Name Chris Heimerdinger Role Author | ||
 | ||
Books Tennis Shoes among th, Drums of Desolation: A Novel, Gadiantons and the silver swo, Sorcerers and Seers, Tower of Thunder Similar People Summer Naomi Smart, Moronai Kanekoa, DL Walker | ||
American Exceptionalism by Chris Heimerdinger
Chris Heimerdinger (born August 26, 1963) is an American author who has written twenty novels for adults and young adults, most famously the Tennis Shoes Adventure Series. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and most of his stories center on religious themes familiar to Latter-day Saints.
Contents
- American Exceptionalism by Chris Heimerdinger
- Chris heimerdinger talks about escape from zarahemla m4v
- Early life
- Books and films
- Public service
- Music CDs
- Films
- References
Chris heimerdinger talks about escape from zarahemla m4v
Early life
Heimerdinger was born in Bloomington, Indiana. His father was a professor in theatre at Indiana University. His parents divorced when he was four years old and his mother remarried. Heimerdinger has one older brother and two younger sisters.
Heimerdinger excelled in Wyoming High School competitions for three years in the categories of Humor, Oratory, and Drama. He began to write books at the age of 7, and continued through high school. He also began making super-8 films beginning in junior high, and showed these films to the scholarship committee of Brigham Young University in 1981, earning a full scholarship in 'Theatre and Cinematic Arts' after receiving a Sundance Institute 'Most Promising Filmmaker' award for his film Night Meeting.
Heimerdinger read the Book of Mormon at age 18, during his first semester at college, and was converted to the Mormon faith on Oct 10, 1981.
Books and films
Heimerdinger is the author of the Tennis Shoes Adventure Series. His first published work was Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites (1989), based on events in the Book of Mormon. Thus far twelve books have followed in the series, the first of which features three children who discover a secret cave capable of transporting its visitors back in time. The following books continue with the original characters as they go to college, get married, and have kids. The characters also have to deal with death, parenting troubles and time travel. The first books in the series were intended to be a fictional account of the Book of Mormon, while later ones explore other historical eras, including Ancient Rome, Israel during the Roman destruction in A.D. 73, and the time period of the Tower of Babel. The last four novels in this series include research notes at the end of each chapter.
In 2005, Heimerdinger began production of Passage to Zarahemla. Originally written in 1999 as a screenplay entitled "Summer of the Nephite" it was published as a novel, Passage to Zarahemla in 2003. The film was released to cinemas in October 2007 and as of 2011 ranks in the top 100 for both Christian and Fantasy Live-Action films. It was released on DVD in June 2008. In August 2011, a book sequel to Passage to Zarahemla, entitled Escape From Zarahemla was released by Covenant Communications, Inc. A self-published novel, Muckwhip's Guide to Capturing the Latter-day Soul, was released as an ebook in November 2012 and as a paperback in December 2012.
In 2008 Heimerdinger was among the top 10 list of LDS authors as chosen by Mormon Times readers.
Public service
Heimerdinger utilizes the title of his Tennis Shoes Adventure Series in helping around the world. In August 2005 Heimerdinger joined with Hearts and Hands for Humanity in American Fork, Utah to help collect tennis shoes for children 5 to 12 years old.
In 2007 Heimerdinger again joined with Hearts and Hands for Humanity to collect tennis shoes. This time it was in honor of a dead soldier, Nathan Barnes, of American Fork, Utah. The goal this time was to collect and send thousands of tennis shoes to Iraq.