Book Review: Silence by Deborah Lytton

Love is blind. But it's also deaf. 

I love getting an advanced readers copy (ARC) of a book because I feel like I get to make my own opinion of a book before anyone else has read it and influenced me. I got my hands on this book a few weeks ago and couldn't wait to pick it up.



Title: Silence
Author: Deborah Lytton
Pages: 312
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Date: January 6, 2015
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Summary: Stella was born to sing. Someday Broadway. Even though she's only a sophomore at a new high school, her voice has given her the status as a "cool kid." But everything changes when a tragic accident renders her deaf. She can't hear herself sing not to mention speak. She can't hear anything. Silence. What happens when everything you've dreamed of and hoped for is shattered in a single moment?

Enter Hayden, the boy with blond curls who stutters. He's treated like an outcast because he's not "normal." And, yet, Stella feels an attraction to him that she can't explain. As Hayden reaches out to help Stella discover a world without sound, his own tragic past warns him to keep a distance. But their connection is undeniable. Can the boy who stutters and the girl who's deaf ever find a happily-ever-after? Silence is a story of friendship and hope with a lesson that sometimes it takes a tragedy to help us find and appreciate beauty and love in unexpected places.


My Opinion: Like a sonnet. A steady rhythm of beautiful words and feelings. You anticipate the ending, but don't want it to be over either.

4.25/5 Stars

I was initially intrigued with the idea of this novel - a girl who loves to sing, but tragically loses her hearing. A boy who stutters is the only one she can understand. 

I loved the quick connection that I felt to Stella and Hayden. I'm glad I got to see both of their perspectives (I wish I'd had more from Hayden!). The teenage voice was spot on. 

The best part about this novel is the feelings and thoughts it created in me. Stella has to rediscover herself and the question is posed: is her voice what makes her? It raised the question in me: am I defined by what I can do or by who I am?

I love that Hayden is there, literally and figuratively saving Stella and teaching her that she doesn't need her hearing to live, that Someday Broadway isn't what makes her who she is. She can be something in silence.

I haven't read a lot of books lately where I love the ending. This book changed that for me. Throughout the story I kept hoping that Stella and Hayden would heal each other, but I wasn't sure if I wanted Stella to get her hearing back. I was so pleased with the turn of events (I won't spoil it). 

This would be a great read for anyone that enjoys YA or light romance. Even though it wasn't set in the Jane Austen era, it had the feel of a Regency Period piece - a slow and steady building to a dramatic end.

My Content Rating: PG

Sexuality: Mild (Kissing, Hand holding)

Language/Profanity: None

Drug/Alcohol Use: Mild (Hayden's mom and alcohol at a party)

Intense/Scary Scenes: Mild (Pool scene, some blood)

Violence: Mild (Physical/Emotional Abuse by Hayden's mom)

**Robin-approved for teens**

Top 24 Books for Teen Boys

It's sometimes hard to get our boys to read, let alone LOVE reading. I grew up with seven brothers and most of my best friends growing up were boys too. For the longest time I wished I was a boy - I even wrote a poem all about it (that no one will ever see). Now that I have three boys of my own, I realize the importance of finding the right book fit for the male population.

In conjunction with Delicious Reads, I put together this list of books that I think any tween or teen boy (and adult male) would enjoy. They aren't all told from the male perspective and not all filled with gun and bombs. They are just books that have a quality about them that makes them relate-able. Hop on over to Delicious Reads for summaries of each book, but until then, I give you the best books for the boys and men in your life:

The Making of a Book Cover: Remembrandt

People keep asking me if I got to chose the cover to Remembrandt or not. I kind of ho-hum around the topic because it is a yes-no answer. Any of you who know much about the publishing world, know that most authors have no say whatsoever in their cover.

After Walnut Springs Press offered me a contract earlier this year, they had me send them a list of some book cover ideas, along with a detailed description of all the characters and places in the book. I sent a list of about 5-6 ideas. Since their graphic designer was out of the office until the next week and would only have a few days when they got back to deliver some mock-up covers to Deseret Book, I asked if I could put some of my own mock-ups together. They said yes!

I spent a few days searching for stock images of the main character (a blonde teen with gray eyes) and scenes from Russia (one of the settings in the book). I came up with a few possible ideas and put together a couple cover ideas. BUT I still was't happy with them. Then a friend and fellow photographer (thank you, Mary!) reminded me that I am a photographer too and offered to help with a photo shoot. We gathered together seven or eight models who matched the description of the main characters in the book and clicked away at our cameras.

I spent the next couple of days editing photos, adding text, and layering images. It was a blast coming up with different ideas. Here are some of the many mock-ups we came up with:

My favorites were was the top left one, the black dress with the pink shoes, and the ones with fingers crossed behind back. The publisher also liked the top left one, along with the boy and girl on the bench, Unfortunately, the distributor wanted a more "suspense" looking over. Now that I look back, I totally agree with them. In the end, the graphic designer and Walnut Springs found another model (which is the perfect Alexandra!) and used the Russian scene from my favorite mock-up cover and combined them, similarly as I had done in the top middle mock-up above to get this:

The amazing designer, Tracy Anderson,  added a little makeup to make her appear older (since she's 17 in the book):

At this point, I loved it, but my artist brother, Devin, noticed a crane in the city background, Alexandra's missing shoulder, and thought he could make the transition between her hair and the city more natural. Willow Springs gave me permission to make the changes and here's the final image:

The final cover of Remembrandt

Xoxo,

Robin

The Golem and the Jinni Book Club and Book Review

A few weeks ago I got to host the most amazing group of girls at Delicious Reads. We read The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker. This historical fiction/fantasy book sent us back in time to 1899 New York and also across the globe to the Syrian Desert. In honor of the Jinn, from Helene's book, I transformed my house into a "Little Syria". With some beautiful fabric provided by my mom and some props borrowed from Delicious Reads members, my house became an Arabian dream. Syrian food and golem-making made this night worth remembering!

I transformed my house into "Little Syria" for The Golem and the Jinni Book Club 

I love ice cream and had so much fun creating this ice cream bar in honor of Ice Cream Saleh in the book.

To see more pictures from our amazing book club and get ideas on what activities and recipes I used to recreate your own Arabian Nights Party, check out it out at Delicious Reads (Part I and Part II). And a special thanks to them for spotlighting my upcoming book, Remembrandt, coming in October!

MY BOOK REVIEW:

Book: The Golem and the Jinni

Author: Helene Wecker

Publisher: Harper Collins

Year: 2013

Pages: 496

Reading Level: Adult

Genre: Adult, Magical Realism, Historical Fiction

Summary: An immigrant tale that combines elements of Jewish and Arab folk mythology, The Golem and the Jinni tells the story of two supernatural creatures who arrive separately in New York in 1899. One is a golem, created out of clay to be her master’s wife—but he dies at sea, leaving her disoriented and overwhelmed as their ship arrives in New York Harbor. The other is a jinni, a being of fire, trapped for a thousand years in a copper flask before a tinsmith in Manhattan’s Little Syria releases him.

Each unknown to the other, the Golem and the Jinni explore the strange and altogether human city. Chava, as a kind old rabbi names her, is beset by the desires and wishes of others, which she can feel tugging at her. Ahmad, christened by the tinsmith who makes him his apprentice, is aggravated by human dullness. Both must work to create places for themselves in this new world, and develop tentative relationships with the people who surround them.

And then, one cold and windy night, their paths happen to meet.

My Opinion: A fantastic look at 1899 New York through the unlikely eyes of a creature made of clay and a genie. 

4.25 out of 5 Stars

This book was a little bit fantasy, a little bit mythology, a little bit historical and a whole lot of different. Helene's knowledge of New York right before the turn of the century was seriously astounding! I loved the little bits of history that filled the pages while we experienced the story of the Chava and Ahmad.

When I think back on everything I read, I still can't believe all the events that took place. From Chava's creation and trip to America to Ahmad's reawakening and flashbacks to his life in the desert, you never really knew where the story was going to turn next--which would have been annoying if everything wasn't so interesting. It wasn't just the history that grabbed my attention (Why do people of the same heritage gravitate towards one another? How much did language barriers shape our culture over hundreds of years ago?). The mythological elements had me thinking for days (Do Golems have souls? Can the Jinni have kids? Why is Ice Cream Saleh seeing bones where flesh should be? What if evil souls were reincarnated over and over, only to have the same goal/outcome in each life? What would it be like to know everyone's wants?).

(Possible spoilers) I wasn't sure where the story was going when the Golem was first created. I wasn't sure I would come to have a connection with this character who didn't have her own desires and goals. In the end, she ended up being one of my favorite characters because she grew into this woman who had to chose which desires she could fulfill and which ones she didn't need to fill. Though things didn't quite turn out as I would have liked between her and Michael Levvy, I think their relationship kept me on my toes.

The same goes for Ahmad and Sophia. I didn't love how things turned out (Poor Sophia!), but I think that is part of the reason this novel is so different. You have these two magical characters--the Golem and the Jinni--and they have to interact with humans. I like that their relationships twisted and turned in different directions, eventually ending up where they could both help one another.

My only wish, if Ahmad could have granted it, was that I hoped Chava and Ahmad could have found each other sooner. I would have loved to see more of their interactions!

Overall, this was one of those reads that wasn't just for entertainment. I felt culturally enriched. The historical elements interested me and I learned fascinating details about a society that has been forgotten. No matter what walk of life you come from, The Golem and the Jinni is one of those novels worthy of a read.

Book Cover Reveal: Remembrandt

It's here, people! It's cover reveal time. Remembrandt will be coming to a store near you Fall 2014. Since you are my loyal friends, you get to see the cover first before it hits the shelves.

Drum roll, please . . . 

Stay tuned next week for an in depth look at how the cover came to be, all the mock-up covers we came up with, and why the publisher finally decided upon this one. 

Scripture Study for Dummies

I was going to entitle this post: 

Scripture Study for the Busy Moms of Five Kids who Have a Hard Time Getting Them all to Put Two Shoes on Before Church 

OR 

Scripture Study for the Scripture Genius Who Took all 4 years of Seminary, Every Religious Class BYU Offered, and Has Read the Book of Mormon at Least a Hundred Times EXCEPT Doesn't Know How to Change Things Up

OR

Scripture study for the Single Adult Who Has Made the Time to Study but Still Finds that Something is Missing When They Read the Gospel Works

BUT, I decided to go with:

Sorry, not an actual book :) - source.

Now that isn't to say that we are all unintelligent (the fact that we are all reading this shows how smart we are in spiritual things and that we value Christ in our lives and our commitment to doing what we can to return to Him), but that maybe we need to get back to the root of things, the basics of why and how we should do something like read an ancient book about a people who didn't have to deal with the plethora of things we deal with today.

Now I could tell you all about how my family recommitted a few years ago to reading the scriptures and made it nearly six months without missing a day. Or I could tell you about how we slowly got caught up in the world and our study drifted until we were only doing it all together once a week. Instead of talking about me and my successes or failures with scripture study, let's GET REAL. 

The How: MAKE IT HAPPEN

1.) There's an app for that 

         A. LDS Scripture Mastery App - fast ways to memorize scriptures

         B. SendMeScripture.com - have a scripture texted or emailed to you everyday

         C. LDS Daily Verse App - read a verse a day

         D. LDS Daily Conference Quote - read a quote from conference everyday

Check out these FREE apps/websites to help you get your scripture study done. With all these new electronic programs, we really have no excuse right?

Consider what Richard G. Scott said in October 2014 General Conference 

(Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority):

"Don’t yield to Satan’s lie that you don’t have time to study the scriptures. Choose to take time to study them. Feasting on the word of God each day is more important than sleep, school, work, television shows, video games, or social media. You may need to reorganize your priorities to provide time for the study of the word of God. If so, do it!"

Yep, you read that right. Scripture study is more important than sleep, school, work, television shows, video games, or social media. No excuses.

2.) Keep it in the open - Most of us have the electronic option for scriptures and I think it's great! Sometimes, though, we don't get that reminder because we use our phones and tablets for other things.  I like to keep a large set of scriptures in our living room where I see it everyday and we use everyday. Other options: Scriptures by your bed, on your kids' nightstand, on the coffee table, in the bathroom, etc (tape a scripture to your mirror).

3.) Commit! - Make a chart or bookmark for yourself or for you and/or your kids or spouse fill in together. Put in on the side of the fridge or out in the open so you can mark off what you have read. MAKE GOALS, even if that is just to read one scripture or talk about one story every day. Read the New Testament cover to cover. Read the lesson before church each Sunday. One conference talk a week.

  

Book of Mormon Reading Chart/Bookmark from The Idea Door

4.) If you continue to think as you've always thought, you continue to get what you've always got - Change it up, my friends! If you always read a chapter, do something different like pick a word for the week and read everything you can on that word (read this article I wrote about my marathon training and choosing inspirational words). Only read the Book of Mormon? Give the New Testament a go of it. The Ensign is a great place to read scriptures and get messages from latter-day prophets. 

Here's a little method I like to use to keep things interesting:

5.) Give yourself credit - Daily scripture study does not necessarily mean sitting with the scriptures open on your lap with your family sitting around you holding their red colored pencils and a copy of Preach My Gospel next to them. That is great and should happen often. But some days, daily scripture study can be asking your child to say an article of faith before bed, reading a verse at the dinner table, acting out a scripture story at FHE, reading a picture scripture book before bed, watching a conference talk, or listening to the scriptures on your phone while you cool down from a run. 

The Why: THE FEELING

Life is HARD. Anyone who tells you differently has yet to LIVE.

The scriptures carry with them stories about other people's lives, commandments to live by, knowledge, and people to follow. These things are all important and help us grow as Latter-day Saints and just good all round people. 

We read the scriptures to show Heavenly Father our commitment to Him and the covenants we have made. We read to learn from other's mistakes. We read to come together as families or companions. We read to learn about our heritage and history.

In the end, the most important part of scripture study is how it changes us. It makes us FEEL. We are not perfect. We never will be in this life, no matter how many minutes we read, how many scriptures we have memorized, or the general authorities we can quote. We CAN, however, grow closer to our Heavenly Father. Reading the scriptures is how Heavenly Father talks to us, how we get to know Him. We read to gain a testimony and to strengthen the one we already have. 

Remembrandt Cover Reveal . . . A Sneak Peek

Here's a partial glimpse at the cover of my book, Remembrandt, which will be coming out this fall:

Yeah, I bet you were hoping for something more. Sorry. I have to keep you all guessing.

Stay tuned because the OFFICIAL cover reveal for Remembrandt with be August 8th! Put it in your calendars and shout it on the rooftops because I am so excited for you to see what the publisher and I have come up with! See you next week.

XoXo, Robin

The Secret to Perfect Homemade Ice Cream

I have a problem. It's a serious problem, one that has cursed my thighs and waistline since I was five.

I am Robin King and I am an ice cream-aholic. 

There. I said it. I love ice cream. Cones, sundaes, shakes, with or without toppings, it doesn't matter. I love it. My favorite ice cream of all time is HOMEMADE! My problem is so bad that I currently have 3 different ice cream makers and I'm always on the lookout for another.

Luckily, our Delicious Reads book this month, The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, gives me the perfect excuse to pull out my ice cream makers and gain a few pounds. One of the characters in the book, Mahmoud Saleh is an itinerant ice-cream vendor in 1899 New York. Now we all don't need to be old school like Saleh with an old fashioned ice cream churn, but EVERYONE can have successful homemade ice cream.

An old-fashioned wooden ice cream churn
like Saleh used in The Golem and the Jinni (source).

Since I've been around the block a few times when it comes to homemade ice cream, I'm going to give you my best kept SECRET to the perfectly creamy homemade ice cream. It's not the mixer. It's not the cream or sugar. It's not the milk or the vanilla. It's the . . .

SALT!!

Yes, I said SALT. 

Now I'm not talking about the pinch of salt that you add to the actual ice cream. I'm talking about the ROCK SALT that you use with your ice in your ice cream maker. The salt isn't as important as how you use it. In fact, to save money, I buy one of those big 50 pound bags of water softener rock salt for about $5 and keep it in a 5 gallon bucket. It keeps for years and you don't have to worry about how much you use. Because the real key to homemade ice cream is all about using A LOT of rock salt.

All of you science geeks out there know that the reason we use rock salt is to lower the freezing point of the ice to freeze the cream. Now every ice cream maker is a little different, but here is my rule: for every 3 inches of ice, add 1/2 cup of rock salt.  Just keep layering until you reach the top of your canister, but don't cover it.

If you pack the salt and ice correctly (and add a layer as the ice melts), you should get perfectly creamy ice cream in 30-45 minutes for a 4-6 quart canister. Just follow the instructions that come with your ice cream maker!! If you want ice cream that works for a cone, don't forget the RIPENING & HARDENING STEP. This just means that you remove the beater, put the top back on, cork/plug the hole at the top, put more ice and salt around the canister, and cover with a towel.

Here's a good guide as to how much ice and salt you need:

Freezer Size	Ice for Making	Ice for Ripening	Rock Salt Making	Rock Salt Ripening
4 qts.	10 lbs.	5 lbs.	2-1/2 cups	2-1/2 cups
5 qts.	15 lbs.	5 lbs.	3 cups	3 cups
6 qts.	20 lbs.	5 lbs.	3-1/2 cups	3-1/2 cups

Now you may be thinking this all sounds a bit complicated, but once you've done it once, it is super easy and fun. And yummy! 

But, Robin, you may be asking, what about for those of us that are too scared or lazy to use ice and salt. Can we still enjoy homemade ice cream? Why, yes. Yes, you can. In fact, one of my favorite ice cream makers is a 1.5 quart ice cream maker that requires no ice or salt. The bottom part stays in the freezer until you are ready to use it. It has a special solution that freezes perfectly every time. All you have to do is put in your ingredients. It is ready in 20-25 minutes and makes enough for 2-3 people.

My favorite no-ice-no-salt Ice Cream Maker!

So what is my secret for using an ice cream maker like this? Use the instructions that comes with it!! I have found that if I use the recipes that come with my maker and follow it to a T, the ice cream is perfect every time.

My favorite recipe is this one (I double, triple or quadruple this one depending on the machine I use:

Easy Vanilla Ice Cream

(for 1.5 Quart Capacity)

1 1/2 cup whole milk

3/4 cup sugar

dash salt

1 cup half and half

1/2 cup whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine milk and sugar. Stir with a wire whisk until sugar is dissolved. Stir in half and half, whipping cream and vanilla. Pour into canister and freeze. 

**If you want to do an Oreo or Candy Bits flavor, just add 1-2 cups AFTER the mixture is thick (I usually do it the last 2-3 minutes). For fruit flavoring, like Strawberry, I like to add 2 cups of pureed fruit at the beginning and then at least 1 cup of chunks AFTER as well. For chocolate ice cream, combine 3 ounces of chopped semisweet chocolate with the milk and sugar, put in the microwave for 2 minutes and stir. Return to microwave in 30 second intervals until the chocolate is melted. Then stir in the half and half, whipping cream, and vanilla. You may want to refrigerate it before using the ice cream maker.

Now pull out that ice cream maker (or borrow one) and make at least one batch of ice cream this summer. Your spouse will thank you, your kids will lick their bowls, and your waistline, well, it will keep you warm in the winter.

Source

XoXo, Robin

P.S. For those awesome people that made it to the bottom of this post, you get to be the first to know that I will be doing a COVER REVEAL next week for my book Remembrandt which will be coming out Fall 2014!!

I Have an Announcement

No, I'm not pregnant. We're not moving. I'm not going back to school (yet) and no one is graduating from anything.

But...

I have butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it. Are you sitting down? 

I just signed my first writing deal! A publisher wants to publish my 1st book, Remembrandt (a young adult romantic suspense novel). Whoo hoo!!

I sent Walnut Springs Press my manuscript over 18 months ago and a few months back they contacted me asking if it was still available. Three weeks later I signed the contract!

Now before you all think I'm going to be famous and have movie deals or clothing lines and a fan club, let me clear it up for you. It is a smaller publisher. The book will be available online in print or electronic form (Amazon and Deseret Book) and at local bookstores, mostly Deseret Book, Costco and any others that accept books from Brigham Distributing.

I am hoping this is a step in the right direction in my writing career (can I call it that yet?). I'm just super excited that a publisher actually liked my book and wants to get it out there for me. If things go well, they would also like to publish more books in this series.

The past few weeks have been a little crazy with meeting the publisher, going over contracts, and helping prepare sample covers and ideas (all while taking care of 5 kids, no biggie). I even did a photo shoot for the book cover.  The next few months will be filled with revisions and grueling edits.

My First EVER manuscript all printed out, crisp and clean.
From what I hear, it will soon be plastered with pen marks, pages ripped and torn out, and tears shed.

If all goes as planned, Remembrandt should come out this November. THIS NOVEMBER! It's all a little fast and I am really nervous, but it's my foot in the door and I'm hoping it will open up my writing opportunities for the future.

Wish me luck!

Robin

Delicious and Healthy 4th of July Foods

As you all know by now, writing and reading are two passions of mine. I also LOVE food. I've always believed there is a healthy relationship between books and food. Palatable pages and delectable foods, one cannot exist without the other. Or can they?

With Independence Day around the corner, family and friends coming over to celebrate the big day, you may not have time to pull out The Goldfinch to finish those last few pages (Delicious Reads June book) or crack open The Golem and the Ginni (I get to moderate this book for our July book club!). But you HAVE to make time for that 4th of July food that will make everyone's mouths water. Now I know you want to wow your guests with your PATRIOTIC creativity without adding extra pounds. Here are some of my favorites:

Who doesn't like a salad that has a burst of flavor and color? This Red, White, and Blue Summer Salad is a crowd favorite and light on the calories.

Aren't these Red, White, and Blue Deviled Eggs fabulous looking? Everyone loves a classic deviled egg--adding some food coloring to make these into a bright holiday food will delight your guests and your mouth.

Blue Berries & Watermelon

Simple, fast, and healthy!

You can't have a 4th of July meal without the "rockets red glare." Not only are these Rocket Dogs tasty, but you can use turkey hot dogs (I love the Sara Lee brand!) and low fat Pillsbury dough to make these on the healthy side.

Use your cookies cutters and turn your watermelon into stars for a Patriotic Fruit Salad.

Or make them into 4th of July Wands. I know my daughter would love to wave these around before eating them up!

Why not make your vegetable tray fit the holiday as well? There are plenty of red and white vegetables that would make this American Flag Vegetable Tray perfect for your table. Make your own dill dip with fat free sour cream, light mayonnaise, and fat free cream cheese to keep the calorie count down. Or just buy a premade dip to make this fast and easy.

No one can resist this Festive Fourth of July Trifle from Craftaholics Anonymous. To make it even healthier, use fat-free sour cream and sugar-free jello. 

**Start this one a day or two in advance so each layer can set up properly**

There are so many healthy salsas out there. Why not make it red, white, and blue too? This Blueberry, Strawberry, and Jicama Salsa will add a little spice to your party. Buy some blue corn chips or multigrain baked chips from Costco. You can also make your own healthy chips by cutting corn tortillas with a pizza cutter, spray lightly with cooking spray, sprinkle with salt, and place them in a 400 degree oven for 8-12 minutes.

 I hope you enjoy your Independence Day this Friday and if you do have time, check out some recommendations of Summer Reads from my friend Brooke to make your day perfectly delicious.

Robin