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Empowering Latter-day Saints to spread light and truth by connecting them at the intersection of faith, creativity, and professional skill

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Monthly Zoom Discussion

Each month we invite a special guest to come present and answer questions about their area of expertise. Come learn from them and network with others who share your same interests!

February 12, 2026: “Self-publishing. Plus the editing process, interior, and cover design. Including all the aspects of self-publishing.”

January 24, 2026 By Marie Leslie

portrait of Debbie Rasmussen

With Debbie Rasmussen

Thursday, February 12, 7 pm Mountain Standard Time

Register to AttenD (FREE)

In this class we will cover the steps of writing and publishing a book. This discussion will include not only different ways to accomplish the writing process, but also what do once the manuscript is completed and authors find themselves in the what now? place. Debbie will touch on marketing but that is not her main focus; that crucial step comes once the book is published.
We will discuss IngramSpark, KDP, and other platforms just for their information. Our presenter’s preference is Ingram, however, recently, in order to get Amazon reports you need to upload print books to KDP – this has not been an issue in the past.

Bio: Debbie started writing in the seventh grade when she was twelve years old. She continued to write while raising her six kids, running a forty-four-year dance career, and various callings as a member of The Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints. She wrote whenever she could grab snippets of time, and when she published her first book in 2014, had fifteen nearly completed novels in her filing cabinet. (Old school, I know.)

To date she has self-published eight books, and two as Ghostwriter she did not publish herself. She has a busy life which includes her grown children and spouses, her favorite seventeen grandkids ranging in age from eleven to thirty-two, and many wonderful friends. Writing, Content Editing, Ghostwriting, and teaching Self-Publishing is her full-time career.

In 2019, at the suggestion of Richard Paul Evans, Debbie updated her covers and the interior design of her Mystic Trilogy books; she did exactly as he outlined and launched them at Salt Lake City’s FanX that same year, kicking her sales into high gear. Richard later invited her to run the Facebook group for Author Ready, a new company he was launching. Within a year she was brought on to do Content Editing as an independent contractor. She started a Tuesday night Online Authors Group zoom call that has been running consistently for nearly five years.

In the process of doing Content Editing for dozens of authors, Debbie found that most needed help in the self-publishing area as well. So, she spent hours studying the ins and outs of self-publishing and outlined a seamless step by step process. She didn’t create anything – the steps were there. She simply streamlined them so it doesn’t seem so intimidating or convoluted.

Debbie is constantly researching self-publishing to find best practices that will benefit not only herself, but also the authors she works with.

Links:

Website: www.authordebbieihlerrasmussen.com

Filed Under: Monthly Zoom Discussion

August 20, 2025: “Analyzing 10 Actual Use Cases for AI (Exploring Both Its Successes and Its Failings)”

July 18, 2025 By LDSPMA

With Jeremy Madsen

Wednesday, August 20, 2025, 12:00 pm MT

View Recording
Download Slides

No theoretics or fear mongering. We’ll look at 10 ways AI has been employed in real life, and assess how helpful it actually was in each instance and how a different tool, prompt, or approach could have worked better. Case studies will include creating book blurbs (pretty good), generating fantasy artwork (amazing), researching retreat locations (epic fail), brainstorming headline ideas (great), assisting with writing scenes (flop), generating definitions (superb), and giving advice (outright dangerous).

Bio: Jeremy P. Madsen has used Chat GPT, MidJourney, DALL-E, Copilot, and Claude, and has seen lots of other people use them (for better or for worse). Jeremy is an administrative consultant for Berrett-Koehler Publishers and the operations manager for BK Authors, Inc., as well as a self-published author of epic fantasy novels. From 2020 to 2024, Jeremy was the operations and conference manager for LDSPMA. He loves capes.

Links:

Substack: jeremypmadsen.substack.com

Social media:www.instagram.com/jeremypmadsen 
www.facebook.com/jeremypmadsen 
www.youtube.com/@jeremypmadsen

Filed Under: Monthly Zoom Discussion

Jun 10, 2025: “More Buyers, Less Overwhelm: How to Build a Simple Sales and Marketing System That Works While You Sleep!”

June 3, 2025 By LDSPMA

With Jason Majoue

Tuesday, June 10th, 2025, 7:00-8:30 pm Mountain Time

Watch Recording

Tired of chasing leads, or potential buyers, or clients, posting endlessly on social media, or feeling stuck trying to grow your business? In this powerful training, business coach and marketing expert Jason Majoue will reveal how to build a simple, scalable sales and marketing system that consistently attracts and converts buyers, whether you sell coaching, services, books, courses, or products. You’ll learn why most entrepreneurs get stuck in overwhelm, the 3-part system to grow your income without burning out, and how to create more leverage so your business works for you, even while you sleep. If you’re ready to simplify and grow, this is a can’t miss session!

  • Why most entrepreneurs are stuck on the “content treadmill” and what to do instead
  • The 3-part Sales and Marketing System to consistently attract and convert buyers (clients or customers)
  • How to scale income without burning out or hiring a huge team

Bio: Jason is a Business Coach and Digital Marketing Agency owner who helps entrepreneurs, coaches, authors, and creators grow and scale their businesses with proven, repeatable strategies. With 10+ years of experience in business growth, offer creation, paid ads, SEO, sales funnels, email and social media, Jason has helped hundreds of clients increase revenue while simplifying their marketing. He provides strategic guidance through Private 1:1 Coaching, Group Coaching, and Guided Online Business Courses, empowering purpose-driven entrepreneurs to build profitable, scalable businesses.

Links:

https://www.jasonmajoue.com
@jasonmajoue (Handle for all socials and more tips)

Filed Under: Monthly Zoom Discussion

May 6, 2025: “Substack: What Is It? How Does It Work? And Should You Be On It?”

April 29, 2025 By LDSPMA

With Jeremy Madsen

Watch the Recording
Access the Slides

Substack started in 2017 and has grown steadily since then, reaching 35 million monthly active users in January 2025. But what is Substack, exactly? Is it a newsletter software? A blogging site? A paid-subscriptions manager? A podcast hosting software? A social media platform? (Spoiler: It’s all five). What is its revenue model? (Spoiler: It doesn’t involve ads. Hurray!) And most importantly: Should YOU be using it? (Not-a-spoiler: It depends.)

Bio: Jeremy P. Madsen has been active on Substack since August 2024, using it to serially launch his novel and audiobook podcast, The Pyromancer’s Scroll, as well as his author newsletter. Jeremy is also an administrative consultant for Berrett-Koehler Publishers and the operations manager for BK Authors, Inc., where he helps produce BookPlan, a 3-day online book marketing conference. From 2020 to 2024, Jeremy was the operations and conference manager for LDSPMA. He loves capes.

Links:

Substack: jeremypmadsen.substack.com

Social media:www.instagram.com/jeremypmadsen 
www.facebook.com/jeremypmadsen 
www.youtube.com/@jeremypmadsen

Filed Under: Monthly Zoom Discussion

April 22, 2025: “The Nuts and Bolts of a Podcast: The Benefits and Struggles of Creating and Producing a LDS Podcast in Today’s World”

April 8, 2025 By LDSPMA

With Scott Brandley & Alisha Coakley

Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 7:00-8:30 pm Mountain Time

Watch Recording

Scott Bio: Scott grew up in Southern Alberta, Canada, and made his way to Utah after serving a mission in Cape Town, South Africa. Not long after, he teamed up with his dad to launch an online business selling LDS products before shifting gears to co-found a successful software company. His wife, Darla, isn’t entirely convinced he actually works—but the paychecks seem real enough.

In 2014, Scott was called to serve as a Bishop in Ogden, a role he dedicated himself to for over five years. During that time, he felt inspired to write a book to help others strengthen their faith. These days, he teaches Gospel Doctrine, perfects his golf swing, and soaks up as much family time as possible with his wife and four kids.

Alisha Bio:

Alisha was born in Michigan, raised in Florida, and after some time in Utah and Nevada, finally planted roots in Texas! She’s a proud momma to three cute kiddos, three lazy cats, and one chicken of a dog—all of whom she adores “smothering with her mothering.”

Passionate about serving others, staying busy, and bringing joy and beauty to the world, Alisha pours her energy into every role she takes on. She is the Owner and Operator of a historic event venue, Co-Host of the Latter-Day Lights Podcast, an aspiring author, a Temple Ordinance Worker, Self-Reliance Facilitator, and Compassionate Services Leader.

While her self-proclaimed “Shiny Syndrome” keeps things interesting, she’s determined to stay the course—striving every day to become the person Heavenly Father needs her to be.

Links:

www.latterdaylights.com

https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylights

Filed Under: Monthly Zoom Discussion

March 12, 2025: “Silencing Self-Doubt: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Owning Your Success”

March 4, 2025 By LDSPMA Admin

With Laura Bytheway

Wednesday, March 12th, 2025, 7:00-8:30 pm Mountain Time

This class will offer key insights on overcoming Imposter Syndrome so you can take the next step in your creative process.

Bio: Laura Bytheway is a certified life coach, mentor, and podcast host dedicated to helping creative entrepreneurs achieve their financial and relationship goals. As the host of The Post Narc Life Podcast, Laura shares practical strategies for survivors of narcissistic relationships to recover and achieve mindset shifts for success.

Watch Recording

Filed Under: Monthly Zoom Discussion

August 13: Authors & AI – Navigating Ethics, Benefits, and Tactics

August 10, 2024 By Jeremy Madsen

Scott T E Jackson

With Scott T. E. Jackson

Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 12:15–1:15 pm Mountain Time

We’ll explore the transformative role of AI in the writing world. From ethical considerations to practical tactics, you’ll gain a well-rounded understanding of how to integrate AI into your writing process while maintaining your unique voice. Whether you’re curious about AI’s potential or concerned about its implications, this talk will provide you with the insights needed to make informed decisions. [Yes, this description was written with AI.]

Bio: Scott T. E. Jackson is an author and marketing professional. Scott directs the digital advertising efforts for 18 partner businesses at Revity Marketing in American Fork, where AI and content marketing [read: “writing”] are evolving daily. Scott is passionate about writing and has published and self-published titles in fiction and creative nonfiction, most recently with Cedar Fort. He lives in Springville, Utah, with his wife and two children.

Watch the Zoom Recording
See Scott’s Slides

Summary and Key Takeaways

What is A.I.?

  • Artificial intelligence is essentially creating groups of mathematical formulas that “learn” by finding patterns in data.
    • They can identify patterns, compare patterns, and imitate patterns.

Morals, ethics, laws

  • As we deal with A.I., we need to keep in mind (1) morals, (2) ethics, and (3) law. These overlap but have differences.
    • Morals: What you personally believe is right or wrong to do
    • Ethics: Code of acceptable behavior defined by the group you belong to
    • Laws: Systems of formal rules enforced by government entities
  • The ethics and laws around AI are in constant flux and can differ between communities or countries. We’re still figuring this all out as a society.
  • To help navigate your own morals and ethics around AI use, start with your “Why.” Why are you running your business or creating what you create? That will help govern your “how” (how you use AI) and “what” (what you use it to create)

Issues of AI in the creative space:

  • Devaluing writing as an art or skill
  • Oversaturating the writing market with fluff and dross
  • Loss of your own creativity
  • Formulaic plots, characters, dialogue, etc.
  • Whose words is it stealing?
  • Worry about falling behind if we don’t use AI

AI is a super power. “It’s not a super power unless it can be used for evil” (quote from Hooked by Nir Eyal)

AI is the newest iteration of the age-old debate and tension between art and business. (Is “writing to the market” bad art? Is asking AI to “write to the market” bad art?)

Scott’s advice about using AI in your workflow:

  • Use AI tools to support your existing creative model and workflow.
  • As a solo-preneur, there are many, many tasks that you either need to do yourself or hire someone to do. Identify tasks that you would hire someone else to do if you have the money. These are the tasks you could probably have AI help you with.
  • Don’t be rigid in your position about AI. Play around and experiment with different tools, and different ways to use those tools, before making a judgment on whether you can or should or should not use something.
  • Ethical uses of AI with writing:
    • Idea generation and brainstorming (“Give me ten concept ideas for a young adult sci-fi novel”)
    • Research assistance (“How did medieval catapults work?”)
    • Editing and proofreading (“Analysis this blog post and suggest ways to improve the tone, flow, or organization)
    • Creative problem solving (“My characters are trapped in a dungeon with their hands tied. Come up with ten ideas for how I can free them in the next chapter.”)
    • Outlining (“I want to write a post about
  • Rather than spending your efforts tweaking your prompt to be exactly right, just test and iterate with a bunch of various prompts. Test out a bunch of options. You’ll learn through iteration what works and what doesn’t.
  • What is your final goal? What do you want READERS to take away with? How do you want your work to transform them? Use that to inform how you shape your product.
  • Your output is as good as your prompt. Things you can include in your prompt:
    • Persona: Who is the AI writing as? (e.g. “You are a Latter-day Saint writer and speaker who focuses on motivating youth”)
    • Context (“You are writing a collection of daily words of affirmation meant to help Latter-day Saint youth development mindfulness, emotional resiliency, and their spiritual connection to God and Jesus Christ”)
    • Task: What do you want the AI to do? (“Generate 50 one-sentence affirmative sentences, written in first-person, that could be included in this book.”)
    • Format: How long and in what format should be the response? (“Put them in a bulleted list”)
    • Tone (“Use an enthusiastic, casual tone”)

Specific Use Cases

  • You can use Dall-E to iterate possible images for a cover design, then hand them over to an actual artist as a comp or example of what you want.
  • After AI generates material for you, you can say “Make it 20% shorter” to have it cut out some of the fluff.
  • You can use Chat-GPT to shorten your synopsis or create an elevator pitch based on a synopsis.
  • Bookle.ai: Can create an entire book based on an outline or idea

How do traditional publishers feel about writers who use AI?

  • Their traditional concerns are mainly about the IP rights. They don’t want to publish something that will turn out to be in the public domain because it was made by AI.

Comments from Participants in the Chat

Jeremy Madsen: One of the best author-related uses I’ve seen is an author feeds their lengthy book synopsis into AI and asks it to generate 10 different back cover blurbs for the book.

Heather Pack: When I taught at BYU, I went to a training seminar on this. ChatGPT is able to create Book of Mormon verses that students didn’t realize weren’t in the BoM and used them in Sac. Mtg. talks.

Ben Kelly: So, in relation to idea generation, I have used A.I in the past to not necessarily create ideas, but more to open avenues of possibility. For example, I’ve given A.I a synopsis of my book and asked what I could do to improve the plot. I feel like this is an ethical way to get advice for general directions to go with my work (Political scapes, possible conflict, types of problems to navigate, etc.)

Tiffany Thomas: I use ChatGPT to help me when I get writer’s block. I feed it my book so far and ask what should happen next. Nine times out of 10, it’s really not that good, but a phrase or a concept will get my creative juices flowing again.

Jeremy Madsen: I’ve used ChatGPT and Copilot to brainstorm possible names for characters.

Jeremy Madsen: I find it’s useful to give the same prompt to two or three different AI tools (Chat GPT, CoPilot, Claude). The responses can be quite different.

Filed Under: Monthly Zoom Discussion

July 25: Intentional Editing

July 18, 2024 By Jeremy Madsen

With KayLynn Flanders

Thursday, July 25, 2024, 1:00–2:00 pm Mountain Time

The good news: Your story can be anything. The bad news: Your story can be anything. In this class, we’ll examine editing as permutation, and help you learn how to edit your story—with all its wonderful possibility—with intention.

This session will also be helpful for editors editing others’ work.

Bio: KayLynn Flanders, author of the Shielded duology, holds a degree in English language and worked as an editor for many years before turning to writing. KayLynn is a medium-adventurous foodie and spends her nonexistent spare time traveling, playing volleyball, and attempting new hobbies. She lives with her family in Utah between some mountains and a lake, but you can find her online at kaylynnflanders.com.

Watch the recording

Filed Under: Monthly Zoom Discussion

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