LDSPMA

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

LDSPMA Member Spotlight

LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Maleah Day Warner

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Maleah Day Warner currently lives in American Fork, Utah.

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

Lies of the Magpie is my debut memoir and the 2020 AML award winner for Creative Nonfiction. I also host the Power Principles Podcast.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

My fourth grade teacher told me I would be a writer, and I believed her.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Meeting Alex Boyé at LDSPMA conference 2021, of course!

Winning the 2020 AML (Association for Mormon Letters) award for Creative Nonfiction was thrilling and an absolute surprise. Many thanks to AML for boosting my confidence as an author. 🙂

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

Ally Condie said she gave herself permission to take her time in her writing journey. This advice has helped me to be patient in the LONG process of becoming a writer and the even LONGER journey to publication.

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

Be willing to be really bad at your craft. You have to be bad BEFORE you can be good. But no one wants to be bad, so we procrastinate creating. Go ahead and be bad. Produce that cringe-worthy first draft. Clunk through the gag-inducing second draft. Imagine that you’re required to produce 200,00 really awful sentences before your brilliance can shine. Then you can sit down and start writing junk. Jeff Savage says you have to dump a whole lot of manure on your page before the flowers will grow.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

Most of the day I wrestle with enormous amounts of self-doubt. When I’m on top of my creative game, it’s remembering my WHY that keeps me going. And reading. When I lack motivation, reading gets me back on track.

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

I love mothering and writing and try to combine the two whenever I can. I want to see more stories with mother protagonists.

My mission is to educate, validate, and elevate the work of mothering.

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

I believe that a healthy world starts with healthy mothers. Postpartum depression, anxiety and mental health issues are a huge battle for mothers right now. I also believe in the healing power of story. Maybe a mom who feels alone and is struggling can find hope, healing, and an enormous hug and boost of encouragement from reading my story.

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

[email protected]

Instagram: @maleahdaywarnerwrites

https://www.facebook.com/maleah.warner

LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Thomas Laughlin

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Thomas Laughlin lives in Clinton, Utah.

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

In my over twenty-year career, I’ve been privileged to have worked with and mentored by several LDS filmmakers such as TC Christensen ASC (producer/cinematographer for Love Kennedy and 17 Miracles), Peter Czerny (film editor of the original Johnny Lingo and LDS film classics of the 1960s-1990s), Dennis Lisonbee (film director and composer), and so many who have worked for the BYU and LDS Motion Picture Studio. I’ve done several award-winning documentaries, including A Reel Legacy: The History of Judge Whitaker and the LDS Motion Picture Studio, Stripling, and more recently I was director and producer of Remembering Heaven.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

I have always loved cinema. I was always enamored with the process from writing to editing. My parents encouraged me to follow my dream, so after a mission to Sao Paulo Brazil, I left my hometown of Wichita, Kansas, and headed to Provo, Utah, went to UVU, got married, and have been married for the past twenty years.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Before I came to live in Utah after my mission, I came out here to visit some mission friends and attended the first LDS Film Festival. It was a tiny festival back then, but I was amazed by all the filmmakers—I had found my people! This festival is what brought me to Utah. Twenty years later, we entered our documentary Remembering Heaven and won the Twentieth Annual LDS Film Festival, with my wife and kids looking on, as we took the stage and got the “Best Documentary” award. It felt amazing!

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

The best advice I ever got was to study storytelling. Every filmmaking process is tied to story. It’s the same whether it is a novel, book, short film, or whatever the medium. You have to have a strong beginning, middle, and ending. At the recommendation of a college film friend, I read Screenplay by Syd Field, and it changed everything for me. I wrote around fifteen feature film scripts in college—so do a lot of writing, shooting, and editing.

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

Whatever background or experience you have, learn as much as you can about the “film business.” If you have a great idea, manuscript, or a book (that you want to make into a film or a documentary), take the time to research and learn about filmmaking, scriptwriting, marketing, and distribution. Have a specific goal and run to that goal and don’t stop until that goal is achieved. Intern on a film set or work on a short film. This will add to your experiences and skills. Be tenacious and passionate!

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

What inspires me is my inner drive to always tell a story with the most emotional or uplifting impact. Oftentimes, we don’t always get to work on big projects. Maybe they are small car commercials or corporate videos. But even still, you can always try and make the content inspiring or uplift your viewers. There are so many film pioneers before us, who had to work with more primitive filmmaking tools. We have digital tools like the iPhone, that can film anything. We have laptops that can edit. Tell those stories!

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

The creative process is like a muscle. The more you do it, the stronger and better you get. Like bodybuilding, you can target certain muscle groups or areas of focus. The creative process is a journey. Just keep going.

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

Especially with my last two documentaries, Stripling and Remembering Heaven, I have tried to inform and truly inspire the members of our LDS youth and members to remember the gospel of Jesus Christ. In everything I try and do, I look at it as if the Lord is looking at the film and ask, would he accept this offering? As many artists know, we do our best and hope that what we do turns people’s hearts to (or back to) the Savior. (And, I hope to work on future projects with others in the LDSPMA!)

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

https://www.facebook.com/tomyboy342000

LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Alyssa Calder Hulme

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Alyssa Calder Hulme lives in Heber City, Utah.

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

  • Women of Ambition Podcast
  • BBC News: “My Money: ‘Our alternative quarantine holiday'”
  • Local Passport Family Guest Post: “Living and Working from an RV”
  • Babywise Mom: “Homeschooling with a Newborn: 6 Tips for Success”
  • Intermountain Healthcare: “School at home while you’re social distancing: 6 tips for a positive experience”

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

I have a lot to say on many topics; writing and podcasting helps me move conversations out of my head and into the world where I can make a difference. My current project, Women of Ambition Podcast, gives me a fantastic excuse to befriend incredible women, learn from them, and rip into my deepest questions while taking my audience along for the ride.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Getting published by the BBC! It’s my first international publication.

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

It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just start where you are and learn along the way.

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

Choose a deep topic you’ll never get sick of exploring. Dig into that in whatever format works for your energy and interest level. Begin with the lowest start up cost and see where things go.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

Making sure I’m living the way I want my children to live—that is, in alignment with my values and passions. Also remembering that creation is a holy act and as I practice it I can become closer to my Heavenly Mother and Father.

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

It’s is all over the map; I always have about five projects going on beyond what I’ve told anyone. From the outside (and frequently the inside) those pursuits look disconnected but always makes sense in the end. My deep dive into oil paints ends up informing the way I brand my content. My veer into reiki healing connects me deeper to my Heavenly Parents whose love fuels my bigger purpose as a teacher and disruptor. My book binge is teaching me (again) how to naturally craft dialogue between characters in my book. It all feeds my creativity.

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

I use my voice to speak up for women and encourage other women to do the same. We don’t have to agree on anything to make more space for women’s voices; simply using mine makes more room for another woman to use hers. I’ve witnessed silenced women speak up. I’ve watched as they realize their words are of value. When women step up to the mic, we transform the world.

I am also an advocate for neurodiverse humans. In simply sharing information on neurodiversity with my community, I have seen increased love for self and empathy for others.

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

http://www.WomenofAmbitionPodcast.com @WomenofAmbitionPodcast @BigRoundSchoolhouse @WhoIsHeavenlyMother

LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Spanky Ward

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Spanky Ward currently lives in Holladay, Utah.

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

I’ve written the feature films Riot (Dolph Lundgren), Ruling of the Heart, and Christmas Break-In (Danny Glover, Denise Richards). I’ve also written, produced, and directed the feature films Hello, I Love You and The Santa Box, as well as over seventy short films and commercials.

I also recently self-published my first children’s book called Charlie’s Long Journey, available on Amazon.com.

I have other films, novels, and children’s books in the works.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

I’ve always loved TV, movies—anything that sparks my imagination, but writing didn’t hit me until college. I started out with commercials, then movies and now novels and children’s books. I’m excited to explore more forms of writing in the future.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Definitely writing, producing and directing my movie The Santa Box. It was my first bigger budget film, and it has already won five awards and just sold to the UK, Japan, Australia, and South Africa, with more territories on the way.

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

If you feel that God’s given you a talent, then develop it and use it to its fullest potential, no matter how difficult things get or the size or number of roadblocks in your way.

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

If you have the talent needed to succeed, then never give up.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

The anticipation of seeing an audience react to my work.

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

That my goal in life is to tell great stories that are entertaining for everyone.

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

I’ve had a chance to make some heartfelt family friendly movies over the years.

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

http://www.facebook.com/spankyward

LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Vice President Erin Willder

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Erin Willder currently lives in Provo, Utah.

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

My main mission is to help others publish good content—I’m usually the wind beneath someone else’s wings! I’ve edited, designed, and published many books over my 28-year career. Some of the more well-known titles have been books in the Unofficial Guide series (Macmillan) and technical manuals for SAAS-based technology companies. In addition to my work at BYU, I also produce high-end personal histories and am writing a book series to help trauma survivors create a life they love.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

At age 12, I tested into a GT writing program at a local college, which I attended for two years. It was during that time that I decided to focus on publishing.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Being a part of LDSPMA in these early years has been exhilarating. I believe in our mission. I believe in LDSPMA members and the exponential effects their creations will have in and on the world. We champion the missionary work of self-declared media missionaries (no nametags required)! 🙂 These efforts must happen before the Savior’s return. The best way to “sweep the earth as with a flood” is to synergize, partnering for maximum effectiveness.

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

To keep revising. It’s during the editing that the genius ideas emerge. I didn’t fully understand that until I heard Shannon Hale describe how editing brought out the best parts in The Princess Academy. For me, there’s a sweet spot past the point when you want to stop working on a piece—it usually turns out to be about 3/4 of the way to the finish line that the most magical moments start happening.

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

Practice, practice, practice. Starting a writing practice—free and easy writing—gives you playtime to blurt out all the stuff in your head so you can sort and organize the good parts later. Natalie Goldberg’s classic advice lives on.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

Stale as it sounds, I truly want to help make the world a better, brighter place. Countless dangers threaten to block the blessings we are otherwise entitled to enjoy. My dearest wish is to play any role in helping my brothers and sisters return Home safely.

LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Bonnie K. T. Dillabough

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Bonnie K.T. Dillabough currently lives in Richland, Washington.

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

I wrote the Dimensional Alliance series, including The House on Infinity Loop, Infinity on Fire, and Mirrors of Infinity with the 4th book in the series coming out in November 2021: Ripples of Infinity. The eventual scope of the series will be about 15 books. My books are science-fiction that read like fantasy. Dragons and dwarves and fantastical creatures…high-tech, dimensional travel, and alien encounters—all of this and more.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

I’ve been writing since my early years and spent 15 years in broadcast television, but I always wanted to write novels. An active life as a veteran, mother of 6 (now grandmother of 17 and counting), and life happened. Then one day, I had the joy of interviewing Mercedes Lackey. When I timidly remarked I had considered writing a novel, she said, “So put your butt in the chair and write!”
I did. Two weeks before my 64th birthday, The House on Infinity Loop was published in 2018.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Probably the opportunity to interact with fans and potential fans of the books has been the highlight. I have one science fiction/fantasy convention under my belt (before Covid) and some author talks. One of the most fun highlights was being accosted in a local bookstore because someone recognized me. They were there to purchase my books and asked for me to sign them in the aisle of the store. I don’t think it had occurred to me that I would ever be recognized like that.

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

Definitely to write and to associate with other writers, starting with NaNoWriMo just after getting the emphatic advice from Mercedes Lackey. Through groups such as The Alliance of Independent Authors and Aspiring Authors, I’ve had the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the publishing industry.
These connections and the continuing education I have received have led me to realize that no author is an island. We do some of our best work as we help one another.

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

Write. Seriously, I know that sounds over-simplistic, but unfortunately, it is too easy to get wrapped up in details that have nothing to do with telling your story. Get the story out of you before you worry about editing or anything else. Then get educated. There are so many traps laid for aspiring authors and most of them involve taking shortcuts. Do your due diligence. Join writing groups. Don’t fall for the wiles of those who only want your money. Get advice from people who are actually selling books and have a following. And don’t compromise your principles.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

Reading good writing for one thing. I’ve been re-reading favorite books in my genre to learn from those who have mastered the craft. People like Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, J.K. Rowling, and Brandon Mull. Their styles are all different, and yet, as I read their books, not as a fan but as a writer, I realize there are certain things they all have in common. I try to emulate the things that fit my style and avoid the things that don’t fit.

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

I am what is known in the writing arena as a “pantser,” meaning I write by the seat of my pants. I don’t do outlines. But I still know where I’m going. I write the last chapter or scene in my book in the beginning. This gives me something to shoot for. Admittedly, by the time I get there, I often have to do some re-writing, but that’s ok. Knowing the end from the beginning has a lot to be said for it. Also, my writing is character-centric. I know my characters very well.

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

The focus of my books is about how working together accomplishes so much more than working alone. Some of the values I try to teach as I entertain are the value of kindness, why judgmentalism is counter-productive, that there is a “creator of all things,” that science and belief are not opposites, the importance of family, the concept of redemption, and the idea that creation is much bigger than we can imagine.

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

LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Rob Jex!

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Rob Jex currently lives in Saratoga Springs, Utah.

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

I am not a content creator. My work assignment at the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the product manager of the Gospel Library app, a channel through which the books and media that others have created get delivered to Church members throughout the world. With the help and input from many others, I am responsible for the organization of the content in the app, the user experience of the app, and marketing/user education.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

I do not enjoy reading. I have always preferred listening to books, lectures, and messages.

Thus, I have felt inspired to help other visual learners like me who prefer to hear the word of God (like audio versions of the scriptures and general conference messages), in addition to having the chance to read it. I’ve also always enjoyed watching videos. So after the success of the Church’s Bible Videos series happened, I helped initiate the Book of Mormon Videos project.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

The highlight has been helping to amplify the reach of the messages of living prophets.

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

Good decision making comes from research, revelation, and reasoning.

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

Developing relationships, focusing on audiences’ experiences, and aligning with top organizational priorities get results.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

What inspires me is helping God’s interested children to have digital access to the teachings of Jesus Christ and His prophets to help them receive personal guidance in their daily lives.

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

I would like others to know that most of my inspiration doesn’t come during work hours at my desk; rather, it comes while pondering, talking to people, and observing others’ innovations.

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

I have helped many of God’s children develop faith in Him and Jesus Christ by making the scriptures and general conference messages more widely available.

LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Gale Sears!

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Gale Sears lives in Sandy, Utah.

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

The Silence of God, Letters in the Jade Dragon Box, The Fifth Favorite, Christmas for a Dollar.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

Multiple stories inside my head fighting to get out were what inspired me to create. My first love of the written word came in the second grade. My teacher, Mrs. Leamon, would read stories to us.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Being able to publish 10 novels has definitely been the highlight of my career so far. It is exciting and humbling each time a book proposal or manuscript is accepted.

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

Every author has bad days, negative reviews, rejections, writing blocks. It happens, even to established writers. Find a person you trust to help you through those moments and who will realistically boost your confidence.

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

Find a story you LOVE, and then tell it with enthusiasm. You need to be passionate about the story.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

The words. The story. The characters. A nibble of dark chocolate doesn’t hurt either.

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

I am much more creative in the morning. By 3 p.m., my brain turns to mush.

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

I write mostly historical fiction with an LDS thread running through. Hopefully, my stories not only open a new world of discovery for the reader but also lift their faith.