Carla Kelly

Award-winning author Carla Kelly is a veteran of the New York and international publishing world. Carla is best known for her Regency Romances, those novels of manner and wit, made popular more than two centuries ago by Jane Austen. Carla has made certain types of Regencies her own, particularly novels and stories about people who are not lords and ladies. Many of them are hard-working and hard-fighting members of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines in the Channel Fleet, and the British Army on the Spanish Peninsula. Here’s what Carla has said about her career:

“Beyond the innate and obvious – writers gotta write – three things propelled me: A teacher, an occupation, a disability.

Teacher: Jean Dugat taught English and journalism in my south Texas high school. She was a Gorgon. She made us find The Right Word, and persevere until we did. She frightened me, until I realized that if I paid attention, I’d be a writer. Gracias, Miss D.

Occupation: Thank you, National Park Service, for hiring me as a ranger/historian at Fort Laramie NHS, when female rangers weren’t common. I was often asked about women and children at isolated army garrisons like Fort Laramie. The resulting short stories began my fiction-writing career, which comes with an obligation to remain true to the facts (thank you Clio, Muse of history). Readers know they can trust my history.

Disability: I stutter. It’s less now, partly because at a young age, I realized there are many words with easier initial sounds that mean the same thing. This gave me an amazing vocabulary, something every novelist needs.

Summary: I know that Chapter One leads to Epilogue.”

Don Bluth

Don Bluth is one of the most influential American animators in today’s industry. In the field of animation, Bluth performs as film director, producer, writer, production designer, video game designer, and animation instructor. His creative talents have created classic animated films with beloved characters, memorable songs, and heart-warming tales. He is known for directing The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go to Heaven, and Anastasia among many others. In addition to films, animation led to his involvement in the creation of the popular Laserdisc games Dragon’s Lair and Space Ace.
His animation career began at Walt Disney Studios working for Walt Disney himself as an in-between artist on Sleeping Beauty in 1955. His animated career soared while at Walt Disney Studios. He was an Animator on Robin Hood, followed by Directing Animator on Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too and The Rescuers. He advanced to Director of Animation on Pete’s Dragon and then utilized his skill and experience as Producer/Director on The Small One.

His career only continued to climb after his time at Walt Disney Studios ended. In 1979, Don Bluth created Don Bluth Productions with Gary Goldman and John Pomeroy. Their first feature film was The Secret of NIMH. Don Bluth teamed up with Steven Spielberg. Together they released An American Tail and The Land Before Time.

In 1986, his animation took him to Ireland where The Land Before Time, All Dogs Go to Heaven, Rock-a-doodle, and Thumbelina were produced. Don Bluth returned to America to work with Fox Animation Studios on Anastasia, and Titan A.E.

Don Bluth along with his protege Lavalle Lee have launched Don Bluth Studios to produce brand new animation projects.

Sally DeFord

If you’ve ever sung in a ward choir, been asked to prepare a special musical number, or served as a choir director, you’ve likely heard of Sally (Giles) DeFord. In addition to being a wonderfully gifted composer and arranger, she is a wife, mother, grandmother, BYU fan, and Jane Austen enthusiast who carries herself with a refreshing humility that instantly makes her feel like a friend.

At just six years old, Sally, from Eugene, Oregon, started writing playful little songs about silly things, planting the seeds for her musical journey. After marriage and two children, Sally was approached by a friend who knew of her songwriting knack and asked her to write a song for a Relief Society lesson on Christ’s Atonement. Sally agreed, and her first religious song –  “It Was for Me” – was born, brimming with emotion and testimony that marked the beginning of an all-consuming, lifelong hobby.

Since 1984, Sally has built an impressive collection of choral, duet, solo, and instrumental music. Despite offers of paid distribution, Sally became a trailblazer in digital music distribution, generously offering sheet music for free on her website, defordmusic.com. Despite earning over 30 Church music awards, Sally stays grounded, seeing her music as a quiet way to serve rather than a reason for wealth or fanfare.

Her compositions, blending traditional and contemporary Christian styles, have a moving, authentic depth, as seen in favorites like “If the Savior Stood Beside Me,” brought to life through collaborations with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, The Orchestra at Temple Square, and conductor Mack Wilberg. Her albums, such as Harbor of My Soul (2021), along with singles like “For Me Alone” and “Miracles”, carry an uplifting, stirring quality that touches listeners worldwide.

Sally DeFord’s warmth, authenticity, and quiet dedication make her not only a remarkable musician but also a truly inspiring creator who has used the gifts God has given her to bless others and help bring them closer to Christ.