We are now officially settled in Providence, Utah. I have my new office set up and I'm back to furiously writing the next Tennis Shoes book. So far we sincerely love Cache Valley. It's a peaceful place to write, and I hope to complete Book 12: Thorns of Glory, much faster.
For those who haven't heard, this is a looong book. Chances are that my publisher will break it into two parts. But I don't want to turn over the manuscript until the story is finished. That way "Part 2" can be released 3-6 months after "Part 1," rather than making fans wait another 3 years.
Other news...Hmmm. My son, Chris Ammon, continues to enjoy his mission in Medellin, Columbia. We have two new kittens--one that definitely needs to be de-clawed. You can still purchase Muckwhip's Guide to Capturing the Latter-day Soul as an e-book from Amazon. Or any other novel or DVD of Passage to Zarahemla by contacting me directly at cheimerdinger@gmail.com. Or post your phone number as a text at 801-870-2070 and I'll call back (personally. I'm not that famous).
In the meantime, here's an excerpt of "Thorns of Glory." I'll try to make such posts regularly. I won't give away much of the surrounding information about the excerpt. But you can know that the character speaking is Joshua:
There was a thin, golden "sheet" encasing the top that hid the engravings, much like the "seal" that would protect the same record when it was later translated into Nephite characters and would comprise two-thirds of the Book of Mormon. Images from the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark" flashed in my head. I couldn't say if the movie's climax was based on any kind of doctrine, but I couldn't help but imagine that anybody who removed that golden layer to see the engravings would experience the same fate as the evil Nazis who'd peeked inside the Ark of the Covenant. Their faces would melt away, revealing white skulls, and then every part of them would disintegrate and blow away as dust. Hollywood, I scoffed to myself. But the image was unforgettable—and intimidating.
I rechecked the
Liahona. The spindles still seemed to point at the book. Hamira refolded the copper-colored
material over the plates and handed it to me. I took it, my expression still
puzzled because I wasn't sure what she expected me to do with it. Then I
realized she also studied the
Liahona. I turned to see what she was seeing. The pointers changed before our
eyes. Now that I held the book of Mahonri Moriancumr, the Lord seemed ready to reveal
new instructions. The spindles directed us to go southward, deeper into the
tunnel.
"This appears the be the only record we must worry
about for now," said Hamira.
"What are we supposed to do with it?" I asked.
She shrugged. "Take it with us on our journey, I
presume. That's what your oracle seems to be saying. We'll leave the rest of
the records for King Omer and the others."
"You think we're supposed to carry this through the
cavern?"
She glanced at the Liahona again. "Do you interpret it
differently?"
I lowered my voice darkly. "I've already lost one
sacred book, Hamira.
You think I can be trusted not to lose another?"
You think I can be trusted not to lose another?"
"I don't
think anyone can be trusted."
She indicated the pointers. "But your God seems to trust you."
That's it for now. As I promised, I'll post more as time goes on. Remember that you MUST READ Escape From Zarahemla to fully follow the next Tennis Shoes book. Thorns of Glory is a sequel to Escape From Zarahamla AND Sorcerers and Seers, like two branches joining in the same trunk. All my best!
Stay close to the Lord,
Chris Heimerdinger
@ Copyright Aug 2013, Chris Heimerdinger
