SPECIAL GUESTS
Dean Hughes
KEYNOTE SPEAKER DEAN HUGHES is a best-selling writer who published his 100th book in 2014. He holds a bachelor's degree from Weber State College in Utah and master's and PhD degrees from the University of Washington. He has attended post-doctoral seminars at Stanford and Yale Universities and taught English at Central Missouri State University and Brigham Young University. |
Justin Osmond
GUEST SPEAKER (Friday) Justin Osmond is the author of Hearing with My Heart. Justin was born with a severe/profound hearing loss. Diagnosed at the age of 2 with a 90% hearing loss and after 12 years of intense speech and listening therapy, he can now speak with passion and through modern-day technology, hear with conviction. Even after being told by doctors, teachers and professionals that he would never play a musical instrument, he went on to play the violin, viola, piano, and drums. www.justinosmond.com |
Jenni James
BONUS CLASS (Saturday) & CLASS PRESENTER JENNI JAMES is the busy mother of ten kids and has over twenty-five published book babies. She's an award-winning, best-selling author, who works full-time from home and dreams about magical things and then writes about what she dreams. Some of her works include The Jane Austen Diaries, The Jenni James Faerie Tale Collection, the Andy & Annie series for children, the Austen in Love series, and more. When she isn't writing up a storm, she is chasing her kids around their new cottage and farm in Fountain Green, entertaining friends at home, or kissing her amazingly hunky hubby. Her life is full of laughter, crazy, and sunshine. www.authorjennijames.com |
CLASS PRESENTERS
Angie Lofthouse
ANGIE LOFTHOUSE went to college with every intention of becoming a particle physicist, but through a series of misadventures, found herself studying Shakespeare instead. After college she combined her love of science and her love of words into a science fiction writing career. She lives in a little canyon in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains with her family of writers, artists, singers, composers, illustrators and musicians. www.angielofthouse.com |
Ann Hunter
ANN HUNTER is the creator of the young adult fantasy series Crowns of the Twelve (including the novels The Subtle Beauty, Moonlight, Fallen, with A Piece of Sky, Ashes, and The Rose In The Briar to follow). She likes cherry soda with chocolate ice cream, is a mom first and a writer second, has a secret identity, and thinks the Twilight movies are cheesier than cheez whiz (which is why they are her guilty pleasure!) She lives in a cozy Utah home with her two awesome kids and epic husband. www.amazon.com/Ann-Hunter |
C. David Belt
C. DAVID BELT was born in Evanston, WY. As a child, he lived and traveled extensively around the Far East. He served as an LDS missionary in South Korea and southern California (Korean-speaking). He graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a minor in Aerospace Studies. He served as a B-52 pilot in the US Air Force and as an Air Weapons Controller in the Washington Air National Guard. When he is not writing, he sings in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and works as a software engineer. He collects swords (mostly Scottish), axes, spears, and other medieval weapons and armor. He and his wife have six children and live in Utah with an eclectus parrot named Mork (who likes to jump on the keyboard when David is writing.) www.unwillingchild.com |
Cheree Alsop
CHEREE ALSOP has published over 30 books, including two series through Stonehouse Ink. She is the mother of a beautiful, talented daughter and amazing twin sons who fill every day with joy and laughter. She is married to her best friend, Michael, the light of her life and her soulmate who shares her dreams and inspires her by reading the first drafts and giving much appreciated critiques. Cheree works as a full-time author and mother, which is more play than work! She enjoys reading, traveling to tropical beaches, spending time with her twin boys before they start school, and going on family adventures while planning her next book. Cheree and Michael live in Utah where they rock out, enjoy the outdoors, plan great quests, and never stop dreaming. www.chereealsop.com |
Christopher Loke
CHRISTOPHER LOKE is the executive editor and publisher for Jolly Fish Press. With 10 years of experience in the publishing industry, he leads a team of outstanding editors, designers, and publicists in his pursuit to publish quality books with unique and outstanding narratives. His goal is to jumpstart and foster the writing careers of local authors. Under his leadership, Jolly Fish Press has moved from a POD-only publisher to a hybrid publisher with partners such as The Gotham Group (film/media), The Schulman Literary Agency (translation, audiobook), and IPG (distribution). When not reading manuscripts, Christopher can be found submerged in photography and design work on the side. Twitter @ChristopherLoke |
Douglas Jones
DOUGLAS JONES is an experienced book guru. Since Kathryn's first book release, he has assisted in marketing and publishing. Doug is an expert at book covers, layout, web design, social media and enjoys helping clients create their own book masterpiece. www.ideacreationspress.com |
Ellen Walker
ELLEN WALKER has been a lifelong reader and writer. She published her first poem at the age of thirteen. She has written many poems, two YA novels, and a textbook on horse management, along with raising two boys and one girl, teaching English and math, and as much riding as she can fit in. Several of her poems have won or placed in the state and national poetry federation contests. She admires and writes both rhymed poetry and other forms. www.springcityarts.com/ellen-walker.html |
Heidi Brockbank
HEIDI BROCKBANK is a senior editor at Eschler Editing. She has written and edited for a variety of companies, including FranklinCovey, Provo Craft, and Covenant Communications. She loves pretty much anything to do with the printed word, but she has to be extra careful around bookstores and libraries, because they have a tendency to lure her in like a black hole, and sometimes years go by before she’s able to escape. When she’s not coaching writers or doctoring manuscripts, she enjoys road trips, photography, and playing her violin. www.eschlerediting.com |
James Duckett
JAMES DUCKETT was born helpless, nude and unable to provide for himself, but he eventually overcame these handicaps to become a writer, a geek, and a lover of books. He is a founder of the Authors' Think Tank Facebook Group and Podcast. He wrote his first story in the 2nd grade and has been excited about writing ever since. Pushing the Wall: A Memoir is his first book, and he has a contemporary romance novella (yes, you read that right) included in the Sweet & Sassy Anthology: Hidden Identities. He's introverted, geeky, funny looking, unpredictable, and easily distracted by the latest gadgets. www.jamesduckett.com |
Karlene Browning
KARLENE BROWNING has worked all sides of the publishing industry since 1981—writing, publishing, and selling books in a bookstore. As a writer, she has published featured articles and movie reviews in a local newspaper, software user guides, and educational curriculum. She has also been a blogger on various sites since 2006. On the publishing side, she has years of experience as a professional editor, typesetter, cover designer, and website builder. She was also the owner of Rosehaven Publishing, a small niche publishing company, for six years. She is an avid reader, stalks her favorite authors religiously, and will someday finish those novels she’s been working on. She currently publishes the NewLDSFiction.com website, and offers author services at LibrisPro.com. |
Kate Palmer
KATE PALMER believes in wholesome entertainment. Her books explore characters undergoing tough situations without compromising standards or becoming bitter. She likes the rush of emotions romantic suspense creates and strives to keep it clean. Her love of farm and ranch life shines through her Western Hearts Series. She writes romantic suspense, children’s early chapter books, and nonfiction picture books. Kate lives on a ranch with her husband and six children. www.katrinapalmer.com |
Kathryn Jones
KATHRYN JONES has been a published writer since 1987. She started as a newspaper reporter, published her first novel in 2002, attended college in her 40's, and opened the doors to Idea Creations Press in 2012. She has published seven books to date. Kathryn offers opportunities for authors to do the same thing using her publishing services. www.ideacreationspress.com • www.ariverofstones.com |
Loralee Evans
LORALEE EVANS' earliest memories are of sitting with her mom or dad while they read her stories like The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, or Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. These memories, along with many great teachers who got her excited about reading, are what helped her develop a love of books, and of writing. Loralee has five published books. She has lived in Missouri, Texas, and Utah, and even spent a year and a half in Japan. www.loraleeevans.com |
Meg Jensen
MEG JENSEN is the author of several novels and academic publications, as well as a screen writer. She is a member of The Writers Guild, Oregon Writers Colony, Willamette Writers, Pacific Northwest Writers Association.
Meg was interviewed on the 700 Club (national television) about her first novel, and that segment of their show was broadcast again a few years after the initial broadcast. She also wrote some articles for Worldwide Pictures (Billy Graham association) about their movie “Joni”. She had the honor of meeting Corrie ten Boom, Auschwitz survivor, after she wrote the script for WWP’s film “Corrie — The Lives She’s Touched.”
MEG JENSEN is the author of several novels and academic publications, as well as a screen writer. She is a member of The Writers Guild, Oregon Writers Colony, Willamette Writers, Pacific Northwest Writers Association.
Meg was interviewed on the 700 Club (national television) about her first novel, and that segment of their show was broadcast again a few years after the initial broadcast. She also wrote some articles for Worldwide Pictures (Billy Graham association) about their movie “Joni”. She had the honor of meeting Corrie ten Boom, Auschwitz survivor, after she wrote the script for WWP’s film “Corrie — The Lives She’s Touched.”
Rebecca Blevins
REBECCA BLEVINS is from the Midwest, land of tornadoes and cows—hopefully not mixed together. She began reading before she can remember, so books have always been part of her life. She has fond memories of borrowing more than thirty titles from the library at a time, and her mother stated: "Rebecca sat down to read and didn't stop until she was done with the whole bag." As an adult, Rebecca discovered a fondness for telling stories. Now she writes books for children (the Captain Schnozzlebeard series), teens, and adults (sweet romance). www.rebeccablevins.net |
Rebecca Scott
REBECCA SCOTT will teach classes on forming critique groups and query letters.
REBECCA SCOTT will teach classes on forming critique groups and query letters.
Rod Miller
ROD MILLER is a three-time recipient of the Western Writers of America Spur Award—for short fiction, poetry, and a novel—two-time winner of the Westerners International Poetry Award, the Academy of Western Artists Award for Best Poetry Book, League of Utah Writers 2012 Writer of the Year award, and other recognition for his work. A graduate of Utah State University—where he rode bucking horses for the intercollegiate rodeo team—with a degree in journalism, Miller has worked as an advertising agency copywriter and creative director for nearly forty years. A frequent presenter at writers’ conferences, workshops, and other events, Miller has also judged numerous literary contests. A member of Western Writers of America, he received the 2014 Branding Iron Award for his service to the organization. www.writerrodmiller.com |
Sabine Berlin
SABINE BERLIN has been reading anything she can get her hands on since she discovered The Dark is Rising series in the third grade and fell in love with the written word. She has been an editor at Eschler Editing for 2 1/2 years and also edits for Utah Valley University where she earned a BA in History. In her spare time she writes YA fiction and has attended Orson Scott Card’s Literary Bootcamp. Some of her favorite authors are Dean Koontz, Meg Cabot, Juliet Marillier, and Orson Scott Card. Sabine lives in Provo with her husband, three soccer-playing kids, and one crazy chocolate labrador. www.writinginberlin.blogspot.com |
Shirley Bahlmann
SHIRLEY BAHLMANN used to hide in the closet to read when she was a child because if her mother saw her "doing nothing," she'd give her a housecleaning job to do. Still a sporadic house cleaner, Shirley wrote her first novel (25 pages) at the age of 10 just because she wanted to. Traditionally published at 42, she's now an eclectic author with over 20 published books of many genres and even more rolling out from her typing, tapping fingers. www.shirleybahlmann.blogspot.com |
Steven J. Clark
STEVEN J. CLARK's debut novel, entitled All The Pretty Dresses, was recently awarded a top ten finish in the prestigious Critique My Novel international book competition. Steve lives in Chester, UT with his wife, Lauri, a very large white dog named Caspar, four cats who randomly show up for dinner, and seven chickens. www.stevenjclark.com |
Tristi Pinkston
TRISTI PINKSTON is the author of over forty books in multiple genres, the owner of Trifecta Books, a freelance editor who is mostly in retirement but sometimes not, the mother of four incredible children, and the wife of one very patient man. When her fingers aren't glued to the keyboard, she likes watching good movies and taking long naps. She is a popular presenter at writers conferences just about everywhere up and down the Wasatch Front, and she loves mentoring new writers. www.tristipinkston.com • www.trifectabooks.com |