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WORK TITLE: And It Came to Pass
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 8/8/1972
WEBSITE: http://laura-stone.com/
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
Love and Lust rec: ‘And It Came to Pass’ by Laura Stone
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born August 8, 1972.
EDUCATION:Studied acting and microbiology.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer. Worked formerly as a master gardener and a gospel doctrine teacher.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Laura Stone is a Texas-based writer. She has worked formerly as a master gardener and has studied microbiology and acting. Stone has also worked as a gospel doctrine teacher. She is a descendant of the first members of the Mormon Church and lives in Texas with her family.
And It Came to Pass tells the story of a forbidden romance between two young Mormon missionaries. Becky Condit in Happily Ever After described it as “an eye-opening, wonderful book.”
The book opens in Barcelona, Spain, where Adam Young, a former college football player, has just arrived for his first mission. Adam is quiet and shy. He comes from a strictly devout family, with his military father, Gerald, insistent that the family follow the Book of Mormon to the last word. This severe upbringing has resulted in Adam’s burying parts of himself out of shame and for fear of repercussions from his father.
Adam has always felt a bit out of place in the Mormon church, despite his best efforts to become passionate about the faith. He is particularly nervous about this mission. The reader comes to understand that Adam is gay and closeted, and the reason for his anxiety about the mission is his concern that he may be attracted to his fellow missionary companion.
His concerns are valid. When he arrives in Barcelona, he meets Elder Brandon Christensen, a fellow missionary who has already been living and proselytizing in Barcelona. Brandon counters Adam’s shy nature. He is friendly and outgoing, and he has received praise from the church for being the only elder to have converted anyone in Barcelona, a predominantly Catholic city. Unlike Adam, Brandon comes from parents who are open-minded and loving and encourage their children to find their own way in the church, however that may be.
Adam quickly finds himself drawn to Brandon. He begins fantasizing about his companion, and simultaneously questioning his own faith. When Adam addresses these concerns with Brandon, he is shocked to find that Brandon has been experiencing the same feelings—he is both questioning his faith and is attracted to Adam. A reviewer on the website Smart Bitches Trashy Books noted that the attraction includes “exploration of their faith, and their fearless examination of divine love as interpreted by their church vs described by the scriptures.”
Tension between the two builds, culminating in a secret romance which forces them to examine their love, faith, and community. A contributor to Publishers Weekly wrote that Stone’s “vital and tender story will deeply engage both Mormon and non-Mormon readers.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, April 15, 2017, review of And It Came to Pass.
Publishers Weekly, September 8, 2014, review of The Bones of You, p. 44; October 26, 2015, review of Bitter Springs, p. 59; March 20, 2017, review of And It Came to Pass, p. 62.
ONLINE
Happy Ever After, http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/ (May 26, 2017), Becky Condit, review of And It Came to Pass.
Laura Stone Website, http://laura-stone.com (November 24, 2017).
Novel Approach Reviews, http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.com/ (May 19, 2017), review of And It Came to Pass.
Smart Bitches Trashy Books, http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/ (June 19, 2017), review of And It Came to Pass.*
Laura Stone, a life-long fangirl and geek since the days of Compuserve accounts, was finally able to devote her energy to writing full-time after several years of acting, studying Microbiology, becoming a Master Gardener, and raising children. They're not fully raised, but then, neither is she.
Laura is a descendant of pioneer polygamists from the early days of the Mormon Church and a former Gospel Doctrine teacher. She has over 160 first cousins. See: Mormons with big Mormon families.
She lives in Texas as proof that it's not completely populated by hard-line right wingers. And because that's where the good tamales are.
The Bones of You
261.36 (Sept. 8, 2014): p44.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2014 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
The Bones of You
Laura Stone. Interlude, $19.99 trade paper (394p) ISBN 978-1-941530-16-0
Stone's sensitive debut reunites two lovers who were separated by both distance and expectations. Oliver Andrews is slaving away on his M.A. in Cambridge, Mass. When he opens an email from a friend back home in Atchison, Kan., he finds a video that delivers an emotional gut-punch. It shows Seth Larsen, Ollie's first--and only--love, singing on a nationally broadcast morning TV show in New York. The pair had broken up five years before when Ollie, encouraged by his father, decided against following Seth to New York. Seth felt betrayed: he wanted a career on the stage, and the distance from Boston to New York was too long. But Ollie was determined to pursue his own dream of becoming a social psychologist, even if that meant giving up on love. With the support of their friend Moira,
Seth and Ollie decide to take another stab at building a life together. Stone plays the relationship with restraint, letting it unfold slowly and organically. (Nov.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"The Bones of You." Publishers Weekly, 8 Sept. 2014, p. 44. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA382535142&it=r&asid=71aede50e3b6eafe3788d373de2e2618. Accessed 23 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A382535142
Bitter Springs
262.43 (Oct. 26, 2015): p59.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Bitter Springs
Laura Stone. Interlude (interludepress.com), $17.99 trade paper (302p) ISBN 978-1941530-55-9
This personal and tender story of tough men, soft hearts, and open spaces in 1870s Texas warmly serves the author's purpose of showing that gay people have existed in all times and places. Family drama shifts the fates of the brothers of the Valle Santos ranching family, leaving Renaldo, the youngest, to train with talented mestenero (wild-horse tamer) Henry Burnett. Hank eventually opens up about his history as a freed black slave and his adoption into an Apache tribe, as well as sharing his envy of the closeness within Renaldo's Mexican family. Slowly, Renaldo comes to terms with the fact that, he, like Hank, is attracted to men. Simple, clean storytelling and an uncomplicated plot keep the story quietly intimate. Stone (The Bones of You) walks the fine line of keeping her protagonists traditionally masculine but never posturingly macho, and they're often vulnerable with each other and gentle with the horses. Smatterings of Spanish throughout the dialogue ground the reader in the setting and help keep the book feeling period rather than revisionist; a scene of Renaldo teaching Hank Spanish endearments is particularly delightful. Readers will savor this sweet, loving historical. (Dec.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Bitter Springs." Publishers Weekly, 26 Oct. 2015, p. 59+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA443055049&it=r&asid=cc604bc9a0a9d83b800504465a390624. Accessed 23 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A443055049
And It Came to Pass
264.12 (Mar. 20, 2017): p62.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
And It Came to Pass
Laura Stone. Interlude, $15.99 trade paper
(220p) ISBN 978-1-945053-15-3
Stone (Bitter Springs) tackles forbidden love between Mormon missionaries in this moving and hopeful romance. Adam Young, a former college football player turned missionary who's just arrived in Barcelona, thinks his companion, Brandon Christensen, is perfect. Brandon is the only Mormon elder to have successfully baptized anyone in the very Catholic city, and he exudes genuine concern and a friendly nature. But timid and reserved Adam starts to realize his feelings for his fellow missionary are not entirely spiritual in nature. When his desire boils over and Brandon catches him masturbating, he discovers that the attraction is mutual. Adam's confusion about his spirituality and sexuality ring very true, and the descriptions of his harsh upbringing by cold, demanding parents (unlike Brandon's delightful, supportive ones) help explain his turmoil. As the two young men grow increasingly attached and intimate, they're set on a collision course with Mormon leaders. Stone has an unfortunate tendency toward didactic passages and occasional lapses of accuracy around Mormon life that distract from her lovely prose and well-defined characters. Despite these hiccups, her vital and tender story will deeply engage both Mormon and non-Mormon readers. (May)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"And It Came to Pass." Publishers Weekly, 20 Mar. 2017, p. 62. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA487601784&it=r&asid=0ca9704aa5c6e77e3c9d9b69353cd342. Accessed 23 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A487601784
Stone, Laura: AND IT CAME TO PASS
(Apr. 15, 2017):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Stone, Laura AND IT CAME TO PASS Interlude Press (Adult Fiction) $15.99 5, 18 ISBN: 978-1-945053-15-3
While exploring their forbidden sexual desires, two young men--Mormon missionaries--fall in love.Adam Young, or Elder Young as he's known within the Mormon Church, has always tried to light the fire of the Gospel within himself, but despite his best efforts, there's always been something that's made him feel out of place. Although it's not initially clear why Elder Young is anxious about his mission, we soon learn that he's closeted--and worried he'll find his live-in companion attractive. While he hasn't acted on his feelings in the past, his dedication to the Mormon Church, and to chastity, is challenged when he meets his handsome mission companion: Elder Brandon Christensen, who certainly opens him up to a different kind of burning passion. Their forbidden romance is perfectly set to the hot, wild backdrop of Barcelona--a location that complements their desire for each other. Given the nature of their religion, even fairly innocuous things (such as when Elder Young's thoughts drift to a shirtless Elder Christensen doing push-ups) seem absolutely sinful; during prayer, as they kneel bedside next to each other, the reader hopes their hands will brush and set off a passionate embrace. While there is much to praise here, some aspects of the novel (particularly the language) can be overwrought. In one scene, Christensen notes that his "loins are filled," then presents his desire verbally to God. Still, it's refreshing to see devotees of God who are struggling with their sexuality. A fine romance with a touch of political intent.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Stone, Laura: AND IT CAME TO PASS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2017. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA489268598&it=r&asid=553b45a26e02f14525c72abaed23f322. Accessed 23 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A489268598
Love and Lust rec: ‘And It Came to Pass’ by Laura Stone
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By: Becky Condit | May 26, 2017 12:00 am
And It Came to Pass by Laura Stone
What it’s about (courtesy of Interlude Press):
Adam Young is a devout, young Mormon following the pious path set forth for him by his church and family. But when his mission trajectory sends him to Barcelona, Spain, with a handsome mission companion named Brandon Christensen, Adam discovers there may be more to life and love than he ever expected.
Why you should read it: Adam is what I might call a reluctant Mormon missionary. In fact, I’m sure that is exactly the way he would describe himself. Adam’s father, Gerald, is a military man who is adamant about his family in Utah following his instructions to the letter, whether he is talking as a military leader or as their father or as a church leader. There is no affection in the family. None. It’s one of the saddest families I’ve ever seen in a book. It’s Gerald’s way or the highway, and the highway is not an option. When the time comes for Adam to serve his two years as a missionary for the LDS church, he is assigned to Spain. You might think he would see this as an escape from his father, but for Adam, there is no escape anywhere. Adam is gay but so repressed sexually he doesn’t even realize it and for that matter is forced by his father to abstain from even masturbation for fear of the damnation of his immortal soul and the eternal connection to his family.
Missionaries are paired off and instructed to always be in the company of their “companion.” Adam’s companion in Spain is Brandon. Brandon is as charismatic and friendly as it is possible to be. His family back in California is the complete opposite of Adam’s family. They are loving, supportive and encourage their children to find their own way in the church. Brandon is given leadership roles and is well liked by other missionaries as well as the church leadership.
Adam and Brandon slowly, very slowly, discover their attraction to each other, which they must keep as the deepest of secrets or risk being expelled from the church. They manage this for a while, but then the most awful thing that could happen to Adam occurs. There is a change in church leadership roles that is a volcano in Brandon’s and Adam’s lives. They may not even be able to be friends or see one each other again, ever. It will also change their families forever, and in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, forever is literally eternity, and the idea of being separated from one’s family for eternity is not taken lightly.
I love the way this story is written. Terms are defined, and there is even a glossary at the end of the book for those who are unfamiliar with the Mormon church and its rules. The love Brandon and Adam feel for each other will need a lot of support, but will they find it among the church, their friends or their families, or will they have to split up or go forward separately? An eye-opening, wonderful book.
Review: And It Came to Pass by Laura Stone
Amazon
Title: And It Came to Pass
Author: Laura Stone
Publisher: Interlude Press
Length: 222 Pages
Category: Contemporary
At a Glance: I loved how much this book made me think, how much it made me feel, and how much I learned from it.
Reviewed By: Jules
Blurb: Adam Young is a devout Mormon whose life is all planned out, by both his strict father and his church. He follows the path they’ve established for him, goes off to his mission in Barcelona, Spain, and realizes that his life may not follow the trajectory already chosen for him.
His mission companion, Brandon Christensen, is a handsome, enthusiastic practitioner on the surface. But as their mission progresses, they both realize they have major questions about their faith… and substantial feelings for one another.
Dividers
Review: Laura Stone’s new novel, And It Came to Pass, is absolutely stunning. It’s clear from the Author’s Note at the beginning of the book that this is a very personal story for Stone, and it’s one I’m so glad she decided to tell, because she did it beautifully. I have friends who grew up Mormon. I know that it’s difficult for some, and that there can be many conflicting feelings about the practice. Especially for teenagers and young adults, when we’re questioning so many things about the world and ourselves already. How do we reconcile the things we believe and love so deeply about our religion with the things that don’t sit right in our gut, or the ideas and rules that would make us unwelcome or unfit? This dichotomy between the principles of Mormonism and homosexuality, the beliefs of the Latter-Day Saints vs the tenet that love is love, is the central theme of the book.
At nineteen, Adam Young has finally answered the call to serve, and is at the beginning of his two-year mission in Barcelona. He didn’t feel a strong call. Serving a mission was something he was expected to do, not something he felt passionate about. But, when he meets his mission companion, Brandon Christensen, that slowly starts to change. Christensen is full of energy, and love for the Gospel, and everyone thinks he’s a born leader. He does seem to bring out the best in everyone, on top of which Adam discovers that Brandon has many questions of his own that fall right in line with things Adam has been wondering about the Church as well. Adam begins thinking that maybe this mission, this companion, are exactly what he needed.
He’d never shared with anyone his hope of gaining a stronger belief in the Church while on his mission; hadn’t even looked straight at his own thoughts about it. This just might be the companion to light the fire in him, might be the leader who could get his mind where it needed to be. He could find his faith and maybe figure himself out, too.
I loved everything about Brandon. His attitude and his spirit, his openness and his love for his family and for God. I loved how devout he was, and how much his faith was an integral part of him that he never lost even though he was questioning. We don’t initially know that Brandon is unsure of anything, though. At first glance Christensen seems to have it all together, whereas Adam is internally questioning so many things about the Church, and about himself. He gradually learns that his mission companion is going through a similar crisis of faith, but is shocked when he learns that part of the reason is that he has the same feelings Adam has.
When these guys open up to each other and begin to explore their feelings, it’s so beautiful. They realize that the Church sees what they are doing and feeling as wrong—but, they can’t see how it possibly could be when this is how God made them, and it feels so right when they are together. Adam especially struggled initially, but then I loved these thoughts as he tried to make sense of everything in his mind:
It was scripture—that had to make it okay, because what he felt, this tenderness and affection for such a good man was just what was in that Bible verse.
And…
It seemed so natural practicing his religion with this man, sharing faith, and even more natural was the night before, what they’d shared in his bed. Surely God, who commanded his children to “love one another” was a God of all forms of love?
I loved how much this book made me think, how much it made me feel, and how much I learned from it. But, what I loved most of all, was that neither Brandon nor Adam lost their faith. They felt the iron fist of the Church looming over their heads, but they never lost their love for God. This line, that Brandon says to Adam, was so spot on: “It’s like the Church is about the Church and not about Heavenly Father.”
Ok. I can’t quote you the whole thing…and I don’t want to give too much away…so, I’ll leave it there. But first, I have to quickly also say how much I loooved Brandon’s parents, and how fabulously, wonderfully amazing they were—Adam’s parents, not so much—and that the setting of Barcelona was completely beautiful and fantastic! There.
This story is going to stay with me for a while, as are Brandon and Adam. Especially Brandon. I hate to pick favorites…but, he really was everything. I hope everyone goes out and grabs this one. It’s so good!
And It Came to Pass by Laura Stone
by SB Sarah · Jun 19, 2017 at 3:00 am · View all 7 comments
And It Came to Pass by Laura Stone
And It Came to Pass
by Laura Stone
May 18, 2017 · Interlude Press
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B
Genre: GLBT, Romance, Contemporary Romance
Theme: Forced Proximity (stranded, safehouse, etc)
I met Laura Stone at the 2017 RT convention after the book signing. She mentioned she had a podcast about her former faith, Mormonism, called “Oh My Heck.” I live near enough to the DC Mormon temple that Instagram keeps asking me to tag my pictures like I’m currently there. (I’m not, but there’s a pretty solid Pokestop in the parking lot.) So I was curious about her podcast, both because I have many Mormon neighbors, and learning about different faiths is fascinating for me. During one episode, Stone mentioned her new book, so I downloaded a sample, and once I started, I couldn’t stop reading.
Adam Young is in Barcelona for the first of his two years as a Mormon missionary. Due to a harsh, judgmental, and devout father who holds very high standards for his children, Adam is anxious about his performance on his mission. Anything short of perfection is failure for Adam, and he’s a little overwhelmed by the expectations. He is paired with Brandon Christenson, his mission companion – and according to the rules, they must stay together at all times except when they are bathing or otherwise using the bathroom. So they are around one another constantly.
In the beginning, Adam focuses on doing his very best to convert the Spaniards around him, and on living the devout, observant Mormon life his upbringing demands. He comes to admire Brandon deeply, because he’s warm and welcoming, and as the group leader for some of the missionaries in Barcelona, he takes care of everyone around him. Brandon exhibits a caring, nurturing masculinity that Adam has never witnessed, and he moves from resentment and shock to admiration and appreciation for Brandon’s leadership and fellowship style. Brandon leads with love and affection, not terror and strictness.
Brandon also begins questioning their beliefs, and the directives they receive from the church about converting others, proselytizing, and about daily habits and the standards expected of them as missionaries. Adam exists in a state of near panic about Brandon’s questions – which he is beginning to ask as well – because any questioning he brought to his father when he was a child was met with condemnation and humiliation in front of their entire church. Adam was taught in painful ways to never question the church or what he’s told to do. Obedience is faithfulness.
In contrast, Brandon’s parents are loving and welcoming, sending care packages that include Adam and his love for toffee bars, and answering Brandon’s letters with responses that take Brandon’s questions seriously, encouraging him to keep seeking the answers he needs. Adam is completely baffled by Brandon, by his family, by his loving example, and by how he can mix his devotion and belief with questioning and challenging, while maintaining contentment and joy, and the ability to care for others.
Brandon’s previous companion had been sent home due to illness, and when Brandon explains how his former companion’s fanaticism and over-dedication had risked alienating and offending their neighbors, Adam is unsure how to respond.
Young thought it was disloyal to talk about someone who wasn’t there to defend himself, someone who had to go home sick, someone who seemed to have tried anything they could to have a successful mission. Adam’s dad would expect him to knock on doors at lunch, cultural disrespect or not. “Aw, maybe he was all right. A little over-zealous, but isn’t that what we’re here for?”
Christensen looked him dead in the eye. “No. We’re here to learn more, ourselves. But mostly we’re here to try and spread some joy to the local people. We’re not here to freak them out and make them hate Mormons more than the rest of the world already does. If we bring some of them to the Gospel, that’s gravy.”
That shocking statement that seemed to go against everything he’d been taught sent another thrill through Adam.
Eventually, Adam realizes how attracted he is to Brandon, and that his admiration and respect were evolving into something else, something he couldn’t accept or even consider, due to his beliefs. The Mormon church and his own family were fiercely against homosexuality and Adam worries that his feelings for Brandon are a sign of his own sinfulness, of his unworthiness in every respect. Anxiety is a perpetual state for Adam, really, after being raised in an environment where he never measured up, was never good enough, and never treated with affection or care.
But of course Brandon is also attracted to Adam, and pretty quickly, the strength of their affection and desire overpower the religious doctrines that tell them everything that they’re thinking and doing is wrong and a terrible sin. They struggle to reconcile the messages of their religion about love and honor and the feelings they have for one another against the condemnation of their church and the policies and penalties for acting on their feelings. The trouble is, there is no way for them to be devout and practicing Mormons and be gay and happy together.
Their romance is complicated and emotionally staggering, with layers of internal and external tension. I loved the detailed explanation and portrayal of Brandon and Adam’s daily life as missionaries, how they practiced their faith and struggled with it and kept trying to be worthy of the expectations placed on them. There is a lot of detail here about Mormon observance.
Once the poo hits the air circulation device, however, the slow and painstaking tension built between and around Adam and Brandon becomes a plot that resolves very, very quickly. The ending was a little too fast for me – I wanted to know more about their future, what they’d do to move on with their lives, or what direction their faith might take. There is a lot that’s left open and unfinished, and while Brandon and Adam are safe, I wanted to know more about the foundation of their happiness, because it has to be constructed on entirely new ground. Very little of their upbringing and their lives up to that point remains accessible to them. I ended the book happy for them, but concerned for their mental health and well being, as well as for their futures. Also, only at the end does Brandon have chapters from his point of view, which was a little jarring, though I appreciated that he was as consistent as a point of view character as he was when being described by Adam.
I loved the way their romance included exploration of their faith, and their fearless examination of divine love as interpreted by their church vs described by the scriptures. Part of the anguish and tension is that there is no room for them inside the faith in which they were raised. Though their relationship and their joy in finding one another augments their faith in God instead of diminishing it, they can’t stay within the community in which they were raised. Because of the first 2/3 of the story, I know how devastating that would be for Adam and for Brandon; because the last 1/3 doesn’t fully balance their losses with a potentially happy future, I was left unsure and wanting more.