Saturday, April 25, 2009

LDS Story Makers

This weekend I went to the LDS Story Makers Writers Conference at the Provo Marriot Hotel. I was only able to attend Friday's conference this year, but hopefully in years to come I will be able to attend both Friday and Saturday.
Not only did I get to make new friends but I was able to meet several people who had read my book or who have even reviewed my book during my virtual book tour. I was touched by some of the stories people told me concerning my book. It was surreal, during introducing myself to fellow conference attendees I was surprised how many of them said "YES! I know you! I read your book!"

On the flip side I was excited to be able to learn from some of the great LDS writers who spoke or held a workshop. I was honored to meet them and visit with them. To name a few: J. Scott Savage, Annette Lyon, Liz Adir, Josi Kilpack, Tristi Pinkston, Rachel Ann Nunes, Janette Rallison, Julie Wright, BJ Rowly, Rebecca Talley, Stacy Gooch Anderson, Candace E. Salima and more.

Here is Candace E. Salima giving her presentation. She did a great job! It was titled "So Your Book's Out--Now What?" Candace is quite a remarkable lady.


Rachel Anne Nunes with four publishers for the publisher panel section of the day. This was an eye opening experience of the publisher's prospective. Some of the information I knew from my experience with "A Future for Tomorrow" but some of it was new and great information.
One of the highlights for me was meeting people who had read or reviewed my book. This next picture is one of them, her name is Danyelle Ferguson. She told me an awesome story about events that occurred after she read my book. Thanks for sharing it with me, Danyelle, I appreciated it so much!!!


Me and Rebecca Talley author of Heaven Scent and Grasshopper Pie.

Another cool thing was the book store. The LDS Story Makers created their own book store with amazingly low prices and after purchasing them we had the opportunity to get them signed.
We were also given this new novel "The Hourglass Door" FREE. It isn't even going to be released until May 13th. The author is Lisa Mangum and she was there to sign our books personally. Very cool!











My night ended with a fabulous dinner, visiting new and old friends, enjoying a mini concert by a talented LDS singer named Amy Van Wagenen, and hearing screen writer Dean Lorey speak.


I hope this made any of you who couldn't go this year or who hadn't heard of this conference before want to come next year. It is a priceless experience for aspiring authors or published authors alike.

5 comments:

Rebecca Talley said...

It was a pleasure to meet you, Haley. You're a beautiful young woman, inside and out!

Lori said...

Haley, you are wonderful! Sincere thanks for sharing your story. It was an honor to meet you.

Haley Hatch Freeman said...

Thank you Rebbeca and Lori. It meant a lot to me to meet you both.
You're both remarkable ladies.

Why Not? Because I Said So! said...

Haley I am so glad that we met. I hope that you can stay for both days and the Whitney Awards next year.

Unknown said...

I'm so glad you could make it to the conference, but I'm sad I didn't get to meet you in person. I was running around a little crazy. Maybe next year. :)