I’ll be attending Storymakers Conference, the biggest literary con in Utah. It is hands down the most professional writing conference I’ve ever attended. I’ll be there as a mentor for six hours on Thursday, workshopping student’s pieces one-on-one for the Plot and Story Arc class. Saturday I’ll be teaching my class on Creating Sympathetic Villains Your Readers Can Root For. Because, my darlings, villains are what make a story. Take a peek at some of the awesome teachers who will be there!
The rest of the time will be spent hugging friends, attending classes, finally meeting Dan Wells in person (who wrote the foreword to Pretty Little Dead Girls and Other Stories), and then retreating back to my AirB&B with Aften Brooke Szymanski and a sewing machine. I’m excited and hope to see you there!

Mercedes M. Yardley

Mercedes M. Yardley is a dark fantasist and horror writer who wears poisonous flowers in her hair. She is the author of Pretty Little Dead Girls, the Stabbie Award-winning Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love, and the Bram Stoker Award-winning Little Dead Red.
Class: Creating Sympathetic Villains Your Readers Will Root For