seven authors, seven mysteries

My new story, "Little Secrets" is included in a new collection, Tudor Close: A Mystery Anthology. You'll never guess the location of this mysterious, small-town story.

PREORDER for $20 before November 30th to receive a print copy, ebook, and an audio recording of the story of your choice from the collection!

In December, the book will be available for $20 (includes print and ebook), $5 for ebook only. Audio files will be available, $1 for single stories or $5 for the audio book. Visit The Apiary website for details and shipping costs.

Authors include: H.E. Bilinski, Tabitha Blankenbiller, Leigh Camacho Rourks, Stephen Cox, Sherri H. Hoffman, Moye Ishimoto, and Gina Mulligan.

"One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day."
~ Albert Einstein, from "Old Man's Advice to Youth: Never Lose a Holy Curiosity." LIFE Magazine (2 May 1955).

out in the world: tanzania

Over winter break, I traveled to Rwanda to visit some family, and we took a side-trip to Tanzania. The Ngorongoro Area is a protected reserve that includes the Ngorongoro crater and the Serengeti National Park, stretching all the way to the border of Kenya. I came to understand why there are so many ocean metaphors for this part of the world: the English language lacks descriptors for such vastness, sky and rolling grasslands. The Maasai word for this place is siringet, which translates roughly to "the place where the land runs on forever."

In the Rift Valley, we visited one of the Leakey archeological sites where that same vastness moves temporally. The experience shifted so much for me, even months later, I am feeling its effects.

Asante sana. Thank you. I remain grateful for the opportunity.

 ~ sherri

announcing utah lit for august

Co-editors Kase Johnstun, Sherri Hoffman, Mary Johnstun

I am thrilled to announce that Utah Reflections has been selected by the Salt Lake Tribune as the Utah Lit for August. The Tribune book club will discuss the essays and poetry this month, publish a feature piece on August 24, and host an online TribTalk on August 29 at 12:15pm, moderated by Jennifer Napier-Pearce.

This is some exciting attention to the terrific writers collected in our book, all of whom have personal connections to the Wasatch Front, including Utah's poet laureate Lance Larson, poet Katharine Coles, and authors Terry Tempest Williams, Pam Houston, and Stevan Allred. I know I speak for all of the editors when I say it has been a joy to work with each and every one of our contributors, including some stunning images of the Wasatch Front by photograhers such as Danel W. Bachman, Jason Chacon, Ben Steiner, Aric Russom, and Kathryn Hale.

You can participate in the book club reading and discussions. Post comments and questions about the book at Facebook/UtahLit or send them in email to ellenf@sltrib.com or jnpearce@sltrib.com.

"Like" our Utah Reflections Facebook page for ongoing updates and details about all the monthly happenings for the book, including some upcoming reading events with our authors.