Who is Tristi Pinkston?
as of 14 August 2009
I've been a writer for as long as I can remember. After receiving much parental acclaim for my first masterpiece, entitled Sue the Dog, I tried my hand at poetry. This phase lasted until my early teens, at which point my poems took a decidedly macabre turn and I decided to abandon it in favor of fantasy. That … turned out to be a fantasy.
I was taught at home by my parents, Joel W. Norton and Ruthe Clark. After I graduated from high school, I took two correspondence courses from Brigham Young University in creative writing, and also a course in floral design from International Correspondence Schools. After that, I took a job working at a floral shop, which I loved.
In 1994 at the tender age of 18, I met then 34-year-old Matt Pinkston of Eugene, Oregon. We were engaged on our tenth date. This consequently sent my parents into shock. After we revived them, we were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 31, 1995. I was 19 by that time, which as we all know is so much older than 18.
We moved to Springville and started our family with a beautiful baby girl we named Caryn Camille, born in 1996. She is a very sweet and faithful little girl, always quick to remind us what Jesus would have us do, which is frustrating when I’m on one of my sinful jags. She inherited my love of writing and has already written several stories, demonstrating a unique turn of phrase that makes her mother so proud.
We moved to Pleasant Grove in 1998 and added Ammon Josiah to our family, a baby son with chocolate eyes. He has a razor sharp mind and spends most of his time inventing gadgets and twisting wires together. I have my concerns about that but it’s already been proven that he has guardian angels, so I’m trusting them to keep an eye on him.
When Ammon was about 8 months old, I had a strange dream which piqued my interest in World War II. As I hit the Internet and did research at the library, the story of Nothing to Regret came to life. You can see the FAQ’s page for more information about that.
In 2001, Joseph Erin came into our family with blond curls and blue eyes. He has always been our snuggle bug, and now that he’s older, he’s showing a strong talent for art. Maybe he’ll grow up to design my book covers, and Caryn’s, too. Now, that would be cool.
And in November of 2004, Benjamin Matthew joined our family. He had black hair when he was born, but that’s lightening up. His eyes are dark brown, just like Ammon’s. His coloring is quite a contrast to his brother Joseph’s! He is the monkey in our family and keeps us in stitches with his sense of humor.
The week after Benjamin joined our family, my second book Strength to Endure was released, written about World War II from the perspective of a German family. It was quite a kick to have a baby boy and a baby book at the same time.
In October of 2006, we purchased a trailer home in Orem and said goodbye to Pleasant Grove and the friends we made there. That was a bittersweet farewell, but we are now proud owners of not only a house, but of Orem City Library cards. That sort of takes the sting out.
March of 2008 saw a new addition to our family. No, not a child … a book. Season of Sacrifice, the true story of my Hole-in-the-Rock ancestors and a labor of love, was printed by Golden Wings. To tell the experiences I had while writing this book would take far too long, but I feel blessed to have been able to help preserve the memory of these remarkable pioneers and to feel of their spirit while I told their story.
Now with the release of “Agent in Old Lace,” I head out into uncharted territory. Well, uncharted for me. I had never envisioned myself writing contemporary novels—I had always pictured myself sticking with historical fiction. But one day, the idea for “Agent in Old Lace” popped into my head, and I wrote it down. It’s undergone many changes since then, and I’m not sure if those who read the first version would even recognize it, but it’s all been for the better. And what a fun ride it has been! I have to admit, I have just the tiniest little crush on Rick Holden.
I'm a stay at home mom, a home schooler, a media reviewer, an editor, a regular presenter at the LDStorymakers' writers conference, and a headless chicken. In addition to the novels I write, I maintain a blog which contains tips for aspiring authors and also my own personal ramblings, which sometimes make sense and sometimes do not. I enjoy reading, watching good movies, and making scrapbooks. I enjoy cooking and consider it a minor miracle when I can get all four children to like the same meal. I also enjoy making shopping lists, spending time with my kids, and taking Sunday afternoon naps, which are so necessary.
