Are you a Latter-day Saint writer, designer, editor, filmmaker, illustrator, marketer, publisher, or social media guru?
Join us at the second annual LDS Publishing Professionals Conference on September 23–24, 2016, at the BYU Conference Center! Learn from an all-star lineup, including . . .
- Amazing sessions on freelancing, editing, marketing, illustrating, writing, and networking!
- An inspirational opener by speaker and author Brad Wilcox
- A keynote address by Brandon Mull, author of the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling Beyonders and Fablehaven series
- Practical writing tips by writers from Church magazines, BYU Magazine, and more!
- A workshop by writer David Doering, a founder of the conference Life, the Universe, & Everything and the BYU student journal Leading Edge
- A lunch to munch and mingle with publishers such as Deseret Book, Gibbs Smith, Berrett-Koehler, Covenant, Cedar Fort, and Jolly Fish
- A presentation by the CEO of Berrett-Koehler, Steve Piersanti, on “The Ten Awful Truths about Book Publishing—and What to Do about Them”
Friday, September 23
| Time | Room # | Speaker | Focus | Presentation |
| 9:00–9:45 a.m. | 2254 | Brad Wilcox, BYU Associate Professor of Ancient Scripture |
General Session | Let the Lower Lights Be Burning |
| 9:45–10:00 a.m. | 2254 | Steve Piersanti, LDSPPA President, President of Berrett-Koehler Publishers |
LDSPPA Business | |
| 10:10–10:55 a.m. | 2254 | Robert Hatch, Film Director, Writer, and Producer |
Business | Artistic Expression and Eternal Progression |
| 10:10–10:55 a.m. | 2258 | Shawna J. C. Tenney, Author and Illustrator |
Illustration | Casting, Staging, and Directing Your Own Picture Book |
| 10:10–10:55 a.m. | 2260 | TJ da Roza, Editorial Director at Jolly Fish Press |
Writing | Finding a Home for Your Manuscript: Where and How to Submit |
| 11:05–11:50 a.m. | 2254 | Patrick Dunshee, Director of Audience Needs at the Church History Department |
Marketing | Six-Step Marketing Plan for Publishers |
| 11:05–11:50 a.m. | 2258 | Moderator: Steve Piersanti TJ da Roza (Jolly Fish Press) Zachary Strickland (Future House Publishing) Chris Schoebinger (Deseret Book) |
Business | Behind the Curtain: What Publishers Actually Do |
| 11:05–11:50 a.m. | 2260 | Peter Gardner, Brittany Rogers, Mike Walker, BYU Magazine |
Writing | Helping Stories Sing |
| 12:00–12:50 p.m. | Pavilion | Devan Jensen, LDSPPA Director of Conferences and Programs, Executive Editor at Religious Studies Center |
Networking | Munch & Mingle with Publishers (Lunch provided) |
| 1:00–1:50 p.m. | 2254 | Steve Piersanti, President of Berrett-Koehler Publishers |
Writing and Marketing | The Ten Awful Truths about Book Publishing—And What to Do about Them |
| 1:00–1:50 p.m. | 2258 | Jeff McClellan, Director of BYU Publications & Graphics Peter Gardner, Andrea Christensen, BYU Magazine |
People | Harnessing the Greenie Spirit |
| 1:00–1:50 p.m. | 2260 | Dave Doering, Business and Technical Writer, Founder of Life, the Universe, and Everything Symposium |
Writing | How to Make a Real Living as a Writer |
| 2:00–2:50 p.m. | 2254 | Val Johnson, Former Managing Editor of the Ensign and Liahona |
Business | From Blank Page to Keeper Content: How the Church Magazines Come to Be |
| 2:00–2:50 p.m. | 2258 | Brandon Doyle, CEO and Founder of Wallaroo Media |
Marketing | Search Engine Optimization and Social Media |
| 2:00–2:50 p.m. | 2260 | Suzy Bills, Freelance Editor and Editor at The Joseph Smith Papers |
Business | Freelancing, Taxes, and the Law |
| 3:00-3:50 p.m. | 2254 | Camille Fronk Olson, BYU Professor and Chair of Department of Ancient Scripture |
General Session | Taking Our Message to the World |
Saturday, September 24
| Time | Room # | Speaker | Focus | Title |
| 9:00–9:50 a.m. | 2254 | Brandon Mull, Author of Fablehaven and Beyonders |
General Session | Follow Your Passion |
| 9:50–10:00 a.m. | 2254 | Steve Piersanti, LDSPPA President, President of Berrett-Koehler Publishers |
LDSPPA Business | |
| 10:00–10:50 a.m. | 2254 | Moderator: Blair Hodges (Public Communications Specialist at Neal A. Maxwell Institute) Sue Bergin, Author Adam Miller, Author Rachel Hunt Steenblik, Author Laura Hales, Author and Editor Brian Whitney, Editor at Greg Kofford Books |
Writing | The Art of Writing for More Diverse Audiences |
| 10:00–10:50 a.m. | 2258 | Josh Perkey, New Era Editor and Writer’s Mentor |
Writing | Rewrite Your Backstory, Supercharge Your Success |
| 10:00–10:50 a.m. | 2260 | Adam McLain, Managing Editor at Leading Edge Hayley Brooks, Editor in Chief at Leading Edge |
Marketing | Social Media Connections & Strategy |
| 11:00–11:50 a.m. | 2254 | Brent L. Top, BYU Dean of Religious Education and Professor of Church History and Doctrine |
General Session | Seeing the Grandeur of God All Around Us |
| 12:00–12:50 p.m. | Pavilion | Suzy Bills, LDSPPA Director of Standards and Awards, Editor at The Joseph Smith Papers |
LDSPPA Awards | Lunch |