Thank you for joining us for part two of our chat with author Trina Boice When we left off yesterday, Trina was telling us about the genealogy book she co-wrote with her sister. If you missed that, you can click here to get caught up.
Trina, thank you for joining us again. You’ve also written a book called “Sabbath Solutions.” What is that about?
Do you ever hear your kids complain “There’s nothing good to do on Sundays?” Well, I heard that about every seven days, to be exact! I decided to prove my kids wrong and told them I could think of one hundred “good” things to do on Sunday and still keep the Sabbath Day holy. My list actually ended close to five hundred. I realized that I probably wasn’t the only mom who struggled with helping her kids keep the commandment! My publisher loved the idea (he has five children himself) and the book was born.
The first part of the book I call a “doctrinal approach” where I analyze the commandment, look at the Lord’s dealings with man throughout history on the subject, and uncover some of the rich symbolism embedded in the Sabbath Day. The second part of the book I call “practical application” where I include a brainstorm of ideas for people of all ages of things they can do, rather than can’t do, on the Sabbath Day to make it more meaningful and holy. Of course, how you interpret the commandment is quite a personal thing, so I included tons of scriptures and prophetic quotes to help give readers more guidelines to help them decide which activities bring them closer to the true meaning of this commandment, which has ultimately been given to us to bless our lives.
I notice that you have compiled books for Latter-day Saints with ideas for Enrichment nights, Young Women, ward activites, and Activity Days. I’m sure these have been well received. Can you tell us more about them?
Yes, they’ve all been huge hits and a lot of fun to write! They are meant to help members of the church know how and want to magnify their callings. The books contain a gigantic brainstorm of ideas, designed to help get the reader’s own creative juices flowing. Each book also contains an entire chapter that lists web sites, books, music, organizations and other places where they can go to get even more ideas and help. I want to write books that inspire, uplift and help people want to be more valiant Latter-day Saints and more effective Christians.
What are your plans for future projects? Any new books on the horizon?
I’m always working on several manuscripts at a time. That is, until I have a looming deadline and then I focus on that one book exclusively. Right now I’m working on a Cub Scout book that will help LDS Primary leaders and parents with ideas that incorporate the Faith in God program goals. I’m also working with a wonderfully talented friend on a great resource book for service project ideas that will include specific patterns for crafting projects, as well as a directory that includes national organizations that people can connect with to work on projects in their area of interest or expertise. I’m also working on a book inspired by the “Deals That Are Nifty by Sister Thrifty” consumer e-newsletter I’ve been sending out to subscribers for five years. People always ask me to write a creative dating book and a book of ideas for Visiting Teachers, so those two are slowly taking shape as well. There are dozens more on the back burner. So much to write, so little time! I have a few national book manuscripts floating around out there, so we’ll see if they ever make it to the book shelf at a store near you.
Well, I sure hope they do! I wonder if you plan to stick with nonfiction or if you have any plans to write fiction?
I’m really a non-fiction kinda girl. I love to become enveloped by a good novel, but I find myself reaching for the non-fiction books more often because I want to learn about so many topics. I’m so impressed with authors who can create entire imaginary worlds in their fiction books. I would love to be able to do that, but that seems really hard to me right now. Non-fiction ideas come much easier into my brain. I’d like to think there is an awesome fiction story hiding inside me, but I think it’s buried underneath many layers of non-fiction books that still have to be uncovered and written first.
Thanks, Trina!
We’ll continue our chat with Trina Boice on Monday. In the meantime, you can visit her site to learn more about her.
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