17 days until the
first day of summer!
Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen first knew she wanted to be a writer when she was in the 6th grade. Her English teacher had been reading S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders to the class, and when she reached the section where Johnny urged Ponyboy to stay “gold,” Ronda realized she wanted to write "golden” words just as Hinton had. More than that, she wanted those words to encourage the "golden" in others.In reaching for that goal, Ronda studied English at Ricks College, Weber State University, and Utah State University. In 1994, her first magazine article was published, and she has since published numerous articles and short stories in print and online mediums. Her first suspense novel, Missing, was published in 2009, and an early version of her second novel, Trapped, won first place in the League of Utah Writer’s 2009 full-length manuscript contest before it was accepted and later published in May 2010. Ronda enjoys teaching and speaking in various venues. She loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted at rondagibbhinrichsen@gmail.com.
Visit Ronda's website: www.rondahinrichsen.com and her blogs: The Write Blocks and My Favorite Things.
LDSWBR: What activities do you and/or your family participate in every summer? Do you have plans to try something or go somewhere new this year?
RONDA: We have a farm with hay to grow and haul, etc., so we don't often get away too much in the summer. We will likely go on a short camping trip or maybe take an afternoon or two to go kayaking with my husband. My husband and I are planning on taking a trip to Europe sometime before next summer, however, so that will be our vacation.
LDSWBR: Do you have a favorite summer food or drink? If so, are you willing to share the recipe?
RONDA: My favorite summer food is gelato. Authentic Italian gelato is best, but I'll settle for regular ice cream if I have to (grin.) Follow this link to a quick, Chocolate Chip Raspberry Ice Cream recipe.
LDSWBR: What books are on your summer reading list?
RONDA: I have a stack of books I'm slowly but surely working my way through, but I'm sure more will be added before the summer is over. :) At the top is Queen in Exile by Donna Hatch and Chocolate Roses by Joan Soward. I also want to finish Josi Kilpack's culinary series. I already know a lot about each story because I helped critique them, but I'm looking forward to reading the finished products.
LDSWBR: Thank you for sharing with us, Ronda!
TRAPPED by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen (Walnut Springs Press; May 2010) is available for purchase at independent book stores, Deseret Book, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Borders. You can also purchase Trapped directly from Ronda's website.
Have you ever traveled to Europe? If so, what part of your visit did you enjoy the most? If not, where in Europe would you like to visit most?
Tweet this today for an entry in the drawing:
TRAPPED by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen- Countdown to Summer 2010- win $25 Amazon Gift Card & books! http://bit.ly/9LC8xs @ldswbr #ldswbr2010
If you read and liked the book by this author, nominate it for a Whitney Award! Visit the LDS Publisher blog for a list of several fiction books published by LDS authors in 2010.
***Countdown to Summer 2010 Contest***
LDSWBR will hold a drawing on June 26, 2010 for a $25 Amazon Gift Card, as well as a variety of books being offered by some of the LDS authors that will be featured on the blog.
Book prizes generously donated by the authors:
- Abish: Daughter of God by K.C. Grant
- TRAPPED by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
- The Road Show by Braden Bell
- Awakening Avery by Laurie Lewis
- Courting Miss Lancaster by Sarah M. Eden
- Summer in Paris by Michele Ashman Bell
- Hometown Girl by Michele Ashman Bell
- Alma the Younger by Heather (H.B.) Moore
- Queen in Exile OR The Guise of a Gentleman by Donna Hatch (winner's choice)
- The Silence of God by Gale Sears (book or audio- winner's choice)
- Dangerous Connections by Julie Coulter Bellon
- Critique of three chapters (up to 30 pages) from Nichole Giles
How to enter:
- Post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Summer 2010 author posts. Comments can be added on any of the author posts anytime during the contest period (June 1, 2010 through June 21, 2010). Only one comment per person per "Countdown to Summer" author post will be entered into the drawing. Feel free to comment more than once per post if you'd like, but only one comment will be accepted as an entry.
- Follow us on Twitter: @LDSWBR - then send us a direct message to let us know you want to be entered in the Countdown to Summer 2010 Contest. If you are already a follower you need to send us a direct message telling us you want to be included in the contest.
- Tweet about that day’s author post using the tweet message included in each author post. Send an email to ldswbr at gmail dot com with the link to your tweet. Only one tweet per day counts so no need to harass your friends :). LDSWBR must be able to see the tweet in order for you to get an entry into the contest.
- Tweet this message each day (one entry per day). Just copy and paste into your twitter message window to send it: LDSWBR Countdown to Summer 2010 at http://ldswbr.blogspot.com! Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card & some great books! @ldswbr #ldswbr2010
- Follow LDSWBR on Facebook, then send an email to ldswbr at gmail dot com that you’d like to be entered into the Countdown to Summer 2010 Contest. If you already follow LDSWBR on Facebook, send us an email to let us know you’d like to be included in the contest.
- Blog about this contest on your blog in a post that includes the link to the LDSWBR blog, then send us the link to your specific blog post.
Here are the rules:
- LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a "thoughtful" comment.
- Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MDT on June 25, 2010. Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MDT on July 3, 2010 to claim their prize. After that time, another name will be drawn to receive the prize.
- Book prizes can only be shipped within the contiguous United States.
Please join us in counting down to summer with some great reads!
Hello ladies! Oh! Rhonda's going to Europe! My hubby said to me last night, "Do you realize it was exactly a year ago we were finishing packing to leave the next day for Europe?" *shivers* I still can't believe I was there! Loved Venice. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I have never been to Europe but I would so LOVE to go!! I would most like to visit Italy but also England and Germany where my ancestors are from.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to Europe, but would love to go. I took German for five years and learned a lot about the country and would love to go to Germany.
ReplyDeleteI have heard a lot of great things about "Trapped" and would love to win it! My daughter reads a book a day and I'm having a hard time keeping her supplied. :)
Sadly, I have never been to Europe or even out of the United States even though I have a passport :) I would definitely love to go to Wales, Scotland, and England since that is where the majority of my ancestors are from.
ReplyDeleteI was able to go to Europe for a study abroad program. We lived in London and I absolutely loved all the parks and old buildings. There was a park dedicated to different varieties of roses, so beautiful! However, we took about 10 days to drive through Scotland and the lush, green hills were magnificent!
ReplyDeleteI need to go to Egypt and Greece one day because I am a 6th grade teacher and I teach about the history of these countries.
What a fun interview, Ladies! Thanks. :)
ReplyDeleteI think Ronda is such an awesome author. I think I travel to Europe in my dreams of hoping to go there some day.
ReplyDeleteNever been there. I would love to go to England and Italy. I love old architecture, and I think there would be so many history lessons to learn while I was there. I loved history in school!
ReplyDeleteI have never been there. I would love to go to England. Someday! :)
ReplyDeletechaleese@comcast.net
I've never been to Europe. I think'd like to go to Holland and Poland.
ReplyDeleteMy husband's grandfather died in a concentration camp in poland, at the end of World War II.