Tuesday, June 30, 2009

You Never Know


When I was seventeen, I took a correspondence course in floral design. Upon completion, I walked down the road to the little floral shop on the corner and asked the owners if I could work there, for free, to get some hands-on experience. They said yes, and that is how I met Burt and Nina Shelton, two people who were to become hugely influential in my life.

My parents divorced a few years previously, and I thought I was handling it well enough until my mother announced she was getting remarried and would be moving to California. My sister took me in so I could stay in Utah, and that period of time was extremely difficult for me. Getting an apprenticeship with the Sheltons pulled me out of a very dark place and gave me a foundation upon which I could stand as I moved forward.

Burt was a very gentle man, fatherly and protective. Nina was full of love, and from the moment I started working there, I felt her reach out to me with that love and shelter me in a cocoon.

My efforts at floral design were clumsy at first. Having learned everything I knew from books, my hands weren’t used to holding the knife, manipulating the floral tape, and doing one thing with one hand while doing something else with the other. Nina was a patient teacher and showed me what to do while never patronizing me. Instead, she asked me to share some of the things I’d learned from my books. She’d never taken a class in floral design and instead went with her guts, so I shared my book learning and she shared her instincts. I’d trust her instincts over a book any day.

Working there, I didn’t just learn about how to arrange flowers, although I was taught many things and loved every minute of it. I didn’t just learn how to take orders, care for the flowers in the cooler, and order new supplies from the wholesaler, although those things were certainly part of the job. I learned what it meant to be Christlike by watching Burt and Nina. I learned what charity and compassion were really all about.

I did a lot of emotional healing while working at the shop. I crossed the threshold from confused teenager to independent young woman. Nina became a mentor to me and a surrogate mother, and she shepherded me over some rough bumps. When I started to date the man who would become my husband, I was anxious for Burt and Nina to meet him. Their approval meant just as much to me as my own parents’ did.

Nina passed away from cancer just a few short years after I left the shop to get married. I miss her on a daily basis. Her sweet goodness touched my soul and affected my life in too many ways to measure. Her obituary read, in part, “She truly was a woman without guile,” and I agree with that wholeheartedly. I have never met a woman with so much genuine integrity, and she made all the difference in my life at a crucial time.

But she didn’t know that. When I started working at the shop, she had no way of knowing how fragile I felt or what I was going through. Of course, over time I told her everything, but her service to me was offered before she knew how badly I really needed it. She took me in, not knowing how much I needed to be taken in.

I wonder how many of those around us need that kind of sheltering. Do we wait for someone to express a need before we look for ways to serve them, or do we listen to the promptings of the Spirit and offer our help as guided? You never know what the person standing next to you might be suffering, and they might never speak it aloud.

I’m grateful to the Sheltons for so many things, for years of apprenticeship that turned into a job, for making me an assistant manager which helped me acquire other jobs down the road, but mostly for the friendship which was so needed in my life at that time. I firmly feel our Heavenly Father led me down that path to enable me to have the experience of being loved by two of His most humble servants, and I hope someday I can pass on that kind of friendship to someone else. You never know who might need the love you carry in your heart.

Click here to visit the Neighborhood.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

AML Review of Agent in Old Lace

Jeffrey Needle is a reviewer for AML. I had the chance to meet him online for the first time when my novel "Nothing to Regret" came out, and I respect his opinion tremendously. It was with a bit of trepidation that I sent him "Agent in Old Lace." He was a fan of my historical fiction ... would he like this book, too? Here is his review.

Shannon Tanner is an up and coming LDS investment counselor. She works with her father, referring clients to what they consider sound investment opportunities. When Mark Conway walks into their lives, they spot him as a great asset, one who could be trusted with their clients' dollars. Shannon and Mark fall in love, an added asset.

But Mark isn't who or what he appears to be. In the first few pages of this book, we learn that Mark is actually a clever thief who has been bilking clients of millions of dollars. And now he has a plan to marry Shannon, then kill her and inherit her father's estate.

Mark is apprehended, but he escapes, and now the hunt is on.

Turns out the FBI has been after Mark for a long time. When Mark's attempt to kill Shannon is foiled by Shannon's escape from his clutches, it is decided that a female agent would move in with Shannon and catch Mark when he makes another attempt on her life.

The female agent has an accident, and agent Rick Holden is put in her place. But in order to keep up the appearance of another female living the house, Rick must dress as a woman while he's around Shannon.

If all of this sounds just a bit preposterous, I have to agree. And what I've described is contained on the back cover of the book. I always read the blurbs before reading a book, and I thought to myself, "Oh my goodness, what hath Tristi Pinkston wrought?" Readers will recognize her name as the author of some very good historical fiction. This is her first attempt at writing a mystery novel. How does she fare? Read on.

As the story develops, we meet Shannon's father, who is hospitalized and not expected to survive must longer. Her mother is a constant friend and help, a real encouragement. And Shannon's best friend, Tate, is also there to help her through the mess.

As the story progresses, it actually gets better. The writing becomes a bit more complex, the characters more clearly defined. The relationship between Rick and Shannon takes on some real dimensions, avoiding much of the romantic schlock one might expect in a book like this.

The character of Mark evolves into a thoroughly dislikable fellow, going to such extremes as hiring a bicyclist to toss a brick through Shannon's window. His attempts to intimidate Shannon while evading the authorities are often hair-raising.

I should be fair about the agent in a dress angle. I admit I was put off by the whole thing, but Rick finds ways to avoid dressing up as a woman -- he is "hired" by Shannon's firm and gets to keep an eye on her at her office. When he does have to dress up, Pinkston keeps the tone light, and sometimes hilarious, as this brave FBI agent tries to master the art of getting into a car without having his dress bunch up behind him!

The most interesting character, to me, is the doctor tending to Shannon's father. This is, in my opinion, one of the best-plotted and most cleverly telegraphed characters in recent Mormon fiction. I should have picked up on what was going on with him, but I missed it entirely. And Pinkston adds some comic relief to his character midway through the book -- how could a creepy old man possibly factor into the storyline?

One of the early challenges Pinkston faces is that of timing and pacing the story. After reading the first three or four pages, I thought I'd stumbled upon a story in progress -- never a good feeling when you're reading a novel. Who were these people? Why were they in the place they were in? Of course, all of this unfolds as the story progresses, but I thought she needed to spend more time setting up the storyline. The book suffers from this lack of depth.

But she seems to get her footing once she gets into the meat of the book, and it shows in her generally good writing. She has a good command of dialogue and plotting. Once she gets past the first few chapters, she finds her stride and delivers a delightful story of good versus evil, of finding strength in difficult times. Once you get past the initial idea of an FBI agent wearing a dress, you find a wonderfully readable and engrossing story that keeps you guessing at every turn.

This is nice light reading, a good first effort in this genre for Pinkston. If I were to offer any advice, it would be to fine-tune the pacing of the story, giving readers a sense of place and time. I look forward to her next foray into the mystery novel genre.


I can live with that. :)

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

All the Stars in Heaven - Michele Paige Holmes

Michele Paige Holmes burst on to the LDS fiction scene like a meteor shower with the release of her first novel, “Counting Stars,” which won a Whitney Award at the 2008 gala. Now she dazzles us with another book that is equally as good. “All the Stars in Heaven” takes Jay, a character from the first novel, and shows us what happens to him afterward.

Click here to read more ...

Monday, June 22, 2009

Ramblings ...

My sister informs me that reading my blog is her only reason for living and that when I don't post, she can't go on. Well, okay, she didn't say that exactly, but she did tell me that I'm the source of her amusement and I haven't posted for a few days, and therefore, she's not amused. Nothing like a little pressure! Now I have to be all amusing or something!

So in my attempt to be amusing, I thought I would share some random ramblings and thoughts I've had over the last few days.

1. I'm looking at a package of diapers and it has instructions on it. One of the instructions is, "For best results, change diaper several times a day." If someone is so stupid/irresponsible they can't figure that one out for themselves, why are they allowed to be in charge of small children?

2. When someone is diagnosed with a terminal cancer, they say, "The doctors give me three months to live." The doctors gave them that long? Wow, those are some pretty powerful doctors. Last time I checked, God was in charge of life and death. I'd like to start a huge movement that we all say, "The doctors estimate I have three months" or something that makes the doctors sound just a little less all-powerful. I have an uncle who was "given" six weeks and eight years later, he's still kickin'.

3. I think there must be some kind of conspiracy going on between the radio stations - why do they all go to commercial at exactly the same time? There should be a law made that radio stations must stagger out their commercials so I can always find music somewhere when I flip the dial. That is, after all, why I have the radio on.

4. Instructions on microwave dinners - "Caution. Food will be hot." Well, I sure hope so, seein' as how it just came out of the microwave. (See #1)

Here's wishing you all a happy Monday, and be sure to check out the new reviews on my sidebar. "Agent in Old Lace" seems to be pretty universally enjoyed. That's a very good thing.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

A New Place to Buy Agent in Old Lace

Agent in Old Lace is now available at Deseret Book (online and in store) but doesn't yet appear to be at Seagull. And don't forget, you can also purchase it at Amazon or directly from the publisher.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

I'm Not a Line Cutter! I'm Really Not!

Two weeks ago, I posted my first blog over on Writing Fortress. Turns out, I should have posted it in the following day and I had inadvertently stolen one of the other blogger's days, and I felt really bad about that. I just had it in my head that I needed to post before I went to Scouts, and so I did and it was supposed to be Thursday but I did it in Wednesday and I was really embarrassed but the other author was really nice about it and I assured her that I don't usually cut in front of people and we had a good laugh and then the other night at the library I did cut in front of some people but I thought they understood that I was giving them my equally good spot but they didn't see that and thought I had just taken theirs when in reality I was bettering the situation for both of us but I came across as a rude American and they were Vietnamese and apparently didn't speak much English and I don't speak any Vietnamese even though I've researched the war but that research wasn't very intensive in the language and I only know the words for "hurry" and that didn't really fit in the library situation.

But now my real posting day is every other Wednesday. We decided to keep me there for simplicity's sake. So go check out today's blog.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Trust

Today while filling out an author interview questionnaire, I was asked for my favorite quote. I cast around in my mind for a bit, thinking about all the writing quotes I like, but then my thoughts fell on a quote I heard years ago and committed to memory, not realizing at the time how important it would become to me later.

"All that I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen." - Emerson


When I look back on my life and the different trials I've faced, the issue of trust is one that surfaces time and time again. Do I trust that Christ was and is who He says He is, and do I trust that He will do all that He says He will do? Do I trust that He will step in and fill in those gaps where I fall short, and that He will catch me when I fall?

Yes, I do. I have seen too much and experienced too much to ever doubt it.

I have seen checks come in the mail just when we ran out of groceries and didn't think we had any way to get more. I have seen job offers come through right when we were at the end of our ropes. I have seen answers provided right in the nick of time. I have seen health recovered, optimism restored, and miracles happen. With all that I have seen, I would be truly blind indeed if I claimed I hadn't seen.

Saturday, June 06, 2009

Summer Reading Thing

So I was looking over my Summer Reading Thing list and I thought to myself, what an anemic attempt. So I'm giving myself a shot in the arm and attacking this thing with my usual Holy Cow!! Let's Read Books! kind of vigor. I've been informed by persons smarter than myself that I'll only get linked in on LDS fiction books I've read, but the thing is this - I already read LDS fiction pretty voraciously, and if this is a challenge, then I need to be expanding my horizons. So pretty much I'll only get linked in on one book. That's okay, though.

Here is my new, improved, updated, vitamin-fortified list for the Summer Reading Thing:

1. Code Talker by Joseph Bruchac - completed (see review here)

2. Delta Wedding by Eudora Welty - didn't finish (see review here)

3. Breaking the Surface by Greg Louganis - completed (see review here)

4. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell - didn't finish (see review here)

5. Master by Toni Sorenson

6. Or Give Me Death by Ann Rinaldi - completed (see review here)

7. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot - completed (see review here)

8. Quest for a Maid by Frances Mary Hendry

9. Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh - completed (see review here)

10. Supernanny by Jo Frost - completed (see review here)

11. The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King - completed (see review here)

12. Sarah's Ground by Ann Rinaldi - completed (see review here)

13. The Butterfly House by Marcia Preston - completed (see review here)

14. Over Her Dead Body by Kate White - didn't finish (see review here)

15. All the Stars in Heaven by Michele Paige Holmes - completed (see review here)

16. Just the Way You Are by Katie Parker - completed (see review here)

17. A Modest Proposal by Michele Ashman Bell- completed (see review here)

There! That feels like a challenge a little more worthy of the title. I'll keep you apprised of my progress.

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

A New Blog in Town

Hey folks,

There's a new blog in town. "Writing Fortress" is put together by many various and knowledgeable authors from Cedar Fort Inc., each who bring a different flavor to the mix. My first post is up today. You should go check it out. You really should.

And don't forget to click on my review links on my sidebar - Heather Justesen got hold of my main character and did an interview this morning, and Two Kids and Tired posted her review.

Monday, June 01, 2009

Kicking Off My Virtual Book Tour ... an Interview with Tristi Pinkston

I’ve participated in many a virtual book tour as a host, and I’ve also taken a virtual tour myself, when “Season of Sacrifice” came out. However, I have never functioned as both host and author at the same time. Given my fun-loving nature and my desire to experience all life has to offer (within reasonable legal limits) I decided to give it a try.

Tristi the Blogger: Tristi Pinkston, thank you so much for joining me today on my blog. I appreciate the time you’ve taken out of your busy schedule to join me here.

Tristi the Author: Well, I do talk to myself quite a bit as it is, so this really wasn’t that much of a stretch.

Tristi the Blogger: I understand you’ve just had a book released.

Tristi the Author: You should know. You were there when I wrote it.

Tristi the Blogger: Just work with me here, okay?

Tristi the Author: (sighing) All right. Yes, I just had a book released. It’s called “Agent in Old Lace” and it was published by Cedar Fort in mid-May.

Tristi the Blogger: So essentially it’s just been out for half a month, then.

Tristi the Author: That would be correct.

Tristi the Blogger: How have sales been so far?

Tristi the Author: Honestly, I think it’s a little gauche to talk about money in such a public forum. And they won’t have the numbers figured out for a little bit yet. It really hasn’t been that long.

Tristi the Blogger: It’s sure seemed like a long time. Didn’t you write that book … forever ago?

Tristi the Author: No, not forever. I wrote the book in 2004.

Tristi the Blogger: But that was five years ago. That’s forever in the book-publishing world.

Tristi the Author: I just had to find the right home for it. That’s all.

Tristi the Blogger: Okay, let’s change subjects. (under her breath) She does get a little testy when her blood sugar is low. Now, let’s see here. You have previously published three novels.

Tristi the Author: Yes, I have. My first two books are set during World War II, and my third novel deals with the colonization of southeastern Utah. The Hole in the Rock, you know.

Tristi the Blogger: Hole in the Wall? You mean, Butch Cassidy and all those guys?

Tristi the Author: (shaking her head) No, of course not. Although, not a half-bad idea. (she thinks for a minute) Maybe later. I’m talking about the Hole in the Rock. You know, blasting a way for the wagons to come down the face of the cliff … the true story of my great-great-grandfather and his two wives … oh, come on. You remember that book.

Tristi the Blogger: Of course I do. But if I didn’t ask questions, and if you didn’t answer them, this would be a really boring interview.

Tristi the Author: Right. I forgot about that.

Tristi the Blogger: It would just be some insane woman sitting here, talking to herself, online.

Tristi the Author: Point taken.

Tristi the Blogger: It would be pathetic, really.

Tristi the Author: (starting to squirm) So, back to the interview?

Tristi the Blogger: Oh, yeah, right. Um, so, tell me about the new book.

Tristi the Author: It’s my first contemporary mystery, about a girl who learns her boyfriend is a criminal, and then he tries to kill her. It’s all very exciting. And there’s some romance, too.

Tristi the Blogger: Now, I have to say, I read this book last night and couldn’t put it down. But I did have the mystery solved before the end of the book.

Tristi the Author: And?

Tristi the Blogger: And … isn’t that a bad thing?

Tristi the Author: No, not at all. You see, with my mysteries, it’s not so much about who did what, but going along with the characters as they find out who did what. If you guess before the last page, it shouldn’t be a letdown. You’re still on the journey with the character.

Tristi the Blogger: I note you said “mysteries,” as in, plural. Are you writing more mysteries, then?

Tristi the Author: Yes, I’m starting a new series this fall. Those books are also character-driven, which is something a little bit new for the mystery genre. Mysteries are usually driven by the plot. Not so much with mine.

Tristi the Blogger: Do you think people are going to get confused between your historical novels and now your contemporary novels? Are they going to think you have a split personality or something?

Tristi the Author: Split personality? Like, maybe I think I’m two different people? Now, where would they get an idea like that?

Stay tuned for updates as bloggers all over the Internet join my virtual blog tour.
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