Whitney Owens Hemsath

Whitney Hemsath has been writing since she was in grade school and holds a B.A. in Screenwriting from Chapman University. She writes inspirational nonfiction and poetry (under the name Whitney Owens Hemsath) as well as short stories and novels that usually have sci-fi or fantasy elements (under the name W. O. Hemsath). She writes for both children and adults (but her fiction is never anything beyond a PG-13 level.)

Her works have been included in the Chapman Killer Script list, received an honorable mention from The Writers of the Future contest, placed in the Storymakers First Chapter contest, and even been used as part of a university curriculum.

Perhaps the best writing advice she ever received was from film director Mitch Davis, who told her that more important than learning how to write was making sure you had a story worth telling. Taking that advice to heart, Whitney has tried to travel and learn about as many different people, faiths, and cultures as possible. Among her favorite experiences include studying abroad in New Zealand, serving a mission in Argentina for the LDS church, living at a Buddhist dharma arts center in Colorado for a week, and above all, being a wife to one amazing husband and mother to four incredible boys. That last adventure has taught her more about herself, life, and the universal human experience than all the sight-seeing and book-reading she’s ever done.

When she’s not writing, Whitney loves doing cardio dance, improv comedy, and eating brownies (preferably frozen BYU mint brownies). She also enjoys watching movies, playing the piano, and anything else that will help her procrastinate cleaning the house.