First Review is in for ABINADI

Before I have to change into my Halloween costume, I thought I'd post the review that appeared in The Herald Journal today by book critic, Charlene Hirschi. I'm very exited about it because it was so positive.

Click on the link below and you can read the review in its orginal publication form. Have a fun and safe Halloween, everyone.

Lending Fresh Ideas to a Scriptural Account
Regional Reads Review by Charlene Hirschi
October 31, 2008

On Saturday, Nov. 1, Covenant will release possibly the most important series of LDS fiction since Gerald Lund’s “Work and the Glory”—H. B. (Heather) Moore follows up her successful "Out of Jerusalem" project with the “Prophets of the Promised Land” series. Every Primary child is familiar with the Arnold Friberg rendition of the elderly Abinadi appearing in King Noah’s court bound in shackles. That picture has been so embedded din our minds that up to this time no author has ever considered Abinadi might have been a young man with a family.

But that is exactly how Moore has imagined him.

After her painstaking research, she discovered there was nothing in the scriptures to indicate his age. “Wouldn’t a young Abinadi with a wife and family have more to lose than a white-haired prophet who had lived out his life?” she asked herself. “I have chosen to portray Abinadi as a young man in his 20s when he receives the first call from the Lord. I decided to place Abinadi at the age of 27 . . . with a specific purpose. I wanted to expound on a story—a story that has been passed down from generation to generation—of a man who sacrificed everything for what he believed in. I didn’t want Abinadi to e at the end of his natural life or a man who’d lived a life full of happiness with children and grandchildren. I saw Abinadi as a man who still had many years ahead of him—one who stood to lose a lot more than just his life.”

In July, Moore sent the advance manuscript to me. I immediately started to read and couldn’t put the book down until I’d read every word. Her concept of the young Abinadi is a stroke of genius and just one more example of how this author’s imagination and fresh ideas enrich the scriptural account and make the events and people come alive.

As with the “Work and the Glory,” the reader must continually remind herself these are real people mixed with fiction where some of the events have been added to make a better and more complete story. This said, however, I learned so much about Abinadi and my admiration for his courage in the face of certain death increased with every page. This is a book that will live up to the expectations of the scriptorian while satisfying the fiction aficionado who craves romance and adventure.

Based on the events of six chapters in Mosiah, Moore remains true to the story found there but, folded sweetly among the Book of Mormon events, is a love story. King Noah has set his eyes on the beautiful, young daughter of one of the priests in his court. Raquel, “a young woman whose beauty exceeded most,” had also caught the eye of a young Abinadi, but his chances seemed remote at best, since “a Nephite girl born beautiful and noble had little choice in her destiny”—no doubt her fate was to be yet another wife in the harem of the king. Her “class and her family would never take an offer of marriage seriously” from one so far below her station in life.

However, as all true romances would have it, Abinadi had also captured the eye of the young Raquel. She knew her parents would choose her husband—no doubt someone old, short or widowed with a brood of children for her to look after. The thought repulsed her, and she dreamed of the young Abinadi with “the deep, sorrowful eyes, amber-colored complexion, heavy eyebrows and angular chin. He was tall . . . and he was younger, probably in his mid-20s, than those men who continually cajoled her as she explored the herbs at the market.”

As the exciting story of the espionage, rebellion and courage unfolds, the reader is caught up in the tale, even though the ending is inevitable. Hoping against hope, the reader yearns for Abinadi’s survival but knows the mantel must pass from him to Alma as both fates are sealed. Moore is currently researching and writing the second book in the series, “Alma the Elder,” in hopes of a fall 2009 release. After reading “Abinadi,” a year will seem too long to wait.

ABINADI--Free Review Copies for 15 Bloggers

Okay, I'm sounding like an infomercial--I know.

But I received my author copies from the publisher today and decided that I'd give 15 copies of ABINADI to those bloggers who are willing to review the book on their blog sometime before December 15th.

I'll be mailing out the copies next week, so you should have plenty of time for joyful reading and insightful reviewing.

How about it? I'm limited to 15, so you can post a comment here and reserve your spot, then email me your address to: heather at hbmoore dot com

I will be double checking the validation of your blogs, etc. so don't give up if you see more than 15 already. You might still get in.

Book Giveaway WEEK 9!!

This is the LAST week of the book giveaway. And the winner is Don. Congratulations! Email me your address at: heather at hbmoore dot com and I'll get your copy of Land of Inheritance mailed off.

Possibly as early as next Saturday (November 1st) my new book, Abinadi, will be in stores.

But before we end our 10 weeks of questions, I have one more . . . and you guessed it--it applies directly to the theme of Abinadi.

What would you give up for religion? Or even, what are you willing to give up for your religion.

I was born and raised in the LDS-faith, so we are expected to forego certain things like alcohol, coffee, strong drinks, tobacco, and live a moral life. Regardless of why we have chosen to follow a particular path, it can still be difficult. When my kids are driving me crazy, I can't go and take a smoke break. Or when I get in a fight with a family member (which of course never happens, cause I'm so nice), I can't have a beer.

On the flip side, I have lost friends and possibly national agents/publishers because of my religion. There is quite a prejudice that still exists out there about Mormons--which is pretty laughable since we call ourselves well-educated in America. And I even find myself not able to promote my books in bookstores because my work is "too Mormon"--even in Utah. I had a publicist try to get me booked on radio shows or tv shows and they all said the same thing. My books were too Mormon.

When I lived in Jerusalem, I went out on a couple of dates with a guy who was Jewish. There was nothing serious about it since we were a part of a large group of friends. But when his family found out that he liked me, they were appalled--and it all came down to the fact that his grandparents were holocaust survivors, and not only was I Christian, but I was Mormon. I remember the bumper stickers on cars in Jerusalem read: "Mormons go home."

First Draft--Complete

Well, I typed the final page of my work-in-progress tonight: Alma the Elder.

It came in at 91,000 words--about 350 pages. I tried to make it shorter, but it kept going, and going.

So now my task is to go through the edits that my critique group has given me on the first 100 or so pages, then take a couple of days off from anything Alma-ish. Then I'll do a full read on the computer and fill in holes that I left. After that, I'll print it off and read it on hard copy--then onto the readers. I'll do edits with the reader feedback (I think I need a bullet list here). I'm hoping to submit this book before Thanksgiving.

The celebration doesn't come yet . . . for me that comes when I submit the thing--then it's really a load off. And of course when it's accepted by the publisher (crossing fingers).

But I am excited (although if you are a writer, you know that the work is JUST beginning) to have the first draft done.

Book Giveaway WEEK 8!

Congratulations to LOVELLS--who won a copy of Land of Inheritance. Just email me your address to heather at hbmoore dot com and I'll get you the copy.

And thanks everyone for making such great comments! Only one more week and one more book to give away.

To be entered into the drawing, just answer this week's question:

Are you a book buyer or are you a library-regular? Why or why not?

Of course the main reason for going to the library will probably be money because it's almost impossible to be a voracious reader and purchase all of those books. But right now, I'd say that I buy more books than I borrow from the library. Sometimes if it's one that I know will make a good gift, I'll carefully read it and later give it away. Or if I am buying it as a gift, sometimes I'll read it first (don't tell). I do have several books on hold at the library, but since my library is a small town type, it takes FOREVER for them to come in. And it's quite easy for me to browse Amazon or Barnes and Noble and get caught up in their special savings on shipping. If I could only stay away from the book tables at Costco . . . oh well. Almost everyone on my birthday or Christmas lists get books for gifts. I like to support the industry that I work in ;)

Final COVER--at last!

So here's the final cover of ABINADI. I actually grew quite attached to the mock-up I posted earlier. So I supposed I'll have to get used to this one.

Book Giveaway WEEK 7!

Congratulations to BlueViolet, who won a copy of my book, Land of Inheritance. Email your address at heather at hbmoore dot com and I'll get it sent off!

Only 2 more weeks and 2 more books to be given away . . .

To be entered in this week's drawing for a free book, all you have to do is answer this week's question:

Do you have anyone in your family who's life story would make a great novel? If so, why?

I found out recently that my 10th great-grandmother was accused in Salem of being a witch and was burned to death. We've all read or watched movies on that topic, but now that I know I'm related to one, it makes it all the more interesting!

74,000 words

. . . into my next book (Alma the Elder). Until about 70,000 words, the story was coming very fast. Now I'm really slowing down and find myself constantly distracted. Maybe it's knowing there are only a few more warm days of fall left. Or knowing that this cool story I'm writing is coming to a close. Or knowing that I have weeks of editing ahead of me (the NOT fun part). But I'm anxious to get to the end, yet . . . I'm almost forcing myself to make my writing goal each day.

And it doesn't help that the economy is falling apart. Just another distraction :(

I have a COVER!

My new book cover, well, almost. This is the prototype, so there might yet be changes. Check it out and tell me what you think.




Here's the book blurb from the publisher:

Raquel has a secret. As the daughter of one of King Noah’s priests, she enjoys a luxurious life and the admiration of powerful men. But her heart belongs to a commoner, a man with no earthly wealth but rich heavenly gifts. When King Noah demands that Raquel join his harem, she flees the only life she has known and marries her secret love. His name is Abinadi. The couple finds abundant joy in their community of believers and in their firstborn son. But when the Lord calls Abinadi as His prophet, their faith is tested to the outermost limits. Abinadi’s commitment to the Lord requires them both to give their all—even unto death. Yet if Alma, the newest priest in King Noah’s court, chooses to overcome his troubled past and cleave unto the truth, their sacrifice may yield rich fruit. With vivid detail and poignant emotion, this historical novel pulls readers into a fiery tale of love, courage, and faith that is difficult to put down and impossible to forget.


Abinadi is available for preorder here.

Book Giveaway WEEK 6!!

Congratulations to Jess! She won a copy of Land of Inheritance. Jess, email me your address and I'll send your book: heather at hbmoore dot com.

Only 3 more weeks to go before the release of my next book, ABINADI--3 more chances to win Land of Inheritance.

All you have to do it answer this weeks question:

What compels you to jump on Amazon an review a book, for better or for worse? And do you read reviews on a book before you make a purchasing decision?

For me, I read a lot of books, but of course there's only so much time I can spend reviewing them--on Amazon or any place else. So probably the main thing that compels me to review a book is if I LOVE it. If I hate it, I don't usually bother, except there have been one or two exceptions. A second reason that will compel me to post a review is if I personally know the author and realize that I can do my part in helping them promote their book. A third reason is if an author specifically asks me to review their book and then sends me a free copy.

I do read reviews quite often. Of course if it's a favorite author, then I probably won't--I'll just go ahead and buy the book.

What about you?