Supporting LDS Fiction Writers

Last spring I was privileged to attend the first ever Whitney Awards Gala. It was one of the most inspiring nights of my life to find myself rubbing shoulders with so many great men and women who are great for the same types of righteous desires that I find burning within my own soul. I hate PPDEs (personal public displays of emotion) but there I was, crying on multiple occasions as I cheered for friends, new and old, and those I’d read and admired for years. The celebration was entirely focused on the much quoted words of Orson F. Whitney from his talk on home literacy.

“We will yet have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own. God's ammunition is not exhausted. His brightest spirits are held in reserve for the latter times. In God's name and by his help we will build up a literature whose top shall touch heaven, though its foundations may now be low in earth.”

I was so proud to be part of a celebration honoring those who are truly striving to fill the world with good, uplifting literature, who also carry a great mantle of representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In fact, I would highly recommend you take a look at the 2007 finalist titles and winners for some of the best new books available for the LDS reader. You won’t be disappointed by any book there. I know, I read them in order to cast my own votes and it was a tough call in most cases.

At this time of year my thoughts are once again turning to the Whitney Awards. Why? Two reasons actually. As much as warm fuzzies are coveted by the LDS author the Whitney Awards committee wisely concluded that actual awards would be better than just a pat on the back to recognize excellence. Awards and award ceremonies cost (gasp) money.

YourLDSneighborhood.com is a proud and generous sponsor of the Whitney Awards and I bow in their honor for catching the vision of this worthy endeavor. I would also ask you to support it by visiting the Whitney Awards fund raiser now in progress. You’ll find a wide variety of items up for grabs that have all been donated to raise money for the 2008 Whitney Awards.

I myself wouldn’t mind having this item. Sadly, I lack the body to pull it off (Jacob wouldn’t have wanted me ;)

Don’t see anything you’d like but still want to offer your support? That can be arranged as well. Can’t afford to do anything monetarily? We all understand how that is, especially in these shaky times, but please just like all the fund raising people will tell you-- any little bit can help.

If nothing else, take the time to go to the Whitney Awards web site and nominate your favorite LDS author. No, they don’t have to write for the LDS market; no, they don’t have to be published by an LDS publisher. They just have to be LDS and have a book published in the year 2008 that you think is truly outstanding.

Believe me; these guys really appreciate hearing from you even for that. The authors do get warm fuzzies from finding out that someone took the time to nominate them for something good, and if they win, the awards are awesome as well.

Categories include:

Romance

Mystery/Suspense

Speculative Fiction

Youth Fiction

Historical

General Fiction

Novel of the Year

Best Novel by a New Author

Not sure who or what qualifies? There is a list of the rules on the site and you can find a fairly comprehensive list of titles eligible for Whitneys this year on the side bar of the LDSpublisher and LDSfiction blogs.

The last day to nominate a book is December 31^st, so don’t forget when all the holidays start hitting. LDS fiction is improving every year, and there are those of us who would like to celebrate that and keep the standards high. We want books by LDS authors to ring loud with praise for Him who gave us this talent and let our words reach to heaven, but we need dedicated readers to help us form a firm foundation for our efforts. Take a little time this week to celebrate books by supporting the Whitney Awards any way you can.

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The Book Lover’s Cookbook by Shaunda Kennedy Wenger and Janet Kay Jensen

I was excited to see this fun cookbook become available in a paperback version. Though hardbound is more durable, I could only wistfully check it out of the library from time to time rather than afford the hardbound price. When I discovered the release of the less expensive version it was in my hand very quickly.

Have you ever wanted to curl up in a comfortable chair and read a cookbook from beginning to end? Well, this is one time you definitely will want to. Really, I’m not that weird. The Book Lover’s Cookbook by Shaunda Kennedy Wenger and Janet Kay Jensen is a little different than reading that red and white checked cookbook you got at your bridal shower and think you can’t get rid of. Take a plate of your favorite reading munchies, get comfortable and get ready to be inspired.

The Book Lover’s Cookbook is part recipe book and part a walk down a literary memory lane. Within its covers you’ll find passages from a wide variety of books, quotes from different authors and, oh by the way, recipes that have been derived and inspired by those books. It’s a veritable feast of both words and food. Some of the recipes are a bit to complicated or extravagant for my basic and easily distracted personality but there is enough variety to satisfy anyone’s tummy rumblings. You’ll find recipes for every meal and course imaginable, many of which will become favorites.

To give you a “taste” (ha! I crack myself up sometimes) of the types of yummy recipes you’ll find in The Book Lover’s Cookbook, here are a few of my personal favorites:

Stack of Pancakes— from The Story of Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman

A Real Man’s Quiche— from Real Men Don’t Eat Quiche by Bruce Feirstein

Macaroni and Cheese—from A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

New Road Chicken Pies (a.k.a. Turnovers)—from Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now by Maya Angleou

Mother’s Chocolate Pecan Pie – from Errands by Judith Guest

and

Sugar and Spice Cake—from Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

I have to confess, however, that I failed miserably when I tried making “Pooh’s Honey Kisses”, but I don’t think that was really a recipe problem. I’m just sadly lacking in candy-making genes. (Really. I can’t even make Rice Crispy Treats and I only get No-bake cookies right about half the time.)

As you can tell by my list, my tastes lean toward simple and traditional, but you’ll find more distinguished dishes as well. For example:

Good Times Roasted Garlic Chicken with Mushroom and Black Olive Stuffing—from Even the Stars Look Lonesome by Maya Angelou

(Stuffed Pig Stomach with) Oyster Filling—from “The Walrus and the Carpenter” by Lewis Carroll

Tianjin Dumplings—from Falling Leaves: The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah

Emma’s Curried Shrimp with Snow Peas and Apples—from The Saving Graces by Patricia Gaffney

Matanni’s Butternut Squash and Apple Cider Soup—from Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio

and

Turkish Delight— from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

Are you hungry yet? It doesn’t matter if that hunger is for food or the written word, go get a copy of The Book Lover’s Cookbook by Shaunda Kennedy Wenger and Janet Kay Jensen and you can make it all better. ;)

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