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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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Member Spotlight: Dr. Trina Boice!

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Our Member Spotlight this week is Dr. Trina Boice from Las Vegas, Nevada.

What inspired you to become a writer and creative in media?

I love learning and then sharing what I’ve learned with others. As a little girl, I always knew that I’d be a writer, although I didn’t know exactly what I’d be writing about! I started collecting inspiring quotes and ideas when I was only seven years old.  I kept them in a little box, which grew into a dozen filing cabinets full of content.  Thank goodness we can scan documents into our computer now! That little box has turned into 31 best-selling books and even a daily podcast where I feature inspiring quotes! I’ve always loved clever wordplay, foreign languages, and different ways of communicating. Would you believe I actually liked diagramming sentences in middle school? My kids think I’m such a nerd. They’re right.   

Tell us about your work!

My life is definitely a work in progress! I teach online for Brigham Young University and create online courses at LifelongLearningEducation.com. I’m a movie critic at MovieReviewMom.com and was named the California Young Mother of the Year in 2004, an award that completely amuses my four sons. I’m an author coach at FromBook2Business.com and love helping writers increase their income and impact through their words.

A few years ago, I taught classes at the famous Le Cordon Bleu Culinary College and have the weight gain to prove it. Prior to that, I worked as a Legislative Assistant for a Congressman in Washington, D.C., and was given the “Points of Light” Award and Presidential Volunteer Service Award for my domestic and international community service. I was selected by KPBS in San Diego to be a political correspondent for a time. Needless to say, I love variety! If I told you what I really did, I’d have to kill you.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

I love to learn and I’m inspired by the world around me. My desk overlooks my backyard where I can see beautiful flowers and watch the birds play. Music definitely puts me in the writing zone.

What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

I like a clean workspace, although I also surround myself with things that make me smile. On my desk, I have four computer monitors, because I’m always working on various documents and watching a movie to review simultaneously.

Also on my desk are some cute little souvenirs from countries around the world where I have traveled. I absolutely love to travel and am usually busy planning my next trip. Additionally, I have a little statue on my desk of Groot, from the movie Guardians of the Galaxy, simply because he makes me smile. Next to Groot is a sign with my name engraved on it in Mandarin from a speech I gave in China in front of 500 people. (I have a big desk!)

I also love to smell good things, so I have a pretty diffuser for essential oils wafting around my desk while I create. In addition, I have an inspirational quote and the scriptures to remind me what’s most important in my life. And finally, I have a picture of my awesome family on my desk. If I can plop down at my computer with a good snack, good music, and occasional YouTube videos of funny animals, I’m happy and creative!

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

The book I’m probably the proudest of is one that won’t ever earn a single cent: my doctoral degree dissertation! It took me over three years to write, but you won’t find it in bookstores anywhere. It’s currently only available in academic libraries. Nerd alert!

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative work?

I interviewed actor/songwriter/storyteller Marvin Payne. He simply and wisely said, “It’s not about you. Serve your audience.” So true.

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

Just do it! The world needs your talents. If you truly believe in your project, don’t give up. Writing a book and getting a book published can be hard work, but persistence in this industry definitely pays off. Get a platform. Publishers want writers who aren’t a “one-trick pony,” but who have a platform, an established fan base, and who can create multiple products. Write about what you’re passionate about. 

What are the books/products you’ve created?

Books:

  • Family home evening and Sunday Lessons For Kids: Topics From A to Z
  • Base Hits and Home Run Relationships: What Women Wish Guys Knew
  • The Ultimate Mystery Shopping Guide: How To Get Paid To Eat, Shop, & Play
  • Baby Announcement Ideas and Gender Reveals: 200 Creative Ways to Share Your Great News
  • How To Crush the Teenage Years Like A Boss: Life Hacks for Latter-day Saint Youth

…as well as 26 other titles available on Amazon and elsewhere.

Podcast:  “Daily Inspirational Quote With Trina Boice” 

Online Courses at Lifelong Learning Education:

  • Morning Ritual Magic
  • Managing Stress, Anxiety, & Depression
  • The Ultimate Guide to Mystery Shopping
  • Emergency Preparedness for Peace of Mind
  • Nutrition for Vibrant Health

…and 5 more, with other courses coming soon!

Movie Reviews:

Written reviews at MovieReviewMom.com

Video reviews on Youtube under the handle Movie Review Mom

Author Coach: From Book 2 Business

Where can we find you on social media?

Twitter: @TrinaBoice    

Instagram: @TrinaBoice

Pinterest: @TrinaBoice

Facebook: Movie Review Mom (Facebook group)

                 Fans of Author Trina Boice (page) 

                 Lifelong Learning Education (Facebook group)

                 From Book 2 Business (Facebook group)

                 Empty Nest Travel Hacker (Facebook group)

                 Daily Inspirational Quote (Facebook group)

YouTube:  Movie Review Mom channel

                 Trina Boice channel

                 Empty Nest Travel Hacker channel

                 Lifelong Learning Education channel

Free gift:   Finding Joy Today

Patreon:    Movie Review Mom

Praiseworthy Award Nominations Are Open

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By Nicole Bay

It’s that time of year again! No, not the Oscar season—it’s time to send in your nominations for the annual LDSPMA Praiseworthy Awards.

LDSPMA instituted the Praiseworthy Awards in 2016 to honor entire teams who collaborate to bring excellent work to light. Authors, illustrators, and content writers are extremely important in the initial stages of a new creative endeavor. They have the inspiration for a story, a movie, or a podcast. Then editors, designers, producers, directors, and actors add their magic and vision to refine that work and prepare it to meet the world. We appreciate all the work that goes into creating an outstanding piece of art, so we give Praiseworthy Awards to all members of the winning teams.

Last year we were thrilled to receive so many high-quality entries. Publishers nominated their best books, but LDSPMA members and friends entered their favorites, too. Past winners include authors published locally as well as nationally. (See the 2020 Awards Winners page.)

And the Praiseworthy Awards contest isn’t just for books—we want to recognize excellence in audiovisual media, such as podcasts, songs, and films, and in multimedia projects, such as interactive websites, video games, and apps. 

We welcome submissions from most genres that explore a wide variety of themes and content. A picture book about the first woman to run the Boston Marathon? Yes, please! How about a biography of a prophet or a novel about forbidden love? Absolutely! What about a book that deals with mental illness, a podcast about success in business, or a recording of a rock song? Yes, yes, yes! 

The common denominators for Praiseworthy winners? A top-notch product whose creators include at least one member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

We know you’ve either created or loved a book or other work that deserves some recognition. Check out our eligibility and submissions guidelines, and then use this form to submit a nomination. 

Nominations are open from March 15 to April 16, 2021, for works produced in 2020.

Keep creating and consuming excellent media! The world needs it!

Bio: Nicole Bay is the LDSPMA Director of Awards. She teaches linguistics at Brigham Young University and writes children’s fiction and nonfiction. Her favorite things are her husband and kids, homemade bread and cookies, reading, writing, and crossword puzzles.

Member Spotlight: Hannah Johnson!

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Hannah Johnson lives in Provo, Utah, and is the BYU Chapter President of LDSPMA!

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

Edits for The Freelance Framework and the Enyo Shatterbelt series.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

Like many in the Latter-day Saint Publishing & Media Association, I was a chronic reader. I started publishing reviews on Goodreads when I was thirteen. Eventually I found myself writing reviews that were both analytical and constructive. I started to wonder if my perspectives could make these books better. It wasn’t until BYU announced its new editing and publishing major—just a few months before I arrived—that the pieces fell into place and my pipe dream started to feel like a reality.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I’ve loved my developmental editing internship with Book Development Resources because they allowed me so much creative freedom. One book in particular required extensive brainstorming to solve several structural weaknesses. Finding a new plot point that killed all three birds with one stone and seeing the book’s transformation was so fulfilling; it confirmed to me that I’m in the right place.

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

There’s more than one way to cook an egg! If something isn’t sounding right despite the grammatical rules, find a different way to say it!

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

I am someone just starting out in my field (I won’t graduate for another year), but for everyone else out there struggling, I say take every opportunity! Don’t ever think you’re underqualified before you look into it. I would have never believed I’d be on the LDSPMA board, but I’m so grateful that I took the opportunities that brought me here!

A graphic of a typewriter and the word "Editing," since Hannah Johnson is an editor.
What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

I like to think of positive stories as missionary work. The scriptures are often told in stories, and that’s how we best remember the lessons we learn. To me, the Plan of Salvation is the greatest story ever told. Bringing that spirit into my work always helps me refocus.

What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

Because BYU’s editing and publishing program is in the college of linguistics, my editing is strongly rooted in how people actually speak and process language. It’s surprising to some, but I believe it produces the most accessible results.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

Asking honest questions and starting conversations has brought both goodness and greatness into my collaborative efforts. In specific projects, sincere communication has steered our novels and journals toward the most positive product. As a Gen Z-er in the larger publishing community, honestly acknowledging concerns has brought understanding and peace to me and other young members of the Church as we struggle to find our footing in a quickly changing industry.

Where can we find you online?

My website, HannahJohnsonEdits.com, and on LinkedIn and Goodreads.

Podcasting: Why You Should Think About Trying It

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By Ashley Fontes

Years ago, I started a children’s yoga blog. I had my blog name and a good website address. I wrote innovative content, I had my target audience, I made videos, I offered free content. Eventually, I even wrote on guest blogs. I was doing everything everyone was telling me to do to get my name out there, and still, I was not getting more than 50 hits a month. 

What was I doing wrong? Why couldn’t I break into the market? 

Trying a New Tactic

I couldn’t figure it out, but then last year I found this little gem that made me think: “As of this writing, there are over 500 million blogs available on the Internet. By contrast, Google claims to have indexed two million podcasts, and in 2018, Apple claimed that there were 525,000 active podcasts. Would you rather try to be noticeable in a room of 500 people, or a room with two?”

I did some more researching to see if podcasts would really make that big of a difference. Again, this is what I found: 

  • 75% of the US population is familiar with the term “podcasting”
  • 55% (155 million) of the US population has listened to a podcast
  • 16 million people in the US are “avid podcast fans”

With such a surprisingly large potential audience waiting, I had to try this out. 

I rebranded everything I owned to one name. I made sure all of my social media accounts pointed to my website and blog and that I owned the simplest domain for my new brand. Then I started my podcast, Read and Yoga. Same brand, same content, same audience, just a different platform. 

A podcast set up with microphone and computer.
The Results

In two months, I had 100 downloads on my podcast. While 100 downloads in two months didn’t mean instant podcaster celebrity status for me, it came with great side effects:

  • I went from 50 unique visits a month on my website to 150 unique visits to my website.
  • Since there are only 15 podcasters in my genre, I don’t have as much competition to get my content noticed in that sphere. 
  • I have been featured as a guest on two other podcasts, with a third coming up next month. And my podcast has received a shoutout from one of the top podcasters in my genre. These opportunities have drawn new readers and listeners to my blog and podcast from those podcasters’ audiences.
  • My social media page has grown faster in the last two months than in the last two years. 

The steps for starting a podcast are very similar to starting a blog . . . and there is no one saying you can’t have both. My podcast allows me to reach my audience where they are in ways that my blog can’t. While my blog talks mostly to caregivers and teachers, my podcast can reach straight out to yogis.

You can find the same benefits from starting your own podcast! Reach people where they are, and don’t be afraid to change. 

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Ashley Fontes graduated from Brigham Young University (Provo) with a BA in Humanities. She continued exploring her love for cultures by becoming a certified Iyengar yoga teacher, instructing both children and adults. While raising a family, writing, and teaching yoga, she has been active in the Deaf community, and in 2018 she co-founded a non-profit organization, ASL Junction.

Website: www.readandyoga.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be sure to check out LDSPMA’s new podcast! You can find the first episode here.

Member Spotlight: Julie Ann Toomey!

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Julie Ann Toomey lives in McKinney, Texas.

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?
Failure to Thrive – My Journey to Mental Health – published 2018
Through the Eyes of a Friend – coming soon!
What inspired you to become a creator of media?
I’ve always needed to write. I write in my journal a lot and it’s an outlet for me when something crazy in my life happens. It also helps me get all of the words in my head out!
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Publishing my autobiography.
What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?
Keep going! Keep creating! It will be amazing!
What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?
I don’t know. If I don’t write, I feel like something is missing. I also like to connect with my friends on social media and have writing sprints, which helps me get the words down on paper.
In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?
I’m a HUGE advocate for mental health. My second book, Through the Eyes of a Friend, is about my friend who committed suicide. I hope that it will help people with those kinds of thoughts to rethink that choice, to realize how much they are loved, even when they don’t understand why.
You can learn more about Julie Ann and her creative work at:
julieann.toomey.org

How To Build A Book Launch Team

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By Bradley Salmond

Before your book is published, one of the best ways to generate sales is to build a book launch team. This is a group of people who commit to you to read your book and promote your book by:

  1. Posting a review of your book.
  2. Potentially sending out a social media post to promote your book.
  3. Calling book stores to request that they carry your book.

Amazon will promote your book by moving it under the “books you also might like” section the more reviews you have. Reviews also boost book sales. If you can get over 20 reviews in the first week, it will create serious momentum for your book rankings. It is great social proof that you have written a good book and people are taking interest in it.

How to Build the Team

Build your team by making a list of 20-30 people that you can contact directly. These can be business contacts, online relationships, or subscribers to your email list. Keep in mind that not everyone on your team will follow through. This is why you have to communicate clearly to the book launch team what actions you want them to take, when, and how.

From the beginning, your expectations should be clear.

What to Expect of Your Team

Here are some things you could ask them:  

  1. Read your book before the date of your book launch.
  2. Give feedback if they find errors.
  3. Write an honest review of your book and post it to Amazon during the launch week, preferably within the first 72 hours of launch.
  4. Share their review of your book on their social platforms. This could also include in tweets, Facebook posts, or Goodreads reviews, or they could post the cover to Pinterest and Instagram.
  5. Share promotional ideas within the launch group. A private Facebook group would work well for this. Members can easily post ideas and swap strategies for promoting the book.

It is important that you reach out to each one of them personally. Resist the temptation to send out huge group emails to them. Their commitment to you and your book will be stronger if your interactions are done on a one-to-one communication level. It will be a lot of work, but it is 100% worth it.

A pile of books with a bright red "sale" sign on top. One of the tactics of a book launch includes putting the book on sale for $.99.
Incentives for Your Book Launch Team

To incentivize your launch team to act, you can offer them a free PDF of your book before anyone else sees it.  You might also consider some of the following ideas.

  1. Provide a free hardcopy of the book delivered right to their door.
  2. Host a webinar or a Facebook Live Q&A session: this allows you to get close and personal with your team by hosting a live webinar where you talk about the book, get into behind-the-scenes strategies of the launch, and share inside tactics that nobody else can get.
  3. Exclusive access to a private Facebook group. Here you can post videos, share posts, and converse with your team in real-time as they get excited about the launch.
  4. Send them training videos based on the content of your book.
  5. Provide an advance copy of a workbook that you will be offering to subscribers.
  6. Provide early access to course material that won’t be available until the book is launched.

You want to provide them with as much value as possible in return for their help in making your book launch a success.

Launching the Book

In the first week of your launch, offer your e-book for ninety-nine cents in the first week to give your launch team a chance to buy the book at a discounted price. If they buy your book and then leave a review, Amazon will consider the review “verified.” The review will also be stronger in Amazon’s eyes if they scroll through the first 50% of the pages after they buy the book.

A launch team can be crucial to the success of your book. If you have already published a book, it’s not too late. You can re-launch your book and give it a fresh start. Build your launch team and make your book a success.

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Bradley “BJ” Salmond is a native of Utah. BJ, and his wife, Stacey, have six children and live in American Fork. He authored the book Grudges and Grace from the Trial and Triumph series. He enjoys family history research, old-fashioned music, and chess. BJ also loves Church history and American history. He received his MBA from the University of Phoenix, a BA from Southern Utah University, and two Associate of Applied Science degrees from the Community College of the Air Force.

Member Spotlight: Robert Starling!

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Robert Starling lives in Riverton, Utah.

What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

I was a photographer for the Daily Universe at BYU. Then, I produced the first student film ever made for class credit called “Ice Cream and Elevators.” I’ve written, produced, and directed hundreds of TV shows, promos, and corporate videos, mostly for the Alabama Public Television Network, for local TV stations for NBC, and for the LDS Church. I wrote the original script for a successful feature documentary film called “In Search of Historic Jesus.” I wrote a book called “A Case for Latter-day Christianity.” My article on the Book of Mormon was “most read” on Meridian Magazine last year.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

An accidental summer job at a military photo lab in 1965 sparked an interest in photography. I decided to major in broadcasting at BYU, and I learned the thrill of creating. I particularly enjoy bringing little-known true stories to the screen that inspire viewers.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Fortunately, there have been many. Getting paid to study the life of Christ while writing the script for “In Search of Historic Jesus” is near the top of the list, then shooting in New York, England, and filming the Shroud of Turin in Italy. Of course, seeing my book in print was a thrill, and filming the B2 Bomber’s first flight. I was the video producer for the Boy Scouts of America at the World Scout Jamboree in Japan. When working for the Church, having President Monson give my boss a literal thumbs up on a project was great.

What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

Someone once said, “Find something you love to do, and find a way to get paid for it, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” Fortunately, I’ve been blessed to be able to do that for about 50 years. The other best advice comes from Matthew 6:33: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” President Kimball encouraged LDS creators to use their talents to share the gospel, and that’s the best advice of all.

A photo of a camera being used. Robert Starling is a professional photographer.
What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

The first piece of advice I mentioned above is a good start. You must love what you do and have a passion for it, or else go find something else. Then you must learn the basics of your craft. It is said that “He who has imagination without learning, has wings but no feet.” In addition, tell stories that don’t just entertain but also inspire and have meaning. Talent is given us from God, and we owe it to Him to use them in His service. Find mentors, and never eat lunch alone, so to speak. Always be networking.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

I believe I was given my talents and opportunities for a purpose, and I cannot squander them on meaningless things. Each day is a gift from God of 24 golden hours filled with 60 “diamond” minutes, and I must not waste it. As the hymn says, “have I done any good in the world today?” Asking that question at eventide inspires me each day to try and do better tomorrow. There are so many inspiring stories that need to be told and so little time. It also inspires me to fellowship with other LDS creators, like in A.L.M.A.

What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

Maybe what I don’t want others to know, but which could be instructive, is that I have “creative A.D.D.,” and I have difficulty focusing on a project and finishing it. There’s always a new idea popping up. I’m 75, and yesterday I had a literal list of 49 movies I want to make. But today there are 50. I’m off on a new quest. I would say to others “don’t be like me,” but on the other hand, it is a wonderful ride. I just need to find collaborators with resources, who are looking for good stories. I’ve got ’em.

In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

“Ice Cream and Elevators” was rejected by a student film festival—a judge said it was too good to have been done by students. BUT, he said that if it portrayed BYU student life accurately, he wanted his daughter to go there! That was good. With “In Search of Historic Jesus,” I was able to show audiences worldwide Christ visiting the Americas. That was good. The interactive DVD “An Introduction to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” was produced for limited use but President Monson said to use it church-wide. That was good. And my book ….

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

The website is down, but ask me about the “Kinship” documentary and the “Tooka TV” Iranian children’s channel!

7 Character Traits of Creative People

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By Trina Boice

Have you ever wondered what drives creative people? What makes them different? Hanging out with other LDSPMA members energizes me, inspires me, and encourages me to tap into my own creativity more! You can develop your own innate creativity by incorporating the following seven traits into your daily life.

1. Creative people are focused

Highly creative people usually have high levels of energy and stay focused on their project for long periods. Even when they are out of the studio or away from the computer, their minds are still thinking about their creative work. To take advantage of the ideas that tend to constantly flow, keep a notebook nearby or reserve a spot on your cell phone where you can instantly record your flashes of inspiration.

2. They hold onto a sense of wonder

Creative people are often brilliant, but they don’t think they know everything. Just the opposite, they retain a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world. They are committed to lifelong learning.

3. Creative people work hard

Creative people, whether songwriters or artists, speakers or writers, usually work long hours on a project and get into “the zone.” They let their loved ones know what they need for support, so that when they’re in “the zone,” they won’t be bothered or interrupted. Know how to design an effective workspace with music or silence, food or drink, aroma or light. Creatives are persistent and determined and totally focused on their work. They also know they need to take a break!

4. Creatives are not loners

Research suggests that creative people often combine the best of extroversion and introversion. While most people tend to favor one or the other of these personality types, creative people combine elements of both. They find ideas and inspiration in their social interactions and then retreat to the studio to work their creative magic.

5. They are open and sensitive

Creatives tend to be very empathic and sensitive. They are open to all the possibilities of the world and find inspiration everywhere. Sensitivity is necessary to be able to create artistically but can be a double-edged sword, leaving the artist vulnerable to criticism and rejection.

6. Creatives can daydream and be realistic

The traditional picture of the daydreaming artist isn’t necessarily reflective of the creative mind. Creativity is grounded in imagination and daydreaming, seeing the possibilities and wondering ‘what if?’ But creative people are also very practical, and the next stage is testing the ‘what if’ idea to see if it works. Creative thinking is essential for innovative problem solving that works in the real world.

7. Creatives seek to be a light in the world

Creative desire to share their gifts with the world to make it a better place. They want to share their insights and perspective in order to lighten another person’s burden or add joy and depth to understanding.

So, what are YOU going to create today?

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Dr. Trina Boice is a #1 best-selling author of 31 books and an author coach at www.FromBook2Business.com. She teaches online for Brigham Young University (Idaho campus), is a film critic at www.MovieReviewMom.com. Trina is the Marketing Director at LDSPMA and loves rubbing shoulders with all of you amazing creatives!