23 days until Christmas!
Eric Shuster is the fifth of six children born to George and Patricia Shuster. He is a graduate of Saint Lawrence Catholic College Preparatory School, holds an industrial engineering management degree from San Jose State University, and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Mr. Shuster is a veteran of the information technology industry, and is today the President and CEO of IntelliClear Inc., a Colorado-based market research firm. Mr. Shuster is an ardent student of the scriptures and prolific theological writer, whose passion for Christianity and humanitarian service led him to starting the Foundation for Christian Studies (FCS) in 2008. The FCS (www.studychristianity.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study, teaching, and practice of Christianity in a way that inspires all people, regardless of theological differences, to come together in support of essential Christian values and compassionate service to God’s children across the globe. Mr. Shuster and his wife Marilyn of 22 years have three children and reside in Colorado where he enjoys writing, community service, and hiking. Mr. Shuster is also a musician and former recording artist. Eric Shuster’s first book, Catholic Roots, Mormon Harvest (Cedar Fort, Inc.) was published in 2009 generating stirring reviews and being heralded as the most comprehensive side-by-side comparison of Catholic and Mormon doctrine to date. Mr.Shuster’s newest release in 2010, The Biblical Roots of Mormonism, was published in 2010 (coauthored by Charles Sale) with equally rousing reviews as the most comprehensive biblical review of Mormon doctrine to date.Visit Eric Shuster on his website and blog: www.ericshuster.com, on Facebook and on Twitter @eshuster.
Charles "Chuck" Sale has been writing and editing for more than 40 years, but he took more time than that to become a Latter-day Saint. He and his wife were baptized in November 2002.He began writing and editing during his 30-year career in the Los Angeles Police Department. As a young police officer, he was directly involved in street operations to quell the 1965 Watts riots. This led to extensive research, writing, and editing in the development of plans for large-scale emergencies. He was involved in initial discussions of the SWAT concept and administrative support for early SWAT training. He wrote the station defense manual for the Los Angeles Police Academy. During the Vietnam war era, he worked on plans for the security of key political figures, including the President of the United States, and played a leadership role in policing violent demonstrations against the war. He was involved in the investigation of the Robert Kennedy assassination. In the early 1970s, Chief of Police Ed Davis loaned him to the federal Task Force on Police to help write proposed standards and goals for local law enforcement agencies across the nation. He edited the book, Police, in which these standards and goals were published. He was also editor and co-author of Human Relations in the Police Service, a handbook that teaches the human relations principles police officers must master to realize professional excellence. Both books found their way into law enforcement agencies and the police science departments of colleges and universities across the country.
Mr. Sale served as adjutant to numerous LAPD command and staff officers, including former Chief of Police Daryl Gates. He developed curriculum and taught at the Los Angeles Police Academy and Glendale College, hosted an LAPD public-service talk show for KABC radio, and conducted an editorial review of security plans for the 1984 Olympic Games. In the latter part of his law enforcement career, he led the Special Projects Unit, which provided administrative support to the Chief of Police. He supervised a wide variety of research and development projects, including work with Jack Cover, inventor of the TASER. He was the speechwriter for the Chief of Police and members of his general staff. Sale has extensive experience in rapid stand-up and operation of field command posts and was for many years on the staff of the Emergency Operations Center, the City-wide emergency command post. He served there during the 1992 riots and other City-wide emergencies.
During those years, he was also a part-time proofreader for the Los Angeles Times and an editorial adviser to doctoral candidates at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
Then and now, Mr. Sale does freelance writing, editing, and management consulting for a wide range of clients. He founded Sale & Associates, a management consulting and administrative services firm. His wife, Teri, is a CPA and former Director of Finance, Universal Pictures Marketing. She and others participate in the work of Sale & Associates.
Mr. Sale was born in California, and graduated from California State University, Los Angeles, with a degree in English. He is the father of five children and the grandfather of seven. He and his wife, Teri, live in Colorado Springs.
LDSWBR: What author/book had the most impact on you this year?
MR. SHUSTER: Blink by Gladwell
MR. SALE: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
LDSWBR: What books are you giving/asking for this Christmas?
MR. SHUSTER: Broke by Beck
MR. SALE: Giving: C. S. Lewis, The Man and His Message, edited by Andrew C. Skinner and Robert L. Millet; A Year with C. S. Lewis, edited by Patricia S. Klein; The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.
Asking: The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Edition; Associated Press Stylebook 2009 (2010 if available); Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills: 50th Anniversary, Ronald C. Eng (Editor)
LDSWBR: If you could only participate in one Holiday activity or tradition this year, what would it be?
MR. SHUSTER: Caroling with my family
MR. SALE: Climb Almagre Mountain with family and friends. See here.
MR. SHUSTER: Blink by Gladwell
MR. SALE: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
LDSWBR: What books are you giving/asking for this Christmas?
MR. SHUSTER: Broke by Beck
MR. SALE: Giving: C. S. Lewis, The Man and His Message, edited by Andrew C. Skinner and Robert L. Millet; A Year with C. S. Lewis, edited by Patricia S. Klein; The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.
Asking: The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th Edition; Associated Press Stylebook 2009 (2010 if available); Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills: 50th Anniversary, Ronald C. Eng (Editor)
LDSWBR: If you could only participate in one Holiday activity or tradition this year, what would it be?
MR. SHUSTER: Caroling with my family
MR. SALE: Climb Almagre Mountain with family and friends. See here.
LDSWBR: What breathtaking photos! Okay, gentlemen, eggnog or warm apple cider?
MR. SHUSTER: Egg Nog of course!!!
MR. SALE: Warm apple cider, definitely.
LDSWBR: Thank you both for participating in our countdown. Best wishes this holiday season!
The Biblical Roots of Mormonism by Eric Shuster and Charles Sale (Cedar Fort; July 2010) is available for purchase in stores worldwide, as well as Amazon, Eric Shuster's website and Charles Sale's website.
If you go caroling at Christmas time, what is your favorite song to sing? For those of you who still have warmer weather for Christmas, what outdoor activities, like hiking, do you do with your family and friends?
Find more gift ideas for the readers in your life in the sidebar of the blog under "More Great Books by LDS Authors."
***Countdown to Christmas 2010 Contest***
LDSWBR will hold a drawing on December 26, 2010 for a $50 Amazon Gift Card, as well as a variety of books being offered by some great LDS authors.
Book prizes generously donated by the authors:
- Oh, Say Can You See? by Laurie (LC) Lewis
- Backlash by Traci Hunter Abramson
- Alma the Younger by Heather (HB) Moore
- True Miracles with Genealogy by Anne Bradshaw
- Dingo by Anne Bradshaw
- Second Kiss by Natalie Palmer
- Cross My Heart by Julie Wright
- Meg's Melody by Kaylee Baldwin
- Save the Child by Margaret Turley
- Anasazi Intrigue (ebook) by Linda Weaver Clarke
- Mayan Intrigue (ebook) by Linda Weaver Clarke
- The Star Prophecy by Joan Sowards (and Walnut Springs Press)
- A cute, handmade apron by Joan Sowards
How to enter:
- Post a thoughtful comment on the Countdown to Christmas 2010 posts. Comments can be added on any of the countdown posts at anytime during the contest period (December 1, 2010 through December 25, 2010). Only one comment per person per "Countdown to Christmas" 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 Christmas 2010 Contest. If you are already a follower send a direct message telling us you want to be included in the contest.
- Tweet this message each day (one entry per day). Just copy and paste into your twitter message window to send it (LDSWBR must be able to see the tweet): LDSWBR Countdown to Christmas 2010 at http://ldswbr.blogspot.com! Enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card & 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 Christmas 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.
- **BONUS +5 entries**- Blog about this contest on your blog in a post that includes a link back to the LDSWBR blog, then send us the link to your specific blog post.
Here are the rules:
- Contest ends at 12:00 Midnight MST on December 25, 2010. Drawing winners will have until 12:00 Midnight MST on January 3, 2010 to claim their prize. After that time, another name will be drawn to receive the prize.
- LDSWBR reserves the right to decide what determines a "thoughtful" comment.
- Physical book prizes can only be shipped within the contiguous United States.
- Authors taking part in the countdown are eligible to participate in the contest.
- The drawing held on December 26, 2010 will be a raffle-type drawing. All entries will be combined and names drawn for the prizes.
Please join us in counting down to Christmas with some great reads!
My favorite song to sing is God rest ye merry gentlemen.
ReplyDeleteWe sing at least two other songs, but we always sing, "We wish you a merry Christmas!"
ReplyDeleteMy favorite song is Silent Night.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds very interesting! I like to sing "Deck the Halls" and "Away in a Manger".
ReplyDelete