I have been to the LDStorymakers conference four years in a row now, and each year I am amazed at how much AWESOME can be packed into two days.
This year, Boot Camp was moved to Thursday. I had a great table, and these ladies gave me such wonderful feedback on a very critical chapter of Into The Wind. Since there were only four of us, we also had time to play a little with my Bumpy Landings paper airplanes.
Thursday evening after boot camp, I inserted myself into Melanie Jacobson’s social group for dinner. Also included were Becca Wilhite, Debbie Frampton, Daron Fraley, Kirk Shaw, and DeNae Handy.
Friday had some wonderful workshops, and the awesome Mass Book Signing. I was privileged to sit between Aubrey Mace and Tristi Pinkston. And yes, I spent pretty much the whole time folding and giving away paper airplanes.
I got to sit next to Krista Jensen during dinner that evening. Maybe this is why TJ Bronly grouped us together as Team Siblingesque in his Amazing Race: LDS Authors parody. Sadly, we didn’t win–probably because we’re both so easy-going that we were kicked off the show for lack of drama.
I offered a copy of Bumpy Landings as one of the door prizes, along with chocolate macadamia nuts and the CD Vaihitian by my good friends Vaihi. This includes the song I used for my highly-complimented book trailers.
I also attended a live recording of Writing Excuses, and gained some serious jealousy from my oldest daughter.
Saturday evening was the Whitney Awards dinner. While Bumpy Landings wasn’t a finalist, it was great to see everyone dressed up, and feel the excitement of a program where so many of my good friends were up for awards. Here I am with Wendy Swore and Tamara Heiner.
I sat by Daron Fraley. 
And Ronda Hinrichsen and Aubrey Mace. 
My friend Erin Summerill was the official LDStorymakers photographer, which meant she wouldn’t be in any pictures unless I took one.
Here I am with my friend and critique group member, Rebecca Talley. 
Krista Jensen and Multi-Whitney winner Stephanie Black. 
Whitney winners Kimberley Griffiths Little and Stephanie Black 
Some Whitney finalists sharing the consolation cheesecake. Susan Law Corpany, Janette Rallison, Sarah M. Eden, Traci Abramson, James Dashner, and Jeff Savage.
This far too dark image is of the Writing Excuses crew–Brandon Sanderson, Howard Tayler, and Dan Wells. Brandon and Dan tied for the 2011 Best Novel Whitney Award. Howard won the unofficial prize for Best Dressed Dude. 
Here Brandon and Dan congratulate YA Speculative winner Ally Condie. 
My dear friend Josi Kilpack hosted this year’s award gala, and I literally had to grab her for this picture as she zipped around the room like a hummingbird on speed.
The Storymakers photo album would not be complete without a picture of me and another of my dear friends, Tristi. 
Danyelle Ferguson is one of the coauthors of Disabilities and the Gospel, along with Lynn Parsons. I’ll be reviewing their book later this summer on this very blog.
I tried to get a photo with both Danyelle and her husband John. Tried and failed. So I settled for coordinated separates. 
Krista with Kym VanderHorst. I sat by Kym at the last two Whitney banquets, but she was a high falutin’ VIP this year, so tradition fell by the wayside.
Susan Law Corpany, along with Sarah M. Eden and her husband Paul.
And that is why I’m a huge Storymakers Fanboy. The conference is full of wonderful people who know about writing and are happy to share. The workshops are amazing in content, and the friendships are simply unbeatable. As soon as the new LDStorymaker conference committee announces the schedule, I’ll begin counting the days until LDStorymakers 2012.
