LDSPMA

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

LDSPMA

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.

LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Victor La Vanway!

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

Books:
Bones in The Sand: The Extraterrestrial Connection to Earth
Grandpa’s Collection of Mostly True Tales
Painting: Emergency Landing Monochrome Acrylic (black, gray, white, 33 x 27 inches)

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

All that is the world around me, as well as a third grade classmate and friend, Robert Smith, who taught me how to draw with pencil and perspective. Our teacher, Mrs. Stevens, taught us how to think and write. The Old and New Testaments ignited my child imagination to real things beyond my sight but within the grasp of diligent, devoted practice.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

I think my highlight is my collection of mostly true tales written for my children and grandchildren. The collection is humorous, serious, occasionally sad, imaginative, and edifying. It draws readers into experiences descriptive of earth life as adventurous, joyful, real, and astonishing. With faith in God, it’s an embraceable challenge.

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

Find a better way to . . . Never give up. Rewrite.

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

The advice I received above and would add, “God gave you talent, so don’t submit to discouragement.”

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

The scriptures, the unfolding mysteries of Heavenly Father’s Kingdom, and people.

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

I am a convert to the restored gospel and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My experience confirms the principles of Christ’s doctrine. Psalm 1:2-3 and Doctrine and Covenants 46:8-9 tells of comfort and encouragement and instructs me in personal responsibility as steward of blessings and talents. Jesus Christ is the Ultimate Artist. If any person strives humbly and diligently, following His example, we may eventually achieve His stature and creative skills as joint-heirs with Him. Presently, I enjoy the wonder of discovery and the familiar patterns of practice.

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

In my literary efforts, I have tried to lead readers to a consciousness of Heavenly Father and His plan for His children. Reserved for them are things “eye has not seen, nor ear heard.” All things are spiritual unto Him, but many things are exciting, cosmic, physical, mathematical, and scientific wonders as well, hinted at in his word, the scriptures. My motive is to point readers to things that will help them find love, joy, and eternal riches by devoting their lives to becoming the divine creatures Father counseled us to become and to glimpse the mysteries of our Father’s Kingdom.

Member Spotlight: Elizabeth Hubbard!

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

  • Fight On! World War II and Cold War Experiences of Lt. Commander John R. “Jack” Hubbard USNR
  • The Search Never Ends: Musings of John R. “Jack” Hubbard
  • Adventures With A Historian: The Life and Times of John R. “Jack” Hubbard

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

It was an accident. I spent many years proofreading books my father wrote. In 2011, in an effort to maintain my sanity while recovering from major surgery, I worked side by side with my dad as he put his brother’s memoirs, letters, and notes into a manuscript for publication. I began by fact-checking everything I could because I quickly realized that my uncle’s story was as much a global history lesson as it was his personal story. I conducted extensive research to answer questions that arose during the compilation of the manuscript, then incorporated my findings into the book.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

The highlight has been the encouragement and assistance received from David McCullough, Congressman Michael Burgess, and the University of Southern California.

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

It is better to push back a release date than not verify that your facts are accurate, your grammar is correct, and your typos have been eliminated. Don’t be afraid to include photos, illustrations, maps, etc. if they add interest and/or understanding to the story but don’t use them just to fill up space.

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

If you are writing nonfiction, make sure you document all sources and give credit where credit is due. Don’t be afraid to make cold calls to obtain more information and understanding.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

I’m inspired by looking at the mountain of source materials in cardboard boxes that sits in my office. To me, it’s too valuable to throw into the dumpster.

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

I was surprised at the reaction of immediate and extended family members. Deep feelings ranging from anger and resentment to awe and wonder arose from the four corners of the world. As a result, we took out certain sections, deleted some names, and re-worded embarrassing or compromising sections to protect the innocent without compromising the integrity of the story.

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

We were able to make the Amazon Best Sellers list without using profanity to tell war and espionage stories.

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

http://www.punaluudata.com

LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Ilyan Lavanway!

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Ilyan Lavanway lives in Lehigh, Kansas.

First, tell us about your unique name!

I asked my dad about the meaning of my name. He told me he named me by inspiration, which is especially significant to me, given the fact that my parents knew nothing about the Church until I was three years old. They were introduced to the gospel by a bishop who owned a farm in Connell, Washington. My parents were renting a house on his land. My parents were baptized when I was three years old, and have remained active, raising me in the Church. According to my dad, my first name, Ilyan, has origins in several countries and means Superior, Gentleman, Gentle.

Also interesting is the fact that while my dad was inspired to name me as he did, he said he did not learn the meanings of my names until after the fact. He said my pediatrician, Dr. Vernie from Holland, told him my middle name, Kei, means Stone or Rock. My last name, Lavanway, comes from French origins and means Keeper of the way, or Keeper of the front gate. My dad said his inspiration in naming me has proven accurate. I appreciate knowing that, and I realize it gives me a lot to live up to.

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

My Spiritual Horizons Expander Pack is a growing collection of eleven out of over two dozen books I have published. These eleven books include: Pondering the Atonement of Jesus Christ, The Book of Mormon Answers the Fermi Paradox, Eternal Family Structures Among Exalted Couples, Nature of The Godhead, Onions of Eternity, The Grandeur of Christmas and the Son of God, Circumscription Hypothesis, Thought Log 2015.08.17.1900, Intelligent Universe, Paradise and Spirit Prison, What Happens at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Most of these books are short reads, but all invite lengthy pondering, deep thought, exploratory personal scripture study, and personal revelation. Another is called An Aviator At Heart, which is about my teenage years as an aviator. Hopefully, it’ll inspire other young ones out there!

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

When I was a pathologically shy fourteen-year-old boy, I was told in a priesthood blessing that I have the ability – which means responsibility – to teach and to project myself to my fellow man. I was promised that I would be a full-time missionary, and that I would bring many souls into an understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In a later blessing, I was promised that complex things would become simple and easy to understand. I consider it my lifelong responsibility as a member missionary to be anxiously engaged in gathering Israel through my personal written works.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Soon after launching The Book of Mormon Answers the Fermi Paradox, and sending hundreds of emails inviting NASA and SETI scientists to read it, a senior scientist from The Mars Institute and SETI responded. Although he maintained his secular perspective and disagreed with the content of my book, he was kind and continued an email conversation with me for several days. The Holy Ghost helped me address his arguments. Later, I was invited to write an article about my book for a science website. Having answered the SETI scientist, I was prepared, but my article was not published as promised.

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

“Do not become discouraged when trials come to you, for all men must overcome the adversities of life in order to achieve perfection.”

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

I would pass along the same advice given to me. I have discovered during my endeavors to invite others to read my written works, that fat too often I encounter total rejection. Much of it is mean and abrupt. All of it is unfounded. Such rejection presents opportunities to be forgiving, and to press on, undaunted.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

Something my dad said to me, after I shared with him a particularly hurtful rejection, inspired me. My dad told me, “Son, you are a voice crying in the wilderness, and a light shining in darkness.” My dad also told me, “Son, I love reading your work. It makes me think and feel.” Encouragement like this, and the influence of the Holy Ghost, and sheer determination to not be silenced keep me forging ahead. Personal insights that come to me as I study and ponder the scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets and apostles constitute ongoing inspiration in my creative work.

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

Searching the mysteries of God and then sharing and discussing them is part of declaring repentance, affording and inviting a change of mind and heart that gives us a fresh view about God, about ourselves, and about the world. The deep things of God point us right back to the first principle of the gospel, which is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The mysteries of God point us right back to the first law of heaven, which is obedience. This expanded perspective of what it means to declare repentance is the foundation and the core of my creative process.

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

While few and far between, positive reader feedback is one indicator. For example, one reader said of The Book of Mormon Answers the Fermi Paradox, “I love this book. It was clearly written and answers questions I’ve had for years. The author writes in a way that’s simple to understand but informative.” Of course, reader reviews are not decisive indicators of merit. I know I am a voice for good because my books are an integral part of my personal testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. By the word of my testimony, I can help defeat the Adversary.

I have taken the initiative to produce a short, two-part video series of The Book of Mormon Answers the Fermi Paradox, narrated by a simple text-to-speech system.
Part One is fifteen minutes. 
The Book of Mormon Answers The Fermi Paradox by Ilyan Kei lavanway Part 1 of 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A18zirdV04
Part Two is seven minutes.   
The Book of Mormon Answers The Fermi Paradox by Ilyan Kei lavanway Part 2 of 2  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp4oh_xy2iw
YouTube playlist containing both parts:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7pXkt_XY8yYNNKfdTfnNv_PlHG2lz8Cm
That’s twenty-two minutes of pondering the infinite and eternal majesty of our Creator, Jesus Christ. It’s one small and simple invitation to look upward and consider the works of God that extend beyond our own myopic perspectives.
Twenty-two minutes to investigate “a change of mind and heart that gives us a fresh view about God, about ourselves, and about the world.”
Please watch and share. This is an integral part of my personal testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I discovered it through years of diligent personal scripture study, and I am supposed to share it, so please indulge me in my efforts to do so in this creative manner.

If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.
https://www.amazon.com/Ilyan-Kei-Lavanway/e/B004YL1HG2

Member Spotlight: Jen Brewer!

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Jen Brewer lives in Rochester, Minnesota.

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

The Bench – a parable that follows a young mother through her journey of finding and fulfilling her personal purpose.
Lazy Hydroponics online course – a course that teaches people how to build and grow a hydroponic garden in their home.
Be the Chocolate Chip – a short book geared toward the youth to teach how to not ‘melt’ in the oven of the world.
Stop Dieting and Start Losing Weight for Good – a book sharing principles of health and how to build a toolbox of actions to create a healthy life.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

I have always loved writing and teaching. I have a book constantly swirling around inside my head. I love to speak and see light bulbs come on as someone grasps a new concept or understands an old story in a new light.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Seeing a book make its way from my head, through the various stages of writing and editing, to come out in a finalized format. It’s so surreal to hold one of my books in my hands for the first time.

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

To be true to my story. To take advice but not lose my essence in the creative process.

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

Go for it! The world needs YOUR story, told through YOUR eyes. It’s easy to get intimidated by all of the already published authors out there, but you have a unique voice to share.

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

Seeing the power of God makes my words more than they ever could be. When I get in the zone and become more of a faucet for God’s inspiration, I feel a complete oneness with the Spirit. It’s such a cool feeling.

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

It’s a constant roller coaster. I can be completely in the groove one day and hit a major creative wall the next. I am definitely a work in progress!

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

I have fused my nutrition education with my creative pursuits and have jumped into the world of humanitarian work. All of the profits from my books or courses go directly to fund humanitarian projects. I have loved giving a voice to forgotten communities around the world by telling their stories.

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

http://www.jenbrewer.com

Member Spotlight: Steve Dunn Hanson!

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Steve Dunn Hanson lives in Veradale, Washington.

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

I have written articles for the Ensign and scripts for several Church Audiovisual Department leadership training videos. I also have published three nonfiction books, including Joy: The Other Side of Sorrow, 10 Principles of Love to Help You Parent Your Adult Children (co-authored), and Observations: The Book of Mormon. My published fiction books include The Mission, The Course of Fate trilogy (FIND, SHATTER, GATHER), and Sealed Up, the precursor to The Course of Fate series. In addition, I post my “cogitations,” poetry, and photography on my website.

What inspired you to become a creator of media?

President Spencer W. Kimball’s article in the July 1977 Ensign, “The Gospel Vision of the Arts,” spoke to my soul. Two statements he made particularly resonated with me: “Inspired Saints will write great books and novels and biographies and plays” and “Real craftsmanship, regardless of the skill involved, reflects real caring, and real caring reflects our attitude about ourselves, about our fellowmen, and about life.”

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

When people tell me after reading one of my books or articles or poems, that their lives have been affected, or that they see things now that they didn’t before, or that their love for the Savior has expanded, or that they have a new sense of peace and comfort, I rejoice in being an instrument, for that has been my intent. Those kind of responses are my highlights.

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

Listen! Listen to your readers. Listen to those trying to help you. Listen to the Spirit.

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

The same advice I was given: Listen! In addition, Read! Read! Read! That’s how you learn to write. And I’ll pass on a phrase I always use: “I write to be edited!” That’s another way of saying, “Be humble, seek advice, and listen.”

What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

My constant prayer is to write meaningfully and write that which will be of worth to my readers. Then I try to listen and go to work. I am not often disappointed.

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

My dear friend and mentor, Kaye Terry Hanson, told me, “Writing is easy. Just dip your pen in your blood and write.” For me, writing is hard, painful, often frustrating, and disappointing . . . and it is the process to my inspiration. That’s why I write.

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

My first book, The Mission, a fictional account of a young man on a full-time mission struggling to find himself, was published 34 years ago. Even after all this time, I am still approached by men who are grandfathers now and who said they read that book as young missionaries, and it changed their mission and their lives. That does not cease to be an emotional, gratifying experience for me.

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

https://stevedunnhanson.com/