Ghost Apron Give-away and Book Announcement!

Win this Simply Memzelle Haunts Haven ghost apron by doing one of the following, or enter three times in three ways:

1. Entering Simply Memzelle's headband raffle and leave my name (Joan Sowards) or mention Haunts Haven in your entry (rules at Simply Memzelle)

2. Leave a new comment on this post or one of the book reviews here on my blog and/or become a follower of my blog if you aren't one already,

3. Put a link to this apron contest and/or the Simply Memzelle contest on your blog or website. (Please leave a comment on this post telling me you've done this entry.)

This handcrafted apron is a glittery ghost, cotton print with thumbnail half-moons and stars, yellow edging, small pocket and yo-yo corsage pin with ghost button center.

Celebrate with me Haunts Haven's fifth month in publication. My 2nd novel Chocolate Roses, a Jane Eyre LDS Parody will be released this spring by Walnut Springs Press!

The deadline for the apron contest is February 20th.

Author Christine Thackeray

Christine Thackeray's first two books were published in 2009. “Crayon Messages: A Visiting Teacher Adventure” is about a woman who is given the worst visiting teaching route ever and how it becomes her greatest blessing. You can still purchase it from the publisher, Cedar Fort, and it is still available in LDS bookstores. The second was a collaborative non-fiction work that I did with my sister Dr. Marianna Richardson called,

Thackeray co-authored “C. S. Lewis: Latter Day Truths in Narnia” with her sister Dr. Marianna Richardson. Finding that C. S. Lewis had been quoted hundreds of times in church magazines and General Conferences spurred them on to write about and define C. S. Lewis’s themes in terms of what he intended to say, versus what has said of his views. is an intriguing study and the end of the book contains a complete index of Lewis’s quotes by topic and who he has been quoted by. It’s a great resource for lesson preparation.

Most exciting is the project Thackeray this year. For Mother’s Day 2010, watch for a small gift book entitled, “Could You Be An Angel Today?” It’s a fun story about a typical Mom who has an angel come to her asking for a day off. The woman agrees to take on the angel’s responsibilities for one day and through that experience realizes that anyone can be an angel -- even her.

Thackeray's next visiting teaching adventure is also on the way. It should be out by this summer and is called, “Lipstick Wars.” It’s the story of a young mother with an escaping toddler. Her son’s escapades take her to the door of a reclusive artist and together these women make miracles happen.

Visit website www.christinethackeray.com

Her blog is www.christinethackeray.blogspot.com

Read an author interview between Christine and Marsha Ward

The Silent Warrior Trilogy by Anna Del C

Book One T he E lf and the Princess:

Menarm was a great and prosperous kingdom, known throughout the lands for its friendly, hard-working people and fair trade. But a bitter struggle of succession between brothers left the kingdom devastated, the people divided. Some stayed with Fenil, who had conquered the crown, others followed Renil to the north, founding a new kingdom.

Now Adren, the last princess of the vanquished realm of Menarm, finds herself alone in a world where women live in the shadows of men. Not only must she battle her enemies, but also a truth that could obliterate her last hope for happiness and bring dishonor to all those whom she hold dear. On her quest, she finds unlikely allies in a powerful prince and a defiant mercenary, only to be devastated by an ancient elf.

Book Two, T rouble in the E lf C ity:

It’s been three years since the war between the Orks and Tahitans destroyed the proud kingdom ofMenarm. Adren, the land’s last princess, has settled comfortably into her new life as wife to the elf Dellin in the kingdom of Lothia.

But all is not well. And when a mysterious enemy shatters their peace, an enemy the elfs appear powerless to fight, complete annihilation seems imminent. Will Adren witness the destruction of yet another kingdom and once again find herself alone in the world? Or can the Silent Warrior come to her rescue and save them all?

Book Three, E lfs in a C onquered R ealm:

King Paletin and Adren, the last Princess of Menarm, set forth on their mission with a team to find the hidden treasures of the now vanquished Kingdom of Menarm. Led by the young strategist, Zyrthal, the team is strong in number and sure of purpose, yet they find themselves facing ruthless mercenaries who are determined to claim the kingdom’s riches for themselves.

Once again, the Silent Warrior is called upon to rescue the captured team, but he has begun to battle demons of his own and has become unsure of his abilities as the champion of Adren. The shadows in his heart become all the more magnified with the disappearance of the two half-elf princes from the dead kingdom.

Front Street Reviews has praised Dye’s works as “fluid and flawless” and has said in their complimentary review of Elfs in a Conquered Realm that “it should come as no surprise that one will find this story as fulfilling as the first two in the trilogy. Her talent for writing fantasy will leave her name forever entrenched in our memories as we hope to read more of her stories long into the future.

Read more about this intriguing Trilogy at Anna's website.

Read Anna's author interview at Tina's blog.

Review of Haunts Haven on LDS Women's Book Review

Read another great book review of Haunts Haven on LDS Women's Book Review

Thank you to Sheila who has a great talent for reviewing books.

Enter to Win a Bookshelf

Valerie Ipson is holding a contest on her blog to win a bookshelf. Click here to learn more about it.

Save the Child by Margaret Turley

Margaret Turley's novel Save the Child will be released the end of February. It explores parental rights to choose what type of medical treatment their children will receive.

Here is her interview with Tina Scott:

What was your inspiration for Save the Child?
Upon hearing the Parker Jensen Story out of Utah in 2003 where parents were not wanting to have their child subjected to chemotherapy - I started doing more research. I was appalled to find out that here in the land of the free - parents are not allowed to choose different treatment. Every child is under the authority of the State until the age of majority. I strongly endorse that every patient including and especially pediatrics should have the choice of being able to incorporate these methods into their regimen.

To read the rest of this interview, click here.

Margaret's web site is: http://margaretturley.com/

The Untold Scripture Stories coming later this year.
by Margaret Larsen with original artwork by Kali Higgins
http://margaretlarsen.wordpress.com/

A Nurse's World books DBA Rachel Andersen

http://a-nurses-world.blogspot.com/

Ribbons and Bows: multiple births memory books will soon be released

DBA www.sophiawynott.com

Love Your Body by Brooke Parker

I can't think of another book that that has had such an unexpected impact on me. Brooke Parker in her book Love Your Body addresses not only the psych of eating disorders, but how we all think in terms of food. The pages on positive thinking has helped me a lot . Every girl and woman, (eating disorders or not,) everyone who has a relationship with food--and that's all of us--should read this great self-help book. -Joan

Are you tired of dieting and feeling unsatisfied with your appearance? In this book, registered dietitian Brooke Parker shares secrets for developing a positive body image and creating your own customized eating plan. You’ll also learn how to replace negative thoughts about yourself with positive, motivating thoughts.

With the tools you master in Love Your Body, the scale, the media, and your “skinny jeans” will no longer have the power to determine your mood or your life!

Topics include:
• Finding a New Relationship with Food
• Honoring Your Hunger and Fullness
• Finding Your Own Healthy Balance
• Creating Healthy Expectations
• The Inner Dialogue
• Put an End to Worry
• Your Body Is a Gift
• Eliminating the Physical Triggers
• Destructive Thinking Styles
• Pampering Activities
. . . and many more.

Brooke is a registered dietitian with a degree from Utah State University. Brooke currently works for Utah State University as their dietitian and is considered one of the best body-image counselor in the state of Utah.

What makes Love Your Body different from diet and body-image books out there?

1. In Love Your Body, Brooke enlightens readers as to the reason why deprivation doesn't work by showing that when we focus on foods that we can't have, it actually makes dieting harder. Instead of focusing on what we can't have, Love Your Bodyshows how to add new and healthy foods to our diet and by doing so increasing our success.
2. Love Your Body teaches the reader to recognize their relationship to food while exploring the emotional reasons for why we eat. Brooke coaches readers on how to recognize the destructive inner voices that sabotage their effort and provides them the tools to overcome them.
3. Many of us overeat because we haven't learned how to recognize the fullness signs that our body is sending. In Love Your Body, Brooke guides readers on how to find balance so that they never lets their body become too hungry or too full.
4. For many, food brings anxiety and guilt. Brooke guides one through tackling that anxiety and guilt and shows them how to set realistic expectations and to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.
5. Lastly, Love Your Body provides an LDS perspective that reminds them that their body is a gift and we should treat it as such. Love Your Body provides ways to express gratitude for our body, and reminds us to be happy with the things we can not change, i.e. height, eye color, shoe size, etc.

Order it on Amazon

Review of Haunts Haven by Joyce DiPastena

Joyce DiPastena, author of Loyalty's Web and Illuminations of the Heart, has posted a fun review of Haunts Haven at: http://jdp-news.blogspot.com/2010/01/book-review-of-haunts-haven-by-joan.html

Win a copy of Haunts Haven in her contest. Deadline January 23rd.

By Love or By Sea

I enjoyed this fun debut novel by Rachel Rager. A refreshingly clean romance, it kept my interest through the adventures and love story of Alice Lind Frank.

Alice Lind Frank never forgot the boy she loved when she was just six years old, even after he was lost at sea. Now a young woman, Alice has found happiness in living and working with her grandparents, and in the affections of Clarence Hielott, the wealthy shipyard owner who intends to makeAlice his bride.

When a ragged sailor appears in town, Alice is reminded of the young boy who once held her heart. Upon learning that the sailor is in fact her childhood love, Caleb, she finds herself falling for him again.

But Clarence refuses to let this ghost from the past destroy his plans for the future. He exposes the secrets of Caleb’s past, and Alice realizes that the boy she once knew is now a man with a dark history. Soon Caleb and Clarence are locked in a fierce competition forAlice’s heart.

I bought Rachel's book through her website, but you can also buy By Love or by Sea at Amazon

Read author interview with Rachel at http://totallytinascott.blogspot.com/2010/01/author-interview-with-rachel-rager.html

Visit Rachel's website at http://www.rachelrager.com/rachelsreadingroom.htm