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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

3-Week Warning

At all autograph signings I've told people that my products would not remain at Costco forever. Costco has provided the least expensive prices I've seen for the new book and audio book of Sorcerers and Seers, as well as the shrink-wrapped sets of books 1-5 and 6-10 of the Tennis Shoes Adventure Series.

Costco just announced a three-week sell down of all these products. Therefore, beginning in early-to-mid January, the products will no longer be sold at Costco.

Their prices have been incredible, especially in this economy. I can't even sell them that low on my own website. As far as I can figure, every product has been priced close to the actual wholesale costs. It's been a phenomenal way for new fans to get started on the series. Also, as far as I am aware, Seagull and Deseret Book (at least those located in the same community as a Costco) have willingly price-matched Costco's prices. But in three weeks, all of that ends. In fact, for the audio, which is only $25.99 at Costco (usually $40.00) the opportunity ends on FRIDAY. The unabridged 15-CD audio for Sorcerers and Seers is discontinuing earlier than the books.

Now, none of this is bad news. Costco has been great! They've always had a quick turnover of new releases. This blog is just to warn fans who still want the products, or those who still want to give them as gifts, or those who bought the first 1-5 book set and weren't sure (yet) if they wanted the second 6-10 book set--a warning to act fast. All prices will go up (which basically means they will return to normal) three weeks from Dec. 27th.

Just wanted to save my fans a little Christmas dough. :)

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Last Signings of the Year

I wanted to quickly list the last public signing events of 2010.

Wed, Dec. 15 - S. Ogden Costco, 11-4 pm
Thurs, Dec. 16 - Orem Costco, 11-2 pm
Fri, Dec. 17 - Sandy Costco, 11-3 pm
Sat, Dec. 18 -Sandy Costco, Noon-2pm
Mon, Dec. 20 -West Bountiful Costco, 11-3 pm
Wed, Dec. 22 - Sandy Costco, 11-3 pm
Thurs, Dec. 23 - Orem Costco, 11-3pm
Fri, Dec. 24 - Lehi Costco, 10am-Noon

Thanks for a great year.
Chris Heimerdinger

Monday, December 13, 2010

The Season to Be Hoodwinked

Okay, so I haven't been political too much on this blog. Sheesh, I'm a storyteller, right? A philospher. Not some talking head who publicly touts a political ideology. As well, many of my readers are younger and likely bored to death by such a discussion. This is unfortunate. Never in U.S. history, it seems to me, should we be teaching our children to be more attuned to politics and public events. But I have no control over that. All I have is this tiny blog.

Those who know me know that I am a staunch conservative. Perhaps I should start a new blog that discusses politics and leave this blog for fans of my creative works. But for now please allow me to break with my typical routine on Frost Cave and dabble a bit in politics. I'll judge the response later.

The news over the last few days regarding this new Tax Bill working its way through Congress has been at times humorous and at other times jawdropping. Humorous because I've never seen a political game played so transparently. Jawdropping because so many people appear so hoodwinked by it.

The "news" has been that President Obama has accepted an incredible compromise by agreeing to support this tax deal. We've been sold the notion that his actions have, at last, transcended his partisan political character. He has been represented as backpedaling on a campaign promise that he made to "roll back" the Bush era taxcuts for folks with incomes over 250K per year. Everyone has appeared awestruck that he would do this. Great hooplah has been made by the media regarding those in his party who are "angry" and feel "betrayed" by such backpedaling.

It's all a joke. It's such a con that I still don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Several weeks ago, in a historic mid-term election, the Republican Party trounced the Democratic Party and took back control of the House of Representatives and greatly increased their power in the Senate. Conservatives like me celebrated this victory. Then, right away, we began to bite our nails regarding what actions the "lame duck" Democrat-controlled Congress might take before the newly-elected Representatives and Senators took their seats in January. Rupublicans appeared (at first) to dig in their heels and demand that ALL tax cuts implemented by President George W. Bush would be maintained before any other legislation came to the floor. In other words, all that the Republicans wanted was a continuation of the "status quo." They weren't asking for anything new. No new restraints on government spending. No new tax cuts. No new anything. Just maintain the status quo.

Then, almost in the blink of an eye, new legislation is presented by the Democrats asking for huge increases in government spending. The figures I have heard range from 300 billion to 850 billion (sometimes I think the math is deliberately obscured and kept confusing). Remember, the Republicans have asked for nothing--"Just keep what we already have." The Democrats, however, are asking for a half trillion or so in new spending.

And this is being sold to the American people as a compromise??? I guess I don't understand the definition of that word anymore. And the media now lauds Obama as a brilliant and astute poltician because of his sudden willingness to work with Republicans??? Is America on Candid Camera?

Today I heard again the most dreaded words that I have ever heard Barack Obama speak. He said them last Christmas when he pushed through the new Health Care legislation. He said them the year before when the totality of stimulus debt tripled. Those words are: "Hurry and act quickly." Today he told the Senate and House of Representatives to "Hurry and act quickly" to pass this new Tax Bill and turn it into law. We're being told that if Congress does not "hurry and act quickly" that all America will suffer, the middle class will be reduced to poverty, and Santa Claus will not come down the chimney. To me those all-too-familiar, oft-repeated Obama words alone should cause Americans to throw on the brakes, take a deep breath, and think. Don't be fooled by all the babble suggesting that if we don't act now the world will come to an end. Heck, what's the harm in waiting for the new Congress to take their seats before we act at all? The media and the President are all telling us that if we DON'T "act quickly" ALL of President Bush's established tax cuts will irreversibly unravel. This is, of course, ridiculous. A new congress could easily make any new tax laws retroactive to the first of the year. But I haven't heard a single soul tell us the truth about this yet. Instead it's all "Hurry and act quickly."

I hope and pray that we don't allow this Christmas, like the previous two, to become Christmases wherein Americans are once again hoodwinked by our elected leaders into ballooning our national debt, further weakening our economy, making us more beholden to foreign debt-holders, and sapping the strength of America.

My voice is so small. What do I have?--a little over 300 subscribers? Yes, I can increase that reach by using Facebook, Twitter, and my other websites. Still, I feel terribly powerless. So few political conservatives have even recognized the deception.

Hoodwinked again. It's becoming an annual tradition.

A few are starting to recognize the deception. But very few. And by the time it's fully revealed, the legislation likely will already be passed and Obama and his administration will have a hard time suppressing the laughter as they sneak behind closed doors and toast another incredible victory. I guarantee you, if this legislation passes, in a couple of months every talking head on the airwaves will be discussing the utter foolishness of this supposed compromise--a "compromise" that ended up costing Americans another half-trillion dollars. But by then it will be too late.

All I can ask, I guess, is that if you have a voice, try to make it heard. Right now I feel like a very tiny Who down in Whoville, desperately trying to make myself heard with an insignificant "yalp." But maybe, with a little more help, that "yalp" can break through the clouds.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Escape From Zarahemla: Chapter One

Hello Friends and Fans!

I wanted to give an early Christmas gift to my readers by posting the opening chapter of my newest novel, Escape From Zarahemla. For those who are not aware, this is a sequel to the book Passage to Zarahemla. I suppose you could also consider it a sequel to the movie, but more particularly it's a sequel to the book. Honestly, the movie follows the novel about 90%. That's the advantage when the novelist is also the film director. But little things are different. For example, in the book, Sakerra is a blonde. In the movie, she's a brunette. You are perfectly welcome to imagine Summer Naomi Smart in the role of Sakerra since I believe she gave a wonderful performance. But technically, she's a blonde in the sequel, just like in the original novel. Not that it matters since the opening chapter doesn't really discuss that issue anyway.

I'm actually a good four or five chapter beyond what I have posted here. The novel is coming along swimmingly (I love that word). If all goes as planned, I'll finish it this spring and submit it to the publisher ASAP. Then I'll dive into Thorns of Glory, the 12th novel in the Tennis Shoes series. However, as I have reported to numerous fans (particular at autograph signings) when you read the entire novel of Escape to Zarahemla you will fully understand why I had to write this book before I wrote Book 12. The two novels will carefully tie together the two "worlds" and certain Zarahemla characters will become Tennis Shoes characters in Thorns of Glory. Confusing? Nah! For readers I actually think they'll find it to be great fun.

I know many people have not yet read Sorcerers and Seers. Chances are, you won't even dive in until you open your gifts on Christmas morning. But I will tell you that there is a moment--somewhere toward the end of Sorcerers and Seers--that offers a strong presentiment of the eventual interweaving of these two stories. But I'll leave it to readers to figure where that "hint" appears.

In the meantime, I hope my fans have a great and glorious Christmas. Especially, I hope that everyone finds an opportunity to perform a special act of service for some other person or family to make their Christmas, or their lives (or both) a little more special. Opportunities are countless. A little prayer and a little inquiry (from your bishop or other leaders and family members, as well as the Lord) will make the opportunity obvious. Remember, we can never find ourselves in Heavenly Father's debt, and I believe our nation and its citizens could use all the blessings that the Lord can bestow.

Well, enough preaching. Here's the link. I hope you enjoy Chapter One of Escape to Zarahemla. And don't worry about typos, etc. Likely the chapter will experience one or two major overhauls and rewrites anyway before the final version is published. Enjoy!  Link

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Public Appearance Schedule for December

Hello Fans and Friends! I wanted to post my promotion/autograph schedule for December. It just got finalized. Yes, I'm very busy. But if you notice, not so much for the next few days. That's because I just got out of the surgery for some nasty basel cell nonsense on my nose and another cosmetic fix UNDER my nose that the doctor also mutilated (but for free! Can you believe it??! (No, the initial surgery wasn't free, just the cosmetic thing.))

Anyway, here's where I'll be, scars, bandages and all. (Okay, all that stuff will be removed in a week or so. But means I'll still look rather pathetic in Lehi on the 6th.) So come support the walking zombie. :)

Dec. 6 - Lehi Costco, 11-3 pm
Dec. 7 - Orem Costco, 11-3 pm
Dec. 9 - West Bountiful Costco, 11-3pm
Dec. 10 - West Valley Costco, 11-3 pm
Dec. 14 - Lehi Costco, 11-3 pm
Dec. 15 - S. Ogden Costco, 11-4 pm
Dec. 16 - Orem Costco, 11-2 pm
Dec. 17 - Sandy Costco, 11-3 pm
Dec. 18 -Sandy Costco, Noon-2pm
Dec. 20 -West Bountiful Costco, 11-3 pm
Dec. 22 - Sandy Costco, 11-3 pm
Dec. 23 - Orem Costco, 11-3pm
Dec. 24 - Lehi Costco, 10am-Noon

These signings have been a phenomenal way to meet fans and move books. Thanks to all who have kept me company at such events! Have an extraordinary Christmas season!

Chris Heimerdinger