From: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com (aml-list-digest) To: aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: aml-list-digest V1 #266 Reply-To: aml-list Sender: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-aml-list-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk aml-list-digest Monday, February 26 2001 Volume 01 : Number 266 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 10:13:32 -0700 From: "Brown" Subject: Re: [AML] Linda Paulson ADAMS, _Prodigal Journey_ (Review) I love it when I drama person writes a novel! Great dialogue. Well, Michael, thanks for the terrific review! It's one of the books I've promised myself to read. If it's this great I'll recommend it to my book group! Marilyn - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 21:35:51 +0000 From: maryjanejones@att.net Subject: Re: [AML] DUTCHER, _Brigham City_ April 6 was chosen as the release date for Brigham City because: a) It is far enough in advance of the summer blockbuster season to stand a chance at getting booked in theaters outside the Wasatch Front. b) It gives Richard Dutcher enough post-production time to finish the movie well (with soundtrack, color timing, etc.) The film's originally slated release date was Feb 14, but that ended up not giving Richard enough post-production time. And to answer your observation about other films opening... c) Yes, there are several other films opening on April 6, but there are other films opening on any other date we could have chosen. Based on the information available at the time, we decided that the films opening April 6 posed no greater threat of competition than films opening on any other date within our range. And that's about it. The fact that April 6 is also a significant date in church history was a pleasant coincidence. But thanks for attributing to us so great an understanding of the LDS subconscious, Eric... Mary Jane - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 15:37:10 -0600 From: Linda Adams Subject: Re: [AML] Linda Paulson ADAMS, _Prodigal Journey_ (Review) At 04:21 AM 2/22/01, you wrote: >Five hundred and seventeen pages consumed in a few days. Need I say >more? Gosh, thanks, D. Michael. This review means a lot to me coming from you. The errors you pointed out are valid, and maybe can be worked on in future revised editions. :-) I agree with those points, and thanks for bringing them to light. I'm blushing, though, from everything else you said, especially after you ripped _Disoriented_ to shreds (guess you won't live that down!), which I haven't read yet myself. <> Let's talk about this. I find that readers either like this part a lot, or react much as you did. It happens to be the first scene I wrote, the scene that got this whole snowball rolling downhill, so to speak, so I'm not changing it. I also have my reasons, and it's not just to "convert" Alyssa to the church later on. Sure, the miracle could have been performed by anyone with the Priesthood. But why _not_ Jesus himself? Doesn't He care deeply for each of us, on a personal and individual level? That's one question I'm asking by including this scene the way it is. In fact, one of the underlying themes of the book is the reality of God, whether one believes in Him or not. He is there loving us. One character in the book, Andrew (Peter's brother), reacts to Alyssa's healing story in a similar way--"Why would _he_ do that for _her_ when we have all these problems here and we're supposed to be the special, faithful ones?" (Andrew is already struggling, but that will be developed more in the second book.) You mentioned the knife. What's funny about that is, she actually needed the knife only 'way later in the book (towards the end, when she's in the forest? that part) and I had to figure out how she got it. I could've written that better, you're right. I thought of doing exactly what you suggested--writing in her buying it, etc.; at the time we were worried the manuscript was already too LONG for a first novel/unknown author, and it just kept going, and going, and going... Anyway, in a way the introduction of the knife detail where it is was supposed to prep the reader for her having it at the end when she needed one. So I didn't *quite* get it right. This will help me for next time! The next book, also, contains many more LDS references and goes more in-depth with my LDS characters; I hope to be able to balance that out, because it does contrast with the way it's presented in the first book. Working on it. (Which I have to get back to *right now,* actually... I'm not checking mail often lately.) In the beginning and for a long time with this manuscript, I avoided outwardly calling the Church by its name, but a different writers' group called me on that and said it was chicken not to. They were right. Don't hide what you are. (I liked the way Richard Dutcher put it in his _Irreantum_ interview.) But I'd like to think nonmembers can read this without feeling proselyted, since that's not my point in writing at all. Hopefully, the second & remaining books will provide a window into our culture without the "proselyting" effect as well, although the LDS elements will be far more obvious. They have to be, in order to tell the story like it is. Thanks again, D. Michael! Linda Linda Adams adamszoo@sprintmail.com http://home.sprintmail.com/~adamszoo - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 14:04:36 -0800 From: "Frank Maxwell" Subject: [AML] Audio- or Videotaping the AML Scholarly Conference? Are there any plans to audio- or videotape this Saturday's AML Scholarly Conference in Salt Lake City? I'm sure there are many of us outside of Utah who can't come but who'd still like to hear the presentations. (Not to mention those at the conference in one session who can't go to the other concurrent session.) Maybe the AML can do what Sunstone does, and tape the sessions, selling the tapes for a nominal cost. If I were there, I'd be happy to help. Frank Maxwell - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 16:17:39 -0700 From: "ROY SCHMIDT" Subject: Re: [AML] Robert NEWELL, _Word History for Latter-day Saints Volume1:Preexistence to the Promised Land_ (Review_ Jeff, You can help me with this. It has been quite a while since I listened to his tapes, so this is by memory. Erickson claimed that a group of Jews, mostly from Eastern Europe, had signed a declaration that was anti-Zionist, denied the need to rebuild the temple or establish a homeland for the Jews. He then pointed out that the areas where Holocaust hit hardest, Poland etc., was the areas inhabited by these anti-Zionists. I am sure I have some of this incorrect, but that is the gist of the argument. He is a cousin of Victor Ludlow at BYU. (I think you know him.) Victor holds a Ph.D. from Brandies where he studied Jewish history and religion. I talked to him about Einar's claim, and Victor was not very kind in his response. In a nutshell, there is plenty of evidence that Hitler decimated the Jewish people in these areas, but no evidence that he did for THAT reason. Does this ring a bell with you at all? Is the declaration a fact of history, or is the entire thing of whole cloth? Roy >>> Jeff Needle 02/21/01 03:08PM >>> At 04:32 PM 2/21/01 -0700, you wrote: Roy wrote: >While he has a lot on interesting insights, I have come to the >conclusion that many of his conclusions are dead wrong. For example he >argues that European Jews who rejected the idea of rebuilding the >temple in Jerusalem became subject to Hitler's ovens because of that >rejection. Jeff responded: Unbelievable. How could he come to such a conclusion? - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 17:01:37 -0700 From: "Christopher Bigelow" Subject: Re: [AML] SAMUELSEN, _Three Women_ (Performance) What time does it start? Should we call in advance and pay for tickets by credit card, to guarantee = a seat? - -------- For a sample copy of IRREANTUM, a Mormon literary quarterly, send $4 to = the Association for Mormon Letters, 262 S. Main St., Springville, UT = 84663. - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 19:10:50 +0000 From: Jeff Needle Subject: Re: [AML] Robert NEWELL, _Word History for Latter-day Saints Volume1:Preexistence to the Promised Land_ (Review_ Boy, this is a good question. There have always been Jews who believe that the expulsion from the Promised Land was a punishment from God and that they will NOT return to Israel. Most prominently, a small groups of such Jews, many rabbis, met with Louis Farrakhan, in seeming agreement with Farrakhan's modified, though still negative, views of the Jews and the state of Israel. In fact, these Jews feel that, should God want them back in Israel, He'll do it himself, no need for airplanes, etc. They view the current Jewish population in Israel as traitors! Anti-Zionist indeed. But as to the agreement you mention below, no, I've never heard of it. I don't know anything about those areas of Polant. I could do some research on it to see what I can learn. I'm very interested in this. Thanks for the update, Roy. - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 00:54:41 -0700 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] SAMUELSEN, _Three Women_ (Performance) "Eric R. Samuelsen" wrote: > These plays will be performed in the Little Brown Theatre, across the street from the Villa Theatre in Springville UT, 239 S. Main. I'd like to hear the logistics of how you went about getting this play produced, including what it was like to do it at the Little Brown Theater. - -- D. Michael Martindale dmichael@wwno.com ================================== Check out Worldsmiths, the new online LDS writers group, at http://www.wwno.com/worldsmiths Sponsored by Worlds Without Number http://www.wwno.com ================================== - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 01:30:27 -0700 From: "D. Michael Martindale" Subject: Re: [AML] Linda Paulson ADAMS, _Prodigal Journey_ (Review) Linda Adams wrote: > Sure, the miracle could have been performed by anyone with the Priesthood. > But why _not_ Jesus himself? Doesn't He care deeply for each of us, on a > personal and individual level? That's one question I'm asking by including > this scene the way it is. In fact, one of the underlying themes of the book > is the reality of God, whether one believes in Him or not. He is there > loving us. One character in the book, Andrew (Peter's brother), reacts to > Alyssa's healing story in a similar way--"Why would _he_ do that for _her_ > when we have all these problems here and we're supposed to be the special, > faithful ones?" (Andrew is already struggling, but that will be developed > more in the second book.) I'm glad to hear you have a reason for using Christ, and not just throwing him in for effect or a quick solution to a conversion. That shows you're a competent author. The problem is, it's not apparent when the scene happens, so the reader doesn't know if you're being competent or not. One idea I had, and you can decide if this sounds any good or not, is to downplay who it is during the miracle scene. That's done simply by removing the reference to his hand and wrist wounds. Spreading out the revelation of who it is would soften it. It would also, I think, make the scene where she sees the portrait in the Richardsons' home even more powerful. It would also allow you to have Andrew react with his skepticism immediately after the reader realizes who the healer was, thereby showing the reader that the author recognizes that Christ making a visitation is out of the ordinary. Then the reader can feel the author is competent and an explanation will be coming at some future point. You can have any unbelievable thing happen in your story as long as you have the characters react to its unbelievableness so the reader knows the author recognizes the problem. Of course, you also have to justify it eventually, or the reader will feel cheated. But the sooner after the unbelievable event you get a "What the heck?" reaction from a character, the better. The longer a reader reads with a skeptical raised eyebrow, the worse for you. Good writing is such a balancing act! > You mentioned the knife. What's funny about that is, she actually needed > the knife only 'way later in the book (towards the end, when she's in the > forest? that part) and I had to figure out how she got it. I could've > written that better, you're right. I thought of doing exactly what you > suggested--writing in her buying it, etc.; at the time we were worried the > manuscript was already too LONG for a first novel/unknown author, and it > just kept going, and going, and going... Anyway, in a way the introduction > of the knife detail where it is was supposed to prep the reader for her > having it at the end when she needed one. So I didn't *quite* get it right. > This will help me for next time! Even though technically this scene did foreshadow the actual use of the knife, it still _felt_ like an "Oh by the way" situation. As a reader, I already had that feeling before I read on to discover when the knife would actually be used. I can understand your concern as a first time author that your book might seem to drag on and you'd want to shorten it up. But I hope it's success has given you the confidence to know that the character you created is interesting enough that the readers _do_ want to hear about the things she does that reveal facets of her personality. And mentioning those events (buying the knife, carrying it with her, fingering it) wouldn't take all that many lines to include anyway: certainly no more lines than the "Oh by the way" scene used. If you show something happening in real time, in chronological order, no reader on earth can complain that it was a contrived or misplaced scene. It's just what happened then. > The next book, also, contains many more LDS references and goes more > in-depth with my LDS characters; I hope to be able to balance that out, > because it does contrast with the way it's presented in the first book. > In the beginning and for a long time with > this manuscript, I avoided outwardly calling the Church by its name, but a > different writers' group called me on that and said it was chicken not to. > They were right. Don't hide what you are. Balance isn't a set number of references. Balance is what is honest for the book. Alyssa knew nothing about the church--so little she couldn't even recognize the signs of her roommate being a disciple. In volume one, balance required very little in the way of references. Volume two will have its own set of requirements based on what the POV characters know. If they know the name of the church, then you say it without apology. If they're members, then LDS references abound all over the place, because that's what the characters know. > Hopefully, the second & remaining books will provide a window into > our culture without the "proselyting" effect as well, although the LDS > elements will be far more obvious. If you write honestly, they won't appear as proselyting to any but those with a chip on their shoulder--and they'd only be happy if you wrote anti-church stuff. Writing honestly means you tell what would really happen based on who the characters are and what the circumstances are, not based on what would maximally "promote faith." (Personally, I think the best faith-promoting stories are the honest ones anyway.) - -- D. Michael Martindale dmichael@wwno.com ================================== Check out Worldsmiths, the new online LDS writers group, at http://www.wwno.com/worldsmiths Sponsored by Worlds Without Number http://www.wwno.com ================================== - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 07:56:31 -0700 From: "Eric R. Samuelsen" Subject: Re: [AML] SAMUELSEN, _Three Women_ (Performance) The play begins at 7:30. Unfortunately, we're not set up to process credit card orders. I = apologize for the inconvenience. We're recommending that people just come = to the door. We don't anticipate a sold-out performance. Eric=20 - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 07:57:33 -0700 From: "Eric R. Samuelsen" Subject: Re: [AML] SAMUELSEN, _Three Women_ (Performance) Our senior discount is available to anyone who can make a plausible case = for one. 55 sounds good to me! Eric Samuelsen - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 09:18:10 -0800 From: "Rachel Ann Nunes" Subject: Re: [AML] Apocalyptic LDS Lit > Tarr, Kenneth R. _The Last Days: The Gathering Storm_. Cedar Fort. > (first of a series) The sequel _The Last Days Volume Two: Zion's Trail_ was released last December. Not on the Gideon's list is John McRae's _A Place Near Kolob_ and sequels (1999). And also Marsha Newman's trilogy _The Lightning and the Storm_, _A Love Beyond Time_, and _Fire and Glory_ (Wellsping Press, 1989). About Pam Blackwell's novel _Ephraim's Seed_. A friend I trust read about 100 pages of it and said the story line wasn't bad. It begins after a great economic cartel has gained control of the world and even the LDS Church in Utah. My friend thought the story went a little slow, however, and it was so full of language errors--nearly every fourth or fifth sentence--that he gave up reading. He couldn't see how the novel was based on scripture, which really annoyed him. Given this recommendation, I'm not likely to pick one up. Can anyone else verify this? Rachel _______________________ Rachel Ann Nunes (noon-esh) Best-selling author of the Ariana series and This Time Forever Web page: http://www.ranunes.com E-mail: rachel@ranunes.com - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 09:31:10 -0800 From: "Rachel Ann Nunes" Subject: Re: [AML] LDS Thrillers > Rachel Ann Nunes has a couple of books, the first one being _Love to the > Highest Bidder_, published by Covenant (sorry, I don't have the date 1998 _Framed for Love_ (1999) and _Love on the Run_ (2000) are the sequels. _Love on the Run_ uses a good deal more technolgy than the others--mostly spy stuff. > technology that I remember, though-- but it is also a romance *and* it's > inspirational. What else could you ask for? ;) (Personally, I didn't think it > could be done, but Rachel did it nicely.) Thank you, Katie! Rachel _______________________ Rachel Ann Nunes (noon-esh) Best-selling author of the Ariana series and This Time Forever Web page: http://www.ranunes.com E-mail: rachel@ranunes.com - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 23:42:56 -0600 From: Linda Adams Subject: Re: [AML] Linda Paulson ADAMS, _Prodigal Journey_ (Review) At 11:13 AM 2/22/01, you wrote: >I love it when I drama person writes a novel! Ha ha, this is very, very funny, Marilyn! Actually, it's a fiction person writing drama. You just happened to read my two (and only two, unproduced) plays first. And I love writing drama. But I'm a fiction writer first. Actually, maybe a poet first. But poetry's harder to get anybody to read... I hope you take it to your book group! Let me know! Linda Linda Adams adamszoo@sprintmail.com http://home.sprintmail.com/~adamszoo - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 12:35:54 -0700 From: "Brown" Subject: Re: [AML] SAMUELSEN, _Three Women_ (Performance) THREE WOMEN starts at 7:30 and will play tonight (Friday) Sat. and next Thurday, Friday and Saturday at the Little Brown Theatre, 239 S. Main in Springville, and the cost is $6, 7? I can't remember. Anyway, we are excited to have you come! No reservations needed! Marilyn - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 12:32:47 -0700 (MST) From: Ivan Angus Wolfe Subject: [AML] Directions to AML Scholarly Conference It's been a whole year - and I'm presenting again - but I can't remember the directions to the AML conference on saturday! anyone have good set of directions from Provo? email me at iaw2@email.byu.edu - --ivan - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 13:14:45 -0700 From: "ROY SCHMIDT" Subject: Re: [AML] Robert NEWELL,_Word History for Latter-day Saints Volume1:Preexistence to the Promised Land_(Review_ Keep me posted, Jeff. - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 13:16:50 -0700 From: Barbara Hume Subject: Re: [AML] SAMUELSEN, _Three Women_ (Performance) The way I usually make a plausible case is to shuffle uncertainly up to the ticket window and request the ticket in a quavering voice. barbara hume At 07:57 AM 2/23/01 -0700, you wrote: >Our senior discount is available to anyone who can make a plausible case >for one. 55 sounds good to me! > >Eric Samuelsen > > > >- >AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature >http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 14:03:00 -0700 From: Gideon Burton Subject: RE: [AML] Directions to AML Scholarly Conference To Westminster College from Provo: I-15 North Turn right onto I-80 East Get off at the Sugar House / 1300 East exit Turn Left (North) Go through one stoplight Watch for entrance to Westminster on your left Address: 1840 South 1300 East The Gore Auditorium is one or two buildings south of the main administration building that has the circular drive in front of it. You'll see people walking toward it. Another way to find it is south of the tennis courts three or four buildings on your left. It's a very small campus. Gideon Burton - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2001 16:33:11 -0700 From: "Travis Manning" Subject: Re: [AML] A Mormon Criticism >From: Jonathan Langford > >Travis, > What purpose does literature have in the cosmos as seen in >Mormon eyes? That's a question that interests me a lot, and one I think >everyone who professes a serious interest in Mormon letters ought to >tackle, at least in personal terms--and that we all ought to talk about >more in Mormon literary and artistic circles. ************************** What if we devoted next year's AML Conference to looking at critical perspectives, at a "Mormon" perspective . . . . Though, perhaps the Brethren, now, would prefer we refer to a "Mormon" criticism as a "Church of Jesus Christ" criticism -- I am in no way attempting in being sarcastic here, just pondering on the recent NYT article. Are we going to change the name of the Association for Mormon Letters to something else? Should we? (I'm getting sidetracked.) ************************ >So my >prejudice is against any attempt to label something as "the" Mormon >criticism, but rather toward encouraging Mormon literary scholars from >every different critical school and approach to talk and write about the >connection between their own critical theory and practice and Mormonism. >Providing forums for this type of discussion would, I think, take us much >further in Mormon letters than any attempt to arrive at a formalized >"Mormon" literary scholarship. ********************************** I think employing a variety of critical perspectives may be the way to go for Mormon criticism. "Seek ye learning [critical perspectives] out of the best books . . . ." Perhaps "a" Mormon critical perspective could *be* a combo of many. *********************************** >"One Lord, one faith, one baptism" should not, I think, be taken to the >point of "one literary criticism." It's my belief that one of Mormonism's >cultural quirks, not always a positive one, is an attempt to arrive at >consensus and closure in areas far removed from doctrine and religious >practice; but in areas like literary criticism I think it's important to >let a certain diversity flourish, in the interests of seeing what we can >learn from each other. ********************************* Amen, brother. And "I say these things humbly . . ." to quote Richard Cracroft who used to close my senior seminar class on Mark Twain at the Zoo, in this manner; but, if anyone *were* to write "a" critical Mormon perspective, he, along with Eugene England, could be co-authors. My prayers go out to Prof. England at this time. Travis K. Manning "Men and women die; philosophers falter in wisdom, and Christians in goodness: if any one you know has suffered and erred, let him look higher than his equals for strength to amend, and solace to heal." (Jane Eyre) _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com - - AML-List, a mailing list for the discussion of Mormon literature http://www.xmission.com/~aml/aml-list.htm ------------------------------ End of aml-list-digest V1 #266 ******************************