2024 AML Conference: The Youth of Zion

The Youth of Zion: Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Children’s Literature

Annual Conference – Association for Mormon Letters: July 18-20, 2024

Participate live on the AML Youtube channel

NOTE: scroll down for the full schedule

From the very beginning of the LDS Church, stories meant for young readers have been an important part of Mormon culture building. The scope of such activity has broadened considerably over the last four decades, beginning with authors such as Kristen Randle, Rick Walton, and Louise Plummer publishing in both the Mormon and national markets. The 2000s saw a huge jump in the number of Mormon YA, middle grade, and children’s literature authors, many of whom were published nationally to great success, including Shannon Hale, Stephenie Meyer, and Brandon Mull.

For our 2024 online conference, the Association for Mormon Letters presents papers and panels that focus on the past present, and future of young adult, middle grade, and children’s literature.

A reminder that the Association for Mormon Letters defines Mormon literature as literature that is by, for, or about Mormons.

All sessions will stream live on the AML’s YouTube channel and be archived there for future viewing.

Questions? Contact us at aml.mormonletters@gmail.com.

2024 AML Conference Schedule

NOTE: All times MDT; click the title of the session to go to the Youtube page where you can click to receive a reminder when the session goes live. Or watch the session after it takes place.

PRE-CONFERENCE

Shannon Hale, recipient of the 2024 Smith-Pettit Foundation Award for Outstanding Contribution to Mormon Letters, in conversation with Katie Irion and Emma Tueller Stone

THURSDAY EVENING (JULY 18):

• 6:45 – 6:55 PM – Livestreamed; AML Presidential address by Jessie Christensen

• 7  – 8 PM – Livestream Panel; Navigating Tough Texts: Students Looking for the ‘Good Report’, Moderator: Chris Crowe

  • Micah Eastwood, BYU Student
  • Kristie Jolley, BYU Student
  • Claire Margetts, BYU Student
  • Sarah Petersen, BYU Student
  • Rachel Schaumann, BYU Student
  • Kaylee Smedley, BYU Student
  • Natalie Tate, BYU Student

FRIDAY EVENING (JULY 19):

• 7 – 8 PM – Livestreamed Panel; LDS Picture Books: The Past, Present, and Future, Moderator: Kevin Klein

  • Kathie Gwilliam, Author
    
  • Liz Kazandzhy, Author
    
  • McArthur Krishna, Author & Artist
  • Sierra Wilson, Author & Illustrator

• 8:05 – 9:05 PM – Livestreamed Panel; Mormon YA and Middle Grade Literature: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going, Moderator: Sharlee Glenn

  • Kami Hancock, Senior Editor, Covenant Communications
  • Lisa Thomson, Author
  • Mikayla Johnson, BYU MFA Student, Inscape Editor, Author
  • Sylvan Turley, Reader

SATURDAY (JULY 20):

• 9 – 10:15 AM – Livestreamed Paper Presentations; Moderator: Jessie Christensen

  • Reid Neilson, A Catholic Storyteller of the Latter-day Saints: The Life and Writings of Utah Novelist John Dennis Fitzgerald, Author of Papa Married a Mormon and The Great Brain

  • Emma Tueller Stone, Soulmates, Matchmaking and Happily Ever After: A Mormon Literary Legacy

  • Kjerste Christensen, The Lure of Happily Ever After: Mormon Authors and Fairy Tale Retellings

  • Liz Busby, “Withheld Recollections”: Memory Erasure and Agency in Latter-day Saint YA Dystopias

• 10:30 – 11:30 AM – Livestreamed Panel; Writing (for) Mormon Youth: Reflections on Creating LDS Characters for a National Market, Moderator: Rosalyn Eves

  • Cindy Baldwin, Author
    
  • Amanda Rawson Hill, Author
  • Yamile Saied Méndez, Author
  • Elaine Vickers, Author

• LUNCH BREAK

•  12:30 – 1:45 PM – Livestreamed Paper Presentations; Moderator: Kylie Turley

  • Kent Larsen, The Beginnings of Mormon Literature for Children

  • Rachel Helps, Ardent Imitators of Adam Bede in Mormon Literature

  • El Call, Rahab, Deborah, and Hannah: The Evolution of LDS Scripture Stories for Children

• 2:30 – 3:15 PM  – In Person Event: Shannon Hale at The Compass (formerly Writ & Vision), 274 West Center Street Provo, UT. Featuring a talk by Shannon, Q&A, and book signing; RSVP via Eventbrite (note: space is limited)

• 3:30 – 4:25 PM – Pre-recorded Conversation; AML Lifetime Achievement Award Chis Crowe in conversation with Ann Dee Ellis

• 4:45 – 5:45 PM – Pre-recorded Conversation; AML Lifetime Achievement Award winner Carol Lynch Williams in conversation with Cheri Pray Earl and John Bennion

• DINNER BREAK

• 7 PM – Livestreamed Event; Presentation of the 2023 AML Awards followed by Author Readings, Host: Jeanine Bee