If you love writing, there's something wonderful happening on April 23-24, 2010, at the The Marriott Hotel in downtown Provo, Utah. These two dates are when the 7th Annual LDStorymakers Writers Conference takes place--the best event of the year for all writers.
Here's what Stacy Whitman, Editorial Director of Tu Publishing and guest editor at the 2009 LDStorymakers Writers Conference said last year.
"I must say, it was one of the most well-organized, well-staffed conferences that I've ever participated in. It ranks right up there with BYU Writing for Young Readers (though Storymakers is for every genre--adult, children's, LDS, secular, fantasy, realism, nonfiction, and so forth), and the conference itself focuses more on craft than marketing, so the lessons about, well, storymaking, can be applied to whatever niche an author writes for."
For detailed information about this year's conference, please click HERE!
I nearly said no to reviewing Traci Hunter Abramson’s latest suspense novel, Crossfire. Not because I didn’t want to read it, but because my time is so tight right now with other work that I didn’t think I could squeeze in one more thing. However, when I read the information about the book, I couldn’t resist.
I’m glad I gave in! It took a while to read in snatches here and there (eating lunch, or against TV noise, or waiting while put on hold on telephone), which got really annoying as I didn’t want to stop. For the first time ever, getting left hanging on the phone was great. Below is the book blurb that peeked my interest.
“Special Agent Vanessa Lauton is living a lie. For the past year she’s been posing as a member of the Dominican Republic’s most powerful crime family in order to infiltrate a Caribbean terrorist organization. When her CIA contact has a heart attack, he’s replaced by U.S. Navy SEAL squad member Seth Johnson—the man Vanessa nearly married six years earlier. And suddenly the heat is on, in more ways than one.
“Terrorist kingpin Akil Ramir sequesters Vanessa and Seth in his Nicaraguan fortress, where they learn of an impending attack on American soil. The Saint Squad is dispatched to calm the storm, but even their heroic efforts can’t stop multiple threats from escalating. Adrenaline rises as the squad confronts enemies who will stop at nothing to sabotage national security—and Vanessa finds herself caught in the crossfire.”
I found Crossfire to be fast paced, intriguing, and suspenseful. I also appreciated that the two leading characters, Vanessa and Seth, are not white. And how heartening to read of a SEAL squad whose members are LDS. The conflict is believable and frightening. Author Traci Abramson’s experience as a former CIA agent pays off in her attention to detail, which makes for authentic reading.
Traci says, “I think everyone struggles with fear of the unknown, and terrorism definitely feeds into that fear. Writing and reading about terrorism gives us the chance to explore those fears while still having the hope that while the good guys may not win all the battles, they are ultimately going to win the war.”
Traci Hunter Abramson was born in Arizona, where she lived until moving to Venezuela for a study-abroad program. After graduating from Brigham Young University, she worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for several years, eventually resigning in order to raise her family.
Crossfire is available at Seagull Book, Deseret Book, and other LDS bookstores. It can also be found on Amazon.com by clicking on Crossfire.
Crossfire
Paperback
Publisher: Covenant Communications (January 1, 2010)
6” X 9”, 256 pages
ISBN 9781598119435
Disclaimer: *I do not receive either monetary or any other form of compensation for this review. I do however receive a free copy of the book to evaluate and express my own opinion. Pictures on my blogs are from publishers, authors, Google, and other public photo galleries such as Photobucket. Occasionally, I use photographs from Tropical Traditions with their permission when reviewing their products.*
Have you ever stood in the produce aisle struggling to open one of those plastic grocery store bags? You know how it is. The more you poke and pull, the longer it takes. Here's a solution.
Walk over to the greens section and find something that's recently been soaked with the mister spray . Touch a water blob with finger and thumb, then try again to open the plastic bag. So much more hygienic than spitting :-)
Watered fingers also work well on new garbage bin bags that refuse to open.
This week, I'm giving away one Famous Family Nights T-shirt. See below for the rules.
The shirt can be a great incentive as children participate in family night. It can be used to encourage good behavior, or worn by whomever gives the lesson, leads the music, or any other activity of your choosing.
For information about the book, Famous Family Nights, please click on www.annebradshaw.com.
GIVE-AWAY RULES:
Blog about the giveaway and leave me a link = 2 entries
Add the Famous Family Nights video (get code from YouTube) to your blog or sidebar = 3 entries
Add my Famous Family Nights collage button (scroll down sidebar for html code) to your blog or sidebar = 3 entries
Tweet or Facebook about this = 2 entries
Please leave a comment for each entry.
Contest ends Wednesday February 10th 2010
Congratulations, Alchemist! Please contact me so I can forward details to Tropical Traditions. You can find my email address on my website by clicking on www.annebradshaw.com.
Thanks so much, Tropical Traditions, for sponsoring this give-away. And thanks to everyone who took part. More give-aways in coming weeks. They won't always be on the same day, and might last longer than a week, so be sure to visit often for updates.
Kels Goodman, Producer of Will it Blend, one of the most successful ad campaigns on the internet, and Producer and Director of photography for Tears of a King, The Latter Days of Elvis, is also Director of a new upcoming film, The Last Eagle Scout.
After watching the trailer below, I'm really looking forward to The Last Eagle Scout appearing in the movie theaters. Kel Goodman's company is Ampersand Films, and the website for The Last Eagle Scout is at www.lasteaglescout.com. Film release date is September 2010.
Website: www.annebradshaw.com
I grew up in England, married in Manchester, and my husband and I reared our family in various British towns. I've enjoyed being creative for as long as I can remember and have been writing for over 20 years. I have three published novels, have co-authored two books on writing, and co-authored an award-winning screenplay. My new book, "Famous Family Nights," is now in LDS bookstores everywhere.
"Famous Family Nights is packed with testimonials and anecdotes from assorted LDS personalities who share their own tender and rib-tickling experiences with family home evening." - Author, Laurie LC Lewis
Facebook readers are welcome to join a new group called Famous Family Nights by clicking HERE. It's a place for book updates, and for an opportunity to interact with any of the book participants who also decide to join.
To better view this trailer, double click on it, then when it opens in YouTube, click on the little oblong box, 2 in from right in control panel at bottom of trailer screen. This will open up full screen. To return to normal, press "Esc" top left of keyboard.
"Famous Family Nights" Collage
A few of those taking part in the "Famous Family Nights" book
Add "Famous Family Nights" to your sidebar by copying and pasting code below
Perfect for fun personal reading, and Family Home Evening discussions.
From LDS Review "Think Chicken Soup-meets-John Bytheway and you get Please, No Zits! & Other Short Stories for LDS Youth"
Endorsement by author Jeffrey Scott Savage
"From a New Year’s Eve party in Elmer, New Jersey to a prison in Devon, England, Anne Bradshaw weaves tales that will leave youth and adults alike laughing, crying, and best of all thinking. Bradshaw’s stories are witty, wise, and filled with wonder. I’ve found the perfect gift for my nieces and nephews."
Anne Bradshaw and Jeanne McKinney collaborated on a new feature screenplay, set in the volatile 60s - Dublin, Ireland--The Ardanea Pendant--time travel adventure with a twist--full of action and mind-bending fun.
WINNER in the 2008, 13th Annual International Family Film Festival. For Press Release, and email CONTACT for investment and production opportunities, please click on Market Wire.
A unique and innovative source for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to promote, search, and connect with businesses and events either sponsored by or owned by fellow church members.
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