Conference Committee – Storymakers Author Guild

CHAIR

Cassie Mae

Cassie Mae is the author of a dozen or so books. Some of which became popular for their quirky titles, characters, and stories. She likes writing about nerds, geeks, the awkward, the fluffy, the short, the shy, the loud, the fun.

Since publishing her bestselling debut, Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend, she's published several titles with Penguin Random House and founded Cookielynn Publishing Services. She is represented by Sharon Pelletier at Dystel, Goderich, and Burret LLC. She has a favorite of all her book babies, but no, she won't tell you what it is (Mainly because it changes depending on the day.).

Along with writing, Cassie likes to binge watch parks and recreation and enjoys every Harry Potter weekend. She likes kissing her hubby, but only if his facial hair is trimmed. She also likes cheesecake to a very obsessive degree.

CO-CHAIR

Wendy Jessen

Wendy Jessen collects elephants, wears a lot of black, and likes toe socks. She is the author of "Hope and Healing: A Survivor's Faith-Based Perspective on Recovering from Sexual Abuse," and has a website on the same topic for survivors and support people (here). Wendy has been on several podcasts talking about sexual abuse and did a TEDx Talk on this topic as well. Her day job is working as a victim advocate in her local police department. Wendy enjoys doing yoga, listening to audiobooks, and procrastinating writing. Mexican food is her love language.

ASSISTANT TO CHAIR

Jessica Salyer

Jessica is the co-author of 2 published Young Adult books and about 10 more on her hard drive. She lives in the midwest, but wishes she lived somewhere warm.

ASSISTANT TO CO-CHAIR

Talysa Sainz

Talysa Sainz is a freelance editor who believes life’s deepest truths can be found in fiction. She runs her own editing business and spends her time at the library or volunteering with the League of Utah Writers. Always fascinated with the structure of words, she studied English Linguistics and Editing at BYU. She then went on to receive a Master of Science in Management and Leadership, focusing on nonprofit work, from WGU. Talysa is the President of the Utah Freelance Editors.

FINANCE

Gina Denny

Gina has an undergraduate degree in business, a graduate research degree in education, eight years of banking experience, plus five years as a band and orchestra teacher while also managing the fine arts department finances as the department chair. Online, you can find her at In Omnia Paratus: Life is Short. Write Well. (a Gilmore Girls critique and analysis publication with Annette Lyon) or at The Pineapple P. Podcast (a How I Met Your Mother analysis podcast with Darci Cole) She writes non-fiction for parents and educators as well as SFF for fun.

EMCEE

Kaushay Ford

Kaushay Ford joins the Storymakers Committee this year as our Master of Ceremonies! Kaushay has a passion for literature & education and a passion for performing; making her the perfect addition to the team! Her current passion project is a children's books series called The Little-Known Heroes, an illustrated series that explores the stories of lesser-known historical figures, recently published in 2021.

During the day, Kaushay works as on-screen talent and voiceover actress for The Good and the Beautiful. There she works as a personality for math curriculum videos and narrates a variety of audiobooks.

Kaushay is incredibly grateful to the Storymakers committee for the opportunity to work with such wonderful people and to her family for their unending love and support.

COMMITTEE TRAINER

Kaylee Baldwin

Kaylee Baldwin’s love of all things books and reading led her to graduate from Arizona State University with a degree in English. In 2019, she started working with Sweetly Us Book Services and has a fast-growing client list. She has eight published novels, one of which was a Whitney Award Finalist. She lives in Arizona with her family.

Follow her on Instagram to learn more about her adventures: @kayleebaldwinwrites.

FACILITIES

Jaime L Theler

Jaime Theler is the author of two non-fiction books with a small press, Enjoying the Journey and Parenting the Ephraim’s Child. She has also been a newspaper writer and proofreader, corporate social media coordinator, marketing project manager, and freelance content writer and editor for fiction, non-fiction, and business writing. She now manages a large team of writers and editors at a digital marketing agency that has helped hundreds of companies like Avis/Budget, NuSkin, Visionworks, and Pluralsight improve their online presence. Jaime has been on the Storymakers committee for over ten years and is passionate about helping authors succeed.

WHITNEY PRESIDENT

Emily Inouye Huey

Emily Inouye Huey writes historical fiction for children and teens. Her first novel, BENEATH THE WIDE SILK SKY, releases with Scholastic in Fall 2022. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University and teaches at Salt Lake Community College. Besides books, her passions include education, the arts, the outdoors, and her family. You can visit her on Instagram @emily_inouye_huey or at www.emilyhuey.com

INSTRUCTION

Lindzee Armstrong

Lindzee Armstrong is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of more than twenty romance novels. Like any true romantic, Lindzee loves chick flicks, ice cream, and chocolate. She believes in sigh-worthy kisses and happily ever afters, and loves expressing that through her writing. Lindzee graduated with a BS degree in history education from Utah Valley University. She is married to her very own Prince Charming, and they are happily married and raising precocious twin boys in the Rocky Mountains.

INSTRUCTION

Rachel Schieffelbein

Rachel lives in Minnesota with her husband and four kids. She coaches high school speech and theater, shows Arabian horses, and reads as much as she can. She writes YA and mg fiction and is repped by Tina Schwartz.

INSTRUCTION

Lucinda Whitney

Lucinda Whitney was born and raised in Portugal, where she received a master's degree from the University of Minho in Braga in Portuguese/English teaching. She lives in northern Utah with her family and when she's not reading and writing, she can be found with a pair of knitting needles in winter, or tending her herb garden in the summer. She's the author of twelve contemporary romances, including the Romano Family series and the co-authored Royal Secrets series.

REGISTRATION

Stacey Leybas

Stacey Leybas writes kidlit ranging from picture books to middle grade fiction. She has a BS in Recreation Management and Youth Leadership from BYU. Outside of writing, she enjoys teaching music classes, digitally scrapbooking, and cheering on Arizona sports teams. She lives in Kuna, Idaho with her husband and five kids.

REGISTRATION

Maria Hoagland

Maria Hoagland writes about hearts, homes, and happily ever afters. Known for her fun and flirty sweet romance and women's fiction, Maria's novels make great book club choices. She's published twenty books including two Whitney Award finalists, and has no plans to stop writing any time soon. She is a member of the Storymakers Guild and Indie Author Hub, recently served as the Chair for the Storymakers board of directors and is on the 2022 Storymakers Writers Conference committee.

When Maria is not working at her computer, she can be found combing used furniture stores or remodeling houses with her husband. She loves crunching leaves in the fall, stealing cookie dough from the mixing bowl, and listening to musicals at high volumes.

FIRST CHAPTER

Natalee Cooper

While writing heartwarming contemporary romance is Natalee Cooper’s passion, baking is a close second. Especially baking homemade bread or anything sweet!

She’s lived along the Wasatch Front most of her life and, since it’s pretty gorgeous there, it’s not surprising she loves it. When not writing, Natalee can usually be found on long walks with her husband or off on some adventure together with their three children.

Natalee suffers book hangovers more than is healthy, loves chocolate covered cinnamon bears, Mexican hot chocolate, and campfires. She also loves to connect with readers on social media, so be sure to reach out and say hello!

FIRST CHAPTER

Tiffany Odekirk

Tiffany Odekirk lives in Southern California with her husband and four children. After graduating from Brigham Young University with a BA in Marriage, Family, and Human Development, she worked in the non-profit sector helping homeless women and children. It wasn’t until after the birth of her third child that she discovered her love of writing. She now has four novels published with Covenant Communications and hopes to publish many more. You can connect with her on Instagram and Facebook @AuthorTiffanyOdekirk.

THURSDAY WORKSHOPS

Rebecca Lamoreaux

Rebecca Lamoreaux is an Author in Progress. She has been writing for over a decade and looks forward to seeing her words in print. Rebecca love to tell stories, sing loudly even when she doesn't know the words, and dance around the house with the kids. She lives in Arizona with her husband, lots of kids, and a few pets to create perfect chaos. She has attended and volunteered at Storymakers for the past 7 years, and is excited to be part of the committee bringing you the 2022 Conference.

THURSDAY WORKSHOPS

Tifani Clark

Tifani Clark grew up on a potato farm in Idaho. She had plenty of space to imagine and daydream and often pretended to be the character in whatever book she was reading at the time. Naturally, she became an author. Tifani is married to the love of her life and is the mother of four fabulous children. When not writing, she can be found hosting an episode of her podcast Additional History: Headlines You Probably Missed, playing the violin and piano, or traveling to new places on her quest to see the world. You can find more about her books at www.tifaniclark.com.

AGENTS/EDITORS

Kelley Riegert

Kelley lives in a small town in Wisconsin with her hubby and baby boy. For her day job she sells adhesives, which usually takes her all over the country (and sometimes the world). It is in an airplane or a hotel lobby where she typically finds the time to write and edit. She’s published over a dozen books, both traditional and indie. When not working and writing, Kelley can be found enjoying a glass of wine with family and friends, swimming at the local YMCA, or biking all the beautiful trails Wisconsin has to offer.

AGENTS/EDITORS

Kris Atkins

Kris writes sci-fi and fantasy stories for adults and laces them with characters with mental illness living extraordinary lives. She was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder in 2009 and has since become an advocate for banishing the stigma around mental illness. When she's not writing and daydreaming about her stories, she spends her time chasing her three young sons (and sometimes catching them!). She has a BA in linguistics from Brigham Young University, an MFA in creative writing from Converse College, and a deep and abiding love for Diet Dr. Pepper.

AGENTS/EDITORS

Sammie Trinidad

Sammie Trinidad is a proud Slytherin and a "Filipina Wonder Woman”. Having fallen in love with writing at the age of nine, she dabbles in many genres but especially favors fantasy, magical realism, creative non-fiction, contemporary, and short fiction. Her short stories have been published in the League of Utah writer anthology as well as the Eagle Con anthology. The three T's are important to her: traveling, tacos, and time with family.

TECH

Don Carey

Don Carey is an author, software team leader, and writing conference addict who lives in the Kansas City area. He has written in a variety of genres and is currently dabbling in SciFi Romance, pondering the future of human relationships in an age of artificial intelligence. Don is also an amateur musician, a graduate student, and a bedtime story reader who can do all the voices.

Edited in Prisma app with Unicorn

TECH

Adi James

Adi is working on the technology side for the committee.

TECH/APP

Shanna Hovley

Shanna Hovley loves reading, writing, and stories in all their forms. She enjoys her job in editing almost as much as writing. When she's not slaving away on a computer, she's probably hiking or playing games.

WEBSITE

Tiana Smith

Tiana Smith is a copywriter turned novelist who grew up in the Rocky Mountains. When she isn't reading or writing, she spends her free time doing nail art and graphic design. She has double degrees in Honors and English from Westminster College but wants to go back to school to learn sign language. Tiana is the author of Match Me If You Can and How To Speak Boy, both from Macmillan.

PR/SOCIAL MEDIA

Amey Zeigler

Amey Zeigler is an award-winning author of romantic comedies and mysteries. Her laugh-out-loud Rom-Com, The Swiss Mishap, won third place in the OCCRWA's Book Buyer's Best for Contemporary Romance. Her ten years of theater training in college and high school inspired her to narrate her own books. She spins stories with humor, charm, and heart, often with a dash of action and adventure. When she's not writing, she is teasing her three kids, globe-trotting with her husband (for book research of course!), or trying new things.

PR/SOCIAL MEDIA

C Michelle Jefferies

C. Michelle Jefferies is a writer who believes that the way to examine our souls is to explore the deep and dark as well as the shallow. To manipulate words in a way that makes a person think and maybe even second guess. Her worlds include suspense, urban fantasy, and an occasional twist of steampunk. When she is not writing, she can be found on the yoga mat, hand binding journals, dyeing cloth, and serving ginger tea. The author and creator divides her time between stories, projects, and mothering two of her seven children on the wild and windy plains of Wyoming.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Marcia Mickelson

Marcia (Mar-sha) Argueta Mickelson was born in Guatemala to Corina and Jose Argueta. When Marcia was an infant, her family immigrated to the United States. She attended high school in New Jersey and then graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in American Studies. She is the author of YA novels, The Huaca and Where I Belong, along with 3 women’s fiction novels. She is also an elementary school teacher, currently teaching and loving fourth grade. She lives in Texas with her husband, three sons, and two dogs.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Jared Quan

Jared Quan is an Author/Gamer/Writer – Twitch Affiliate, former writer for SI.com and Yahoo. Published works include Changing Wax, Prepped, and Really Random and Ridiculous Ride-share Rumors. He has served in key roles with Storymakers, League of Utah Writers, LTUE, Cultural Arts Society of West Jordan, Eagle Mountain Arts Alliance, BigWorldNetwork, TEDxSaltLakeCity, UVU Book Academy, Utah Poet Laureate Selection Committee, and for countless events / organizations. Jared has received awards from two Presidents of the United States, from Utah State Governor, Lt. Governor, recognition from many other organizations. He has been interviewed by several websites and podcasts, including Joseph Batzel, Artifice, and Writing Excuses Podcast.

GREEN ROOM

Mary Bronley

Mary is heading up the Green Room for the committee.

GREEN ROOM

T.J. Bronley

Pre-published author (means no contract). Originally from So Cal, but currently lives in Utah. T.J. and his wife have been married for 17 years and have four children. In his day job, T.J. is an accountant who really likes numbers, but has been known to correct grammar for an occasional email for one of his managers.

VENDORS

Jessica Bybee

Jessica is handling vendor relations at the conference.

GIVEAWAYS/BOOK SIGNING

Loury Trader

Loury Trader is a former slush pile reader for Deep Magic. Her love of literature has enabled her to introduce her family and students to stories that enrich, educate and help others see the world through a different lens. Loury is a Spanish Immersion Teacher, a mother of two boys, a foodie with food allergies and YA-thriller writer.

Kendall, Jessica - Volunteers and Mentors

VOLUNTEERS/MENTOR COORDINATOR

Jessica Kendall

Jessica Kendall has a BFA in creative writing with minors in both English and History. She lives in Meridian Idaho with her hunky, science nerd husband and four brilliant, creative, and crazy kids who keep her on her toes. She is a self-proclaimed reading omnivore who loves to collect stories and loves to write in multiple genres, so long as someone is kissing. If no one is kissing, there is no point to reading or writing it. She is a world class hugger and an enthusiastic procrastibaker who loves experimenting with new flavors and ruining diets. When she isn’t baking, hugging, or chasing her kids, she can be found spending quality time with the Winchesters, Buffy Summers, Michael Scott, or Fran Fine.

PHOTOGRAPHER

Helen Boswell-Taylor

Dr. Helen Boswell-Taylor is an associate professor of biology at Southern Utah University, where she has enjoyed teaching in the sciences since 1999. Helen also authored the young adult Mythology trilogy, contemporary romance Losing Enough, several scientific articles, and a nonfiction book on evolution and religion. She lives in southwest Utah with her husband, three sons, and three crazy dogs.

BOOKSTORE

Scott and Julie Wright

Julie Wright is the author of over twenty novels, including Lies Jane Austen Told Me and Lies, Love, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s with Shadow Mountain’s Proper Romance line. She is a Whitney Awards winner and a Crown Heart recipient. She is represented by agent Sara Crowe. She loves reading and writing, playing on the beach or hiking with her kids, and watching her husband make dinner.

Visit her at her website.

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