Program

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

Keynotes - 7

“For Such a Time as This” – Beatrice Bruno
Called to Write: Restoring Truth in a Confused Culture – Rhonda Robinson
Writing Truth in Times of Deception – Lori Stanley Roeleveld
Flourish by Sharing the Fruit of Your Writing –  Ava Pennington
Searching for Sunrise: A Writer’s Call to Hope - Penny Reeve
The Power of His Presence - Michael Gantt
Is Artificial Intelligence Replacing God? – Charles Patricoff
Keeping Your Dreams Alive - Jim Watkins


Wednesday Learning Labs - 9 
3:45 to 6:00 pm

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

Continuing Sessions - 9 

Five hour-long sessions that build on one another. 
Thursday – 11:15 am to 12:15 pm  and  3:15 to 4:15 pm  
Friday – 11:15 am to 12:15 pm  and  3:15 to 4:15 pm 
Saturday – 11:15 am to 12:15 pm 

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

Workshops - 54 

Workshop 1: Thursday – 2:00 to 2:50 pm
Workshop 2: Thursday – 5:15 to 6:05 pm 
Workshop 3: Friday – 2:00 to 2:50 pm 
Workshop 4: Friday – 5:15 to 6:05 pm 
Workshop 5: Saturday – 2:00 to 2:50 pm
Workshop 6: Saturday – 3:45 to 4:35 pm 

A - Writers Life
1A – Writing That Heals – Linda Evans Shepherd
2A – Seeking Publication After 50 – Lori Stanley Roeleveld
3A – I.D.E.A. for Change: Inclusive Writing for Writers – Edwina Perkins
4A – Be an Author! Your Dreams versus God’s Plan – Dawn Stephens
5A – How to Interact with Publishers and Editors – Michelle Adserias
6A – TIME: Got a Minute? – Laura Shaffer

B – Craft
1B – AI: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – Thomas Umstattd Jr.
2B – Build Your Creative Confidence – Edwina Perkins
3B – Writing from a Broken Heart – Bob Ruesch
4B – The 14 Targets a Title Must Touch – Dr. Sharon Norris Elliott
5B – Things I’ve Learned in 40 Years of Writing and Publishing – Jim Watkins
6B – Research Techniques – Rowena Kuo

C - Fiction
1C – Writing Hard Themes in Thriller Fiction – Faith Ijiga
2C – Tapping into the Emotions of Your Characters – Mike Dellosso
3C – Inside a Developmental Edit – Joleen Grumann
4C – Writing New Adult Novels – Kristen Lindsay Hager
5C – Playing God Leads to Trouble:
Science Fiction as a Vehicle for Biblical Truths – Jason Karpf
6C – Growing Great Stories – Dawn Stephens

D - Nonfiction
1D – Balancing Privacy & Relationships
When Writing Real-Life Events – Cindy Lambert
2D – Using Fiction Techniques
to Enhance Your Nonfiction – Cindy & Dave Lambert
3D – Writing Bible Studies for Transformation – Virginia Grounds
4D – Structuring a Nonfiction Manuscript – Alice Crider
5D – Your Story: Someone’s Missing Piece – Peggy Sue Wells
6D – Legacy Writing: Words That Outlive You – Robin Grunder

E - Writing for Children Tweens and Teens 
1E– Writing for Youth Magazines – Steve Bootsma
2E – How to Write for Middle Grade
without Sounding Cheesy or Preachy – Annette Marie Griffin
3E – Writing for Early Readers – Michelle Lazurek
4E – Picture Book Editing Intensive – Penny Reeve
5E – NOT YET SCHEDULED 
6E – Children’s Picture Books: The Complete How-to – James Burd Brewster

F - Shorts 
1F – Inspired Writing that Inspires – David Bennett
2F – Devotionals That Connect – Beth Patch
3F – The Genuine Article – Marti Pieper
4F– Idea to Impact: Starting Your Substack Now – Damola Curtis
5F – Writing Sidebar & Discussion Questions – Dave Fessenden
6F – Writing for Guideposts Devotional Books – Sandy Kirby Quandt

G - Getting Published
1G – Getting Past the Publishing Gatekeepers – Rowena Kuo
2G – How to Pitch to a Magazine Editor – David Bennett
3G – I Have a Book Deal! Now What? – Stephanie Alton
4G – Shelf Awareness: How to Research Comparative Titles – Karen Neumair
5G – Five Things That Surprised Me About Traditional Publishing – Sara Brunsvold
6G – How to Know Which Publishing Path is Right for You – Karen Neumair

H – Marketing: Reaching Our Audience  
1H – Marketing into Ministry – Cheri Cowell
2H – Marketing Q & A – Thomas Umstattd Jr.
3H – The Book Review Roadmap – Tamara Clymer
4H –How to Attract Book Clubs – DiAnn Mills
5 H – How to Make the Most of a Podcast Interview – Faith Ijiga & Emmanuel Awiri
6H– Inbox Influence: How to  Attract Readers
and Grow Your E List – Tamara Clymer

I – Impact Culture   
1I – Writing to Shape Culture – Michelle Lazurek
2I – Defusing Hot-Wire Topics – Emily Chase
3I – Good News versus Bad News: Why Biblical Theism
& Islam Impact Culture So Differently – Dr. Bill Gray
4I – Write Your Wisdom to the Next Gen of Youth & Families – Dr. Mel Tavares
5I – Writing to Victory – Vicki Dorshorn
6I – Writing for Revival – Susan A. Massey