And So Begins a New Heimer-Blog

Welcome to Frost Cave.

So it's been a while since I've posted anything online. Many have expressed that they deeply miss my website cheimerdinger.com, all the questions and answers, the forums, the monthly newsletters, etc., etc., etc. Well, here's the scoop: that website became entangled in legal wranglings and no longer exists. Nor will it ever exist again in the same form. It's a long story that I may tell one day, but the truth of the matter is that its demise freed up an extraordinary amount of my time. It was crazy everyday trying to keep up with it. So what have done with that free time? Mostly, I have devoted it to family and personal matters for the past couple years--and I think it was time well devoted. Of course, I also, theoretically, have more time to devote to writing and creating. The primary recipient of such energies right now is the project "Thorn of Glory"--the latest in the Tennis Shoes Adventure Series. This project has been an excruciating exercise in research and discipline. However, so many fascinating subjects have been explored during the creating, and I hope to address many of those subjects in this blog. I've always gotten positive responses and comments to my "Chapter Notes" in back of my various Tennis Shoes books over the years. Well, the Chapter Notes in this latest Tennis Shoes novel are meatier than any that I've provided before. It's fun, but as I say, it's also excruciating.

I confess, there are other reasons that writing has been slow. For those who are unaware, I was remarried this April. It was an incredible day and a glorious rebirth from some sad and trying episodes in my life.

The truth is that I have never been happier. Currently my new wife, Emily, and I have responsibilities for no less than nine children. (My oldest son, Steven, is on a mission in the Ukraine.) It's quite a household. Never a dull moment. Much chaos. And very little quiet time for introspection and contemplation. But that's not totally a bad thing, right? The rewards are legion, and the greatest blessing has been that I totally lucked out by selecting a wife with an incredible passion for making it work.

So here I am, an LDS artist--a person who has devoted his life and career to celebrating the Gospel of Jesus Christ with creative works, and I am no less immune from the tragedies and pitfalls of life on planet earth as any other human being. The best part is that instead of drawing me further away from the Gospel, such events have drawn me closer. I love this Church. I'm so proud to be a part of it. And I enjoy nothing more than bearing testimony of its truthfulness while at the same time creating entertaining and (I hope, sometimes at least) beautiful artistic works celebrating its themes.

Recently I wrote a new fireside and delivered it to a group of single adults in Draper, Utah. This talk gave me a chance, again, to express my deepest convictions in the Restored Church and the Atonement of our Savior. I was also able to discuss a wide range of other subjects, from the conflicts of science and religion to the fact that we, as people, are not as prone to bear our testimonies to friends and associates that way we were back in the 70s and early 80s. Fun subjects, and it seemed to be well recieved. And it may also provide future fodder for a blog like this.

So for those who miss cheimerdinger.com, this is the place to come if you want to hear me rant about the things I care about most. That is, if anyone cares to listen. I'll have to judge that as the weeks go by. Most of my time, frankly, I need to devote to writing novels and developing projects that will feed my family. But a blog may be a great way to blow off steam from time to time, contemplate the higher things of the universe, and seek the healing balm of friends and fans who may, occasionally, reply with some tidbit or comment that will truly make my day and raise my spirits higher. Hopefully time I devote to this endeavor will prove to be a breath of fresh air that I will seek on a regular basis. My fear is that, with the internet these days, there may well be more bloggers than there are readers. Isn't that the way it is with so many of conversations? Also, whose to know if I can really be judged someone with worthwhile things to say outside of telling stories or pursuing creative works?

We'll just have to see. In the meantime, I'll give this a go and see where it leads . . .

(c) Copyright 2009, Chris Heimerdinger