Please join us for LDSPPA’s third annual conference!
Keynote speakers will include:
Brandon Sanderson
Award-winning Author
Brandon Sanderson is an American fantasy and science fiction writer. He is best known for his Mistborn series and his work in finishing Robert Jordan’s epic fantasy series The Wheel of Time. Sanderson worked as an editor for the semi-professional magazine Leading Edge while attending school at Brigham Young University, where he now periodically teaches creative writing. In 2008 Sanderson started a podcast with author Dan Wells and cartoonist Howard Tyler called Writing Excuses, involving topics about creating and producing genre writing and webcomics. His accolades include winning the Hugo Award for Best Novella (2103, The Emperor’s Soul), Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Fantasy (2010, Towers of Midnight), Hugo Award for Best Related Work (2013, Writing Excuses), and the Whitney Award for Best Speculative Fiction (2008, Mistborn: The Hero of Ages).
Sheri Dew
Author, Publisher, CEO of Deseret Book
Sheri Dew is a native of Ulysses, Kansas, and a graduate of Brigham Young University. She has written a number of books, including the biographies of two Presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Presidents Gordon B. Hinckley and Ezra Taft Benson. She served from 1997 to 2002 as second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency and is CEO of Deseret Book Company and executive vice president of Deseret Management Corporation.
John S. Tanner
Professor, Author, President of BYU–Hawaii
John Tanner is the current president of Brigham Young University–Hawaii and previously served as first counselor in the General Sunday School Presidency, as a mission president in Brazil, and as Academic Vice President of BYU. Tanner began his academic career as an assistant professor at Florida State University and has also been a Fulbright Scholar. Tanner joined the BYU faculty in 1982. Tanner has focused much of his study on John Milton and his book Anxiety in Eden received the Best Book Award from the Milton Society of America in 1992. Tanner also contributed to the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, among many other published works. He is a former two-term president of the Association for Mormon Letters. He wrote the words to “Bless Our Fast, We Pray” (Hymn #138) and is also a published poet.
Wendy Ulrich, PhD
Psychologist, Author, Speaker
Wendy Ulrich, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and a former president of the Association of Mormon Counselors and Psychotherapists. She has been a visiting professor at Brigham Young University and has served on the Missionary Mental Health Committee of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her books include Let God Love You, The Temple Experience, Weakness is Not Sin, Forgiving Ourselves, and The Why of Work (a Wall Street Journal #1 best seller, co-authored with her husband, Dave Ulrich). She is the founder of Sixteen Stones Center for Growth, offering seminar-retreats for Latter-day Saint women and their loved ones (sixteenstones.net). Wendy and Dave have three children and eight grandchildren.
Friday, September 22
| Time | Room # | Speaker | Focus | Presentation |
| 8:00–8:50 a.m. | 101 (Auditorium) | Suzy Bills, LDSPPA Vice President, Editing Professor and Director of the Humanities Publication Center, BYU |
Preconference Session | Q&A: What Is LDSPPA All About? |
| 9:00–10:00 a.m. | 101 (Auditorium) | John S. Tanner, President of BYU–Hawaii |
General Session | How Can Anableps Have Eyes Single to the Glory of God? |
| 10:05–10:55 a.m. | 303 | Janet Perry, Podcaster, Blogger |
Writing, Journalism, Blogging | The Power of Sharing the Word: Curating Good Books with Great Ideas for Living Well |
| 10:05–10:55 a.m. | 306 | John W. Welch, Professor of Law |
Marketing and Publishing | Mormon’s Mandate: Publish or Really Perish |
| 10:05–10:55 a.m. | 307 | Jonathon Owen, Editor/Writer |
Editing | The Role of Copy Editors in Standardizing the English Language |
| 10:05–10:55 a.m. | 318 | Jeremy Browne, Assistant Research Professor and Coordinator of Digital Humanities Education |
Design and Production | Getting Started with WordPress: Content and Themes |
| 11:00–11:50 a.m. | 303 | Emma Hoggan, Project Manager, Future House Publishing Riley M. Lorimer, Associate Editorial Manager, Church Historian’s Press |
Marketing and Publishing | How to Get Book Reviews |
| 11:00–11:50 a.m. | 306 | Keith Hamilton, Attorney at Law |
Writing, Journalism, Blogging | “Like unto Nephi’s Ship”: My “Construction” and Self-Publication of Last Laborer |
| 11:00–11:50 a.m. | 318 | Jeremy Browne, Assistant Research Professor and Coordinator of Digital Humanities Education |
Design and Production | (CONTINUED) Getting Started with WordPress: Content and Themes |
| 11:00–11:50 a.m. | 403 | Steve Piersanti, LDSPPA President, President and Publisher of Berrett-Koehler Publishers |
All Tracks | Networking Groups |
| 12:00–12:50 p.m. | LDS Business College Cafeteria | Marianna Richardson, LDSPPA Director of Chapters and Divisions, Adjunct Professor, Marriott School of Business, BYU |
Networking | Networking Lunch (lunch provided) |
| 1:00–1:50 p.m. | 303 | Kate Holbrook, PhD, Managing Historian of Women’s History, Church History Department Jennifer Reeder, PhD, Nineteenth-Century Women’s History Specialist, Church History Department |
Writing, Journalism, Blogging | Knowledge and Intelligence Shall Flow Down from This Time |
| 1:00–1:50 p.m. | 306 | Jeanette Bennett, Founder and Editor of Utah Valley Magazine, BusinessQ Magazine, Utah Valley Bride, and Prosper Magazine |
Marketing and Publishing | Why Now Is the Best Time Ever to Be in Publishing |
| 1:00–1:50 p.m. | 307 | Jacob Rawlins, Assistant Professor, Linguistics and English Language |
Editing | Observing Niceties: Three Strategies for Communicating with Authors |
| 1:00–1:50 p.m. | 318 | Jay Drowns, Photography Manager, UVU Marketing and Communications |
Design and Production | Photography for Writers |
| 2:00–2:50 p.m. | 303 | Thomas A. Wayment, Professor of Ancient Scripture, BYU |
Writing, Journalism, Blogging | Navigating Apologetic and Academic Writing: Looking to the Future |
| 2:00–2:50 p.m. | 306 | Bryce Mortimer, President and Owner of Cedar Fort Publishing and Media |
Marketing and Publishing | The Inner Workings of a Second-Generation Publisher |
| 2:00–2:50 p.m. | 307 | Kelsy Thompson, Editor |
Editing | Looking at the Big Picture: Developmental Editing 101 |
| 2:00–2:50 p.m. | 403 | Carole Mikita, Senior Reporter, KSL-TV News |
Media and Broadcasting | The Righteous Desires of Their Hearts |
| 3:00–3:50 p.m. | 303 | Christopher Robbins, Founder and President, Familius; President, American West Books; Cofounder, Hummingbird Digital Media |
Marketing and Publishing | Twenty-Five Years Later: What I Wish I Had Known Then That I Know Now |
| 3:00–3:50 p.m. | 306 | Robert Walz, Associate Professor, School of Communications |
Writing, Journalism, Blogging | Using Words That Match the Medium: Giving Journalists What They Need So You Can Get What You Want |
| 3:00–3:50 p.m. | 318 | Erin Willder, Editing and Layout Administrator for BYU’s Division of Continuing Education |
Design and Production | InDesign Book Layout |
| 3:00–3:50 p.m. | 403 | Chris Schoebinger, Product Director and Senior Acquisitions Editor for Shadow Mountain Publishing |
Writing, Journalism, Blogging | The Three Knows and the Three No-Nos |
| 4:00–4:50 p.m. | 101 (Auditorium) | Sheri Dew, CEO of Deseret Book Company and Executive Vice President of Deseret Management Corporation |
General Session | Divine Orbits: How Questions and Candor Can Build Faith |
Saturday, September 23
| Time | Room # | Speaker | Focus | Title |
| 9:00–9:50 a.m. | 101 (Auditorium) | Wendy Ulrich, PhD, Psychologist, Author, Speaker |
General Session | Navigating the Paradoxes of Creating for a Latter-day Saint Audience |
| 9:50–10:00 a.m. | 101 (Auditorium) | Steve Piersanti, LDSPPA President, President and Publisher of Berrett-Koehler Publishers |
LDSPPA Business | |
| 10:05–10:55 a.m. | 303 | Steve Piersanti, President and Publisher of Berrett-Koehler Publishers |
Editing | Editing Nonfiction Books: Secrets and Strategies for Coaching Authors to Make Books More Useful, Readable, and Salable |
| 10:05–10:55 a.m. | 306 | Spencer W. McBride, Historian and Documentary Editor, Joseph Smith Papers Project |
Marketing and Publishing | Book Promotion in an Ever-Evolving Social Media Landscape |
| 10:05–10:55 a.m. | 307 | Hannah Marie Richardson, Reality TV Producer |
Media and Broadcasting | Reality TV: How Real Is It? |
| 10:05–10:55 a.m. | 403 | Taylor Halverson, Teaching & Learning Consultant |
Marketing and Publishing | The Powers and Perils of Free: Using the Modern Marketplace to Build an Audience |
| 11:00–11:50 p.m. | 303 | Brad Farmer, Chief Executive Officer at Gibbs Smith Steve Piersanti, President and Publisher of Berrett-Koehler Publishers Hannah Marie Richardson, Reality TV Producer |
Marketing and Publishing | Values-Based Secular Publishing |
| 11:00–11:50 p.m. | 306 | Callie Stoker, Owner and Editor of the Manuscript Doctor |
Editing | Freelancing: The Business Mindset |
| 11:00–11:50 p.m. | 307 | Devan Jensen, Executive Editor, BYU’s Religious Studies Center Don Miles, Senior Editor, Publishing Services Department, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Writing, Journalism, Blogging | How to Climb the Publishing Mountain (Magazines and Journals) |
| 11:00–11:50 p.m. | 403 | Brandon Weekes, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Hales Creative |
Marketing and Publishing | Creating Your Compelling Brand |
| 12:00–12:50 p.m. | LDS Business College Cafeteria | Suzy Bills, LDSPPA Vice President, Editing Professor and Director of the Humanities Publication Center, BYU |
LDSPPA Business | Lunch and LDSPPA Praiseworthy Awards (lunch provided) |
| 1:00–1:50 p.m. | 101 (Auditorium) | Brandon Sanderson, Bestselling Fantasy and Science Fiction Author |
General Session | Building Worlds: An Interview with Brandon Sanderson |