The 2026 LDSPMA Annual Conference

Rachel Zincke

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Do doubt, discouragement, depression, or other forms of darkness sometimes get in the way of the creative work you feel called to do? In this session, Rachel Zincke will help creators identify the obstacles holding them back, understand the purpose darkness can play in their journey, and learn practical ways to regain perspective and move forward. Through personal reflection, principles from scripture and modern-day revelation, and guided exercises, participants will identify their own “light language,” prepare for future periods of darkness, and create an action plan for harnessing difficult experiences to bring greater light and meaning to their creative work.

About the Presenter
Rachel Zincke independently published her first novel in 2012 and has since published four fantasy novels, with her first science fantasy novel planned for 2026. Through her experiences with significant personal challenges, Rachel has learned to draw from all aspects of life—both light and dark—to strengthen her creative work. An experienced speaker and teacher, she has presented on writing in local schools and taught youth and adult audiences in a variety of settings.

Katie Bell

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Discover practical and ethical ways to use artificial intelligence as a tool for your creative work and business. Katie Bell will explore prompting strategies, AI-assisted brainstorming, automation, and applications for tasks such as marketing, email, websites, and scheduling. Participants will also consider guidelines for using AI thoughtfully while preserving their unique creative voice and spiritual inspiration. You’ll leave with actionable ideas, ready-to-use prompts, and tools designed to help reduce time spent on routine tasks and create more space for family, service, inspiration, and creativity.

About the Presenter
Katie Bell is a Latter-day Saint musician, speaker, and creator with five years of public speaking experience. She has presented throughout Utah, including at the She Can I Can Storytelling Conference at Utah Valley University and Victims of Communism Day at the Utah State Capitol, and earned third place in the Freedom Festival speech competition. Katie has also performed internationally with an American folk dance and clogging group and is a member of the Utah Valley Children’s Choir. Her creative interests span music, writing, performance, and entrepreneurship.

Kami Hancock

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You’ve hooked your reader and piqued their interest—but how do you keep that momentum going when it’s time for a scene or chapter break? Rather than inviting readers to put your book down, effective breaks can entice them to read “just one more” again and again. In this session, Kami Hancock will explore the do’s and don’ts of scene and chapter endings, how to use breaks to drive the plot forward, and ways to avoid disrupting the flow of a scene. Learn how to give these pivotal moments greater impact and keep readers turning pages.

About the Presenter
Kami Hancock has more than 20 years of editing experience, working on everything from college dissertations and résumés to veterinary journals and books. She spent 10 years in the book publishing industry before launching her freelance editorial business, Kami Edits, LLC, in 2025. Of all the projects she has edited, books remain her favorite for both their challenge and their reward.

Ashley Weaver

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Love a good spooky story but prefer suspense without excessive gore? In this session, Ashley Weaver introduces the growing genre of “wholesome horror” and explores how writers can create stories that deliver mystery, tension, and scares while still uplifting and inspiring readers. Through definitions, subgenres, writing tips, and examples from books and film, participants will learn the elements that distinguish wholesome horror and how they can incorporate those principles into their own storytelling.

About the Presenter
Ashley Weaver, who writes under the pseudonym W. M. Ashley, is an English professor and author with a love for spooky—but not-too-gory—stories and poetry that combine suspense with uplifting themes. Her creative work has appeared in multiple anthologies, and she is the author of The House of One Hundred Faces: and Other Spooky Poems & Short Stories.

Joseph Batzel

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Explore how the craft of acting draws on psychology, human behavior, and instinct to transform words on a page into a truthful performance. In this interactive session, Joseph Batzel will guide experienced performers through script analysis, character objectives and motivations, emotional authenticity, and physical and vocal choices. Participants will also explore differences between stage and on-camera performance and practice professional techniques designed to strengthen confidence, deepen authenticity, and bring characters to life.

This session is designed for participants with prior acting experience through community theatre, coursework, on-camera classes, or similar training. Participants are welcome to bring a short monologue or scene they are currently exploring, but it is not required.

About the Presenter
Joseph Batzel is a professional stage, film, and voice actor with more than 250 industry credits and 20 years of experience as an acting and voice-over coach. His extensive industry experience also includes work as a producer, director, and casting director, as well as serving as CEO of his own film company. A former LDSPMA Education Director, Joseph continues to mentor and train performers at all levels.

BRIAN HALLEY

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Your book cover has one job: make someone stop and want to know what’s inside. In this fast-paced session, Brian Halley will reveal the branding and design principles that separate an okay cover from a truly compelling one. Using real before-and-after examples, he’ll explore visual hierarchy, focal points, balance, composition, color, and typography. Whether you design your own covers or work with a professional, you’ll leave with practical tools and greater confidence to evaluate your cover, make smarter design decisions, and help your book stand out in a crowded marketplace.

About the Presenter
Brian Halley is the owner of BookCreatives.com, a book cover design company dedicated to helping authors understand and apply the principles of branding and design. With 20 years of design experience, including work in book cover design and with publishers, Brian teaches authors how thoughtful branding and design strategy can communicate a book’s message and genre, attract the right readers, and create a strong visual identity.

Audrey Johansen

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The way stories portray mental illness can either perpetuate harmful myths or help dispel them. In this session, Audrey Johansen will help writers understand the signs, symptoms, risk factors, and realities of mental illnesses including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and psychosis, as well as considerations when writing about suicide. Participants will learn how mental health can be thoughtfully woven into character, prose, plot, and theme; how point of view and level of detail affect readers; and where to find credible resources for greater accuracy. Leave better equipped to write complex mental health experiences responsibly, authentically, and with hope.

About the Presenter
Audrey Johansen is an author, presenter, and experienced Mental Health First Aid instructor. She earned a master’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Utah State University in 2025 and has spent the past five years teaching undergraduate students and community members across the country about mental health, emotions, and conflict. She is passionate about weaving her knowledge of social science into her own narratives and helping other writers do the same.

Janine Simons

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You don’t need to be young, have thousands of followers, or even create your own content to make a positive difference online. In this session, Janine Simons will help participants discover the unique contribution they can make based on their own experiences and interests. Explore ways to create or support inspiring content, overcome fears about age or experience, develop a healthier relationship with likes and follower counts, learn from other creators without falling into comparison, and respond to online negativity in ways that promote peace and bring greater light to digital spaces.

About the Presenter
After retiring as a junior high French teacher and self-publishing three books, Janine Simons unexpectedly found herself creating content on social media. She has since produced hundreds of videos and shorts through Iron Rod Press and built a presence across Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. As a Baby Boomer who entered the digital content world later in life, Janine is passionate about showing others that social media isn’t just for the young—it can be a powerful tool for anyone who wants to share light and make a positive difference.

Make your first conference connections before you even arrive! This interactive preconference session is designed to help you feel prepared, comfortable, and ready to make the most of your LDSPMA Conference experience. We’ll talk about what to expect, how to navigate the conference, and practical ways to approach networking—whether meeting new people comes naturally to you or feels a little intimidating. You’ll also have opportunities to meet and connect with fellow attendees, share what you do, and start building relationships so that when you arrive in October, you’ll already recognize some familiar faces.

Register for the Zoom Session Here