Hi Guys! Below are a few of the books that I have written. Though most of my former works are out of print the ones here are still available. If you choose to read any of these, you will see a progression in my writing and editing skills. The Mountain Christians, for example, is a good story, but it is riddled with grammatical errors. Some day I may do a revision, but for the foreseeable future, I will be focusing my writing in the Apollo Salvatoir Universe.
Mallaroni And Cheese is a quirky little book that I absolutely love. It was inspired by several of my former middle school students. Most of the poems in the book are at least loosely based on a particular student.
Godfather Drosselmeyer is a story I wrote due to my love of The Nutcracker. I adore this ballet, and look forward to it each year. I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, which is home to one of the premier ballet company’s in the world (Ballet West). Their performance is historic in the lineage of this ballet, and was the highlight of my Christmas each year. I also have several former students, who performed in another local ballet (Mountain West Ballet) that I absolutely loved going to see and support them. The story of Godfather Drosselmeyer resonates with me, and so I decided to attempt to write a version of the tale from the perspective of the toy maker.
All of these stories and books were practice though for Apollo Salvatoir.
Apollo Salvatoir is the first story I ever tried to write. Clear back when I was ten years old. It is the story that has lived in my heart throughout my entire life. It is a story I visit every night while waiting to fall asleep. After my failed attempt to write a novel telling their story when I was ten, I choose to keep this story in my heart, until I felt my writing had improved enough to attempt a telling a second time.
I love Apollo and Ling, and I wasn’t going to expose them to the ridicule of others, due to my own bad writing. So I waited, and practiced, by writing other books. It wasn’t until the pandemic when I had a lot of spare time on my hands, that I again decided 35 years after my first attempt, to write their story again.
The infant sleeping in his mother’s arms knows as much about his own future destiny, as a fluttering maple seed comprehends the mighty tree that it will one day become. Like the fluttering maple seed, Apollo and Ling stand in the innocence of youth unaware of the extraordinary lives they are each about to lead.
These two best friends find themselves lost in a world that is not as safe as they once believed. They must now overcome prejudice and culture to discover who they really are. Apollo Enrico Salvatoir was born into a life of privilege and fame. His closest friend is a girl named Ling who was raised by a man with a mysterious past. In this coming of age saga, their destinies intertwine and eventually alter the lives of millions of innocent people.
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Ten year old James is amused by the Mormon preachers who visit his mountain homeland. A small community that lay protected from outsiders by towering Alpine mountains.
The strength of these mountains has allowed James' people to thrive for centuries in the face of terrible persecution from outsiders.
Now James' family faces a new and unexpected threat. One that many in the community fear will be more dangerous than anything that has come before.
Mormon Missionaries have come to their mountain.
Critics Agree:
Read the book that critics are calling ?Engaging,? ?Hard To Put Down,? ?A Fresh Perspective On An Old Genre.?
Based on a true story, ?The Mountain Christians? is the LDS Novel that explores a young man's difficulties in coming to terms with the faith of his fathers, his pastors, and the teachings of strange American preachers.
The Mountain Christians: By Hiram J. Bertoch is available online, or wherever LDS Books are sold.
Back of The Book Description:
James is only ten years old when the Mormon missionaries enter his beloved mountain homeland. A place where his family has lived since perhaps before the days of Christ and his apostles. Here they have practiced their religion free from outside interference for centuries.
How will James and his family respond to American preachers who bring news of a restored gospel to their Alpine farm?
A coming of age story, that follows ten year old James as he wrestles between the beliefs that his people have cherished for generations, and the new ideas being preached in their valleys.
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From the imagination of bestselling author Hiram J. Bertoch comes this whimsical collection of several stories and poems.
Perfect for bedtime! These poetic stories are a delight to read. The colorful illustrations and clever word usage makes this one of Bertoch's best works.
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The timeless story of the Nutcracker boy the mice who attack him, and the little girl who saves his life. Told from the perspective of Godfather Drosselmeyer.
This retelling is true to E.T.A. Hoffmann's original story.
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