Spiritual refreshment is only pages away in this down-to-earth collection of inspiring stories and essays. Like a wise and witty friend, Kerry Blair leads you through the rough spots of life by poking gentle fun at herself in such a vivacious way that you'll be smiling at your own foibles. You'll laugh out loud and occasionally be moved to tears as you discover some of life's greatest truths hidden within these simple pages. Enrich your soul with this humorous and poignant anthology that celebrates the joy of being alive.

Read Kerry's answer to this-and more-in Counting Blessings!

2- Several essays explore difficult issues facing LDS women today. What do you believe is our greatest challenge? What can and must we do to overcome it?

3- "A Bequest of Wings" cites several authors whose works of poetry and prose have given Kerry faith, hope, and courage. Whose writing do you turn to when seeking comfort out of the best of books? If you had to leave your library behind and could take only one book besides the scriptures and your journal, what book would you take? Why?

4- In "I Liked MS Better When it Stood for Manuscript," Kerry relates a little about her struggle with Multiple Sclerosis. Do you have a serious illness or disability, or do you care for someone who does? What helps you cope? What advice would you offer someone newly confronted with the same challenge?

5- What did you think about the concept of keeping your worries in a box? Is it something you might try? Why or why not?

6- Take a pen and paper in hand. Set a timer for one minute. Very quickly-and without pausing even a second to consider-list every blessing you enjoy that comes to mind. At the end of the minute, stop and think about what you've written. Do some of the things on your list surprise you? Why? Try this exercise every Sunday night before bed. Tuck the lists in your journal and see how they change-and how richly you are blessed-over the course of a few months. It really will surprise you what the Lord has done!

Somebody handed me a pencil-or maybe it was a crayon! The truth is I've been writing all my life. In elementary school I wrote plays for all of the neighborhood kids to perform. In high school I wrote for the school newspaper and cranked out three novels in my "spare" time. After studying journalism in college, I took a creative hiatus to raise four kids and serve as the stake Relief Society president and then the Young Women president in my ward. In those busy years I mostly wrote grocery lists and letters from the Tooth Fairy, though I did collaborate on more school reports than I really should have. Covenant published my first novel, The Heart Has Its Reasons, when I was 40, thus fulfilling my lifelong dream to become a writer when I grew up. (It takes some of us longer to grow up than others. Much longer.)

After eight novels of romance and suspense, why did you switch to inspirational non-fiction?

I hope I didn't switch-I hope I just . . . expanded my horizons . . . or something. If my prayers are answered, I'll have another novel out before too much longer! In the meantime, Counting Blessings is a compilation for my dear friends-the thousands of women who have read my books, attended my conferences and firesides, and taken the time to respond so personally and positively to them. It includes the talks, stories, and essays that I'm most often asked to share, as well as many of the blogs I wrote for Six LDS Writers and a Frog. When I wrote the preface acknowledging that this book is both for and because of the wonderful people I've met since becoming an author, I wept in gratitude for how deeply true that is!

Then you're excited about Counting Blessings' publication?

Assuming that people besides those mentioned above will pick up and read this book, a better word might be "terrified." While novels contain much of an author's views and personality, none of it is overt. (That is to say that nobody mistakes me for Sam Shade from the Nightshade series.) But by the end of Counting Blessings, people will know more about me than I've told my children-like who I almost married instead of their father! It's very much as if I pulled a journal from the basket on my nightstand, ran out into the streets, and yelled, "Here! Who wants to read this?" Now that the book is on shelves and I'm getting letters from strangers, I can't believe I did it. I mean, would you publish your journal?

What do you like best about Counting Blessings?

Seeing and touching and smelling the book itself is amazing. (I've always loved books, so I marvel every single time I receive a box of them with my name on the cover.) This one is particularly grand-hardback with a gorgeous cover. (Aren't white orchids exquisite? I really do have one on my mantle.) It's designed to be a gift book, and yet reasonably priced. To say I'm thrilled with what the talented, ever-incredible people at Covenant have done is an understatement of ginormous proportion!

More than the book, however, I know I'll treasure the letters I receive from its readers. Counting Blessings has been out for something like three days and I already have a dozen e-mails about it. I love hearing that something I wrote made somebody laugh or cry (in a good way) or-especially-count their blessings. We all have sorrow and bitter disappointment and tremendous challenges in life, but none of us are alone. Ever. We have our families and each other and, moreover, the ever-extended, infinitely compassionate arm of Providence on which to rely. Tender mercies abound in every life, every day. This book is my testimony of that truth. (And that's what I like best about it!)

Is there a place to go for a preview?

Of course. I have excerpts from the book-and assorted other nonsense-up at www.kerryblair.blogspot.com. You can also find some of the essays in the archives of the Six Writers blog at www.sixldswriters.blogspot.com.