Author Biographies

Vickey Pahnke Taylor

Vickey is a songwriter/producer, vocalist, and professional speaker, and has performed and/or taught in numerous venues. Her compositions include the theme songs for the Special Olympics program (state by state selection), the Make A Wish Foundation, the Especially For Youth program of the Church, and the Families In Focus program. She is a Billboard award winning songwriter, with hundreds of songs to her credit.

She has enjoyed participation in the Church Education System’s youth and family programs for two decades, having taught for Know Your Religion, Campus Education Week at BYU-Provo, BYU-Hawaii, and BYU- Idaho, Especially for Youth, Best of Especially for Youth, and BYU Conferences and Workshops, and women’s conferences.

Studying musical theater at BYU, she has used that learning experience in the music field as a way of enhancing the teaching of correct principles. Among her gospel works include the collaborative projects "Women at the Well" with Kenneth Cope and "My Beloved Christ" with Randy Kartchner. Vickey has contributed to numerous EFY albums over the years and as a chapter contributor for many yearly EFY books; and as contributor the best selling LDS compilation, Sunshine for the Latter Day Saint Teenage Soul. She authored the book K.I.S.S.: Gospel Guidelines for Better Relationships for Bookcraft Publishing Company, and Apron Strings: Tender Ties Between Mothers and Daughters. Her latest CD is entitled He Restoreth My Soul, Favorite Hymns of Peace and Hope. After two years as a columnist for "Gems for Youth" on the web at LDSWorld.com, formerly the Church’s electronic arm, she now contributes bi-weekly columns for Meridian Maqazine online.

Vickey joined the Church as a teenager, growing up in Virginia. She holds a masters degree in interpersonal communications and currently resides in the Salt Lake Valley. She is married to Dean Taylor. Dean served his mission in the Utah North mission. They have eight children and two grandchildren. Vickey has a non-profit foundation called Goodness Matters. You can contact her directly at [email protected].

She most loves laughter, cooking Italian, studying & teaching the gospel, driving up the canyon with her husband, hanging out with her kids, and eating Tootsie Rolls.

Brad Wilcox, PhD

Brad Wilcox is an associate professor of teacher education at Brigham Young University. He grew up in Provo, Utah except for childhood years spent in Ethiopia, Africa. After serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile, he began his undergraduate work at BYU. He obtained his undergraduate degree there, and his PhD at the University of Wyoming.

He loves working with youth programs such as Especially for Youth, Best of Especially For Youth, and Campus Education Week. He also enjoys visiting schools across the country and helping to promote literacy. A loved author and speaker, he has published a number of tapes and books, including Pornography: Satan’s Counterfeit; Filling Your Testimony Tank; Tips for Tackling Teenage Troubles; and Growing Up: Gospel Answers about Maturation and Sex. He and his son Russell have co-authored a book together. His children’s book Hip, Hip Hooray for Annie McRae was a finalist for the Utah Beehive Award. It was followed up by There’s Always a Way, Annie McRae! Rad spent two years as a columnist for LDSWorld.com.

Brad and Debi, his beautiful wife, live in Provo, Utah. Debi is a registered nurse, and served her mission in Guatemala. They have four children. As a family, they spent time living in New Zealand where he directed a Study Abroad Program for BYU. Most recently, Brad and his family spent three years in Chile, where he served as the president of the Chile Santiago Mission. They now reside once more in Utah County, where Brad continues to teach at Brigham Young University.

Reading, writing, teaching, and traveling are some of his favorite things. He also loves Peanut M&M's and pepperoni pizza. Since he realizes that doesn't sound too healthy, he is trying hard to learn to love salads. A lover of music, he usually plays it in the car with the volume turned way up. You can learn more about Brad at www. BradWilcox.com.