Author Archives: Annalisa Hall

About Annalisa Hall

@HelpfulAnnalisa

Feel Love

Today 12 June 2018 Cedar Fort, Inc. released the newest edition of THE HOLY GHOST IS LIKE A BLANKET with updated illustrations by Corey Egbert.

Get your copy of Annalisa Hall’s THE HOLY GHOST IS LIKE A BLANKET (Boy Version) here

I love when siblings grow up and follow in the footsteps of their older sister. This younger brother has his own little story of how the Holy Spirit is special to him.

Your children don’t see the Holy Ghost, but that doesn’t mean they can’t feel His presence. With heart-warming illustrations, The Holy Ghost Is Like a Blanket depicts characteristics of the Holy Ghost by comparing them to objects children remember and relate to. These meaningful analogies will help your little ones recognize the Holy Ghost as a real influence in their lives.

If you’d be interested in reviewing a copy, please let me know.

Endorsed by: “Teaching our children about the Holy Ghost and inspiration is one of the most important things we do as parents. This book is perfect…!” — Merrilee Boyack, Author of The Parenting Breakthrough and Book of Mormon Children Stories

“… Respectful without losing kid appeal, The Holy Ghost is Like a Blanket will bring this quiet concept within reach for little readers eager to learn.” —Kelly Milner Halls, Writer

“The Holy Ghost Is Like A Blanket by Annalisa Hall is inspirational, timely, and a must-share with your children.” —Laura Taylor, Award-Winning Author & Editor

“… “Brilliant!” … It’s perfect for children about to be baptized. It put into words ways I have felt the Holy Ghost, but haven’t been able to fully articulate.” — Selena Pankretz

“Heartwarming and beautifully illustrated, children will immediately be drawn into its pages. The book is sure to become a family favorite.” — Rebecca Rode, author of How to Have Peace When You’re Falling to Pieces

“In this brave little book, Hall and Egbert somehow find a way to make the intangible tangible– and that’s anything but an easy feat.” — Bob Staake, Author/Illustrator

“…both a great introduction to and a great reminder of the comfort and power of the Holy Ghost…” —Justin & Amy Hackworth, Photographer & Writer

“A beautiful book with an uplifting message for children and adults alike.” —Sheri Fink, International Best-Selling, Award-winning Author of The Little Rose

“…The illustrations are warm and inviting and the language is simple and clear, perfect for parents to read at bedtime or whenever they’d like to invite the gentle spirit into their home….” – Lehua Parker, author of One Boy, No Water

“Never before has there been such a complete comprehensive children’s book on the Holy Ghost, and for all ages. Unlike most children’s books, this book is full of scripture references, it teaches my children to study the scriptures and source truth at any age. This is my new baptismal gift for every child, better yet, a gift for any child entering primary!” — Suzanne Calton, founder of More Than Aware

Love & Joy

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AVAILABLE NOW! 😱🏆 The Holy Ghost is Like a Blanket -and- I Want to Be Baptized
Online or in stores.

It’s a whole lot of love for those who read, write and inspire children. I’ve got plenty of author friends with new books coming out this year and I’m so happy for them. We LOVE to see good books on the shelves for children to read, to listen and to learn.

Make a positive difference in your life by reading. Smile lots and celebrate the joy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Help prepare others for baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

#LatterDaySaints

Happy Birthday

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Tomorrow is my birthday. I’ll be 39 years old.

21 years ago I exited high school and went to college. I eventually got a degree from BYU in English.

18 years ago I met the man who would become my husband. He challenged me to do better, be more, and our love grew. Together we now have three children (I’d say beautiful because I’m bias). This year the children all began different schools (elementary, middle & high school). I’m learning time management skills again.

In the last decade, I’ve written some 28 manuscripts (screenplays, novels, chapter books et al) and THREE (3) of those books are published. I’m not known for my math skills, but I do know that 3 out of 28 is OK odds 🙂

I imagine that in another 10 years we could be a grandparents. Our home might be paid off. I’ll have traveled to more places that I can count on two hands. I can hope! So many things I can plan for, hope for, and see come to fulfillment. My personal journey is different from yours and that’s OK.

As each book comes to fruition, I’m impressed by others who try too. Those who persevere. I’m amazed by people who keep trying to better their work and produce goodness. I’m in love with beautiful books that grew from little ideas and gathered shape and structure over time, care, and effort.

Mistakes help you learn.

Learn to recover, adjust, and press forward.

After all these years of learning, I’m certain of one thing – anything is possible with an eye single to the glory of God. Prayer is real, helpful and fortifying.

Tonight at “Back to School Night” one teacher said that sacrifices have to be made to be good at one thing. I agree. I can’t be good at everything, but I can excel in many things and be perfect in one thing. . . . What’s your one thing?

Wonderful!

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8+ years ago, I wrote a poem for my friend to help her young children understand the Holy Ghost. With encouragement from family and motivation by published authors, I submitted my work to Cedar Fort. Today, my books are on sale at Amazon! So surreal that I’m an RWA Pro, SCBWI Pal, and LDStorymaker 🙂 https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01FJ1EUFA?ref_=mw_olp_product_details

Happy Reading Friends!!

Illustration credits: Corey Egbert and Alex Worthen

Springtime

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Daffodils and little lambs remind me that Springtime is upon us and Easter is near.

When I say down to write SHEPPARD’S LAST LAMB it was definitely about Christmas shepherds and so much more. Christ is our Shepherd. Christ is the lamb brought to the slaughter, perfect and pure.

Spring cleaning brings an opportunity to go through all the past, and make room for the future. Grudges are released like pollen into the air, irritating but necessary. I fuss with some and left go of others like dandelions (with a big roar).

Little lambs blet and blurt. I find that I wobble so much and then I remember that this is the time to start anew. I’m thankful for learning to do things the right way.

It’s refreshing to let go. To live free. To be unsheltered and roaming long enough to discover something divine.

May you enjoy your Spring time. . . a season filled with options! Happy writing!!

Follow Christ

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Sarabella Custom Jewelry hand stamped “Follow Christ” charms for me. They LOOK awesome and I’ll be handing them out when I do signings for SHEPPARD’S LAST LAMB.

I feel blessed to have such an amazing publishing team at Cedar Fort. They really do cherish their authors and I love their dedication to my work. I’m not very tactful sometimes, but they see in me the potential and strive to make my work better and ready for publication.

Sheppard’s Last Lamb – so many lessons to be learned from Sheppard and his quest to do his best, to follow Christ and help bring the Christmas spirit.

Sheppard Hill wants to be a wise man or an innkeeper in the Christmas pageant, but instead he gets stuck as the shepherd–all because of his name! What’s even worse, he’s stuck helping his younger sisters too. But when he begins to think of Christ, can he turn this terrible turn of events into the best Christmas pageant ever?

Themes include: Christmas Nativity, the Good Shepherd, Self-Esteem, Tolerance, Problem Solving, Embracing and Accepting Yourself, Diversity

Prayer & Fasting

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San Diego Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I’ve often wondered how to improve my attention and obedience to the Holy Ghost and I discovered that fasting and prayer are marvelous tools.

Prayer allows us the opportunity to speak with God, the Eternal Father, in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ. We can talk to Heavenly Father in prayer about those things that are problematic or joyous to us. We don’t have to limit our conversations. He’s willing and wanting us to pray. After we’ve given Him our thanks and expressed the desires of our hearts, He sends the Holy Ghost, a vehicle of revelation, to speak to our heart, mind, and soul. To comfort and to inspire us as to which way to go or what to say or what to do. Those answers come quickly or over time.

Fasting is a physical challenge with spiritual blessings. We sacrifice meals to humble ourselves to the will of God. By giving up what we want, we’re in tune with the Spirit. We’re in tune with the whispering of the Holy Ghost to those things we’re in need of resolving or understanding. We come to the Lord in humility and gratitude for which we profit everything by submitting to His will and desires for us.

When we’ve come with clean hands and pure hearts, we’re granted the clarity by the Holy Ghost to see those things that are needful. The better part. The best. And Heavenly Father only wants the best for us. He is training us to listen, to learn, and to love Him, as He loves us.

For now, I wish you joy and love. Smiles!

Summer Fun

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We’re reading LOTS of good, better, and the best books as part of a challenge from various friends, family and Church leaders to READ. We hope you’re READING in a cozy nook or on road trips or wherever you desire too…

Here’s our family reading list for the summer…

The Book of Mormon from cover to cover. 9 pages per day.
I WILL REJOICE illustrated by Amy June Bates. Amy is one of my favorite illustrators and REJOICE is my word for 2016.
Call of the Wild, The – by Jack London (see here). Prep for child(ren) in our household who are entered high school in a few years, ah!
The Dashner Dash. See http://jamesdashner.com/ for details about THE FEVER CODE release.
Frog and Toad Are Friends – by Arnold Lobel (see here). Because best friends should always help you find your buttons.
Its an eclectic grouping of books, but we’ve got another 10 weeks of summer, let the reading begin! Live, love, read!!

We LOVE to read!

Smiles

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Woohoo! You’ve read all the messages in your inbox.

That’s what I see at the top of my inbox. This doesn’t mean I’ve replied to all my emails, but I have read them. I’ve even found some emails that motivated me to spend hours on the internet researching books, authors, and more writerly meanderings.

This upcoming weekend I’ll be attending a baptism for my niece (one of the 25) who will become a member of the Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-day Saints. I’m sure excited that she’s already got copies of my books “I Want to be Baptized” and “The Holy Ghost is like a Baptism” because that means I get to shop for something else (maybe a Minky Couture blanket?).

But I just wanted to say THANK YOU to all of the 18000+ folks who have buy my books for baptisms, confirmations, funerals…it’s a blessing to know the little inspired stories that I write matter to families and friends.

Enjoy!

Smiles,

Annalisa

Seek & Ye Shall Find

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Hide & Seek is a favorite childhood game. I loved to hide and wait to be found. Usually, I’d scream and laugh when someone would find me. Other times, I would rather be the one to find and seek out my sisters and cousins from hidden spaces in the attic or garden or fort.

Jesus promised, “Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

http://freebibleimages.org/photos/shepherds-sheep/

Shepherd w/Sheep

As a parent, I’m learning to teach our children to “ask” and wow! I’m learning so much about what happens when you ask for help or ask for exactly what you want. The children know the difference between an instruction and a statement at our house. They say “Its a chilly day” and I don’t presume to offer them a coat or hot chocolate because they are only making a statement. I don’t need to take action. But when they ask, “Can I have a jacket, its chilly today…” I’m every so willing to hunt down a coat, mitten, gloves and beanie for them (in San Diego it does get into the a brisk cool 70 sometimes ;o)

I don’t read minds. I don’t play hide & seek, but I do ask. I ask for help. I ask for more information. I ask and plead in prayer. I often find solace in seeking out answers to questions I’ve asked hundreds of times. And depending on the season of life, those answers change. I adapt. I overcome and I certainly know Heavenly Father knows when I’m making statements or asking for help.

The parable of the lost sheep — not a lamb or a baby sheep, but a full grown sheep with experience to know better. A sheep that other lambs will follow if not found again. A shepherd knows his sheep and goes out to find them. He sleeps with them in fields. He fends off wolves and would give his life to protect them. The sheep know Him. And that lost sheep goes to hide. I often imagine that the shepherd is always aware of the sheep’s location. Only when the sheep is ready to return to the fold does he bleat and beg for help. Then, the shepherd goes to the rescue. If we are sheep and we don’t want to be found, we don’t speak up or say anything. Only when we’re ready to return do we make a big fuss. Kinda like when I didn’t want to play hide and seek anymore so I’d giggle and laugh to make it easier to be found.

ASK – Ask. Do. Admit what we want/need/desire/hope/wish…

SEEK – Seek. Look for solutions. Think outside the box…

FIND – Find. Make a choice. Choose an option, weight the pro/cons and move forward…

…and then, we’re promised blessing will be OPENED unto us. If we make a wrong choice, ask for help, seek a new solution, find more answers…

I wish you JOY! Smiles, Anna

The Survivor Tree, NYC

P.S. I’ll be signing at the LDStorymakers Mass Author Signing at the Provo/Marriott Convention Center. If you’re available or interested, please come visit me.