Conference Schedule

Highly interactive, virtually amazing!

Everything is LIVE via Zoom Meetings

The schedule below is for your info pre-conference. It is subject to minor changes. During the conference you will access the sessions through an easy-to-use dashboard. You will receive the link to the dashboard when you check-in online Tuesday, June 16. Not to worry. Prior to the conference we’ll provide clear instructions (live and in writing) for how to join the conference and access everything you want to attend.

Registered conferees may purchase the $59 add-on of video replays of the keynotes, learning labs, continuing sessions, workshops, and panels to view from early August through December 31, 2026. (After the conference, the price increases to $89.) The videos are the answer to not becoming overwhelmed by all the choices . You do not need to miss out on classes that are important for your growth as a writer. Round tables, small group breakouts, and critique groups are not recorded.

Important – Be sure to click on the links below for descriptions of:

Pre-Conference Opportunities
Keynotes
Learning Labs
Continuing Sessions
Workshops
Critique Groups
Round-Tables

Everything is on Eastern Time (ET)
Central Time (CT) is one hour earlier
Mountain Time (MT) is two hours earlier
Pacific Time (PT) is three hours earlier

 

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

10:00 am – 8:30 pm Online check-in, sign waiver, tech check. You will receive an email with the link you need to check in. You MUST check in to be able to access the conference dashboard.

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

2:00 – 2:30 Welcome, Worship, Prayer, Fruit of the Spirit Devotional

2:30 – 3:10 Keynote – “For Such a Time as This” – Beatrice Bruno

3:15 – 3:40 Interest Groups

3:45 – 6:00 Learning Labs (Click here for descriptions)

LL1 – AI: Author Friend or Foe – Liana George
LL2 – Broaden Your Online Audience by Using SEO, AEO, & GEO to Take Truth to the World – Annette Marie Griffin
LL3 – The How and Why of Website Creation – Jonathan Shank
LL4 – Help! How Do I Run My Launch Team? – Tammy Karasek
LL5 – Marketing Magic – Amy Deardon   Will be rescheduled for a Saturday
LL6 – Writing Faith in Children’s Fiction (Picture Book to Young Adult) - Penny Reeve
LL7 – Mastering Plotting – DiAnn Mills
LL8 – Call to Action: The World Needs Your Writing – Dianne E. Butts
LL9 – Canva for Authors – Catherine Jacobs

6:00 – 6:20 Main Stage

6:20 – 6:50 Dinner Round Tables

7:00 – 8:25 Evening Program

Worship LIVE with Marty Goetz
Prayer
Keynote – Called to Write: Restoring Truth in a Confused Culture – Rhonda Robinson

8:30 – 9:30 Impact Our Culture Panel

9:30 – 9:45 Break

9:45 – Prayer Fellowship with Laura Shaffer
 

Thursday, June 18, 2026

9:30 – 10:55  Main Stage

Worship, Prayer, Fruit of the Spirit Devotional
Keynote – George Hancock-Stefan, Ph.D.

10:55 – 11:10 Small Group Breakouts

11:15 – 12:15 Continuing Sessions, Part 1 (Click here for descriptions)

CS1 – Going Indie? You CAN Publish Your Book Professionally – Dianne E. Butts
CS2 – Craft a Winning Book Proposal in Five Hours (Almost) – Dr. Sharon Norris Elliott
CS3 – Content Marketing – Jason William Karpf
CS4 – Build It! Writing Nonfiction Books That Matter – Janet McHenry
CS5 – Speaking Masterclass – Linda Evans Shepherd
CS6 – Growing Your Craft: How to Increase Your Impact – Tim Riter
CS7 – Called to Clarity: Writing Biblical Truth for a Confused Culture – Rhonda Robinson
CS8 – Writing Fiction: Learn the Craft that Keeps a Story Afloat – PeggySue Wells
CS9 – How to Grow Your Writing Career – Karen Whiting

12:20 – 12:30 Main Stage

12:30 – 1:00 Lunch Round Tables

1:00 – 1:10 Main Stage

1:15 – 1:55 Panels: Agents, Indie Publishers

2:00 – 2:50 Workshop 1 (Click here for descriptions)

1A – Writing That Heals – Linda Evans Shepherd
1B – AI: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – Thomas Umstattd Jr.
1C – Writing Hard Themes in Thriller Fiction – Faith Ijiga
1D – Balancing Privacy & Relationships When Writing Real-Life Events – Cindy Lambert
1E – Writing for Youth Magazines – Steve Bootsma
1F – Inspired Writing that Inspires – David Bennett
1G – Getting Past the Publishing Gatekeepers – Rowena Kuo
1H – Marketing into Ministry – Cheri Cowell
1I –   Writing to Shape Culture – Michelle Lazurek

2:55 – 3:10 Main Stage

3:15 – 4:15 Continuing Sessions, Part 2 (Click here for descriptions)

CS1 – Going Indie? You CAN Publish Your Book Professionally – Dianne E. Butts
CS2 – Craft a Winning Book Proposal in Five Hours (Almost) – Dr. Sharon Norris Elliott
CS3 – Content Marketing – Jason William Karpf
CS4 – Build It! Writing Nonfiction Books That Matter – Janet McHenry
CS5 – Speaking Masterclass – Linda Evans Shepherd
CS6 – Growing Your Craft: How to Increase Your Impact – Tim Riter
CS7 – Called to Clarity: Writing Biblical Truth for a Confused Culture – Rhonda Robinson
CS8 – Writing Fiction: Learn the Craft that Keeps a Story Afloat – PeggySue Wells
CS9 – How to Grow Your Writing Career – Karen Whiting

4:20 – 4:30   Main Stage

4:30 – 5:10  Critique Groups (visit again for leaders/genres)

5:15 – 6:05   Workshop 2

2A – Seeking Publication After 50 – Lori Stanley Roeleveld
2B – Build Your Creative Confidence – Edwina Perkins
2C – Tapping into the Emotions of Your Characters – Mike Dellosso
2D – Using Fiction Techniques to Enhance Your Nonfiction – Cindy & Dave Lambert
2E – How to Write for Middle Grade without Sounding Cheesy or Preachy – Annette Marie Griffin
2F – Devotionals That Connect – Beth Patch
2G – How to Pitch to a Magazine Editor – David Bennett
2H – Marketing Q & A – Thomas Umstattd Jr.
2I  – Defusing Hot-Wire Topics – Emily Chase

6:10 – 6:30    Main Stage

6:30 – 6:55    Dinner Round Tables

7:00 – 8:25    Evening Program

       Worship, Prayer
       B.I.O.N.I.C. – Sandy Austin
       Keynote – Writing Truth in Times of Deception – Lori Stanley Roeleveld

8:30- 9:30      Impact Our Culture Panel

9:45               Prayer Fellowship with Laura Shaffer

Friday, June 19, 2026

9:30 – 10:55  Main Stage

Worship, Prayer, Fruit of the Spirit Devotional
Keynote:  Flourish by Sharing the Fruit of Your Writing – Ava Pennington

10:55 – 11:10 Small Group Breakouts

11:15 – 12:15 Continuing Sessions, Part 3 (Click here for descriptions)

CS1 – Going Indie? You CAN Publish Your Book Professionally – Dianne E. Butts
CS2 – Craft a Winning Book Proposal in Five Hours (Almost) – Dr. Sharon Norris Elliott
CS3 – Content Marketing – Jason William Karpf
CS4 – Build It! Writing Nonfiction Books That Matter – Janet McHenry
CS5 – Speaking Masterclass – Linda Evans Shepherd
CS6 – Growing Your Craft: How to Increase Your Impact – Tim Riter
CS7 – Called to Clarity: Writing Biblical Truth for a Confused Culture – Rhonda Robinson
CS8 – Writing Fiction: Learn the Craft that Keeps a Story Afloat – PeggySue Wells
CS9 – How to Grow Your Writing Career – Karen Whiting

12:20 – 12:30 Main Stage

12:30 – 1:00 Lunch Round Tables

1:00 – 1:10 Main Stage

1:15 – 1:55 Panels: Book Editors, Magazine Editors

2:00 – 2:50 Workshop 3 (Click here for descriptions)

3A – I.D.E.A. for Change: Inclusive Writing for Writers – Edwina Perkins
3B – Writing from a Broken Heart – Bob Ruesch
3C – Inside a Developmental Edit – Joleen Grumann
3D – Writing Bible Studies for Transformation – Virginia Grounds
3E – Writing for Early Readers – Michelle Lazurek
3F – The Genuine Article – Marti Pieper
3G – I Have a Book Deal! Now What? – Stephanie Alton
3H – The Book Review Roadmap – Tamara Clymer
3I  – Good News versus Bad News: Why Biblical Theism & Islam Impact Culture So Differently – Dr. Bill Gray

2:55 – 3:10 Main Stage

3:15 – 4:15 Continuing Sessions, Part 4 (Click here for descriptions)

CS1 – Going Indie? You CAN Publish Your Book Professionally – Dianne E. Butts
CS2 – Craft a Winning Book Proposal in Five Hours (Almost) – Dr. Sharon Norris Elliott
CS3 – Content Marketing – Jason William Karpf
CS4 – Build It! Writing Nonfiction Books That Matter – Janet McHenry
CS5 – Speaking Masterclass – Linda Evans Shepherd
CS6 – Growing Your Craft: How to Increase Your Impact – Tim Riter
CS7 – Called to Clarity: Writing Biblical Truth for a Confused Culture – Rhonda Robinson
CS8 – Writing Fiction: Learn the Craft that Keeps a Story Afloat – PeggySue Wells
CS9 – How to Grow Your Writing Career – Karen Whiting

4:20 – 4:30   Main Stage

4:30 – 5:10  Critique Groups (visit again for leaders/genres)

5:15 – 6:05   Workshop 4 (Click here for descriptions)

4A – Be an Author! Your Dreams versus God’s Plan – Dawn Stephens
4B – The 14 Targets a Title Must Touch – Dr. Sharon Norris Elliott
4C – Writing New Adult Novels – Kristen Lindsay Hager
4D – Structuring a Nonfiction Manuscript – Alice Crider
4E – Picture Book Editing Intensive – Penny Reeve
4F – Idea to Impact: Starting Your Substack Now – Damola Curtis
4G – Shelf Awareness: How to Research Comparative Titles – Karen Neumair
4H – How to Attract Book Clubs – DiAnn Mills
4I  – Write Your Wisdom to the Next Gen of Youth & Families – Dr. Mel Tavares 

6:10 – 6:30    Main Stage

6:30 – 6:55    Dinner Round Tables

7:00 – 9:30    Evening Program

Worship, Prayer
God’s Little Ones – Catherine Jacobs
Keynote – Searching for Sunrise: A Writer’s Call to Hope - Penny Reeve
Spotlight on Our Authors

9:45               Prayer Fellowship with Laura Shaffer

Saturday, June 20, 2026

9:30 – 10:55  Main Stage

Worship, Prayer, Fruit of the Spirit Devotional
Keynote – The Power of His Presence – Michael Gantt

10:55 – 11:10 Small Group Breakouts

11:15 – 12:15 Continuing Sessions, Part 5 (Click here for descriptions)

CS1 – Going Indie? You CAN Publish Your Book Professionally – Dianne E. Butts
CS2 – Craft a Winning Book Proposal in Five Hours (Almost) – Dr. Sharon Norris Elliott
CS3 – Content Marketing – Jason William Karpf
CS4 – Build It! Writing Nonfiction Books That Matter – Janet McHenry
CS5 – Speaking Masterclass – Linda Evans Shepherd
CS6 – Growing Your Craft: How to Increase Your Impact – Tim Riter
CS7 – Called to Clarity: Writing Biblical Truth for a Confused Culture – Rhonda Robinson
CS8 – Writing Fiction: Learn the Craft that Keeps a Story Afloat – PeggySue Wells
CS9 – How to Grow Your Writing Career – Karen Whiting

12:20 – 12:30 Main Stage

12:30 – 1:00 Lunch Round Tables

1:00 – 1:10 Main Stage

1:15 – 1:55 Panel: Artificial Intelligence (AI)

2:00 – 2:50 Workshop 5 (Click here for descriptions)

5A – How to Interact with Publishers and Editors – Michelle Adserias – Unable to be with us
5B – Things I’ve Learned in 40 Years of Writing and Publishing – Jim Watkins
5C – Playing God Leads to Trouble: Science Fiction as a Vehicle for Biblical Truths – Jason Karpf
5D – Your Story: Someone’s Missing Piece – Peggy Sue Wells
5E – Not yet scheduled
5F – Writing Sidebar & Discussion Questions – Dave Fessenden
5G – Five Things That Surprised Me About Traditional Publishing – Sara Brunsvold
5H – How to Make the Most of a Podcast Interview – Faith Ijiga & Emmanuel Awiri
5I  – Writing to Victory – Vicki Dorshorn

2:50 – 3:00 Main Stage

3:00 – 3:40 Critique Groups (Visit again for leaders/genres)

3:45 – 4:35 Workshop 6 (Click here for descriptions)

6A –  TIME: Got a Minute? – Laura Shaffer
6B – Research Techniques – Rowena Kuo
6C – Growing Great Stories – Dawn Stephens
6D – Legacy Writing: Words That Outlive You – Robin Grunder
6E – Children’s Picture Books: The Complete How-to – James Burd Brewster
6F – Writing for Guideposts Devotional Books – Sandy Kirby Quandt
6G – How to Know Which Publishing Path is Right for You – Karen Neumair
6H – Inbox Influence: How to  Attract Readers and Grow Your E List – Tamara Clymer
6I  – Writing for Revival – Susan A. Massey

4:40 – 6:30 Closing Session

Worship, Prayer
Important Message – “Is Artificial Intelligence Replacing God?” – Charles Patricoff
Awards
Keynote – Keeping Your Dreams Alive – Jim Watkins
Closing Challenge
Time of Commitment