Confessions of a Completely (In)sane Mother by Kersten campbell

by Rebecca Talley


Warning: do not read this book while drinking milk because the milk will definitely come shooting out your nose while you laugh at these stories (and who needs another mess to clean up?).

This book is filled with hilarious stories. I'm sure, I think, that Kersten Campbell isn't actually insane--though I did wonder a few times. I laughed out loud at her stories, probably because I could relate to them so well (I still think she planted a video camera at my house and recorded the antics of my family).

I read the chapter, Older but Dimmer, out loud to my kids because it starts off, "It's a proven fact that once a child turns thirteen years old, a parent's IQ score suddenly drops ten points. It's true . . . just ask them." My kids totally believe that my IQ drops at least 50 points when they become teenagers. Oh, and I become very old-fashioned, too, doing everything the old way.

I loved the chapter about the Cub Scouts tying everyone up in knots. She hit the nail on the head when she described having a den meeting with a bunch of boys.

This book is a perfect gift for any mother, even for those who have "normal" families. (I personally don't know what it's like to have a normal family).

Buy this book for your mom, grandma, mother-in-law or any other woman who needs a good laugh. Laughter is the best medicine and for me, after all the things my kids do to me, if I don't laugh, I cry.

Fun and funny book--I recommend it!

An Early Christmas Treat and C. S. Lewis: Latter-Day Truths in Narnia

By Christine Thackeray

This spring my sister and I worked feverishly together getting out our non-fiction book about C.S. Lewis before she left to go on her mission with her husband and children in Brazil. We had some nice reviews when it first hit the stores but just this week I got an early Christmas treat. T. Lynn Adams reviewed it on Bella Online and I wanted to share what she had to say.

Review of C.S. Lewis, Latter-day Truths in Narnia

I read the Chronicles of Narnia as a child and still recall wondering as a child what it must feel like to ride a flying lion. Later, during various conference talks, I fell in love with the quotes of a wonderful thinker named C.S. Lewis. How excited I was to learn that the man who wrote fantasy for children also penned philosophy. I remember wondering if he was LDS. Between flying lions and soaring thoughts, C.S. Lewis has held a special place in my literary world.

I’m not the only one who feels this way. At a recent Stake Conference I was listening to a speaker quote C.S. Lewis when I noticed a man toward the front nodding enthusiastically. Afterwards I approached the brother and said, “You’re a C.S. Lewis fan, aren’t you.” He was surprised by my observation. “How did you know?” he asked. I told him his enjoyment of the C.S. Lewis quotes, nodding in agreement as the speaker read them, gave him away.

It’s fun to find another true Lewis fan.

That is why I loved book C.S. Lewis: Latter-day Truths in Narnia, by Marianna Richardson and Christine Thackeray. This book compiles into one place so many things LDS readers have quietly nodded over in agreement.

The book, published by Cedar Fort, is divided into three sections and three appendices. The first section contains his life history, (no, he is not LDS) his conversion story (he was once an atheist), and a brief look at his entry into writing.

The section reviews some of his fictional writings, pointing out Latter-day truths and gospel principles woven into the stories.

The third section, my favorite, “examines some of the most notable references to C.S. Lewis by modern apostles and prophets.” Did you know that C.S. Lewis was quoted by Neal A. Maxwell in the very first issue of the New Era? Or that the Prophet Ezra Taft Benson quoted C.S. Lewis in his masterpiece address, Beware of Pride, “Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. … It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone.” (Mere Christianity, New York: Macmillan, 1952, pp. 109–10; quoted in Ensign, May, 1989)

The appendices show LDS references to some C.S. Lewis quotes organized by topic, by speaker and finally by lesson material.

From pride to the role of women and the importance of family through to the eternities, the authors of this book note that C.S. Lewis had a way to pen words that “are easy to understand, almost simplistic. Yet there is a deeper meaning that causes one to pause and think more profoundly.”

“His voice,” they write “has an ‘every man’ quality, as though he is struggling beside us, which enables people of all kinds to relate to his message. But along with his personal weaknesses and trials, C.S. Lewis openly witnesses time and again of his personal faith in Christ as both a partner in helping us overcome our challenges in this life and as our Savior in giving us the opportunity to share in His glory in the next. It is this powerful testimony of the Savior that rings true to members of the Church.”

Another reason I enjoyed the book was not just the collection of C.S. Lewis gems but they also incorporated comments by General Authorities. It's like a compilation of your favorite authors. Furthermore, Richardson and Thackeray, write powerfully as well and I found myself underlining just as many of their comments, words and impressions as the masters they were discussing. Hurray for them! My book is filled with personal markings, underlining, margin notes and even my own hand-written index in the front of the book to help me reference favorite quotes in the future.

This would be a great book to give to yourself or others. When you give it though, make sure you include a marking pen. I quarantee this book will be marked, underlined, written on and dog-earred by every avid C.S. Lewis fan who gets it.

If you want to have more fun with it, wrap it up with a copy of the Chronicles of Narnia, a copy of Mere Christianity or The Screwtape Letters, or even the new Prince Caspian DVD.

Just don’t forget that marking pen!

Caught In The Headlights - review

by Shirley Bahlmann
REVIEW:
First of all, whoever thought up the great title gets a gold star.
This book has the great premise of examining things you think you want and putting them in such a light that you can finally see them in a different way, like the unglazed bottom of a beautiful, shiny pottery bowl. That dried clay is what it’s really made of. The subjects are as varied, and familiar, as success, happiness, and creating the perfect body, which are three of the ten values presented for in-depth discussion.
Phillips’ format is an unusual mix of instruction and light-hearted aside comments that put me in mind of a motivational speaker. At times the styles didn’t seem to mesh, but it was entertaining. He includes original cartoons, which actually touched my funny bone or gave me pause for introspection, and original poems, which did not. (No offense, Barry. Do like I did and get some lessons in meter from author Rick Walton, okay?)
This book, though small, (106 pages) is packed with information, more than my brain would hold in one reading. I recommend it be read slowly, perhaps even a chapter a week, in order to soak it all in. Also, since I was particularly drawn to certain chapters, such as Forgiveness and the serendipity analogy (well done, Barry!) I believe that this book would offer other favorite chapters if re-read at a future time. Basically, you’ll come away with what you need.
I also like the way the chapters are presented as “Pursuits,” followed by the “Lesson” and finally, “So, what do I do about it?” This is a very helpful format for readers like me who have a tendency to lose information on a previous page with a simple turn of a leaf.
To borrow a phrase from Barry, get your hands on this book, let the ideas work in your heart and mind, and “get peace quick.”

INTERVIEW:
Shirley: Hey, Barry, thanks for zooming over to visit with me on this overpass. Um… don't you think your car is parked a little too close to the traffic lane? I'm pretty sure your side mirror just had a near death experience with a semi. Do you want to move it?
Barry: It'll be just fine. I keep spare mirrors in the trunk, just in case. Not to look at myself mind you, but I do have three teenage daughters… enough said.
Shirley: Your book covers a wide range of life changing topics. When did you get the idea to write this book?
Barry: A couple of years ago. The ideas just kept percolating until I just had to write it.
Shirley: You tell a lot of anecdotes from your own life. Did anyone take exception to having their name on the printed page?
Barry: Family members were a little nervous, I suppose. After all they know my personality – who could blame them. I didn't tell many people that I was actually writing the book. Forgiveness is always easier than permission! They were all okay in the end, so I've dodged that bullet, at least until the next book!
Shirley: Whoa. I think traffic is picking up. Watch your toes! It appears that you've done a lot of public speaking. Can you tell us a little about your background in communication?
Barry: Did you see that guy pointing at us from that convertible as it drove by? You'd think he had never seen two people standing on a freeway overpass before. Anyway, Communication… I've owned a training company and taught major corporations professional skills such as leadership, problem solving, and even public speaking. I've owned a computer magazine, and written for Glenn Beck's Fusion Magazine. I guess those all fit that bill.
Shirley: Hey, look, there's someone who just turned on their headlights. So where did you get your title?
Barry: Uhhhh… uhhhh… must… look… away… must… stop… staring… Whew! What was that? Oh, the title. It just came to me somehow.
Shirley: Whose idea was it to meet at the side of the highway, anyway? Oh… never mind… I just thought it was a fitting place for your book title. So, last of all, before total darkness falls, what do you hope to accomplish by putting this book out there?
Barry: First, I hope people are entertained. Next, I hope they can learn from what I've experienced and hopefully navigate through those issues a lot easier than they would have otherwise.
Shirley: Thank you so much for your time… oh, my goodness, isn't that your car merging into traffic? Who's at the wheel? Could that… no… those aren't… antlers, are they? I thought that buck was road kill.
Barry: They're here again? I thought they wouldn't follow me onto a freeway. That's why I met you here. Ever since this book got published, they just keep showing up. I thought they wanted a copy of the book, but it looks like they want my car!
Shirley: Come on, there's plenty of room to take you home in my armored tank. It merges like a dream. (Patting Barry's shoulder.) It's all right, Barry, put it in perspective, man. Cars aren't everything. And just think what it will mean to that deer's future. No longer to be caught in the headlights, now he'll be the one behind those twin eye-beams. It's a whole new life.

Caught in the Headlights
Trade Paperback: 116 pages
Publisher: Cedar Fort (June 2008)
ISBN-10: 1599551675
ISBN-13: 978-1599551678
Website: www.barrykphillips.com
Blog: http://www.barrykphillips.com/blog

The Hardest Part of Writing

By Christine Thackeray

I was (electronically) talking with Rebecca Talley a while back and she mentioned that her book had just come out and she was facing the hardest part of writing. At the time I had no idea what she was talking about but now that my first book is here, my eyes are wide open.

For me the actual writing of my story was challenging but fun. I'd sit at the computer clicking away, watching the ethereal images in my head come to life in full color. While doing laundry or dishes, new plot twists would come to mind or a phrase from one of my children would be so clever, I'd have to include it. Although my family would laugh at me or catch an ocasional typo, it was smooth sailing and a lot of fun.

Then came the rejections. I thought that was the toughest part. Plain form letters with not a single comment, no glimmer of encouragement. But after some rewrites, it shockingly got accepted. The editorial process was very pleasant and I loved the cover. It was great.

When the time came to get my book out there, it was tough begging for reviews, blogging, emailing all my relatives and telling them to beg all their friends to buy it. But the worst part was when the reviews started coming back. Yup, it's the hardest part. Your book is your baby and when people stab at it, its like getting poked in the eye with a toothpick. I suppose I've just got to smile and keep encouraging sales. I mean three of my neighbors said they adored it and couldn't put it down so what does an accomplished reviewer know anyway-- do I sound too much like an "American Idol" contestant?

What's She Doing At My Door

by Christine Thackeray

So last Sunday was one of those wonderful lazy afternoons when you don't HAVE to do anything. No meetings, no obligations, no TV, just hanging out with the family. My daughter was scrapbooking, the boys were playing board games, my husband was reading and I decided to go inscribe sweet messages to my neighbors and deliver my new book to them. I took our new hyper puppy with me on my walk and headed out with six copies. The sun was shining and it was really fun to chat with these women that I hadn't made an effort to really talk to in a few months. (I've been so focused on getting through projects, my social life has suffered.) One woman, Amy, in particular had welcomed me so graciously when I moved in last year but I have hardly seen her since.

Monday morning I got the kids off to school and rolled up my sleeves to work on copyright issues for my next non-fiction work (which is equivalent to doing taxes, yuck!) when suddenly the doorbell rang and there was Amy. I racked my brain as to why she could possibly be at my door. She told me that right before she went to bed for the night she had decided to read a chapter of my book. At 1 a.m. she closed it, apparently she couldn't put it down. Right after I shut the door the phone rang. It was Sonja, a friend I walk with. She said she had done the same thing and loved it. This week "Crayon Messages: A Visiting Teaching Adventure" goes out for review. I hope it gets as great a reception as it did from my friends. (Cross fingers.)