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Show The Ogden Valley news Page 10 Volume XVII Issue X November 1, 2009 “Christmas Miracles”—Local writer featured in national-selling book with unemployment high, and lots of people suffering from lack of hope and faith for the future, Cecil and Marley hope the stories in Christmas Miracles will give people hope and let them see miracles do happen, “sometimes simple, unexpected blessings.” Cecil want readers, “regardless of their religion, to be encouraged and see this season as more than just gifts and celebrations.” Christmas Miracles is already in its third printing—before it even went on sale. Cecil Murphey, Marley Gibson, agent Deidre Knight, and the St. Martin’s Press staff have done a great job of creating a wonderful package. With its beautiful cover, a snowy barn yard scene, it will be perfect for a Christmas present—in a gift basket or as a stocking stuffer. Local author Drienie Hattingh’s story, “Pray and Then Trust” was chosen as one of the stories for Christmas Miracles. Drienie says, “I love these types of short story Christmas books and have a whole section in my bookcase full of them, which I love to read again and again at Christmas time. Now one of those books will contain one of my stories—it’s exciting. Christmas Miracles is a lovely book with heartwarming stories, reminding us that we’re not alone and that prayers are answered and miracles do happen.” Don Piper, co-author of the blockbuster book 90 Minutes in Heaven, wrote the foreword for Christmas Miracles and also shared a personal story for the readers. Christmas Miracles, published by St. Martin’s Press, is now available at bookstores. There will be a book signing on December 11 at the Layton Barnes and Nobles from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with Hattingh, and at Wisebird Bookery in Ogden on December 12 from noon to 2:00 p.m. The idea for the book, Christmas Miracles, came about when Cecil Murphey (co-author of 90 Minutes in Heaven) was on the rapid-rail train from the Atlanta airport. “I listened to teens talk about Christmas and it was mostly about gifts. I had the idea then, but nothing really came together.” Months later, during a meeting with Deidre Knight (Cecil’s agent), the idea again surfaced—a compilation of Christmas Miracle stories. Deidre suggested to Cecil that he should work on this book with Marley Gibson. Within days after Marley and Cecil, both best selling New York authors, sent out the word to authors to submit stories for a book consisting of Christmas Miracles, they received almost four times more than they could use. Marley states that she was “truly impressed with the submissions” and that it was difficult narrowing the stories down to the ones chosen for the book. Marley read all the stories that were submitted—two hundred of them. She says it was difficult. “So many wonderful stories to read through and select—it was a challenge to pick and choose which ones were right for the book, but I loved every minute of it. After I chose the entries that would go into the book, Cecil toiled long hours editing the works for a unified voice.” Cecil hopes readers will experience “awareness and appreciation” as they read Christmas Miracles. He wants readers to realize, by reading these stories written by authors from across America, that they’re never totally alone and that those unexpected, out-of-the-ordinary events remind us of that. While reading these stories, Cecil felt thankful for all he has, and hopes readers will feel the same. He feels that we “too often, and especially at Christmas, focus on what we’d like or what is supposed to make us happy.” These Christmas miracle stories, says Cecil, gently reminds us of both. In this day and age, while our country is fighting two wars, WE HAVE MOVED... Come see our new & larger office behind Eats of Eden Here in the Ogden Valley and Mountain Green areas, Prudential Utah Real Estate has a commitment to the community as a whole to provide the best real estate service a brokerage can offer. With combined real estate experience exceeding 100 years and counting, our agents know what it takes to meet the needs of buyer and sellers. Lamar Bott EDEN BRANCH BROKER cell: 801.430.2688 office: 801.745.0100 LamarBott@Live.com Gifford Bott Mt. 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Rankings in the 2009 October issues of SKI, Skiing, Freeskier, and Transworld listed Utah ski and snowboard resorts at the top of the charts. Four Utah resorts ranked in the top ten for value in SKI magazine—more than any other state—and three of those resorts were seated in the top five (Value: #2 Powder Mountain, #3 Alta, #5 Brighton, #6 Solitude). Six of the top ten resorts in the snow category were in Utah (Snow: #1 Alta, #2 Powder Mountain, #4 Solitude, #5 Snowbird, #6 Brighton, #10 Deer Valley), and seven were positioned in the top ten for access and weather (Access: #1 Park City Mountain Resort, #2 Deer Valley, #4 The Canyons, #5 Snowbird, #7 Alta, #8 Solitude, #9 Brighton; and Weather: #1 Solitude, #2 Alta, #3 Deer Valley, #4 Powder Mountain, #8 Park City Mountain Resort, #9 Snowbird, #10 Snowbasin). “In uncertain times like these, it is good to know that consumers can depend on the consistency of Utah’s ski and snowboard product,” said Ski Utah President Nathan Rafferty. “These rankings reaffirm the strengths which the Utah ski and snowboard industry strives most diligently to maintain.” Overall, Utah scored very high amongst a pool of esteemed competition in the October magazine rankings. Seven Utah resorts placed in the top thirty for overall SKI magazine rankings with Deer Valley at number one in North America for an unprecedented third year in a row. (Overall: #1 Deer Valley, #4 Park City Mountain Resort, #20 The Canyons, #25 Snowbird, #26 Solitude, #48 Alta, #29 Snowbasin). Alta/ Snowbird and Deer Valley also were listed in the top ten overall according to Skiing magazine which skews to a slightly younger demographic. Alta/Snowbird was also ranked #6 overall according to Freeskier Magazine and Park City Mountain Resort was #5 overall in Transworld, with special honors given to its park and pipe terrain. Other honorable mentions included Alta receiving the #1 ranking for overall satisfaction in SKI magazine. Alta and Snowbird also topped the charts for best snow in both Skiing and Freeskier magazine. To view a complete list of Utah resort rankings visit www.skiutah.com/media/ recent_news/2009-10-utah-ski-and-snowboard-resort-magazine-rankings/ Ski Utah is the marketing firm owned and operated by the 13 statewide ski resorts that make up the Utah Ski and Snowboard Association. The organization has been creating brand awareness of and demand for the Utah wintersports product since its inception in 1978. For more information on the upcoming winter season, visit <SkiUtah.com> Crossing Guard Volunteers Needed at Valley Elementary School If you are interested, please call 801-452-4180. |