Karey's Blog
“Literally” Cooking with Jamie OliverPop Quiz: What word does Jamie Oliver use the most on his show? (Read to the end for the answer.) So, my 16 year-old son Quinn and I have been spending the hot summer days–literally–by cooking à la Jamie Oliver while my husband Patrick is insanely busy with his Cross Country and Distance Running camps for kids at BYU. My twin sister, Gwennie,... [Read more of this review]
What are the Books That Changed Your World?Several weeks ago, the Twitter sphere was all abuzz with Susan Orlean’s hashtag #booksthatchangedmyworld. The New York Times, The New Yorker, and the National Post in Canada sat up and are taking notice. Me? No question: To Kill A Mockingbird. Atticus and Scout still remain my favorite characters in all fiction. His lack of prejudice, his... [Read more of this review]
Check out the Secret Speakers AudiobookYou’re in for a treat as Simon Vance (Booklist’s Voice of Choice) brings Fair O’Nelli’s journey to life in a way I hadn’t even imagined while writing her story. If I can brag on him just a bit more, Simon was also named to Audiofile Magazine Golden Voice status, June 2009. Just so you know, if you don’t already,... [Read more of this review]
Secret Speakers Earns Starred Review from School Library JournalI hope you’ll celebrate some good news with me: just before my son’s wedding, I found out that Secret Speakers and the Search for Selador’s Gate received a starred review from the School Library Journal in this month’s June issue. Since it’s an underground, character-building novel more akin to a fictional version of Half... [Read more of this review]
One Million Butterflies ContestMake as many handmade butterflies as you can this summer! Butterflies are starting to come in from some really special people for One Million Butterflies. It’s my little way of doing something big to celebrate global education for girls. My goal is to collect one million butterflies by 2012 that will all become part of One. Very. Big. Butterfly... [Read more of this review]
Making the Most of LifeI don’t know if this will mean anything to you, but this email from an anonymous school secretary came just at the right time for me. Publishing a book like Secret Speakers–or any book for that matter–comes with its stresses, and if you have stresses of your own, read her message: A lecturer when explaining coping with stress to an... [Read more of this review]
BEA 2010 WannabePeople who write books, blog about books, sell books, or do Anything Books go to Book Expo America every May (in New York, usually). And here I am sitting at my computer affectionately named Spunkie II, with trees swaying outside my window. It’s May. And the trees I’m looking at are NOT in New York. And that means one thing and one thing... [Read more of this review]
Secret Speakers Peeps!OK Secret Speakers readers who showed up at Costco, I promised you pictures. Here you are, and you can even send yours to your friends as an e-card. (NOTE: The e-card only works if you click on this blog page. HINT: at the bottom of the home page, under the video.) They’re in random order just for fun. I’ve thrown in a few for you that show... [Read more of this review]
Hallelujiah!After watching Lee DeWyze sing Hallelujiah last night, it’s all I can think about. It describes perfectly how I feel about being right here, right now where I am with my life, my children, and Secret Speakers. If you haven’t heard it yet, it’s definitely worth listening to. I get chills each time I listen to it! Tweet This Post Read More →
My First Book Signing EverMy first book signing: Costco So this last week I did my first signing ever, and it was at Costco. I discovered the best part of writing Secret Speakers: meeting the people who are going to read it and become part of the Secret Speakers family. Here I am at Costco with family who was there to help out, a Read & Rate it early reader I finally got... [Read more of this review]
A Sneak Peak at IllustrationsHere are a few sneak peaks of the chapter heading illustrations I’m doing for Secret Speakers. I’ve used the Jugendstil font designed by Heinrich Vogeler around 1905, based on the German blackletter tradition. Instead of using his illustrations, I’ve replaced, and am still working on replacing them with my own. I’d love to know... [Read more of this review]
Where Lamb’s Tavern Got it’s NameFor those early readers who participated in the Secret Speakers: Read and Rate It global event, I thought you might be interested to know that Lamb’s Tavern got it’s name from one of my favorite restaurants in Salt Lake City, Lamb’s Grill and Café, owned by John Spiro. It’s one of those places that has the old wood paneling... [Read more of this review]
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Latest on Sun, 09:49 pm: What a great book I loved it there should be a movie I love the book soo much great job
: This was a book that captivated me for hours until I finished it! It's a book that's full of adventure.
: I read Secret Speakers twice and enjoyed it even more the second time. HOWEVER, listening to the audio book has been a remarkable experience! Simon Vance brings the various characters to life with remarkably different and appropriate voices. I am amazed by the poetic music of the words as well as the flow of the story. We frequently comment, “Oh, isn’t this wonderful…doesn’t she write beautifully!” I give it 5 stars--or more if it’s legal. [...]
: Hello Becca, you must miss your mother. Perhaps she's closer than you know. It's wonderful to talk about her in stories. To answer your question about my degree, Becca, I majored in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. Many authors get other degrees, though, and that’s great because it helps give them a lot of life experience and different observations of the world.
: It is with great pleasure to write this letter to you. You know me as Becca but when I write stories I go by Elliana Kingrod. Thank you so much. It was a great book and I love the first line. It makes me laugh every time I read it. I just want to say that the book cover means a lot to my family and me. You see my mom had cancer and we [...]
: I was right
: SecretSpeakers will probally be the best book I've ever read
: Thanks for your comment, LJ.
: I think this book is a recreation of the story of Jesus in the bible. From the 'bleeding from every pore' to giving the miracle of sight by putting mud on the eyes. It was a good book but I think all of these rave reviews make it seem like this story hasn't been heard before.
: I was skeptical about Secret Speakers being as good as people say it is, and didn't think I'd like it. But I was I wrong. I can't stop thinking about the scenes in the story.
: This book has a brilliant way of displaying some of life's greatest meanings through fantasy.
: I loved the book. A great fantasy with a moral that doesn't slap you in the face. I am recommending to all my friends.
: I liked it for the spiritual content.
: knew it would be great the moment I heard about it three years ago
: Finally–a new book for our children’s generation that is as Tolkienesque and/or C.S. Lewisinian as anything I’ve come across.
: I could tell I was going to love it just from the back cover.
: we just bought five copies to give as gifts. Sequel, please?
: I've been waiting for this to come out for a lonnng time.
: get this book, seriously!
: I stayed up late because I had to finish it.
: A MUST read!!!!