Category Archives: Uncategorized

This is the year my first book gets published.

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It feels surreal. So exciting, and a little scary.

Well, if anyone is interested in following the journey of the book, I now created an official author page on Facebook. I figure if anyone goes there and likes it, then they won’t be annoyed if they get updates about the book progress.  The link is https://www.facebook.com/StephanieDSorensen.

See? It has a real name and everything, not just Steph @ Diapers and Divinity. Scary. And exciting.

Covenant Motherhood is scheduled for release in March (that’s in TWO more months, people!!!). Thank you for reading my blog and commenting and sharing and saying the kinds of things that gave me the confidence to take my writing to another level. I really do love you for that.

Happy New Year. Indeed.

Girls’ Night Out 2013: Phantom of the Opera

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For the past few years, I’ve tried to organize a fun girls’ night out that usually includes a show and some kind of food, preferably chocolate. So here’s my proposal for January 2013, to any ladies interested here in Utah (or from afar who are feeling ambitious). This invitation is open to real-life friends and blog friends–even if we haven’t met in real life yet. Just don’t bring any weapons. Feel free to bring your own girlfriend if you’re scared of the rest of us.

DATE:  Saturday, January 19th, 7:30 p.m. @Brigham Young University, DeJong Concert Hall

[We’ll do a dinner before, and/or dessert after. I’ll have to poll the interested parties, and will communicate all details.]

Performance Information:

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by Charles Hart

Additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe
Book by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber

Originally directed on Broadway by Harold Prince
Original Broadway production by Cameron Mackintosh and the Really Useful Group
Based on the novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra by Gaston Leroux
Orchestrations by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber

Directed by Tim Threlfall
Music Direction by Gayle Lockwood
Choreography by Lisa Stoddard and Shani Robison

Jan. 16-Feb. 2, 2013 (view performance schedule)
de Jong Concert Hall–Harris Fine Arts Center

ASL Interpreted Performance: Th/Jan. 24, 7:30 PM

Featuring Andrew Lloyd Webber’s lush, romantic melodies, Broadway’s longest-running musical evokes the passion and drama of love lost and love found in nineteenth-century Paris. A masked figure lurks beneath the opera house–striking fear in the hearts of all who inhabit it. When his love for an innocent, young soprano forces the girl to make an impossible choice, she sets in motion a series of events that will change their lives forever.

PRICES
Previews (Jan. 16 & 17)–All seats $15
Matinees (Jan. 19, 26, Feb. 2)–All seats $15
Family Special (Jan. 22)–All seats $15
All other evening performances–$25 ($6 off weeknights/$5 off weekends with BYU or student ID; $2 off for senior citizens/BYU alumni)

Bringing a group? Save money on many performances of Phantom when you purchase 15 tickets or more. [We’ll see how much interest we have.]

Learn more about this production HERE.

Okay, so here’s the deal: If you are interested, I need to order tickets soon. I need a written commitment (comment/email) that says how many tickets you want by this Friday 12/7. I will then purchase a bulk number of tickets based on interest and you will need to pay me within one week of ordering the tickets. If you ask for a ticket, you agree to pay for it; if you don’t end up going, please make arrangements to sell or give your ticket to someone else, but I won’t be able to refund it.

In past girls’ nights, we’ve had some groups as large as 30, and other times, there have just been a few of us. I’m up for anything. I’ll make Matt go with me if none of you want to come. 🙂

So, who’s game?

[Note: I changed the date after the initial publish: It is January 19th]

Christmas Gift Giveaways: Winners

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Thanks for all your entries. Sorry I’m not a millionaire or I would send you all one for Christmas. They’re worth purchasing, though, so take the plunge and buy them for your own stocking. 🙂 I wrote down all your names and cut them out and did two separate drawings–one for each prize. Natalie pulled out the first winner, and Grant picked the second.  Winners are as follows:

Giveaway #1: The Rent Collector by Camron Wright


Congratulations to AMBERWAVES

Giveaway #2: The Book of Jer3miah, Season One on DVD

Congratulations to AMANDA (the one whose email starts with prig…)

Winners, contact me by email (look up in the right corner by my picture) and I’ll get these prizes sent to you this week.

Christmas Gift Giveaways: A Book and a DVD

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I’ve got some stuff for you folks that I’m kind of excited about. I’m excited because there’s a book I read that I really liked, plus a DVD I recently watched and enjoyed, too, and I get to give away a copy of each. With Christmas just around the corner, they would make great gifts for someone you love or stocking stuffers for you (because does anybody ever step up and stuff Mom’s stocking with anything cool? No.).

Giveaway #1: The Rent Collector by Camron Wright


I really, really liked this book. I want to use it for my next book club pick. Based on a true story, It tells of a family that lives in a dump–an actual dump–in Cambodia and struggles to survive. When Sang Ly realizes that her belligerent landlord can read, she begs to learn. What unfolds is an unlikely and uncommon friendship that uncovers the secrets of a buried past. I loved the tenacity and grace of Sang Ly. The story proves that love and kindness and the power of literature can exist even in the most unlikely places.

Giveaway #2: The Book of Jer3miah, Season One on DVD

This was developed as a web-series, and it won all kinds of prizes because it really was so well done.  Now the whole first season is available on DVD with approximately twenty episodes that are each 5-10 minutes long. It tells the story of a freshman at BYU who experiences tragedy and intrigue and tries to rebuild his identity when everything he’s always known seems to be falling apart. It’s a suspenseful drama, with a lot of action and even some paranormal elements (not vampire-like, just kind of manifestations of spiritual gifts/superpowers I guess). The whole thing is set at BYU and throughout Utah, so it was actually really fun to watch and connect to so many common settings, plus I even recognized a couple of the actors as people I know! The story draws heavily on some LDS themes, and delves into some well-known Mormon myths and legends. Matt and I watched this together and we both enjoyed it. It led to a lot of conversation when it was over and a lot of speculation about season 2. I think it would be a fun gift for LDS adults, young adults, and even teens.

So, you want one? I have one copy of each to give away. Just leave a comment below. Tell me if you’re interested in the book, the DVD, or both*. I’ll add your name to the drawing. That’s it. Feel free to say anything else in the comments, too, like how your Thanksgiving was, and if you’re still eating pie for breakfast, or whatever. 🙂  Anyway, drawing will close at 10 p.m. MST on Friday, and I’ll announce/email the winner on Saturday.  Good luck!

*Will only ship within the U.S.