Light the World

I love Christmas lights.  December days around here tend to be wet and dreary, and night falls all too soon.  But then the lights shine out, bringing hope and cheer.

The little electric lights are just a reminder, a dim imitation of the Light of the World, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Just like them, we can imitate Him to bring more light into the dreary world around us.

Join me in trying to lift some burdens this month.  Here you can find ideas to get you started.  Then observe, serve, and share in the joy of Christmas!

Sheet Music Competition

I've been trying my hand at a different kind of composition, and I'm not alone.  My son and I have each entered a piece to the yearly Sacred Sheet Music Competition at Free LDS Sheet Music.  We both submitted arrangements of Christmas tunes.  There are many beautiful entries.  Check them out, and vote for all your favorites!

Winner!

My story, "Escape," is a winner in the 2013 Epeolatry Contest!  The challenge was twofold: write a non-romantic story using words from a list of romantic terms, and to do it in only 600 words.  The second part was more difficult for me.  The version I posted here is a bit longer, but I kept chipping away until my submission was exactly 600 words long.  It was quite an exercise.  Anyway, the 600-word version is on display at Satyr's Garden, along with two other winners.  Check it out!

Authenticated

How often do you get to see a piece of history about which you have written?  If you are a local historian, probably pretty often.  But I traveled a long way, and was still surprised to see this one:  the very pouch in which Ezra Allen kept his gold dust.  Remember that?  It's an important detail in my play, An Authentic Christmas.  And I saw the real thing in a display case at the Mormon Battalion Historic Site in San Diego, California.  The Site is a delightful place to visit, with friendly staff, an interactive multimedia presentation, and hands-on activities at the end.  Learning about my ancestors' experiences left me with a greater appreciation for the air-conditioned van in which I had just crossed the Mojave Desert.  Stop by and visit if you are ever in the neighborhood, and give a sigh for poor old Ezra and Sarah.

Featured on MMB

I've just returned from a hot, sunny vacation to the comforting gray blanket of the Pacific Northwest.  I'm catching up with laundry before catching up on blogging, but I did notice something in my queue that I'd like to pass along.  I recently joined the contributing writers at MMB, and my first article was published today!  MMB features value-centered prose, designed to uplift and entertain.  Check it out!

Revelation

Michael Young has revealed the cover for his next Advent Anthology, Carol of the Tales.  Isn't it beautiful?  This cover will conceal a new story I wrote, which happens to deal with divine revelation.  I know, we just had Easter, it's much too early to think about Christmas.  Don't worry; I'll remind you about the book later.

What you need to know now is that Michael is also collecting original fairy tales for another anthology.  Do you have a fairy tale up your sleeve?  Polish it up, and send it in!  You can find the submission guidelines under Lost Tales from the Black Forest on Michael's Current Projects page.  Check it out!

Holiday Reading

 

Are you ready for some Christmas stories?  

(You know, besides the ones in these awesome anthologies?)

LDSP has begun posting the entries in this year's contest.  Click here to read a couple of stories each day.  Then remember to return and vote on your favorites beginning Monday, December 17th.

Enjoy!

Makin' a List? Add Checkin' It Twice!

Need a holiday gift idea?  Checkin' It Twice & Other Heartwarming Holiday Tales is a book full of prize-winning, original, fun, uplifting Christmas stories.  And if you buy between now and  December 15th, the publisher will throw in more fun!  Look here for all the details.

Advent Event!

'Tis the season to get ready for getting ready for Christmas!  I know, it's not time to open your advent calendar yet, but you should make sure you have one ready.  How about Sing We Now of Christmas, with a new story for each day in December?  You can take a peek inside now.  Head over to Michael Young's place for twelve days of Christmas story previews and giveaways.  There are some great prizes waiting to be won, like this cozy hat:

My main character would have been much better off with a hat like this.  Wouldn't you be, or a friend?  Enter to win the hat, or a basket of Hawaiian goodies, or a fabulous book, now through November 18th!

Holiday Photo Contest

 

So, did I mention my stories will appear in two anthologies this season?  Here's a peek at the cover of Checkin' It Twice & Other Heartwarming Holiday Tales.  It will be released soon, but the website is already up and running, full of information and fun.

What kind of fun?  How about the Christmas Capers Holiday Photo Contest?  The holiday season can be joyful, fun, and a little bit crazy.  Have you captured some of these moments in pictures?  Enter your favorite holiday photos to win fabulous prizes! Check it out here, then come back and tell me how adorable the sample photos are.  Particularly (ahem) the first and third ones in the post.  Go, on, do it.