Confessions of Super Mom by Melanie Hauser

I have to tell you if I have a choice, I'm one of those people who would much rather skip Mother's day than acknowledge it. Now, I know that seems a little weird to some of you. I mean, it's the one day a year that many of us will actually hear a thank you and all that. But here's the thing, as far as I'm concerned Mother's day is another tool of Satan to make women feel bad.

If you are one of millions of women who are not mothers you feel bad, especially if you are one who desperately does want to be a mother but can be. If you are a mother you feel bad because no matter how it's played out Mother’s day can be just as bad for your self esteem as any fashion magazine or prime-time television show. It isn't about what is said or not said. It's about a woman's weird ability to take whatever is said and turn it into a negative. "See. I'm not like that so I'm obviously lacking as a mother."

Okay, maybe I'm just weird but that's what happens for me. I'm okay with sitting through the Primary kids singing while picking their noses, that's normal motherhood. But then somebody (ies) inevitably starts extolling all the virtues of their particular mother or mothers in general and I start a mental check list. "Nope I don't do that, nope I don't do that, nope I don't do that either."

I have yet to hear anyone celebrate the kind of mother I am. No, I don't think anyone would say I don't love my children or call protective services but I definitely do not reek of motherly virtues either. I don't cook. I don't clean. I don't run my kids to endless activities or cheer at all their games. I'm not totally supportive of everything they do. The list could go on and on. In fact I've decided my one motherhood claim-to-fame is the fact that my children can read me to sleep. No, not the other way around. My children take great pride in the fact that they can read me a bedtime story and I'll snuggle right down and go to sleep. I’m such a good mommy. :)

Why am I telling you all of this? So you'll understand where I'm coming from with my book pick for Mother's day. Of all the wonderful books put out by LDS and national publishers each year extolling the virtues of motherhood I wouldn't recommend a one to you. (Well, okay, maybe Confessions of a Completely Insane Mother.) Why? Because if you're anything like me you don't need something else to feel bad about on the one day that is supposed to make you feel good.

So, here's my recommendation. This Mother's day, skip church and curl up in bed with a large bowl of chocolate and Confessions of Super Mom by Melanie Lynne Hauser.

Super Mom is just about the most fun a person can have pointing out all the stereotypical characteristics of a mother. After a freak accident involving her Swiffer, Birdie Lee becomes a superhero to rival those in her son’s comic books. A typical single mother is suddenly transformed into a super cleaning, organizing, cooking, budgeting, and lecture-delivering super hero with an über mother's instinct not to be messed with.

There are a few pages that you'll have to cover your eyes for-- when Super Mom discovers that even moms are entitled to a love life. She's actually a little aghast at the fact that she could possibly even think about sex when she's supposed to be saving the world's children . . . Those few pages are very tame by a national standard, but they are still there.

So, go ahead grab a copy and snuggle down. I for one will spend the day with the sequel: Super Mom Saves the World. When your visiting teachers show up to hand you your already wilting Mother's day plant, and ask why you weren't at church Sunday, smile and hand them a copy of Confessions of Super Mom in return. With any luck it will get you released from some ward calling that requires you to be an upstanding example of motherhood.

Happy Mother’s Day everyone!

What's in a Name?

I’m discovering that apparently I have name issues. Oh, not my own—my characters.

While working on my current project I noticed a distinct trend in my writing. My last four fiction books (including my WIP) have had a character undergo a name change. The reasons vary, but it’s still there and it usually plays a crucial part in the story. Now, some would say this is not at all a wise thing to do. I mean, who wants to read half a story only to find out that the character you’ve been following really has a different name? It could get confusing.

So, now I’m wondering. What do I have against names? Do I hold some subliminal grudge against my parents for naming me Alison (and spelling it nontraditionally)? Do I lack some element of identity and self-esteem that makes me want to be someone else? Do I just really like messing with my reader’s minds? It’s a mystery.

Whitney Award Winners

Just in case you missed the announcements on everybody else’s sites. Here’s a run down of the Whitney Award winners.

Best Novel of the Year- Traitor by Sandra Grey

Best Novel by a New Author- Bound on Earth by Angela Hallstrom

Best Romance- Spare Change by Aubrey Mace

Best Mystery/Suspense- Fool Me Twice by Stephanie Black

Best Youth Fiction- The 13^th Reality: The Journal of Curious Letters by James Dasher

Best Speculative- The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson

Best Historical- Abinadi by H.B. Moore

(Sorry, for some reason Blogger wouldn't let me upload this image. Sigh.)

Best General Fiction- Waiting for the Light to Change by Annette Haws

There were only a few wins that surprised me. I didn’t always pick the winner myself, but I had a good idea which titles those winners would come from. Some of them were very tough choices.

Even if you aren’t particularly interested in World War II Traitor is an excellent novel with a very compelling story question. When Sandra Grey’s husband challenged her by saying “You can write better than that” (referring to a national title) he wasn’t kidding. She’s an excellent writer and though I never thought I say it about this type of novel, I can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel.

I didn’t pick Bound on Earth as my top choice from a new author, simply because the style of the book didn’t appeal to me. That said, Angela Hallstrom has an excellent storyteller’s voice and I expect to see great things from her in the future.

Best Romance was probably my toughest category to judge. Which is weird, since I’m not normally a romance person. I was hard pressed to pick my favorite between: Seeking Persephone, Servant to a King, The Sound of Rain, Spare Change, and Taking Chances. They were unique and filled a certain niche given the type of romance reader you are. If you get your hands on any of these titles you’re in for a treat.

In the end I had to choose Seeking Persephone. You see, each of these titles kept me coming back and putting off things I should do to spend more time in their pages, but only Seeking Persephone compelled me to refuse to put it down when I really should have. I mention this specifically because Seeking Persephone is a self-published title. This is one area of publishing that can get a bad name very fast. But, Seeking Persephone was a real treat. There were very few editorial problems and the story was sweet and compelling. If I were asked to name titles from this market that show it is possible to be an excellent writer but still not publish in a traditional manor, Sarah Eden’s book would definitely make the list.

Best Youth Fiction was another category that really spoke to me. If you have a child interested in fantasy you can hand them any of these titles with confidence that they’ll find a great story that you don’t have to worry about. Though it didn’t win my top vote, the “Hambo” story in Alcatraz vs. The Scribner’s Bones made the whole book for me. My husband was looking at me funny again as I giggled delightedly. He’s such a patient man to tolerate all my weirdness. ;)

Anyway, this is only the second year for the Whitney Awards and I see wonderful things in its future. I’m sad to see Rob Wells step down as president. Don’t let him kid you, this program is his brain child and no one put more heart and soul into it than he did. But, he left it in very capable hands. Kerry Blair is one of the sweetest and most selfless people I know. She’ll do a great job.

Hi, My Name is . . . Tired

Yes, ladies and gentlemen I’ve just returned from what I consider the best weekend of the whole year. I’ve been hanging with my friends at the LDStorymaker Writer’s Conference and the Whitney Awards Gala. A big shout out goes to the awesome Josi and Candace for carting me to and from the airport. It was great to spend time with you! I am of the opinion that I have the coolest writer friends known to mankind.

I promise to write more soon, but I’m afraid my brain is still too jumbled at the moment. In the mean time here are a few links to articles about the conference and the gala.

http://www.mormontimes.com/arts_entertainment/books/?linkTrack=mtEmail&id=7434

http://www.mormontimes.com/arts_entertainment/books/?id=7449

The Last Waltz by G.G. Vandegriff

I must admit that when I first received my copy of The Last Waltz by G.G. Vandagriff I was a little intimidated by it. It is a rather thick tome (591 pages) and I’d just finished reading a long list of Whitney finalists that I hadn’t gotten to read throughout the year. I wasn’t quite sure if I could get through The Last Waltz and give it a fair critique when I was brain fried and somewhat tired of serious reading. I am happy to report, however, that this was not the case. Within just a few chapters I was in love with this book and found it a delight to keep reading rather than the drudgery I was worried about.

At first, the writing seemed rather, well, flowery to me—full of poetic descriptions. But I soon figured out that this was the author’s way of expressing the great passion she has for Austria. G.G. studied in Austria as a young woman and that’s what sparked her interest in writing this particular book. She wanted to make sure it felt like a beautiful and real place to the reader because it mattered so much to her and to the main character, Amalia.

The overall writing and story was very good. I did find it weird that all of the love interests in the book seemed to be victims of horrible childhoods. Not just unpleasant. Down right nasty. Ah, such is the poetic license of a writer. We get to do all kinds of nasty things to our characters.

I found a few editorial slips (which I never count against a book because it happens to all of us) and one character dropped out of the story without me ever reading what actually happened to him. At least, I’m pretty sure I didn’t read anything that tied up his loose end. He wasn’t a main character exactly, but he was important to Amalia.

I think this happened partly because The Last Waltz covers a much greater time span than most books would normally address. The story line covers a period from World War I and the beginning of World War II. That’s a lot of history, but it never really bogs down the actual story. The Last Waltz could have easily been a series, but I would have hated waiting for the next installment to be able to continue Amalia’s saga.

As it is, The Last Waltz is divided into sections by the years the story took place in. I’m not really good at perceiving these time changes on my own so it always took me a couple of paragraphs to catch up and figure out exactly how much time had past. There is quite a large span not covered and I’m guessing that’s where the poor character I lost kind of fell through the cracks. It’s too bad because I was kind of worried about him. :)

Though this book did take me several days to get through, it did follow me while I was unable to read. There was always an eager compulsion to make sure I carved out reading opportunities throughout the day. That’s the kind of book I love. I like books that keep you engaged even when you have to walk away.

The Last Waltz was a satisfying read and one I’d recommend for a leisurely spring break when the world is full of hope and newness.

G.G. also has an article in Meridian Magazine this week which talks about learning from Austria’s history as we try to shape the future of America.

Life is Tough: I Doubt I'll Make It Out Alive by Stacy Gooch-Anderson

Do you remember a few weeks ago when I said I needed a book whose sole purpose was to make me laugh? Well, I got a good amount of giggles from one title and another healthy dose from: Life if Tough: I Doubt I'll Make It Out Alive by Stacy Gooch-Anderson. What a fun book!

While reading, I had a lot of laugh-out-loud moments that made my husband look at me funny, but I didn't care-- he's always looking at me funny. Life it Tough is a humorous look at all the little quirks life sends every day that you have two choices about: you either laugh and enjoy them for what they are, or let them weigh you down until everything becomes a drudgery.

I particularly enjoyed Stacy's account of the hard work she put in to learning to be the perfect mother before her kids actually came along. Ah, I remember those days well. Although I have to say I did a mite better in my home ec. classes than she did. I even won a state-wide academic competition for my home making prowess, and an outstanding student award at the end of my senior year. If it were possible to letter in home ec I would have. I started college as a home ec major (a degree our advanced society seems to have phased out, or maybe just “outsourced” to more professional venues.) How much of it have I actually used as a mother? Hmmm, good question. I think I sewed a hidden seam once when I was adventurous enough to sew for my adorable girls-- 1 and 3 at the time. I soon came to my senses and stopped that nonsense in its tracks.

Just when I thought I'd found the ultimate do-nothing-but-make-me-laugh book, Stacy whips out some serious life problems. Even though doing so meant Life is Tough flunked my serious fluff test, it proved a very good point. Up until then, all the stories had been completely relatable and completely drawn from every day life. I can see where it would be easy for someone to pick up this book and say, “Well sure, she can laugh. She's never had to face real trials like mine.” Not so. Stacy proves that what does not eventually make us laugh will likely be the thing that kills us.

There were a handful of jokes scattered throughout that I recognized as mutated versions of things I'd heard elsewhere. But, I was willing to forgive that since I was having the time of my life with the rest of the experience.

Although I'll probably never forgive Stacy for getting Rod Stewart's "If You Want My Body" stuck in my head for over a week, I highly recommend letting Stacy Gooch-Anderson throw you a life saver of humor the next time you need a good laugh. Who knows, you might learn something along the way as well.

Stacy is on virtual tour this month and providing a “life-saver” a day on the tour. Please visit her blog: Stayinalivewithstacy.blogspot.com to explore the gem of wisdom for today “Any one who thinks you are too small to make a difference has never been alone in a tent with a hungry mosquito.” And any other life saver that will make your day.

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Master by Toni Sorenson

I’ve had Master by Toni Sorenson pegged for the Easter weekend slot in my book reviews for several months. So, even though it was a Whitney Finalist I’m going ahead with my review. I just won’t tell you if it won my top vote or not. :)

Master is a fiction portrayal of the Savior’s life from the time of early childhood until his resurrection. It is a story told by one faithful follower who was beside him through out all these years. Toni Sorenson sets up a scenario in which Almon, the narrator of the story, is taken in by Mary and Joseph when they find him sick, beaten, and abandoned on their journey home from Egypt. Almon is a mute with a keen eye for observing things around him. It is through these highly perceptive eyes that the reader gets to experience the author’s view on what Christ’s formative years might have been like.

Toni Sorenson sets up a scenario for every aspect of the Savior’s story as it is told in the scriptures and stays close to those scriptural accounts in her retellings. It’s a nice look at what it means for Christ to be our Master and Savior in a non-stressful, non-preachy environment. There are no deep gospel philosophies expounded upon. It’s not nearly as intense on the history and culture aspects as the Kingdom and the Crown series by Gerald N. Lund. It’s easy to stay in the story and not get lost in all the “technical” aspects of the time period. In other words, it doesn’t make you feel bad if you’re not the ultimate scripture scholar.

Master is simply one person’s journey in coming to know the Savior and understanding His divinity. In fact, the author seems to be so careful about making sure everything is scripturally accurate that you don’t really see/hear Jesus speak in the young chapters. When Jesus “once was a little child” he is described in depth, but he never really says much. That seemed kind of weird to me, but that may just be me. I don’t know that the average reader would pick up on it or care. Christ’s childhood is described with loving care and you do get an impression of what life with Him could have been like. He does have more direct quotes as He begins His ministry, but even then the author is very careful about what she actually has the Savior saying.

That little harrumph aside, I found Master by Toni Sorenson to be an engaging and sweet story. It’s too long for a Sunday afternoon, but I’d recommend you specifically set aside some time each night this week to read a chapter or two. I think it will add a nice depth to your worship this Easter season. It may be fictional, but Master clearly leaves you with the most important message any of us can understand in this life. In the words of Almon: “Jesus was . . . He is . . . and will always be . . . my Master.”

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Confessions of a Completely In*sane Mother by Kersten Campbell

Naturally, the first thing that caught my attention about Confessions of a Completely Insane Mother by Kersten Campbell, was the name. I mean, how can you go wrong with a name like that? The next thing that appealed to me was its compact size. This was no overwhelming volume of prose no mother has time to read. When I flipped through I knew it would be completely doable to fit this title into almost any busy mother’s day. It’s just the right size for slipping in a purse or diaper bag and each story is short enough to get through during a car wash cycle. Yes, I have been known to take my children on a field trip to the car wash just so I can strap them in the car and entertain them at the same time.

Confessions of a Completely Insane Mother is a collection of very brief stories that help you laugh at life as a mother. The writing style is not complex or overly poetic. It’s light and simple and designed to bring a smile to your face. When I began reading my first impression was, “Meh, its okay.” But, by the time I was several stories in I was getting excited to see what the next adventure might hold. By the time my daughter got out of seminary 30 minutes later, I had tears rolling down my cheeks from laughter. She was very confused, until I gave her the book to read on the drive home. It didn’t take long before she was giggling as well.

This isn’t a book you want to turn to if your looking for prophetic and inspiring thoughts on the wonderful gift of motherhood. This is the book you turn to when you need a good friend to lighten your heart after a day that makes you wonder what in the world you thought you were doing having kids in the first place.

I highly recommend having a copy of Confessions of a Completely Insane Mother on hand. In fact, here’s my advice. Take this book and a flashlight and stash them behind the extra toilet paper rolls in the bathroom. Since no one but you ever changes the roll they won’t get disturbed. Then, the next time you’re ready to go insane yourself, sneak in the bathroom. Close and lock the door. Don’t turn on the light, the kids will find you too soon. Pull out the book and flashlight, put a towel over your head to block out the light and read a couple of chapters. Be forewarned, if you giggle too loudly that will set off the mommy pheromones as well and your hiding place will be discovered. Bite the towel if you have to because every mommy needs their own “time out” spot.

When you’ve read a few chapters you’ll feel better and be ready to face the world again. Not because you have been reminded that “Motherhood is next to Godhood” but because you’ve remembered that you’re not alone in the craziness. Go ahead, put Confessions of a Completely Insane Mother by Kersten Campbell on your list of things to do just for yourself. It won’t eat up much time or money, but it will help the next time you walk into the kitchen to find your children making pancakes in the middle of the floor- without a bowl. We all have those days and it helps to be able to giggle about them.

yourLDSneighborhood has added exciting new things to its website. Please drop by and take a look, browse around, check out our vendors, our radio station, our authors, our musicians and more. Check out the Neighborhood.

And while you're there, subscribe to the yourLDSneighborhood Newsletter. In addition to being able to shop in the new virtual neighborhood, the newsletter brings you articles, products, services, resources and interviews from around the world-all with an LDS focus. Look for issues delivered to your email inbox every week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.