The year has been off to an amazing start in the world of Mormon Letters! It’s awards season, and both the AML and the Whitney awards have been announced. Irreantum, the literary journal of the Association for Mormon Letters, has been relaunched as an online publication, and the first issue in this new format has some great poems, short stories, and essays. Two BCC Press missionary memoirs were published, and some books with starred reviews are featured. If you haven’t done so, yet, make travel arrangements to get to Berkley, California, at the end of the month for the 2019 Association for Mormon Letters Conference. It promises to be a great experience! Read on!
News and Announcements
The 2019 Association for Mormon Letters Conference will be held March 29–31, at the Berkeley LDS Institute, Berkeley, California. The conference will include a presentation of the AML Lifetime Achievement Award to Carol Lynn Pearson and the Smith-Pettit Foundation Award for Outstanding Contribution to Mormon Letters to Melissa Leilani Larson, as well as awards in novel, short-fiction collection, short fiction, young-adult novel, middle-grade novel, picture book, drama, poetry, comics, creative nonfiction, religious nonfiction, criticism, narrative film, and documentary film. The conference will also feature a variety of scholarly papers, including the forgotten legacy of Mormon poetry in Spanish, reading the Book of Mormon as literature, and the history of Ina Coolbrith, California’s first poet laureate, who was a niece of Joseph Smith, and was born in Nauvoo. The conference program can be accessed here.
The relaunch of Irreantum — the literary journal of the Association for Mormon Letters — is complete. Issue 16.1 is now online and free to read. Edited by William Morris (short story, essay) and Sarah Dunster (poetry) with production help from Michael Andrew Ellis, the new issue features two stories (by James Goldberg and Karen Rosenbaum), two personal essays (by Liz Busby and Jennifer Swenson), seven poems (by Dayna Patterson, Jim Richards, Terresa Wellborn, Heather Harris Bergevin, Jeremy Hunt, Tyler Chadwick, and Bob Rees), and cover art and an artist’s statement by Megan Geilman.
The Whitney Academy announced its finalists for the Whitney Awards. The winners will be announced at the Storymakers Conference, held in Provo, on May 10. Books that are finalists for both a Whitney Award and an AML Award are: Witchy Winter by D.J. Butler (AML Novel, Whitney Speculative), The Traitor’s Game by Jennifer A. Nielsen (AML YA Novel, Whitney YA Fantasy), Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen, Grump: The (Fairly) True Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by Liesl Shurtliff (AML Middle Grade Novel, Whitney Middle Grade), and Squint by Chad Morris & Shelly Brown (AML Middle Grade Novel, Whitney Middle Grade).
Filmmaker and educator Sterling Van Wagenen admitted, after being secretly recorded by the victim, that he abused a 13-year-old boy in 1993, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. University of Utah College of Fine Arts said that Van Wagenen “is on administrative leave while the university reviews the facts of this case.” The Salt Lake Film Society — the nonprofit that runs the Broadway and Tower theaters — has announced it “has severed all ties” with Van Wagenen, who was an adviser to the group’s new Media Accelerator Studio. You can read a lot about Van Wagenen and his place in Mormon film and culture here.
Articles
Christopher at Juvenile Instructor on the portrayal of Mormon Studies in Tim Wirkus’ AML Novel Award finalist The Infinite Future.
Deseret News article about Carol Lynch Williams and her novelization of Once I Was a Beehive.
Deseret News article about self-publishing authors.
The second year of the Provo Poetry Contest, founded by the poets Trish Hopkinson and Marianne Hales Harding.
Short Fiction and Essays
Matthew James Babcock. “Subtitles: 50” Illnot Review, Winter 2019. A bittersweet childhood memory flashes by.
Ryan Habermeyer. “The Inheritors”. Pacifica Literary Review, 15.1. A Yeti is deported to Utah, lives in a retirement home, and is mistaken for Cain.
Wm Henry Morris. “It is a rare thing that the Emperor requireth”. Big Echo, January. “A science fiction story that features religion, aliens, weaving, storytelling, and nonverbal communication.”
Ryan Shoemaker. “No Mercy, $ir”. Drunk Monkeys, 4.2, Feb. 2019. “A fictional homage to that beloved American masterpiece The Karate Kid. The piece opens thirty years after Daniel LaRusso’s against-all-odds victory at the All-Valley Karate Championships, when he confronts his nemesis, Johnny Lawrence, who wants to reopen the Cobra Kai dojo.”
Brad Torgersen. “Scrith”. In Man-Kzin Wars XV. Baen, Feb. 5, 2019. Novella. Part of a long-running series, in a world created by Larry Niven.
Magazines
Issue 2.1 of El Pregonero de Deseret, the magazine of Spanish-language Mormon literature, is available. Among other items, it includes poetry, a short story, and some original illustrations. The editorial included in this issue looks back at all of 2018 in terms of Mormon Literature in Spanish.
The Winter 2018 issue of Dialogue: a journal of Mormon thought is now available. Also, Dialogue has recently changed its publication policy, placing all of its current and past content on its website for free. This is a huge resource for Mormon literature.
Dialogue Winter 2018 Literary works include:
Short Stories:
Nate Noorlander, “Marbles for Eyes”
Mette Harrison, “Resurrection” (Takes seriously an LDS view of the “Resurrection” in a fiction piece about a young person who wants to be perfected in the body that is truly theirs.)
Poetry:
Tyler Chadwick “ON CHERUBIM AND A FLAMING SWORD BY J. KIRK RICHARDS” and “TALITHA KOUM”
R. A. Christmas “WALKING BACK TO THE ‘70S”
Willie DeFord “DREAM PSALM” and “PLACENTA”
Personal Voices:
Blaire Ostler “HEAVENLY MOTHER: THE MOTHER OF ALL WOMEN”
Tait Jensen “WELL-RED”
Book Reviews:
Micah J. Christensen reviews Glen Nelson’s art book Joseph Paul Vorst.
Terresa Wellborn reviews Deja Earley’s poetry collection To the Mormon newlyweds who thought the bellybutton was somehow involved.
Heidi Naylor reviews Jack Harrell’s novel Caldera Ridge.
Mike Lemon reviews Mike Laughead and Eric W Jepson, eds, Served: A Missionary Comics Anthology.
Matthew Babcock reviews Keira Shae Scholz’s memoir How the light gets in,
Podcasts
Glen Nelson interviews the poet Lance Larsen on the Mormon Arts Center Podcast. They discuss his 2018 collection of prose poetry What the Body Knows.
Jared Garrett. Tales from a Cult Insider. “Here is a podcast where I tell stories about growing up in one of the most notorious cults in the UK and USA. Starting as the Process Church of the Final Judgement and morphing into the Foundation Faith of God—it was controversial in many ways. It evolved over the years and now has no religion, functioning solely as Best Friends Animal Society. The thing is, there’s much that hasn’t been told about 30+ kids that were ‘raised’ in this cult. Cult orphans is a fair way to describe us. These are stories of my growing up in this cult. Your questions will be answered.”
New Books
Matthew James Babcock. Four Tales of Troubled Love. Harvard Square Editions, Jan. 25. Short fiction collection. BYU-Idaho English faculty. “Enter this tetrad of tangled love tales at the turn of the last millennium when what were then the latest technologies—personal computers, fax machines, and mobile phones—started to short-circuit pacemakers. This tour de four of realistic love stories operates operatically, like a piece of music in four movements, sometimes zany and tragic, at times surreal and sublime. ‘Help Phone Thirteen’ (scherzando con misterioso): A young father moves his family across the country to escape his oppressive in-laws and, when his job and marriage implode, gets guidance from a mystical voice on a ‘help phone’ at the local mall and a professional clown masquerading as social savior. ‘Meer, Tarn, Water, Fell’ (marcia moderato con fuoco): A poetry-loathing Dutch tour bus driver on a stopover in The Lake District plots revenge on his German ex-wife, unaware that the daughter he never knew he had has followed him half way around the world for the love she was denied. ‘Impressions’ (appassionato): An ex-military pilot turned tech CEO finds his unconventional marriage and newfound faith at odds when he discovers the joys and dangers that come with waiting for answers from heaven and the heart. ‘The Seal’ (eroico non troppo): A young family, caught between the baby blues and the deep blue sea, battles professional and personal pressures, but thanks to a homeless benefactor and captive harbor seal, learns that loving the environment and loving each other are a matter of instinct.”
Times-News (Idaho): “Rexburg writer Matthew James Babcock is charming with a poetic bent. With sentences like “He’ll tell her how the fireworks spangled the night with rainbow coals, how he looked up and saw the lightning strikes of their generations, their children and children’s children,” it’s hard not to get swept up in the emotion of it all. He has a couple of recurring themes throughout the book: love, loss, faith and, of course, Idaho … It’s hard to criticize a book when it knows exactly what it is. A selling point on the back of the book is “For beach readers, literature connoisseurs, and book club junkies alike,” this book knows what it is. It’s a charming, schlock filled, cheesy, poetic speed-read. And a perk is that it doesn’t fight it.” BYU-I newspaper feature story.
Kjersten Beck (Mette Ivie Harrison). The Marriage Race. Self, Jan. 3. Romance/family. Jack Tanner is a mother of three, a marathon race director, and training to qualify for Boston. She and her ex, Quinn, have become best friends since a messy divorce nine years ago. They share custody of the kids and often go on vacations together. But when Quinn falls back in love with her, Jack isn’t sure she’s interested. After all, Quinn is the same man who told her she wasn’t enough for him before. He’s the man who told her she needed to lose weight and stop depending on him so much. Have they both changed enough that they can make a new marriage together?
Julie Coulter Bellon. Second Look. Stone Hall Books, Dec. 8, 2018. Griffin Force #4.
Jennie Hansen, Meridian. 5 stars. “Bellon has built a solid reputation as one of the top writers dealing with international espionage, military intelligence, and interaction between various world agencies. Her characters are strong, intelligent, and physically adept. Both Nate and Abby are characters the reader will find likable and realistic. Along with their strengths they have those personal concerns and faults that round out their characters and make them believable. The secondary characters are also believable in both their determination to reach their goals and their shortcomings. The background for Second Look is explained well where needed without spoiling the previous books for those who haven’t read them yet. The setting works well and has a definite international flavor.”
Emily Butler. Freya and Zooze. Crown, Jan. 29. Middle grade animal fantasy.
SLJ (Starred): A first-rate animal fantasy with themes of friendship and resilience. Freya the rock hopper penguin and Zoose the mouse become reluctant shipmates when they both stowed away on Captain Salomon August Andrée’s real-life 1890’s balloon expedition to the North Pole. The bird’s wealthy Scandinavian upbringing has made her into a judgmental snob complete with a large inheritance, steamer trunks, and a known-by-heart copy of Mrs. L.C. Davidson’s 1899 Hints to Lady Travellers at Home and Abroad (yes, dear reader, that is an actual book). The London-born rodent, by contrast, has skulked and thieved his way through Europe and has the tastes and diction to show for it. Both consider themselves ready to abandon the other as soon as possible, until the dangers of the ill-fated expedition put their lives in each other’s hands. Told from Freya’s third-person perspective in a droll mock-Victorian style clearly influenced by Mrs. Davidson’s guide, this adventure story has it all: hardship, humor, and a narrative arc that shows the companions overcoming their past family traumas and mutual dislike to save themselves and each other. Thermes’s winsome black-and-white illustrations capture the quirky setting, where proper penguins wear cravats and pearls to eat fish by chandelier light. This skillfully told first novel will make a popular read-aloud; it’s a worthy successor to Chris Kurtz’s Adventures of a South Pole Pig and Kate DiCamillo’s The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. VERDICT A first purchase for all public and elementary school libraries.
PW: “History and animal friendship combine to form a touching, if strange, travel narrative.”
Kirkus: “Butler has a light, humorous, and fluent touch, which particularly shines when her characters share their own stories. This endearing travel-buddy tale is further brightened by Thermes’ charming illustrations. For fans of animal and adventure stories alike.”
Michael Austin (5 stars): “Freya and Zoose is one of those books that are about so many things, and that operate on so many different levels, that questions like “what is it about?” become meaningless. Nevertheless, since reviews have to do something, I am going to try to answer the question anyway … the book is about friendship, and, specifically, how to very different creatures become friends in a situation where they both need each other’s particular skill set–but, more importantly, they both need each other’s eachotherness … The story of Freya and Zoose is accompanied by more than 50 wonderful black-and-white illustrations by Jennifer Thermes. It would be difficult to overstate how much these images add to the book. They capture the action, but they also capture the characters and turn them into interesting and expressive friends whose adventures matter to us. It also make the book perfect to read aloud to children who can interact with the pictures while they listen to the worlds. And all of this stuff that Freya and Zoose is about is wrapped up in some of the most delightful, witty, understated, and clever prose that I have ever encountered in any kind of book. Emily Butler is a consummate stylist whose sly, ironically proper style reminds me of nobody as much as Jane Austen, if Jane Austen had written novels for young readers about penguins and mice stowing away on balloons and being stranded on iceflows, which she didn’t, but could have, and if she had, she would still probably not have produced a book as charming as Emily Butler’s Freya and Zoose.”
Brett Cain. White Out. Covenant, Jan. 1. Thriller. “Long hours of driving on the frigid interstate have taken their toll. In a split second, Frank Sawyer’s car drifts and clips a passing van on the otherwise empty Montana highway. In the aftermath of the wreck, Sawyer encounters a gruesome scene: the van’s passenger has been shot. Later, the police have named him their prime suspect in the dead man’s murder. Sawyer finds himself trapped in the small town. As he struggles to clear his name, Sawyer looks to the past for answers, becoming embroiled in a decades-old mystery that may hold the key to proving his innocence.”
Jennie Hansen, Meridian. “Sawyer is a likable character whom the reader gets to know both from what he does and says, but also from his inner dialog and asides. He is patterned somewhat after the author himself, including his skill in the martial arts and wrestling. Other characters are interesting, but perhaps not quite as realistic. A Montana winter is portrayed convincingly. The plot is convoluted and holds some surprises mystery fans will enjoy. There’s a slight romance which adds a surprise of its own. A short, but definitely satisfying read.”
Angela Liscom Clayton. The Legend of Hermana Plunge. BCC Press, Feb. 19. Memoir. “Hermana Liscom served in the beautiful and sunny Canary Islands in 1989–1990. In a frank and forthright narrative, and with the benefit of almost 30 intervening years, she gives us a peek under the hood of missionary work in a tropical paradise. (Spoiler alert: it isn’t always a paradise). We read about her relationships with her companions, her struggles with other missionaries, her more colorful investigators, and her attempts to manage her love life back home. But we also see examples of the way that faith changes people’s lives, and we watch the naive, rule-governed Sister Liscom transform before our eyes into the teaching-preaching-baptizing machine that her fellow missionaries christened Hermana Plunge.” Clayton blogs as Hawkgrrrl at Wheat and Tares and Angela C. at BCC.
Frank L. Cole. The Transparency Tonic. Shadow Mountain, Jan. 16. Middle grade fantasy. The Potion Masters #2.
Kirkus: “In this follow-up to The Eternity Elixir (2018), eighth-grader and Elixirist-in-training Gordy Stitser faces another threat as enemies conspire against B.R.E.W (the Board of Ruling Elixirists Worldwide) and attempt to throw the world into chaos. In the months since Gordy and his friends and lab partners Max and Adilene defeated the evil Esmerelda and defended the powerful Vessel, the kids have grown closer, but they also have begun to change. Gordy, a powerful Dram, cannot understand his mother’s increasing control over his training. Max dreams of becoming a champion wrestler but remains the group’s fearless troublemaker. Adilene feels increasingly distanced from her friends and dreams of being a potion master herself. Gordy’s natural skill with potions, coupled with his family full of powerful Elixirists who often operate outside of the law, makes him a target for the new B.R.E.W. administration looking to reduce risk. But Gordy and his friends may need to break a few rules to keep chaos at bay. Whether it is Max’s mischief, Adilene’s focus, or Gordy’s genuine desire to do the right thing, the trio is the perfect mix of adolescent and hero. Gordy and Max seem to be white, and Adilene is a Salvadoran immigrant; secondary characters come together from around the globe to form a racially and culturally diverse cast. A clever second volume in a magical series sure to entertain fans of J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan, and Brandon Mull.”
Larry Correia. House of Assassins. Baen, Feb. 5. Epic fantasy. Saga of the Forgotten Warrier, #2. Sequel to Son of the Black Sword.
PW (Starred): “Correia piles on the intrigue, action, and cliffhangers in the invigorating second Saga of the Forgotten Warrior epic fantasy. In a land without gods, Inquisitors and Protectors work to keep life secular while scheming for personal advancement. Ashok Vadal was once a Protector, before he met Thera Vane and heard the unearthly Voice that uses her to deliver prophecies. With Thera kidnapped by the shape-changing wizard Sikasso, who hopes to steal her power, and Ashok himself hunted by the Lord Protector Devedas, there’s plenty of excitement. Correia also weaves in elements that question the value of belief and the cost of giving authority to those who find more profit in preying on the weak. Rebellion and betrayal complicate matters as Ashok and Thera strive to survive. Brisk fight scenes, lively characters, and plenty of black humor continue to make this series a real pleasure.”
S. G. (Sarah) Dunster. Fire in the Wall. Indie, Feb. 12. Alternative reality fantasy/thriller. The Caldera #1. “Logan sees things that aren’t real. Sexy things. Twisted things. Deadly things. His offbeat, artistic roommate Lil claims his visions are real. And one dark and thunderous night, she proves it by walking through a huge, fiery crack in the basement wall.
Not only do people think he’s crazy now, they blame him for her disappearance. Now Logan has two choices: accept that he is a danger to those around him and that his best friend is gone forever… or he can follow Lil into his nightmares.”
Cheri Pray Earl and Carol Lynch Williams. Just in Time: The Rescue Begins in Delaware. Mirror Press, Feb. 19. Middle Grade time travel adventure. Just in Time series. Revolutionary war. Republication of a 2013 book published by Familius.
Bloggin’ ‘bout Books: C+. “Are you the parent of a rabid Magic Treehouse fan? Then, you should probably give the Just in Time series a go. I’m not sure how many books of a projected 25 (one for each state) have already been penned, but I do know the series starts with The Rescue Begins in Delaware. Like the Magic Treehouse books, this one involves a set of siblings, a time machine, and a host of based-on-a-true-story historical adventures. The Rescue Begins in Delaware tells a fast, fun tale that gives young readers a little glimpse of history that is educational enough to teach them something but not so much that they will be bored with the lesson. This installment starts with a bang and doesn’t let up, which is good except that I felt like I was missing some background information that would have helped later events make more sense. Based on the series opener, I would say the Just in Time series isn’t quite up to Magic Treehouse snuff. It should, however, give fans of the latter something entertaining and new to devour.”
Sarah M. Eden. Healing Hearts. Shadow Mountain, Feb. 5. Savage Wells #2. Historical fiction, set in Wyoming Territory, 1876.
PW: “In this tame but pleasant historical western from Eden (loosely following The Sheriffs of Savage Wells), a mail-order marriage gone wrong becomes the salvation of both parties. Life as a 19th-century doctor in Wyoming territory is stressful and lonely, so Dr. Gideon MacNamara requested that the Western Women’s Bureau supply a nurse willing to become his bride. The only problem is that Miriam Bricks, a skilled nurse, was not informed that matrimony was part of the job requirements and refuses to go through with the ceremony. Gideon, disappointed, persuades her to stay as a nurse only. Affection gradually grows between them, but Miriam has epilepsy, which she believes would prevent any man from loving her, and Gideon is hurt that she won’t explain her reluctance. When a dangerous man from Miriam’s past catches up with her, Gideon and the quirky inhabitants of Savage Wells must come together to safeguard her future. Eden weaves serious issues into the story of a plucky young woman fighting for happiness.”
Forward Reviews: ““Masterful romance is a story of love, forgiveness, and friendship in which dangerous secrets prove impossible to keep. Dialogue flows naturally and with purpose. Miriam and Gideon’s formalities toward each other as they tentatively begin a professional work relationship are elegant. Relationships feel authentic. Townspeople are portrayed with empathy. The story blossoms to life and enthralls us with its everyday occurrences. Healing Hearts is transporting…will surely claim many hearts.”
Booklist: “Eden’s follow-up to The Sheriffs of Savage Wells is full of period medicine, with Miriam and Gideon learning from each other. Special attention is paid to the townspeople’s mental health, including depression, dementia, PTSD, and Miriam’s own hidden epilepsy, which had been diagnosed as insanity. Rich in humor, heart, and endearing characters, Eden’s chaste romance proves that it’s the emotional stakes, not the physical contact, that deliver the heat.”
Jennie Hansen, Meridian. “Though the setting for Healing Hearts is the same as for Eden’s previous book The Sheriffs of Savage Wells she gives enough descriptive info that it is not necessary to have read the previous book. It was fun to revisit the general store, hotel, cafe, etc. of that frontier Western town and to meet again the sheriff and marshal who were featured in the earlier book. Again this background information is given just enough to provide necessary details needed for this story. The plot builds along predictable lines, yet is filled with surprises, a bit of humor, great dialog, and solid facts. It will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers including Historical, Western, Romance, Women’s, and those who simply enjoy a good story in any genre.”
Carolyn Twede Frank. Saving Susannah Jones. Covenant, Jan. 1. Western romance. Sequel to Heart of the West.
Amy Harmon. What the Wind Knows. Lake Union Publishing, March 1. Speculative romance. A modern woman is pulled into the past of Ireland in 1921.
Bookreader Chronicles: “A sweepingly rich historical with a timeless romance. Harmon’s lush storytelling transports readers to the Ireland of 1921 with ease, wrapping readers in the words and sights of a nation on the brink of war and the characters surrounding it. I was left breathless with the beauty and pain woven into this time-travelling story, and then ultimately left sobbing when it ended.”
Charlie Holmberg. Smoke and Summoning. 47 North, Feb. 1, 2019. Fantasy. Numina Trilogy #1.
PW: “An enslaved woman fleeing for her life must work with a jaded thief to keep her freedom in Holmberg’s enthralling fantasy. Sandis Gwenwig is a vessel, a human with the rare ability to host high-level demons for summoners to use as weapons, and is enslaved by the summoner Kazen. Unlike other vessels, she can communicate with the demon who is bound to her flesh. When Kazen’s ambition proves too great and he kills a vessel, Sandis flees into the underbelly of Dresberg. There she allies with Rone Comf, a thief with a magical item that grants him immortality. Rone seeks to free his mother, who has been imprisoned for his heists. Kazen will stop at nothing to retrieve Sandis, and soon Sandis and Rone are forced to fight and flee for their lives. Sandis is both sweetly naive and strong-willed, but Rone sometimes reads as flat, and his concerns are less vivid than those of the empathetic Sandis. Late in the book, readers will be shocked by an act of horrifying treachery and perhaps unhappy that it’s resolved too quickly and neatly. Nonetheless, the story is gripping from the start, with a surprising plot and a lush, beautifully realized setting. Holmberg knows just how to please fantasy fans with plenty of magic and intrigue.”
Library Journal: “ A well-developed setting and social, economic, and political systems make it easy to picture how this bleak, unforgiving world shapes the emotional and mental viewpoint of its inhabitants, adding depth to the story. Characters are slowly revealed through their thoughts and actions, while deliberate contradictions in their choices and dark secrets build tension into the relationships. VERDICT With scads of action, clear explanations of how supernatural elements function, and appealing characters with smart backstories, this first in a series will draw in fans of Cassandra Clare, Leigh Bardugo, or Brandon Sanderson.”
Melanie Jacobson. Finding Jack. Self, Jan. 4. Contemporary romance. “When smart, practical Emily finds herself in the crosshairs of an Internet prankster, her orderly world goes topsy-turvy. Instead of getting mad at the handsome stranger behind the joke, she finds herself drawn to him. But Jack Dobson, though hilarious and thoughtful, has a lot of secrets. Despite her growing feelings for her new and unexpected long-distance friend, his biggest secret of all might be the one that breaks the spell they’ve been weaving around each other.”
Tricia Levenseller. Warrior of the Wild. Feiwel & Friends, Feb. 26. YA Norse fantasy.
SLJ: “Rasmira is the daughter of a high-ranking village leader and is training to become a warrior to keep her small village safe from the monsters that lurk in the forest. During her trial, Rasmira realizes that she has been sabotaged, but when no one, including her father, believes her, she is banished from her village. Before she can return, Rasmira must kill Peruxolo, the village’s oppressive god. As Rasmira goes through stages of betrayal and hopelessness, she meets two boys who have also been banished from a nearby village. Over time, Rasmira and the boys form a friendship, and she begins to understand that to complete her task and survive in the forest, she must learn to trust others. Levenseller’s series opener presents a female warrior who refuses to believe that crying makes one weak and that strength is not feminine. Through Rasmira’s inner monologue, teens will learn that teamwork and friendship are important and that failure makes one strong. This high-octane novel is filled with mythical creatures and showcases a heroine who wants to be a warrior, a woman, and a leader. These themes will resonate with many teens, even if the story line is familiar. VERDICT Recommended for all collections.”
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books: “The grand scale of those efforts is evenly tempered by the very real humanity of the trio, with Rasmira struggling with her identity as a warrior, leader, and woman, Iric pining for the lover he was forced to leave behind, and Soren dealing with his guilt over getting Iric into this situation in the first place. Witty banter brings levity, and of course Rasmira finds romance with one of the boys, but the real gratification lies in Rasmira’s transformation from broken, betrayed, girl to resourceful, confident victor. Her final clash with the god is heart pounding, and her triumph in front of her village and father is satisfyingly righteous.”
Chalon Linton. Escape to Everly Manor. Covenant, Feb. 1. Historical romance. “Nineteen-year-old Lizzy and her young brother, Thomas, find themselves orphaned after a tragic accident claims the lives of their parents. Their estranged Uncle Cline arrives to claim his inheritance, and his roguish ways cast a shadow over the manor.”
Joe Monson and Jaleta Clegg, editors. Trace the Stars. Hemelein Publications, Feb. 14. Short story anthology. 17 space opera and hard SF stories. LTUE benefit anthology #1. Featuring stories by Nancy Fulda, Sandra Tayler, Kevin J. Anderson, Brad R. Torgersen, M. K. Hutchins, Eric James Stone, Daniel Friend, Emily Martha Sorensen, David Farland, John M. Olsen, James Wymore, Eric G. Swedin, Jaleta Clegg, Paul Genesse, Wulf Moon, Beth Buck, and Julia H. West. “Exciting Space Opera and Hard Science Fiction Tales from Award-Winning and Up-and-Coming Writers. A consultant discovers how to communicate effectively with ancient, alien beings who have an entirely different perspective on the universe. A human becomes a hero for his actions, even though they were after his death. Hard choices must be made to save loved ones. When trying to prevent imminent death, insanity becomes an asset. These are only a few of the amazing stories waiting within these pages! Journey into the last frontier with these seventeen tales of wonder and science, including award-winning stories by some of the top writers in science fiction and brand new tales by promising up-and-comers. Hemelein Publications, in cooperation with LTUE Press, is proud to present this exciting collection of space opera and hard science fiction tales. We created this anthology to honor Marion K. “Doc” Smith, the original faculty mentor behind the creation of Life, the Universe, & Everything, the annual science fiction and fantasy academic symposium held in Provo, Utah. Proceeds from this volume, and those that follow in the coming years, go to support LTUE’s mission of educating and helping new writers, artists, editors, and other creatives in learning the skills they need to become successful in the speculative fiction field.”
Jennifer A. Nielsen. The Deceiver’s Heart. Scholastic, Feb. 26. YA fantasy. The Traitor’s Game #2.
Kirkus: “Afflicted by magic, a young woman is not quite herself…and is unsure of who she wants to become. Sixteen-year-old Kestra Dallisor returns to the royal Antoran court, now (reluctantly) the Infidante: the prophesized wielder of the Olden Blade, potential destroyer of evil Lord Endrick, and thus, savior of the Banished (Halderian) people. When an assassination attempt goes awry, Lord Endrick—the Dominion leader and last known Endrean magic user—meddles with her memories and remakes her into an obedient Ironheart. Uncertain of her loyalties and love interests, Kestra must decide if she will rejoin the Corack rebels or rekindle her relationship with Simon Hatch, once a servant and now revealed as the Halderian heir. Repetitive political machinations, melodramatic lovers’ miscommunications, explosion-filled action sequences, and requisite romantic triangles ensue. Unaffected by the magic, co-narrator Simon provides a more logical perspective and linear counternarrative, but amnesia essentially (frustratingly) resets Kestra’s journey. Nielsen’s generic fantasy setting—pre-industrial (barring the evildoers’ tech), vaguely Northern European—unevenly explained magic, and obligatorily odd fantasy beasts are standard, stale fare. Kestra and Simon are presumably white. A serviceable sequel that establishes obstacles for the young lovers to overcome in the next installment but contributes little else.”
John M. Olsen, editor. Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel: Being an anthology of Mormon steampunk. Immortal Works, Jan. 21. Short story anthology. Second in a series. “Pioneers come from more than one mold. Steampunk often champions a view of the indomitable human spirit thrust into a world of gears, brass, airships, and goggles. Mormon pioneers did amazing things with their attitude of self-sufficiency buoyed by faith. Combine the two and you get fanciful tales of overcoming terrific challenges in a host of creative ways. Herein you will find thirteen stories to tickle your fancy, each with a unique take on combining the science of steampunk with the strength and attitudes of the pioneers who migrated to what would later become Utah. Prepare yourself for flying goats, midnight invasions, missing memories, Porter Rockwell, mystery, pirates, robots, ancient history, more robots, circular reasoning, ghosts, and ginger ale. These authors cover a lot of ground, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy the trip. Featuring stories by Scott William Taylor, Angie Taylor, Megan Rupp, Scott E. Tarbet, Finlay Lofthouse, Christopher Baxter, Bryce Moore, D. J. Moore, Mindie Erb, Heidi Wessman Kneale, Kurt F. Kammeyer, Kim May, Judith and Michael Collings.” AML introductory guest post.
Kathi Oram Peterson. Bloodline. Covenant, Feb. 1. Thriller. A flight attendant meets a Good Samaritan, and her aunt is kidnapped. The kidnappers want a 14th century document about the heir to the throne of France.
Jennie Hansen, Meridian. 5 stars. “A suspenseful chase across continents and time. It’s filled with murder, intrigue, and conflicting motives. Readers who know little of European history may be confused at times by references to long dead royalty, historic figures and battles, medieval Catholicism, and major art works of that early time period. Yet these are the references that add a depth of reality to the story and provide a believable background and setting for a well-researched, fascinating story. The characters are well-developed and feel as though they are real people. As far as being likable, that is questionable. Skye is the only character the reader may feel is someone to identify with. The other characters leave the reader guessing concerning whether they are protagonists or antagonists.”
Clair M. Poulson. Watch Your Back. Covenant, Feb. 1. Thriller. “When local radio personality Bronson Melville is accused of murder, the crime appears to be one of passion. The case should be open and shut. But as Detective Gage Tipton soon discovers, this homicide is just one piece in a diabolical puzzle that will test his instincts to their limit.”
Anita Stansfield. The House of Stone & Ivy. Covenant, Jan. 1. Historical romance.
Roger Terry. Bruder: The Perplexingly Spiritual Life and Not Entirely Unexpected Death of a Mormon Missionary. BCC Press, Feb. 19. Memoir. “Bruder Terry served in the Hamburg, Germany mission from 1975–77. Forty years later, Roger Terry reflects on the experience and how it created the person that he became. Bruder takes a hard look at what spiritual experiences look like, how the Church is true, and what it means to receive personal revelation. Part novel, part memoir, and part philosophical treatise, all heart. BYU English professor Steven Walker says, ‘the before-and-after portraits of the mature narrator looking back on Bruder Terry struggling through his missionary traumas and triumphs illuminate profound insights into the practical workings as well as the wonders of the missionary world.’” AML guest post and excerpt.
Kalani Tonga and Joanna Brooks, editors. We Hold Your Name: Mormon women bless women facing exile. Independent, Feb. 17. Poetry, prose, and art. “A collection of blessings and poetry written by Mormon women responding to the announcement of Gina Colvin’s Disciplinary Council. This work of love features the voices of established authors like Carol Lynn Pearson and Joanna Brooks, as well as first time poets and visual artists. It is designed to lend comfort and courage to those who feel unwanted by their religious community, and was written specifically for those facing excommunication from the Mormon church.”
Ann Weisgarber. The Glovemaker. Skyhorse Publishing, Feb. 21. Historical fiction. Author is not LDS. “For fans of Cold Mountain comes the story of a woman in Mormon country. In the inhospitable lands of the Utah Territory, during the winter of 1888.”
PW (Starred review): “Weisgarber’s marvelous third novel (after The Promise) is set in the rugged canyon country of southern Utah during the winter of 1887–1888 as a Mormon woman struggles to hold her faith in the face of religious persecution and her fear of the law. Deborah’s husband is overdue to return from a trip, having left her alone in the remote hamlet of Junction, Utah Territory, a collection of eight Mormon families living their faith as each sees fit. One winter night, a stranger arrives at Deborah’s cabin asking for help, speaking in a code that she knows means he’s a polygamist running from the law. He is pursued by a U.S. marshal, and, despite her fear, Deborah hides him, then passes him on to her brother-in-law, Nels, to guide to safety. A tense encounter between the marshal, Nels, and the stranger results in an act of violence and reveals that there’s more to the marshal’s pursuit of the stranger than meets the eye. The moment of violence rocks and divides the small Mormon community; when two more strangers arrive, Deborah and Nels must protect their faith and their community without further violence, while dealing with tender feelings for each other. This is a rich, powerful, and wholly immersive tale grounded in Utah and Mormon history.”
Dallas Morning News. “A taut exploration of right and wrong, of good and evil, … The Glovemaker is well-researched. It weaves in the early history of the Mormon church, both its legacy of suppression and the scandal of the Mountain Meadows massacre … She does so in a way that fleshes out the characters and gives context to their anxieties. It never feels like an info dump … It can be hard to catch the book’s rhythm at first. Although Deborah’s is the primary point of view, Nels narrates some chapters, and letters from Samuel appear occasionally. The characters’ moral calculations also require some patience; great questions aren’t settled in a paragraph. The Glovemaker is a quiet novel, but a rewarding one. It’s just right for a winter night and worthy of some rumination.”
Susan Jensen (Bloggin’ ‘bout books) 4 stars. “An intriguing historical novel about an “in-between place” filled with in-between Saints. Although I’ve been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints my whole life, I’d never heard of an Underground Railroad for polygamist LDS men on the run from the law during the late 1800s in Utah. It’s a fascinating idea, especially as it goes along with the premise of this novel—it’s about a group of early members of the Church who are loyal to the religion, but not necessarily devout. They’re not polygamists, but they still just want to be left alone. Nevertheless, they can’t turn their back on these runaway men who have wives and children at home. What results is a tense, suspenseful story filled with empathetic characters and interesting historical details. As the main characters wrestle with questions of faith, charity, love, and loyalty, they must make decisions that could have deadly consequences for themselves, their neighbors, and their entire settlement. Weisgarber addresses the issue of plural marriage with sensitivity and empathy (especially toward the women and children in polygamist families). This, coupled with skilled prose, interesting characters, and an engrossing plot kept me reading and enjoying.”
Kasie West. Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss. Harper Teen, Feb. 5. YA romance.
SLJ: “This companion to Love, Life, and the List is set in Los Angeles and written as a standalone novel with crossover characters. High school senior Lacey spends her days covered in elaborate zombie makeup on set, playing the love interest of famous heartthrob, Grant James. Grant is hot and he knows it, but he and Lacey lack chemistry on set of the campy horror film, Dancing Graves. Lacey begrudgingly and occasionally completes her schoolwork in between filming. When her overprotective father hires a tutor, she heeds his advice to buckle down and finish school in case acting isn’t an option in her future. Donovan Lake, her easy-on-the-eyes tutor, at first seems uptight and boring, but as she spends more time with him, her math grade isn’t the only thing progressing. Working on set brings Lacey into some unfamiliar social territory, but she manages to make new friends. When odd coincidences that could jeopardize Lacey’s acting career keep occurring, she must decide who to trust and how to look out for her own happiness. Snippets of movie scripts are included between chapters, allowing readers to feel like they are on set with the characters. VERDICT Fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Dessen will enjoy this lighthearted, wholesome romantic comedy.”
Kirkus: “The snippets of screenplay provided, too blunt and juvenile for satire, are wince-inducing misfires, as is a climactic scene in which journalistic ethics are casually thrown under the bus. While far-fetched plotting occasionally weakens narrative plausibility, the lively, likable characters—Lacey especially—sustain reader interest. Amanda has dark skin, and the other main characters are white. Lightweight fluff, a virtual beach read for cold days and long nights.”
Tyler Whitesides. The Wishbreaker. HarperCollins, Jan. 8. MG contemporary fantasy. Wishmakers #2. “Ace and Ridge are back to save their friend—and the world. Being a Wishmaker may be more trouble than it’s worth. Sure, you get a genie who can grant an unlimited number of wishes, but for each one you make you have to accept an awful consequence in return. Not to mention that you’re also given an impossible quest and only seven days to fulfill it!”
James Wymore (author) and John Christian Perkins (illustrator). Thug #1. Immortal Works, Feb. 12. Comic book. “Superheroes and villains constantly battle for control of Denver, Colorado, so somebody has to do the heavy lifting. CJ Cruz found his niche working for whichever super-flavor-of-the-day happens to be running the show at the time. Since most of the self-labeled heroes claiming to be on the side of justice don’t hire henchmen, he usually winds up doing the street-level work for supers operating outside the law. His family and priest just think he’s a gangster, but CJ knows his motivation is pure. He keeps on the windy side of law enforcement by following a few simple rules, the first of which is keep your head down and never be the boss’s right-hand man. People tell him he should get a new job, but he likes working around supers. Besides, except for intimidation and roughing-people-up he doesn’t have any other skills necessary to make rent and pay child support.”
Jeff Zentner. Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee. Random House Children’s, Feb. 26. YA contemporary. Zentner’s first two YA novels both won AML awards.
PW (Starred): “In Jackson, Tenn., best friends and high school seniors Josie and Delia host a public access show called Midnight Matinee. Every Friday night, their alter egos, Rayne Ravenscroft and Delilah Darkwood, screen low-budget horror films, hamming it up in comedic segments. Delia’s father left the videos behind when he abandoned the family, and she’s eager to both track him down and make the show a success. Meanwhile, Josie’s family is pressuring her to attend college and accept a television internship in Knoxville—something she’d have to quit the show to do. When the girls get a flyer to ShiverCon in Orlando, Fla., they agree to attend. If they can persuade creature-feature legend Jack Devine to help them take their show to the next level, Josie will go to college close to home. But things go awry in Orlando, and Delia learns her father is also in Florida. Zentner expertly channels the voices of two young women, one convinced she will always be left behind and one certain she is destined for greatness. Written in alternating perspectives, Zentner’s quick-witted, charming characters tackle real-life issues with snappy dialogue and engaging levity.”
SLJ: “The girls have a deep bond and showcase their affection toward each other with witty comments, random questions, and sassy attitudes. While the friendship between them remains at the forefront, sideplots include Josie beginning a romantic relationship and Delia confronting her long-lost father. Secondary characters are fleshed out and add depth. This work tackles mental health, depression, abandonment, and chasing your dreams. VERDICT: This is a quirky fun, read that will give teens all the feels. A good selection where contemporary fiction centering friendships is popular.”
Kirkus: “Zentner nails his teen characters, their longings, and their motivations, and the first chapters are downright hilarious. Over-the-top Devine lessens the overall impact of a story that still closes well. Despite the diversity of the actual setting, all characters follow a white default. Short of brilliant, but only just.”
Reviews of Older Books
Matthew James Babcock. Heterodoxologies: Essays. (Brian Wallace Baker, Atticus Review). “From surreal descriptions of a dream, to a letter to Jane Austen, from the poetry of wrestling, to a garage band that almost made it out of the garage—reading each essay is like opening a wrapped gift, not knowing what will be inside. Babcock’s eclectic subject matter, humor, variations in length and style, and the way he persistently plays with language all contribute to this effect. It’s a fun, quirky read, one that examines real human issues without taking itself too seriously … The final send-off is a lengthy piece about Babcock’s misadventures as a kid breakdancer in rural Idaho, including a brief encounter with the King of Pop himself. If the book wasn’t already eccentric enough, the penultimate section in this essay is a rap nearly two pages long. It’s the kind of thing that could come across as gimmicky, but Babcock has played with language and storytelling so effectively throughout the book that by the time you approach the end, you allow it. What’s more, his rap provides a surprisingly effective character sketch of the writer, as well as a summary of the essay and of the book as a whole:
“Storytime! No reason or rhyme, just a small-town kid big on hard times. A hometown Joe, from Idaho, yo! … Uh, that’s right, rewind! Take it back to find, you wake up in the world and—whoa!—it’s unkind. So, nothing’s changed, gone strange, deranged! Now, you’re runnin’ and you’re gunnin’ for unlimited range! … I’m M. J. B. I’m the older me. I got a wife, five kids, and a PhD… . Gotta think good times, gotta face the bad, from sad seventh-grader to full-time dad.”
I’ve read books before that, like Heterodoxologies, play with language and combine humor with insight, yet somehow none of them serve as an accurate comparison. As a book, Heterodoxologies is best understood by its disparate parts, which work in concert with each other to create something truly unique. Together, they speak to the rich diversity and uniqueness of a person, such as Babcock, a breakdancer turned English professor dad. And as the book’s title might suggest, this collection is about giving life our full devotion, even the parts that are mundane, unorthodox, or just plain heart-breaking.”
Mette Ivie Harrison. The Book of Laman (Doug Gibson). ““The Book of Laman” is not, as I anticipated, a satire or a polemic. It is a straightforward, at times even plodding retelling of the beginning of “The Book of Mormon.” All the major early scenes are includes, up to the arrival to the Americas and the split between the families. It concludes with a very old Laman, mostly ignored and sometimes mocked, filled with regret. Laman’s life is a lot like our lives. He sins. He repents. He has spiritual experiences. He has dark moments of anger. He’d like to be a better person who pleases God more often … Besides the conflict between Laman and Nephi, the most interest relationship is between Laman and his wife, Naomi, who share a bond and deep love. They are true confidantes. Ironically, due to their deep connection, much of Laman’s later aggressions against Nephi is supported, and even prodded, by Naomi, including the burning of a temple that prompts Nephi’s faction to leave.”
Burt Fuller. “One Eternal Round: A Review of Timothy Liu’s Luminous Debris: New & Selected Legerdemain, 1992–2017”. Interim, 35:4, Oct. 2018.
Theric Jepson reviews Third Wheel: Peculiar Stories of Mormon Women in Love by Melissa Leilani Larson, “Next of Kin” by Karen Rosenbaum in the new Irreaunum, Evolving Faith: Wanderings of a Mormon Biologist by Steven L. Peck, Latter-day Laughs by Stan and Elly Schoenfeld, and Marketing Precedes the Miracle by Calvin Grondahl.
Theatre
Ariel Mitchell’s A Second Birth, the 2013 AML Drama Award winner, will be professionally produced at The Center at Park West, New York City, March 1–17. “After many years, my play “A Second Birth” is finally receiving a professional production. If you are in NYC March 1st-March 17th, please go and see it. These actors and artists are truly thoughtful and talented. I’m excited to participate in this conversation again. SUMMARY: “In a rural village in southern Afghanistan, a family struggles with the tradition of bacha posh – the practice of raising a daughter to act, dress, and behave like a boy. As her feminine features begins to blossom, Nasim(a) must confront the relationships of her past and the traditions of her future to find out who she truly is.”
The Unfortunate Courtship of Brian Tanner by Jerry Argetsinger will be performed by the Cleveland Oklahoma LDS Ward in March of 2019. Premiered at BYU, 1976.
Film
LDS Film Festival’s Awards were presented on March 2, 2019. Below is a list of some of the juried and audience awards. Two of the winners, “Jane and Emma” and “Long Haul” are finalists for the AML Narrative Film award. “The Artifact Artist” almost made our list of Documentary Film finalists, it was very close.
Family Film Category
3rdPlace – Ninja Sisters
2ndPlace – Arthur the Pumpkin
1stPlace – An Adoption Story
Audience Choice – Banana Factory
48-Hour Film Category
3rdPlace – Mariachi Baby
2ndPlace – A Hero Among Us
1stPlace – House of Whispers
Audience Choice – Natures Helmet
Music Video Category
3rdPlace – Have I Done Any Good
2ndPlace – You Raise Me Up
1stPlace – I am Not Shaken
Audience Choice – Oh Holy Night
Short Documentary
3rdPlace – MAMME
2ndPlace – My Last Word
1stPlace – TIE: In God We Trust/The Artifact Artist
Audience Choice – Running for Hope
Feature Documentary Category
3rdPlace – Black, White And US
2ndPlace – I Saw The Hosts of the Dead
1stPlace – The Jets: Making it Real
Audience Choice – Black, White and US
Short Film Category
3rdPlace – Gather
2ndPlace – To Have And To Hold
1sr Place – Anna
Audience Choice – Long Haul
AWARD: Feature Film Category
2ndPlace – Little Women
1stPlace – Jane & Emma
Audience Choice – Jane and Emma
AWARD: Lifetime Achievement Award in LDS Entertainment
Janice Kapp Perry
BYU photography professor Robert Machoian Graham’s film short The Minors debuted at Sundance this month; the third time in less than a decade that his work has made the Sundance cut. The Minors also won a Special Jury Award for Directing during the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. Graham’s newest work is a departure from his previous films, which often blur the line between narrative and documentary. The Minors is a scripted narrative film about a group of kids who want their grandfather to be in their band. The film explores the idea that everyone should have a dream, no matter the person’s age. The 10-minute film took four days to film in May 2018 and features actors from Graham’s own family. Credited in the film are Graham’s father and three sons.
Bestsellers
Jan. 13 to March 3 (we missed a few weeks in the middle)
Tara Westover. Educated
USA Today: #7, #5, #5, ?, ?, ?, #5, #3 (52 weeks)
PW Hardcover Non-Fiction #7, #5, #3, #3, #4, #3 (52 weeks) 2018 total: 477,228. 2019 total so far: 104,211.
NY Times Hardcover Non-Fiction: #2 or #3 every week (52 weeks)
NY Times Combined Print/Ebook Nonfiction: #2 every week (52 weeks)
Christine Feehan. Dark Fire
PW Mass Market: #32, #21, x, x, x, x, x, x, x (2 weeks). 7390 total.
Christine Feehan. Vengeance Road
USA Today: x, x, x, x, x, #3, #29, #77 (3 weeks)
PW Mass Market: x, x, x, x, x, #1, #3, #4 (3 weeks). 21,577, 9737, 5618. Total: 36,931.
NY Times Combined Print/Ebook fiction: x, x, x, x, x, #2, #13, x (2 weeks)
RaeAnne Thayne. A Soldier’s Return & The Daddy Makeover
PW Mass Market: x, x, x, x, ?, #8, #13. Total: 22,820
Kiersten White. Slayer
NY Times YA Hardcover: x, x, #8, x, #10, x, x, x (2 weeks)
Featured Photo: charlotte