In his second novel (his first in twenty years), Van Wagoner explores the limits of faith: faith in God and church, in family and marriage, in the institutions that promise safety and meaning. Lyrical and insightful, The Contortionists unfolds like a page-turning mystery. The narrative propels the reader forward, toward the novel’s explosive conclusion, while deftly unpacking its important themes—sexuality, substance abuse, and mental illness in a culture that would prefer not to see them.

Despite a global pandemic, a turbulent election season, and a lot of uncertainty, life in the book world goes on. Our newest release is The LDS Gospel Topics Series: A Scholarly Engagement, edited by Matthew L. Harris and Newell G. Bringhurst, with a foreword by Armand L. Mauss. The book features thirteen essays reviewing the Gospel Topics essays written and published online under the auspices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 2013 and 2015.

This year your summer plans probably include less traveling, but will they include more reading? Hopefully the answer is yes. In the world of Mormon studies, there is a lot to choose from right now. Check out your local LDS bookseller to browse the latest offerings. There are numerous new releases from a variety of publishers.

The number of times the title to Bob Dylan's 1964 classic song, The Times, They Are a-Changin' have been likened to some new normal somewhere probably cannot be topped by what we are living through now. As COVID-19 has killed over 376,000 people worldwide, made millions of others sick, and resulted in tens of millions more out of work and uncertain about their future, hearts everywhere go out to those hurting. We at Signature Books wish the best for all of you. Be safe, stay strong, and weather this storm as best you can.

Things are hopping at Signature as 2020 wraps up its second month. Two of our latest titles, Edward Leo Lyman's Finally Statehood! Utah's Struggles, 1849–1896, and Christian Larsen's anthology, The Ancient Order of Things: Essays on the Mormon Temple, were released simultaneously in December, and both authors have been busy with signings, etc.

A Happy 2020 from Signature Books! The new year starts off with the inaugural issue of our monthly newsletter. There is always something new and exciting going on in the world of Mormon studies, and we plan to do our part by offering some great new titles over the next twelve months. History, biography, fiction, poetry, personal essay, anthology—it's all coming in 2020 and continues the tradition of excellence that readers have come to expect from Signature.

The Mormon literary world is mourning Elouise M. Bell, who died at age eighty-two on September 30 in Edmond, Oklahoma. Bell taught English literature at Brigham Young University for over thirty years, authored several books and essays, and was a guest columnist with the Salt Lake Tribune.

With great sadness, we report the death of Grant H. Palmer who lost a months-long battle with pancreatic cancer on September 25, 2017. He leaves behind his wife, Connie, four children, five step children, and thirteen grandchildren.

In the 173 years since his death in 1844, Joseph Smith’s legacy continues to fascinate Mormons and non-Mormons alike, as evidenced by the inclusion of several artifacts from the LDS Church as part of the “Religion in Early America” exhibit now open at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The exhibit features a page from a first edition Book of Mormon and currency produced by the early church.