Book Review: Am I Not a Man? The Dred Scott Story

Recently I received an Advance Review Copy of a book that is creating quite a stir. The title is Am I Not a Man? The Dred Scott Story, written by Mark L. Shurtleff. I had volunteered to do a review for the Valor Publishing Group, with no payment of any kind. When I received the (not yet final-edited) copy, I had intended to set it aside—as there were other outstanding reviews to do in lineup before this one.

But I figured I’d thumb through the book to get a general idea of its content, layout, etc. To be honest, I was a bit hesitant to do this review. I’m not a huge history buff and historical novels are usually difficult for me to “get into.”

Was I surprised with this book! Upon removing it from its packaging, not only did I end up thumbing through it (for more minutes than I care to admit), but thumbing through induced me to begin reading the first page (even being behind schedule for the day).

I was snagged. “ So, OK,” I thought to myself, “just a few minutes. My other obligations can wait for a small moment.”

That moment passed . . . and then another . . . and then another. I was shocked how swiftly I was pulled into the story of Dred Scott and his valor. That first page became two pages, and then three, and I found I had to keep reading. Pretty soon I’d swallowed the whole chapter and kept at it for more.

You know that feeling where you just can’t come up for air? Bingo. That was exactly how I felt reading this book. In fact, even though that moment is now more than a month past, I still remember where I was standing when I thought I’d read “just one page.”

I wager that most people will feel this way reading Am I Not a Man? The Dred Scott Story. They’ll remember the time, the place, the day. Why? Because its impact is that powerful and that life-changing.

But that is not to say Am I Not a Man? The Dred Scott Story is an easy read. Far from it. It broke my heart. I’m not sure it is a story for young people, who are too tender yet to understand the injustices in the world. But for those who care, this is a must-read for 2009.

Am I Not a Man? The Dred Scott Story is a book that will change you. For the better. That is why I’m suggesting you may want to consider adding it to your shopping list for Christmas this year. It is a seriously urgent “thinking” book for the discriminating reader.

Freedom once won—such as the freedom Dred Scott triggered for African Americans—can easily be lost. This is a book that will remind you to stand for what is right, no matter the cost.

Here is the cover material from the back of Am I Not a Man? The Dred Scott Story:

An Illiterate slave, Dred Scott trusted in an all-white, slave-owning jury to declare him free. But after briefly experiencing the glory of freedom and manhood, a new state Supreme Court ordered the cold steel of the shackles to be closed again around his wrists and ankles. Falling to his knees, Dred cried, “Ain’t I a man?” Dred answered his own question by rising and taking his fight to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Dred ultimately lost his epic battle when the Chief Justice declared that a black man was so inferior that he had “no rights a white man was bound to respect.”

Dred died not knowing that his undying courage led directly to the election of President Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation.

Dred Scott’s inspiring and compelling true story of adventure, courage, love, hatred, and friendship parallels the history of this nation from the long night of slavery to the narrow crack in the door that would ultimately lead to freedom and equality for all men.

To explore more about the book and to get one for you, go here.
To learn more about the author, go here.
For great discussion questions for your next Book Club meeting, go here.

Quote

Here is a cool quote that I found yesterday:

“Joy is the evidence that our gifts have intersected with God’s design.” ~~Wally Goddard

Something to think about.

Joyce DiPastena’s Illuminations of the Heart

I am not a romance reader. I’d like to say “Never have been, never will be.” But that wouldn’t be true. When I was in junior high and high school, my grandmother gave me a literal laundry basket heaped to overflowing with romance novels. Then she gave me some more.

I devoured them. Hundreds. All. (At the time.)

But it’s been decades since I’ve desired to read another one. Again, I admit that in my youth, I loved reading about far locations and dashing heroes and charming (or not so charming) heroines. I was foiled in their challenges, felt their pain, and adored being swept away into a different scenario than my life.

I can’t say why the thrill of reading romance has passed for me. Only that it has.

But I have a dear friend. Her name is Joyce DiPastena. I have known her for several years now and have admired her depth of study of all things medieval. She will exclaim to any who ask that she is not an “expert” on historical matters during the nearly 1000 years that most people consider history as “medieval.” Yet spend any time with her at all and you will be astonished at the meticulous, detailed world she is well familiar with. Not only will her knowledge be something awe-inducing, but that same knowledge will draw you in to another world, another time. One in which chivalry existed and women were treated differently than today (at least in general form).

That is why when asked if I would review her newest novel, Illuminations of the Heart, I said yes. Even knowing it was a romance. Even knowing how much I no longer like reading romances. Even knowing I was going to have to deal with all the genre-flavor of that kind of a book.

And guess what. I couldn’t put her book down.

I admit it. Me. A non-romance-novel-lover.

Call me silly for not liking romances, but there you have it. Yet Joyce’s book I could not put down. Not because it was a romance, but because simply . . . well, it just was so well crafted in the art of storytelling.

Here is the information from the back cover of Illuminations of the Heart:

“Clothilde.”

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

Her heart is lost in that first embrace, her world shaken to its foundations. There is just one problem: her name is not Clothilde. It is Siriol de Calendri.

Trained in the art of illumination in the far-off city of Venice, Siri is directed by her later brother’s will to the county of Poitou in France, where she enters the guardianship of her brother’s friend, Sir Triston de Brielle. Once in Poitou, Siri hopes to find employment in an illuminator’s shop–until Triston unexpectedly snatches her heart away with a kiss.

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

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

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

Take it from me. A non-romance reader. This is a book you will start and feel you simply must finish. I may never read another romance again, but this one is well-crafted*, intriguing, and one that once read will stay with you for some time. Here is Joyce’s website to learn more about the author and Deseret Book where you can learn more about the book and read other reviews.

* I’m not implying that all romances are the inverse of this one. To the contrary. I simply enjoy other genres and was surprised how much this one pulled me into a medieval world and remained with me long after!

Holly Lisle’s Amazing Compendium of Resources :0)

Holly Lisle – although I’ve not met her personally – so impresses me. Not only is she busy with her writing career (currently working on her 33rd novel), but she spends so much of her time helping other writers. Here is a link to her website. It is well worth your visit.

Enjoy!

Query Letter Instruction

Here is a link to a concise article on writing query letters. Enjoy it, my friends! :0)

http://www.agentquery.com/writer_hq.aspx

Blog: “Living a Life of Writing”

Looking for a blog to follow that’s all about writing? Rebeccasbook.blogspot.com is a great one! I view her blog as an encyclopedic resource to many portals on writing.

Enjoy!

Lisa Mangum’s Debut Novel is Now Out!

I have loved getting to know Lisa Mangum better, both through our recent interview series over at BellaOnline.com (here and here) and at a recent writers’ conference. I have been extremely impressed with her as a person. Could you meet a kinder, sweeter individual? I think not. No wonder so many that know her love her.

But being sweet and kind will not necessarily feed or create a can’t-put-it-down novel. Lisa’s new book, The Hourglass Door, is a work of delightful creativity that stays with you long after finishing it. I had a hard time putting it down. And for all Twilight fans out there, I have news . . . I think Lisa’s novel offers more.

In the past two portions of my interview with debut novelist, Lisa Mangum, we learned how The Hourglass Door evolved and the process she used to write it. In this final installment, she shares her future plans and insider information about the publishing industry.

C.S.: Lisa, what other books do you have planned?

LISA: The story of Abby and Dante is a trilogy, so right now I’m working on book two. But I’m also working on an adult fantasy novel that’s about halfway finished. And I have a whole file of ideas on the computer and in my writing notebook just waiting for me to tend to it.

C.S.: How long did it take to hear back the good news for The Hourglass Door? For those perhaps unfamiliar with the process, what was this like?

LISA: Having been in the publishing business for more than a decade, I can promise you that no two authors take the same road to publication. And whether it takes two weeks, two months, or two years, each acceptance is as individual as the author itself. My path to publication was shortened by the fact that I work directly with the people making the decisions. But even then, I knew it wasn’t a given that Shadow Mountain would pick up my book. Publishing is a business, after all, and I knew Chris Schoebinger (our Product Director over YA fiction) wouldn’t say yes to a book unless he knew it was a good business decision—no matter who wrote it. So like every other author, I waited anxiously for his decision and fretted and worried and second-guessed my work. And, like so many other authors, I felt that wonderful wave of relief and joy and excitement when I sat in his office and he said, yes, he wanted to publish my book for real.

C.S.: What is critical that other writers should know about the submission process to a publisher?

LISA: How many pages do you have? J Maybe I can boil it down to these three things: One, submit your work to the right publisher. It doesn’t matter how brilliant your novel is if the publisher you send it to doesn’t publish fiction. Two, have patience. I know everybody hates to wait, especially to hear back about a manuscript, but more often than not the old adage is true: no news is good news. It’s easy to say no to bad manuscripts and send them back; if a publisher is hanging on to a manuscript, generally it’s because there is something there that they don’t want to lose. Three, rejections aren’t personal. There are a gazillion different reasons why a publisher decides to pass on a project—and none of them are because they don’t like you as a person. So keep writing and keep submitting your work.

C.S.: What is your favorite part about being a writer?

LISA: I love that moment when a phrase or a scene or an emotion grabs hold of you and won’t let go. And when you get it down on paper, it’s like you’ve turned a key and the floodgates open. It’s those moments when I feel like the story is telling itself and I just hope I can do it justice by writing it down.

C.S.: What is the most frustrating part?

LISA: For me, it’s been learning how to turn off the editor part of my brain and just write. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to tell myself, “Don’t worry about it. Fix it later,” because part of me wants to stop and look up a grammar rule or check the spelling of a word.

C.S.: Did you ever experience writer’s block in the process of writing The Hourglass Door? What would you recommend to other writers if they experience obstacles to their story and/or world-building?

LISA: There were a few times when I sat down to write and nothing happened. On days when that happened, I found that if I told myself, “Just write something; you can delete it later,” I felt free to play around, make my characters do crazy things, and wander into uncharted plot territory. And while I often did delete a whole hour’s worth of work, there were times I would find something worth keeping or worth rewriting another day when I could look at the scene with fresh eyes. Another thing that helped when I ran into a block was to skip it and write something else. I’d just leave myself a note—“finish chapter,” “add transition,” “add something cool here”—and then jump ahead to another part of the story. For example, if a scene with Abby and Valerie was stagnating, then I’d say to myself, “Well, I know I need a scene with Abby and Zo where they talk about this-and-such” and I’d insert a page break and move on.

C.S.: Who have you been most inspired by in your life? What encourages you on difficult days? Or do you never have discouraging moments? :0)

LISA: There are two people who inspire me the most: my mom and my husband, Tracy. Mom is a writer too (she’s LaRene Gaunt, Assistant Managing Editor at the Ensign magazine) and we are like two peas in a pod when it comes to loving the minutiae of a story. She really was the one who set me on the path of being a lifelong reader and lover of words. And she was the one who helped me achieve my dream of being an editor. Tracy is my number-one fan. He always seems to know just when to jump in with the perfect bit of encouragement, or when to stand back and let me find my own way. On difficult days, I know I can always turn to my family and they’ll pull me through.

C.S.: Who are your favorite authors?

LISA: A loaded question, to be sure. Currently, or of all-time? Fiction or non-fiction? Which genre—fantasy, romance, mystery, historical fiction? Since I’ve been reading since I was three years old, and since I’ll read just about anything I can get my hands on, I have a long list of favorite authors and books. I’m dying waiting for the new Patrick Rothfuss novel. And the new George R.R. Martin novel. I’ll read anything Tad Williams writes. Watchmen blew my mind. So did Neal Stephenson’s epic Anatham, which made me wish I’d paid more attention to both science and philosophy in college. I loved Neil Gaimen’s Newberry-winner The Graveyard Book. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is high on my list of all-time favorite books. Stephen King’s Dark Tower series is brilliant, as is Lisey’s Story and The Stand. I had the privilege of attending a reading of Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake—I got chills listening to her talk about that book. But ask me again tomorrow and I’ll probably have an entirely different list . . . J

C.S.: What have you seen as some of the most damaging choices an author might make to his or her career ?

LISA: The author-editor relationship is so important and, speaking as an editor, it’s hard when an author fights you on every edit, every change, every suggestion. Having said that, though, there are times when an author needs to fight for their story and their voice. I think the ideal lies somewhere in between—where an author and an editor can build a professional and respectful relationship and understand that everything they do is in the service of the story and for the good of the reader. Editors are here to help—if you’ll let us.

The author-publisher relationship is equally important. Publishing is a business, so you have to have some business-savvy to survive, but still balance it with that creative spark and passion that made you want to write in the first place.

C.S.: Do you have other works in progress? If so, will your path to complete them follow a similar pattern as The Hourglass Door, or will you adjust how you write your next book?

LISA: Writing book two — working title, The Golden Spiral — is following the same path as The Hourglass Door, and I’m happy to report that things are going great. I’m excited by the story and I think some great things are emerging.

C.S.: What words of encouragement would you give other writers?

LISA: Tracy and I love to go to Disneyland on vacation, and one year when we were there, we passed a wall that had a collection of inspirational quotes from Walt Disney and some Imagineers. I fell in love with one them: “Don’t hurry. Don’t worry. Don’t quit.” Don’t hurry your talent—cherish it, develop it. Don’t worry if you make a mistake—rewriting is not a sign of failure, it’s the mark of a great writer. Don’t quit—persistence, persistence, persistence.

C.S.: How do you maintain balance? You lead a busy life!

LISA: It’s about prioritizing and multi-tasking. It’s about making choices. I’m also a big fan of checklists—I love that rush of endorphins when I can check something off my list. Long ago I decided to not bring work home with me. I do what I can to complete my tasks at work, and then I go home. If that means building in more editing time for a project, or asking for help, or figuring out ways to work faster or smarter or harder, so be it. But that way, when I’m home, I’m home: I can spend time with my family, I can work on my stories, I can play on the weekends and not feel guilty about missing a deadline at work.

C.S.: What is your philosophy about life, writing, living?

LISA: My friend at work has a quote in her office that says, “Don’t place a period where God has placed a comma.” I think that holds true in life and in writing. You can’t ever stop reaching for your dream, developing your talent, becoming a better person, because you never know when what you think is a end is really the beginning of something new. I hope that I can always keep going and keep growing.

C.S.: And for those who love trivia, what is your favorite color, food, and music group?

LISA: Green. Chocolate. Rush.

C.S.: Any final words on how our readers can find you and your book signings when The Hourglass Door releases? Do you have a newsletter they can join to hear the latest on The Hourglass Door and future works?

LISA: I’m building my web site LisaMangum.com where I plan on hosting my blog and all the latest, greatest information about me and all my books—current and future. Shadow Mountain will also have www.LeosDungeon.com to market and advertise all three books about Abby and Dante. I’m excited to do some book signings and getting out there to tell people about my book.
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I’d like to thank Lisa for the time she’s taken with us today, especially in light of her busy schedule. And the best part? The wait is over. The Hourglass Door is an excellent read when you need a little pick me up.You now can get your own copy at stores and online here!

Interview with author, Stacy Anderson

Feeling like life is tough? Tired of trying? Well, here’s a book you may want to pick up at your local bookstore or online at DeseretBook.com: Life is Tough – I Doubt I’ll Make It Out Alive. And the author is one of the nicest, most humble people you could ever meet. Life is Tough – I Doubt I’ll Make It Out Alive has been called “A great funny journey called motherhood!” I promise you that when you read all 28 mini-chapters it will have been well worth your time. Enjoy getting to know Stacy Anderson, mother of four sons and author of The Santa Letters.

C.S.: Stacy, tell us a little bit about yourself.

STACY: Oh I’m your average run-of-the-mill supermom who descales showers with a single sponge, slows speeding teens with the nod of a finger and stops bedwetting with the use of training pants. I have four boys, am OCD when it comes to a clean house, I hate to iron and love wash and wear. I also do the best I can with what I’ve been given on any single day and if I can be used as an instrument in the hand’s of the Lord for blessing the lives of others, that is my icing on life’s cake!

C.S.: You’ve said it best right there when you said, “I…do the best I can with what I’ve been given.” Your book, The Santa Letters, was a huge hit, but now you have a new book that has come out. Describe it a bit for us.

STACY: In a nutshell, it is life’s lessons learned though laughter. If I hadn’t learned how to laugh and temper the tears, I’d be toast by now. Each chapter is a life lesson followed by a funny story that illustrates that lesson.

C.S.: When did the kernel of the idea for this book first come to you?

STACY: I really began it when my father was diagnosed with cancer at age 59. He was a man whose life had always been centered around service and he felt very useless when he was tied to tubes during his chemo and radiation treatments.

He’d always taught us how to learn much, laugh hard and love well. I wanted him to know that he’d done a good job with us and reached his objective so I captured all of the lessons I’d learned and our family stories, write them up and take them up to him to edit. He would laugh and share the stories to help others laugh which helped them all get through those treatments.

I never intended on it being published, but before he died, he made me promise I’d seek publication telling me that in today’s world, people needed to remember how to laugh. Five years to the day fo his passing, it came out.

C.S.: That’s very touching, Stacy. You’ve taken something very difficult and turned it into something to bless others. Tell me, though, why do you write?

STACY: I write because my patriarchal blessing tells me to develop the talents given to me so that I may bless the lives of my family and benefit the world around me. When I write honestly and openly, people connect with those words and come to find hope, inspiration and sometimes a bit of laughter while understanding they are not alone.

C.S.: Thus you were told to develop talents. When did you first discover the desire to write, expanding that talent?

STACY: Having always had a rather soft voice, I got drowned out by the noise of my brothers and others who were more boisterous. My desire to write was kindled when I was in grade school and a teacher entered one of my pieces in a literary contest. When I won, I truly understood the power of the pen and words and that is how I found my voice – the voice that could be heard.

C.S.: That is beautiful, Stacy. What kind of schedule do you follow? You are a busy women, yet you’ve had two books come out within one year of each other! And both quite different from each other.

STACY: I get my family off in the mornings, get myself together and then head for my office. I am usually down there until the kids come home from school. I do take intermediate breaks for housecleaning, laundry and other stuff when I need to mull a scene, plotline or get into a character’s head.

C.S.: What do you hope people gain from Life is Tough – I Hope I Make It Out Alive?

STACY: That although life is Tough, it is full of priceless moments that add up to the trip of a lifetime!!!

C.S.: What project or manuscript are you working on currently?

STACY: Once I get done promoting this one, I have another Christmas book coming out this fall (The Legend of the Star) so I will have a bit of time to finish up The Inamte Letters – the companion book to The Santa Letters – before having to do promotions on that one.

C.S.: What words of advice do you have for those who are discouraged and are struggling to stay on top of things?

STACY: Don’t insist on perfectionism, or insanity will become your new best friend. Besides there is only one person who walked the face of the Earth who was perfect and He gladly paved the way so we could happily (and in my case – most gratefully) stumble behind.

C.S: Any final thoughts?

STACY: I think my dad said it best when he admonished us to learn much, laugh often and love VERY well! And mix it all with a generous helping of gratitude…

C.S.: Where can readers go to find your books, especially Life is Tough – I Doubt I’ll Make It Out Alive?

STACY: It’s on Amazon.com, at Barnes and Noble, Seagull, Borders, and Deseret Book.

~~~
I’d like to thank Stacy for taking the time to chat with us about her life, her latest book Life is Tough – I Doubt I’ll Make It Out Alive, and her future projects. I love people who seek to bless the lives of others. Stacy is definitely one of those. You would do well to visit her website, learn more about her efforts, and add her books to your family’s library.

Interview with author, Kersten Campbell

I have found the most delightful little book. It is the PERFECT Mother’s Day gift. I wish you could hold it in your hands, flip through it, and read some of the chapters. Then you’d see what I’m talking about. But since you can’t hold my copy at this very moment, the next best thing is to get to know the author (yes, she gave me a delightful interview) … and then run immediately to a bookstore and get a copy for you, for your mother, your aunt, any woman in your life. In fact, my thirteen-year-old daughter couldn’t keep her hands off this book once we got it inside our home. It really is that good.

What is the book? It’s the freshly released, Confessions of a Completely (In)Sane Mother, by Kersten Campbell. I remember the day it arrived at the post office. I opened the package and began to flip through the book. I intended then to set it aside in my car to continue my further errands around town. But …. I couldn’t put the book down. That astonished me, because rarely do books seize me that way. You’ll see once you get your own copy; it’s a book that rarely rests because so many hands are fighting to snag it! (And yes, this is a good thing in today’s world where so few read books anymore.)

I’m excited for you to meet the author of the book.

C.S: Kersten, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

KERSTEN: I am a mother of five beautiful children ages 3-13 who loves to read, write, garden, paint, and play with children. My husband and I live in Washington and I joined the LDS church about twenty years ago when I was in college. Since then my life has been the most amazing, wonderful miracle. I love the gospel and what it does for people and the beautiful change that takes place. It is truly miraculous whether you’ve been in the church all of your life, or joined at a later age.

C.S.: I have in my hand your new book, Confessions of a Completely Insane Mother. I adore your book. Every time it comes up for discussion, I tell others they simply must get this book. When did the first kernel or idea come to you for this?

KERSTEN: It was actually an accident. I love reading and received my degree in English Literature, and after I had my fifth child I decided it would be fun to try and write a book. So I sat down and started to write a teen romance novel. Well, I laugh about this now, but it was TERRIBLE…and every time I tried to fix it, it kept getting worse. I thought to myself, “Boy, writing books is harder than it looks.”

But then one day I got this crazy idea that I would try to write humor stories about my family to help LDS women feel better about the ups and downs of family life so they wouldn’t get so discouraged. I decided to post them on a blog, and the few people who read them (Hi, Mom) kept telling me that they were laughing so hard they cried. So then I wondered if I might be able to get them published. And it turned out that Cedar Fort wanted to publish them in a book.

C.S.: What was the process like for you writing this?

KERSTEN: It is interesting. From the beginning I have felt the hand of the Lord in the writing of this book. I am pretty sure the idea came from Him, because it surprised me. And I know the talent for writing humor must be coming from Him because I never knew I had this talent before. It’s like the Lord chose the least of his servants, and made me be able to do this in spite of my many obstacles.

The other miracle is that I only have a short time during my youngest son’s nap in which to write. As any writer knows, that is not enough time to write anything cohesive, yet time and time again, the ideas flow through me as soon as I sit down and start to type. And I know that many of them are not mine. I believe that miracles happen when we put our family and the gospel first, and then the Lord makes it possible to fulfill our dreams, perhaps not in the way we first imagined, but in His way. And His way is always more amazing than anything we could ever dream up for ourselves.

C.S.: When did you discover that just maybe you’d like to be an author?

KERSTEN: I never realized that I wanted to write until after college. Then after I had my first two children I began sending articles to the church magazines and other magazines and I was surprised that they kept getting published. So that’s when I really realized, “Hey, this is fun, and I love it!”

Sending articles in to magazines is a great way to start learning about the process of writing. And there is no time commitment. If you want to do just one article a year, that’s what you can do.

When I finished the humor book I sent it to a publisher who said they weren’t interested in that type of humor at that time. I was really discouraged and was about to file it away for good, when something stopped me and told me to try just one more time. I’m so glad I did, because the next publisher liked it!

C.S.: What would you tell other writers who would like to see their book(s) on store shelves?

KERSTEN: I would say two things. First: Never give up. I believe that writing can be learned. It just takes practice, and then more practice. I still believe that someday I’ll be able to fix that terrible romance book I started.

And secondly: Don’t sacrifice the things that are most important. I believe that all your dreams will come true as you put the gospel and your family first. This is the way that allows you to secure the blessings you will need to be successful as a writer. And it is the only way to true happiness.

C.S.: In your journey to become a published author, what have been some of your most valiant lessons learned?

KERSTEN: My most valiant lesson is that God is a God of miracles. And when we put Him first in our lives and take care of the things that are of eternal importance, then everything else will fall into place. We will see great miracles happen in our lives, including being able to obtain the talents and the time and the personal revelation that we need to make our dreams come true.

C.S.: Do you have any other hobbies that relax you?

KERSTEN: The most relaxing thing I do is gardening. I love the peace and the serenity of taking care of such beauty. It’s another way fulfill my need to create. Creating beauty is such a noble quality of womanhood. I think every woman longs to do it. Gardening, writing and family life fulfill that need for me.

C.S.: What projects do you have that you’re wanting to work on next?

KERSTEN: I would like to work on more humor stories since it is such a joy to me to see this book making women so happy. I am also working on a spiritual book about where mothers can find great power to fulfill their sacred calling.

C.S.: What do you hope readers gain from your work with this?

KERSTEN: I hope they will get a sense that it’s okay to make mistakes and that everyone struggles with the same issues. Mistakes and mishaps were part of the eternal plan. They were supposed to happen so that we could learn and grow. That is why a Savior was provided for us. I hope that the book will empower LDS mothers, helping them to break out of the cycle of discouragement and embrace the opportunity to grow into the magnificent women of God they are all destined to become.

C.S.: Any final thoughts for others, especially if they’re feeling discouraged in accomplishing their own dreams?

KERSTEN: Yes. I believe that the Lord loves every one of us as as a Father tenderly loves His child. He knows of our hopes and dreams and wants to bless us. I know from experience that as we sacrifice to accomplish His work, He is then able to bless us in His own time with more than we can possibly imagine for ourselves. If we stay close to Him through prayer, devotion to our family and the gospel, and regular temple worship…we will be amazed at what the Lord has in store for us. It is through His power that all of our dreams will come true.

Thank you, Kersten. Here is a link to her publisher’s website where you can purchase the book. It is also available at Amazon, at Seagull books online and in their stores.

My readers who know me well know that I never recommend a book I do not like. So with that in mind — Mother’s Day is May 10; Confessions of a Completely (In)Sane Mother truly is the perfect gift.

More with Lisa Mangum, YA Novelist

Last month we were chatting with debut novelist, Lisa Mangum, about her book, The Hourglass Door, set to release May 2009. She has worked as a serious editor for years, but launching her first novel has been an exciting twist in her life.

Lisa was kind enough to share a bit more about The Hourglass Door, an imaginative story of two teens working to save life as they know it. Although I finished reading it within two days of receiving it…last month…I still can’t stop thinking about it. It’s that kind of an intriguing read.

C.S.: Thank you, Lisa, for chatting again with us. You have introduced some intriguing concepts within your first book. So I just have to ask, when did the glimmer of these ideas first strike you?

LISA: It was June 13, 2007. Yes, I remember the exact date. I might even be able to tell you the exact time! I remember because I was talking with Chris Schoebinger (my coworker at Shadow Mountain) about young adult fiction and why certain books are better than others. Our conversation was interrupted, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. That night after work, I had to drive to Provo, Utah, to attend a writer’s conference and suddenly, there it was. I was driving around the point of the mountain and the story just seemed to drop into my head. It was like Abby and Dante jumped in the car with me and wouldn’t stop talking.

Since I was on the freeway, I couldn’t stop driving, so I just told the story to myself out loud, working out details, repeating storylines so I wouldn’t forget anything. As soon as I pulled into the parking lot, I outlined the whole thing on scraps of paper I scrounged up in my car. Twenty minutes later, I had run out of paper and was almost late to the conference. I found Chris and told him about my brainstorm. He said, “When did you do this?” and I said, “On the drive here. What do you think?” and he said, “I think you should write it.” So I did. And a little more than a year later, I was finished.

C.S.: As you were working on this manuscript, which part felt the most naturally vibrant to you? Or did you have to work to make the story come alive?

LISA: In some ways, I think the conversations between Abby and her best friend Valerie were the easiest parts to write. I’m lucky that I have friends with big personalities and so I had a lot of real-life material to drawn on and fictionalize.

C.S.: Ah, yes, I thoroughly enjoyed the interactions between Abby and Valerie. Very real, very fresh. What about the other characters?

LISA:I was surprised a little at how quickly the characters bonded to each other—they felt like real friends or enemies or lovers—and all I had to do was try to keep up. The ending is also one of my favorite parts. I wrote a huge chunk of that in one sitting—just me and the computer—and the story just flowed out effortlessly. I hardly changed it at all during the rewrites.

C.S.: Do you have a favorite character from The Hourglass Door? If so, who and why?

LISA: Is it a cop-out to say that I like them all? J Writing Valerie always made me laugh. I identified with Abby’s quest to break free of other people’s expectations for her. I think Dante is downright dreamy. Zo demanded—and got—many of my best lines (turns out the villain hates to share!). And Leo had such a quiet strength about him, he always reminded me of my father.

C.S.: What are your thoughts about writers groups, critique groups? Do you participate in one?

LISA: I do. We meet every other Saturday morning for breakfast and to talk about our work. We rotate deadlines so we can focus on one person’s story at a time. That way we aren’t overloaded by having to turn in something new every week as well as read everyone else’s work at the same time. It’s worked out really well for us and many of us in the group have finished whole books that way.

I think writer’s groups are essential. It’s the best place to get honest feedback and specific critiques. As an editor, I can’t always give an author details about his or her manuscript. As a writer, I love being able to discuss big picture items—character arcs, pacing, plot twists—as well as the details—does that comma really go there? Is that really the best word choice? I’m energized every time we meet, even when we aren’t talking about my story.

C.S.: Some authors outline; some refuse to. Which kind of writer are you?

LISA: I used to try to write chronologically: Chapter one. Chapter two. All the way to the end. But I learned early on that it’s hard for me to write a book like that. I’d get stuck and instead of skipping the tricky part, I’d just stop.

I took a different approach with The Hourglass Door. After my brainstorm where I mapped out all the relationships and overall plot of the story, I took two or three days and handwrote an outline on the train as I commuted to work. It wasn’t anything fancy, just “Here’s what happens in chapter 1. Here’s what happens in chapter 2.” (Some of my notes were nothing more than “and then something cool happens.”)

Even though I outlined the book chronologically, I wrote whatever I felt like, whenever I felt like it. I wrote the first three chapters in a chunk because those were the scenes that wouldn’t leave me alone. But I didn’t write the Prologue until months and months later.

As I wrote, I realized what I had originally outlined wasn’t going to work so the whole second half of the book changed as the story took on its own life. That’s the fun part about writing—seeing how the story changes and following it down unexpected paths.

C.S.: Working as an editor by day and an author in the after-hours, how did you manage to complete this book? Were there days you never wanted to see a printed page again? :0)

LISA: That was the main reason I didn’t write for many years: I spend all morning in a chair, at a computer, thinking about words. Why would I want to come home and spend all night in a chair, at a computer, thinking about words? I was happy just being an editor for a long time. But once Abby and Dante jumped in the car with me and told me their story, I had to figure out a way to balance my day job and my writing.

I wrote a lot on the weekends. I wrote (by hand) a surprising number of pages on the train going to and from work. Honestly, I surprised at how quickly the word count added up and how many pages I ended up with considering I had to write in the fringes of my day.

C.S.: Do you need absolute quiet to be able to write?

LISA: No. In fact, I find I have a hard time working when it’s absolutely quiet. I love stretching out on the couch, turning on my laptop, setting my iPod to shuffle, and getting lost in the words and the story.

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I want to thank Lisa for taking the time to chat with me some more about her new book, The Hourglass Door. It releases next month and she’ll be back with us one more time to tell us about her next project and what writers need to know about the submission process to a publisher. In the meantime, you may want to pre-order your personal copy so that you can be first on the block to own The Hourglass Door!