentlemen—and she tells him she appreciates him. A boy notices how much effort his date put into getting ready for their date and tells her. These are just a few examples of those never-forgotten moments when someone notices the efforts you make and find  a way to let you know. Sometimes these are tender mercies, and sometimes they are just natural compliments born of occasion, but they are always appreciated.

As humans we have a need to be valued, appreciated, loved, and accepted. We need to know that what we do matters. Sometimes in your desperation for approval you put someone up on a pedestal, and when he or she falls, you realize all you really wanted was to be noticed. Sometimes you connect with someone new and want to tell the person everything, so you do and it’s too much, and you realize all you really needed was to feel loved. Often you think or even dream about getting a new job that pays you what you are actually worth, when all you really need is to know that what you are already doing at work makes a difference. You go out and get new clothes, style your hair differently, put on more makeup than usual, pinch your cheeks, put on a pair heels and go out to conquer the world. Then you realize your feet hurt, you feel like a clown, and the hairstyle you spent forever on looks like it always does, when all you really needed was for someone to tell you that you are beautiful.  You find yourself wanting to tell everyone all the amazing things you’ve accomplished and what has been happening in your life, but no one cares, and you realize all you need is someone to listen to you.

We are living in a YouTube world. A few years ago I watched a little YouTube clip with my best friend called “Validation.” If you have time you should go watch it—really, I mean right now. It seriously changed my life. It is a sixteen-minute clip about the power of validation, how one man smiling and making others smile came full circle and in the end blessed his own life. The part about the clip that strikes me is that at the end—after he has done so many things to validate others-he is finally validated. He responds by saying he had never been told that before. REALLY? How is it possible that someone who goes out of his way to compliment and validate others doesn’t get in validation in return? And yet you know what I am talking about. Some of the people who need the most validation are those who are continuously giving it out.

How have you been validated lately?

Tour Giveaway

As part of the tour, Kylee is offering 4 amazing giveaways!! These include a $25 gift card to Amazon, a $25 gift card to Target, and a hard copy and ebook copy of the book.

To enter to win these prizes, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form provided. Open from January 8 to January 31. Must be 13+ years of age to enter.

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Blog Tour Guest Post & Giveaway: Finished Being Fat by Betsy Schow

Tour Schedule

The self-help genre isn't one I visit often (if ever), but when author Betsy Schow asked me if I'd like to join the Blog Tour for her new book, Finished Being Fat, I read a sample online and couldn't resist joining the tour. Betsy has a sense of humor that grabs you from the first page.

The humor comes and goes throughout Betsy's journey. She is able to come to the realization that she has always been a quitter, and she comes up with a Philosophy of Finishing. I liked that her book is very down to earth, and her philosophy is something that everyone can incorporate in their lives. There are no pills or fad diets-it's all about making realistic goals and going at a pace that will work for you. I really liked how she was able to change her attitude and not focus on what others think.

About the Book:

Not everyone can win the race, but everyone can finish it. In her quest to wish away an extra 75 pounds, Betsy changed her life for good. Using her Philosophy of Finishing, she snowballed her efforts from weight loss into a bucket list of seemingly impossible dreams. This inspiring account of one woman’s journey will help you find the strength to conquer your most daunting goals and unfinished projects.

Guest Post by Betsy Schow:

Goal Keepers

Since it’s the start of the new year, and everyone is busy making New Year’s resolutions, I thought I’d touch on what I learned about making goals and keeping them.

Every year from age 12-30, I would make some cockamamie resolution. “Lose 40 pounds by March.” “Fit into size 2 pants.” “Write a bestseller by year’s end.” None of these things ever happened, so I would be disappointed and give up. Usually by the end of January.

You see, I had this picture in my mind of the way things should go, or what success would look like. And when things in reality didn’t match my mental picture, I would throw in the towel.

Turns out, I was setting myself up for disaster from the start. By picking out such a specific result and ideal, I didn’t allow for a little thing called life. Life is full of twists, turns, and potholes -- stuff we can’t control. That’s why I learned to set my goals based on my actions, the things I can control. Then to give myself credit for the hard work I put into keeping them.

Take for example the old goal of losing 40 pounds by March. Let’s say I work my tail off, hit the gym, eat all the right foods, but for whatever reason, my body rebels and refuses to let the scale budge any lower than 25 pounds lost. I used to look at this as a failure, I didn’t achieve my goal. Here’s the crazy part and what’s wrong with this scenario. I never gave myself credit for accomplishing a 25 pound weight loss. That’s still a great achievement and I’d worked really hard to get there, but I couldn’t see past my own self-imposed limitations. So I would go back to the twinkies and the bum indentation on the couch. Then within a few months, pack the 25 pounds back on, plus an extra ten for good measure.

Today, if I were going to make a similar resolution, I would word it differently. “I am going eat smaller portions and exercise for at least 45 minutes every day.” Notice I didn’t give myself an arbitrary number. I can’t control how fast my body decides to give up the fat. But I do have control over whether or not I eat less and exercise more. And if I follow through and do what I’ve said, then the results will come. The feeling of success comes from fulfilling my promises to myself, and not giving up. That’s important to hang on to when the scale needle gets stuck.

So often we ruin all the hard work that goes into a goal, because we don’t end up where we think we should. And every time the disappointment builds, making it that much harder to muster the effort to try again.

Change the way you think. Change the way you see success.

Learning how to finish and figuring out the philosophy of finishing has changed my life. “Not everyone can win the race, but everyone can finish it.” I’m not afraid of failure anymore, because I know as long as I put in the work and never give up, I will get there -- run, walk or crawl.

If you want to see how I came to learn this lesson and others, join my accidental adventure in Finished being Fat, available online and in select stores starting January 8th.

Purchase the Book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Cedar Fort

About the Author:

After many years of unhappiness and being unpleasantly plump, Betsy Schow found her way to weight loss success and a better life through the Philosophy of Finishing. She shares it all in her first book, Finished being Fat – available January 2013 from Cedar Fort Inc. You can find her running around the mountains of Utah, chained to her laptop, or wrangling two small children.

Website | Blog | Facebook

Giveaway:

Betsy's Publisher, Cedar Fort, will be giving one eCopy of Finished Being Fat to a lucky Literary Time Out follower. Enter using the Rafflecopter form below. The giveaway is open until January 9th at 12:00 AM. The winner will be announced on my blog later that day.
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Carnival Girl Blog Tour

I'd like to thank Sonja Herbert for introducing me to her memoir, Carnival Girl: Searching for God in the Aftermath of War, and for inviting me to join her Blog Tour.

Carnival Girl tells about Sonja's childhood in post-WWII Germany. Her father ran a carnival, so she and her siblings were raised in a caravan and traveled around the country. They made stops in many of the same towns each year, but weren't in any one place very long. It made schooling and making friends difficult.

Many times during the memoir I was very saddened by Sonja's life, especially the way she was treated by her mother. While Sonja doesn't have resentment toward her Mutti, her memories of the negative times were so clear that I couldn't help but think about the importance of using kind words. The Hymn Nay, Speak No Ill came to my mind, and I thought a lot about how I treat my children.

Even though Sonja had many struggles, the book was quite positive. Sonja wasn't dwelling on the negative situations, and through realizing that she has a Heavenly Father who loves her, she had a lot of hope.

Sonja's mom is half-Jewish and hiding for her life during WWII took a toll on her. I asked Sonja about her mother's background and their relationship, and this is what she had to say:

When I was a little girl, traveling in our small carnival caravan, I often listened to my mother talking about how she used to be a model in Berlin, the greatest city of Europe, and how she had to leave and hire on with the circus in order to stay ahead of the Nazis.
 
During the few times we carnival children attended school, I once received an A for a story about a Greek myth I had written, and on that day I decided to write about my mother’s life when I grew up.
 
All through the time I raised my six children here in the U.S.A., this thought was with me, and when the younger ones were a bit older, I started on my mother’s story. As the story unfolded, I realized that it would not be complete unless I also told my own story, the story of my childhood and my life with my mother.
 
And that’s how Carnival Girl began. I originally called it Conversations with Margot (my mother’s first name), but since the novel I wrote about her life isn’t quite finished yet, I decided to re-name the memoir and publish it first.
 
As I wrote the memoir and remembered the things that happened in my early life, old feelings returned, and I had to confront the childish assumptions of my younger self. Now, as a grown woman, I am able to see things I had not seen as a little girl, and when my memoir was finished, I had a new insight and understanding for my mother, who had suffered so much and still came out ahead.
 
My mother, Margot, is now ninety-one years old. She lives in Stuttgart, Germany, and is still going strong!
 
Thank you Mutti, for everything you have taught me!

Carnival Girl was published by Cedar Fort in June and can be purchased through their website, Deseret Book, or Amazon (you can also read excerpts on Cedar Fort and Amazon).

Guest Post: How Indie Publishing Has Changed My Thinking by Susan Kaye Quinn

Kathryn Rusch has a brilliant article where she uses a scarcity vs. abundance analogy to describe the publishing industry: most every writer, publisher, agent, editor, reviewer was raised in a scarcity model, where book shelf space was limited, publishing contracts few, and rarity was equated to quality. But in today's reality, (virtual) book shelf space is unlimited, anyone can publish, and we are operating in an abundance model where there is an unlimited supply of books. This infinite capacity combined with increasingly powerful search engine capabilities have trained consumers (readers) to adapt to this abundance model, but producers (writers, publishers, etc.) are (often) still stuck in the scarcity way of thinking:

"All those questions writers ask about how to get noticed in this new world? Those questions come from someone raised in scarcity. Being noticed was important because your moment on that shelf was - by definition - short-lived. Writers who understand the long tail know that the way to get more readers is to have more available product. Abundance works, even for the single entrepreneur."

Did I mention it's brilliant? (Go read the whole thing.)  

This - literally - changes everything.

I thought I was forward thinking before self-publishing, but the act of going indie, of being up-close-and-personal in the indie trenches, has really changed my thinking about my writing and my author career.

There's a tension in the Indie world about needing to publish quickly, needing to get works out there, because that is what successful self-publishers in the recent past (1-2 years) have done. There's a drive to seek out the best way to promote books, to get on the Top 100 lists, to find the magic key to "discoverability" that will bring more book sales. The connection to book sales is visceral - you can track your rankings and sales by the hour, and those numbers mean something. They are the income that's going directly into your bank account, the funds that make it possible to keep publishing (by paying back your investment) or justify spending your time writing (by providing actual income). So there are huge, tidal-sized forces that drive indie publishers to put out books quickly and promote them heavily in order to connect their books to readers.

The potential to make money in Indie publishing is very real. The days when even "successful" authors had a tough time living off their writing wages is starting to change. As Rachelle Gardner noted in a recent blog post, the typical advance for a first-time traditionally published author is $5,000-$15,000 per book, and most of those first-time authors do not sell through their advance, so that is all the money they will ever get from that book (and if you don't sell through in the first 12 mos, the publisher may not be so excited about buying another book from you). Comparing this to Indie publishing, I know several authors (many, many authors, including myself) who have already earned more than $5k per book, often well before the first 12 months after publication. Of course, many indie authors also struggle to earn back what they've invested in their books, and everyone's experience is going to be unique with this.  

But here's the thing: concentrating on what a book earns in the first 12 months is scarcity thinking, a left-over from limited-time-on-shelf. Because if a book didn't hit in the first 3 or 6 or 12 months, it wasn't going to pay back its investment ... because it would become literally unavailable on the shelf. Books used to go out of print. Now, there is no reason for that to happen.  

Abundance thinking says: this book is going to be on the shelves forever. FOREVER. That is a very long time, my friends.

Cue the visuals:

I picked random numbers for this, so you can scale it up or down - thousands of sales instead of hundreds, or whatever. And this stops the race after 5 years, not FOREVER, as noted above. The point being, of course, that slow-n-steady wins the race (the tortoise out-earns the rabbit at about 3.5 years). This isn't just a trad-pub vs. indie-pub comparison; the same lesson applies to two indie books, where one is focused on scarcity thinking (I must have a hit right away; if not, I've failed) and one is focused on abundance thinking (I need to write more, because more books=success). 

The abundance thinker is going to focus on getting another tortoise out; the scarcity thinker is focused on promoting the rabbit. 

When you start figuring out how to build a herd of tortoises, rather than promoting your rabbit, you're starting to think in the abundance reality of today's publishing. Again, this changes everything.

My take(s):

• Writing. Writing is the most important thing. Must spend more time writing. I already knew this, but this framework gives even more heft to that idea. 
• My work is FOREVER. (If this doesn't evoke an existential paralysis, I'm not sure what will.) While the temptation is great to pump out a warren of rabbits (or the herd of tortoises), since my work is going to be out there FOREVER, I want it to be the best that I can produce at the time. In other words, I'm not rushing to write a bunch of books quickly because I know they'll be around to taunt me for a long time. (Also: I love this take that the highest earning self-publishers take 24% more time per word, and write 31% more words per day)  
• Rankings aren't everything. I also already knew this, but having lived through surges in rankings and sales, I can tell you that emotionally it is awesome, fun, and sort of like the sugar rush after eating cotton candy at the carnival. Which almost always makes me want to throw up. Slow and steady sales not only win the race, they're good for my psyche.
• I need to focus on the herd of tortoises. Promotion is still important, and I'm not going to go completely into my writer's cave, just because it's damp there and my friends are here. I enjoy social media too much. But the writing is definitely taking precedence. And I'm thinking not just about this trilogy, but the next, and the one after that. I want my turtles to all play nice in the sandbox together. 
• I still think in scarcity ways sometimes. And that's okay. It takes time for the world to change, and for individual ways of thinking to change. And hearts. Those take the longest time of all. I still believe in creating pre-release buzz - I think it does sell books, even if it's a scarcity way of thinking. I think consumers have been trained by abundance thinking to believe they should be able to find any book they want, but they still look to bestseller lists and other scarcity markers to guide some of their purchasing. That's okay. Our world is in transition. Things will continue to change. But I still strongly believe that the most forward-thinking will be the winners in this new era.

This post is EPIC in length, so I'll stop here. But tell me: are you an abundance thinker or a scarcity thinker? And - whether you're traditional or indie bound - have the changes in the industry affected the way that you think?

~~*~~

Closed Hearts (Mindjack #2)
$2.99 at Amazon, Barnes and Noble (ebook and print)

When you control minds, 
only your heart can be used against you.

Susan Kaye Quinn is the author of the bestselling YA novel Open Minds, Book One of the Mindjack Trilogy, which is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes. The sequel Closed Hearts has just been released. Susan's business card says "Author and Rocket Scientist," but she mostly plays on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

CLICK HERE to join the Closed Hearts Virtual Launch Party
(with more bonus Mindjack Trilogy content and guest posts)

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The Breakaway Blog Tour

I'm happy to share the following post from author Michelle Davidson Argyle about her newly released novel The Breakaway.

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Thank you so much for having me here on your blog! This week, I’m excited as my young adult contemporary novel, The Breakaway, releases from Rhemalda Publishing. I’ve been waiting for this week for what feels like half my life—since I was around sixteen, actually. I first wrote the book when I was fifteen. It was my first novel-length work.

Do you remember back when you were seventeen going on eighteen? (If you’re seventeen now, even better!) Think about how you felt at that age. Vulnerable, maybe? Constantly self-conscious. Irritated with the adult world because you are in that gap—a place no longer for children, but it still doesn’t seem fit for an older teen preparing for adulthood, either. I remember that age, and it frightened me. Of course, back then, I was full of confidence and anger and excitement and all sorts of other emotions constantly rolling around. I was preparing to go to college, and that meant preparing for a huge change in my life.

Naomi, my main character in The Breakaway, is seventeen when she is kidnapped by the strangest criminals ever. She’s almost eighteen, about to graduate high school, and dealing with a boyfriend she thought she was in love with until he…well, until he hit her. Talk about some adult stuff coming straight at you. So, then she’s kidnapped and ripped away from all these decisions and changes. Her life suddenly revolves around survival. Instincts. Fear. Plans to escape.

But does she want to escape?

The Breakaway revolves around that question. Naomi comes from an unloving background. Her parents are obsessed with their careers and her boyfriend is obsessed with keeping her in her place. So being “adopted” into this new family who actually cares about her (not to mention she’s falling in love with one of the younger kidnappers… ) doesn’t seem like the worst thing to happen in her life. In fact, she’s wondering if it’s a better life than before.

The Breakaway is one of those books that has haunted me since the day I started writing it. I wrote other books back then, but this is the one I kept working on over the years—until now when I can share it with the world. It’s filled with suspense, psychological tension, and a bittersweet love story. Author Zoe Winters calls The Breakaway, “Lush, literary, and multi-layered.” Author Karen Amanda Hooper says it is, “A total mind-bender that will leave you breathless.” And Jennifer Hillier claims, “You won't be able to put it down until you've read every last word.”

I’m happy to finally have The Breakaway out there after all these years. It’s truly exciting and uplifting. I hope you’ll check it out!

BOOK DESCRIPTION: When Naomi Jensen is kidnapped, it takes her parents two days to realize she’s missing. Escape isn’t high on her list of priorities when all she has to return to is an abusive boyfriend and parents who never paid much attention to her. For the first time in her life she’s part of a family—even if it is a family of criminals. But she’s still a captive. In a desperate attempt to regain some control in her life, Naomi embarks on a dangerous plan to make one of her kidnappers think she’s falling in love with him. The plan works too well, and when faced with the chance to escape, Naomi isn’t sure she wants to take it.

The Breakaway is available now! You can find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and anywhere else books are sold, both as an e-book and in print. Find it for a discounted price on the publisher’s website here: http://shop.rhemalda.com/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michelle lives and writes in Utah, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. She loves the seasons, but late summer and early fall are her favorites. She adores chocolate, sushi, and lots of ethnic food, and loves to read and write books in whatever time she can grab between her sword-wielding husband and energetic daughter. She believes a simple life is the best life.

You can find Michelle on her blog, http://theinnocentflower.blogspot.com.