Benson Y. Parkinson

Parkinson's novel The MTC: Set Apart was published by Aspen Books in 1995.[4] It follows four new LDS missionaries as they enter the Missionary Training Center. Robert M. Hogge praised the "rich language, symbolism, ... and allusion" present in The MTC,[5] but writer Brian Evensen called the novel's characters stereotypical and the dialogue "hackneyed and predictable."[4] Parkinson continued the missionaries' story with 2000's Into the Field, which follows the four young men as they travel to France. In a review in Irreantum, Neal Kramer commended the realistic nature of the novel, saying: "I wondered whether I was reading a novel or a memoir. I had to shake myself a little to remember I was reading LDS fiction."[6] Parkinson has also published a biography of his grandfather S. Dilworth Young, a member of the Quorum of the Seventy, entitled S. Dilworth Young: General Authority, Scouter, Poet.[3] The author presented this work at the AML's symposium that year.[7] In a review for the Journal of Mormon History, Gary Huxford called the biography "a good read that deserves a wide audience," citing Parkinson's inexperience as a biographer as both a strength and a weakness to the work overall.[8] In 1996, Parkinson hosted a session at the Fourth Annual LDS Writers Conference entitled "How to Sell Your LDS Novel."[9]

In addition to full-length books, Parkinson has written reviews and articles about Latter-day Saint fiction, many of which have been published in issues of Irreantum.[10][11] The 1998 edition of AML Annual featured his essay "Electric Talk: Twenty Months of AML-List."[12] "The Deseret School and the Missionary School," Parkinson's take on the different approaches to LDS writing, was published in the first volume of Irreantum in 1999.[10] In addition to publishing such essays, Parkinson worked as an editor for the Church Educational System in the early 2000s.[3]

Beginning in the mid-1990s, Parkinson was an active participant in the Association for Mormon Letters (AML). In 1995, he created AML-List, an email forum for the discussion of LDS literature sponsored by the association.[13] He also served as moderator[14] until the year 2000.[15] The forum received an average of 30 posts per day,[16] which included reviews of various LDS films and books. Over time, AML-List received more than 1000 entries from users.[17] Parkinson wanted to facilitate an energetic environment that would allow people with different interests to share their opinions. During this time, he also worked on AML-List Magazine, which showcased authors' works online.[2] Parkinson won the 2000 AML Award for Criticism for his work on AML-List: including establishing the forum, moderating it, editing thousands of posts, and creating regular columns of literary news and reviews.[18]

Then, in 1999,[19] he co-founded the literary magazine Irreantum with Chris Bigelow. The publication featured some content first produced on AML-List[20] as well as "original fiction, poetry, essays, reviews, interviews, and literary news."[2] Parkinson and Bigelow were Irreantum's first co-editors, with Parkinson serving as the first reader of submissions and collaborator with the editing staff. Similar to his goal of inclusivity for AML-List, Parkinson wanted the magazine "to give broad coverage and support to every sort of Mormon literature and to promote all kinds."[2] During this time he also served as an ex officio board member of the AML.[11] He ended his time as co-editor after the Summer 2000 issue.[21]