Josi currently lives in Willard, Utah, with her wonderful husband, four amazing children, one fat dog, and a varying number of very happy chickens.

Honored at a ceremony at American Library Association (ALA) in New Orleans, The Golden Spiral represents the best independently published work from 2010. The winners were chosen by a panel of librarian and bookseller judges. The author, Lisa Mangum, lives in Taylorsville, Utah.

In 2009, Mangum burst onto the teen supernatural book scene in her debut novel, The Hourglass Door, which also won Book of the Year in 2009. In this second novel of a trilogy, Abby’s worst fears are realized when Zo begins targeting Abby’s past. With each change that ripples into her present, Abby’s life continues to spiral out of control. Her relationships with Jason, Natalie, and even her family are threatened to the breaking point. Zo’s power is greater than Abby ever imagined.

The Deseret News said, “In a time when copycats abound, Mangum has created a unique story with interesting characters and an intriguing plot. And because ‘Hourglass’ centers on relationships, fantastical elements feel believable rather than, well, fantastical.”

The third book in the trilogy, The Forgotten Locket, just released in May.

Mangum knew she was destined to work with books when she opted to skip recess in elementary school to help out at the school library instead. A voracious reader her entire life, her first paying job was at the Sandy Library as a page, where she shelved books all day. She worked at Waldenbooks for the four years while she attended the University of Utah, earning a degree in English. An avid reader of all genres, Lisa has worked in numerous editorial roles in the publishing industry. She lives in Taylorsville, Utah, with her husband, Tracy.

Sales skyrocketed after media personality Glenn Beck featured co-author Chris Stewart on both his radio and television program.

“This is one of the best history books I’ve ever read,” Beck said on his nationally syndicated radio program. “Unbelievable. You’ll love it.”

The Miracle of Freedom examines just how unusual the blessing of freedom is in the human experience.

Authors Chris Stewart, a world-record setting pilot and Air Force veteran, and Ted Stewart, a federal judge, make a strong case that fewer than five percent of all people who have ever lived on the earth have lived under conditions that we would consider “free.” So where did freedom come from, and how are we fortunate enough to experience it in our day?

Could it be that these historic events were all in preparation for America to become the torch bearer for liberty and freedom?

Taken together, the accounts show that the march toward freedom was never assured, that at any of these critical points in history, the tide of freedom might have been turned. Even now, freedom is a relatively unstable condition. At present, only 22 nations in the world today have a democracy that has survived for more than 50 years—a single generation.

The New York Times ranking reflects sales for the week ending June 18th. The list will be published in the July 3rd edition of the New York Times.

Chris Stewart will also be featured on the G. Gordon Liddy Radio Show on Monday, June 27.

The Miracle of Freedom is on sale now from Shadow Mountain. It can be found online and in select bookstores nationwide.

The magical, secretive society of JANITORS will sweep the country in the fall of 2011.

Have you ever fallen asleep during math class? Are you easily distracted while listening to your English teacher? Do you find yourself completely uninterested in geography? Well, it may not be your fault. The janitors at Welcher Elementary know a secret, and it’s draining all the smarts out of the kids. Twelve- year-old Spencer Zumbro, with the help of his classmate Daisy “Gullible” Gates, must fight with and against a secret, janito- rial society that wields wizard-like powers. Who can Spencer and Daisy trust and how will they protect their school and possibly the world? Janitors is book 1 in a new children’s fantasy series by debut novelist Tyler Whitesides. You’ll never look at a mop the same way again.

Since then the book has skyrocketed to the top of the sales rankings. As of 4:20 p.m. on Thursday, the book hit No. 8 on Amazon’s bestselling books list.

“This is one of the best history books I’ve ever read,” Beck said on his nationally syndicated radio program. “Unbelievable. You’ll love it.”

The Miracle of Freedom examines just how unusual the blessing of freedom is in the human experience.

Authors Chris Stewart, a world-record setting pilot and Air Force veteran, and Ted Stewart, a federal judge, make a strong case that fewer than five percent of all people who have ever lived on the earth have lived under conditions that we would consider “free.” So where did freedom come from, and how are we fortunate enough to experience it in our day?

Could it be that these historic events were all in preparation for America to become the torch bearer for liberty and freedom?

Taken together, the accounts show that the march toward freedom was never assured, that at any of these critical points in history, the tide of freedom might have been turned. Even now, freedom is a relatively unstable condition. At present, only 22 nations in the world today have a democracy that has survived for more than 50 years—a single generation.

“It is a history book that you will read, as I am, in the middle of the night and not be able to put it down,” Beck said. “I’ve been waking up in the last few days with my glasses half way off my face and lights still on at 2 o’clock in the morning, I’ve fallen asleep reading it every night, I can’t turn my light off – I love this book.”
The Miracle of Freedom is on sale now from Shadow Mountain. It can be found online and in select bookstores nationwide.

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Learn more about The Miracle of Freedom: 7 Tipping Points that Saved the World by Chris Stewart and Ted Stewart.

“How unusual is it, really, in the history of all known human experience, to enjoy the blessing of living free?”

Brandon Mull is the author of the Beyonders series, as well as the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling Fablehaven series. He resides in Utah, in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his wife and four children. Brandon’s greatest regret is that he has but one life to give for Gondor.

Book trailer for The Hourglass Door series by Lisa Mangum. The conclusion to this exciting series is coming soon in The Forgotten Locket. The future is uncertain. The battle to control the past has begun.

Meet Sara and Kate – two girls who love to cook and the authors of the popular blog OurBestBites.com. Their new cookbook Our Best Bites brings together more than 150 family-friendly recipes with mouthwatering full-color photos, step-by-step tutorials, ideas for using leftover ingredients, shortcuts and tips for cooking, and serving suggestions.