Hallee Bridgeman

Writing in Layers

Using the metaphor of artwork, Hallee deftly teaches authors how to build multi-layered characters and plot that will appeal to readers.

With nearly a million book sales, Hallee Bridgeman is a best-selling Christian author who writes action-packed romantic suspense focusing on realistic characters who face real-world problems. An accomplished speaker, Hallee has taught and inspired writers around the globe.

Hannah Conway

The W in Our Lives: Seeing God’s Story in Ours

Plot lines in every movie or story ever told create a W when charted on paper. Interestingly enough, those same plot lines appear in our life over and over revealing God at work. See how God has moved in your life and is still moving. Perhaps these plot-lines might end up in your next story.

Hannah R. Conway is a military wife, mother, former teacher, best-selling author, podcast host on “What’s Your Story?”, and speaker.  Hannah also works as the Women’s Ministry Director and Social Media Marketing & Communications Coordinator at her local church and can usually be caught with a coffee cup in her hand. She and her family live near Nashville, Tennessee. Visit her at hannahrconway.com.

Chip MacGregor

Ask the Agent

What does an agent do? What does an agent NOT do? And do I really need an agent in this era of indie publishing?

This session will offer an introduction to the work of a literary agent, and let you ask ANY question you have of someone who has been one of the country’s most successful agents over the past 22 years.

Chip is President of the MacGregor & Luedeke Literary Agency.  He has represented dozens of books on all the bestseller lists, and the authors he represents have won numerous national awards.

Edwina Perkins

Diversity in Writing

Readers and writers have long talked about making space for marginalized voices in literature, thus ensuring that every reader sees themselves represented in books.

But recent stats indicate that there is much work to be done and the need for sensitivity readers is on the rise.

This session will offer strategies to diversify your writing and use sensitivity readers effectively.

Edwina Perkins is an award-winning writer, experienced teacher, speaker, and freelance editor. She serves on the Word Weavers International Advisory Committee and is the Mentoring Coordinator for Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference.

Currently she is the Managing Editor for Harambee Press—Iron Stream Media’s ethnic voices imprint which seeks to publish ethnic writers and their stories. Edwina is also a freelance writer with Guideposts.

JP Robinson

Turn your Writing into a Business

What happens after you hit “publish” on KDP? Every author has a message and the potential to reach the masses. This hands-on workshop presents free to affordable strategies that will help you market to your full potential while reducing your stress load.  

JP Robinson is a minister, President of Lancaster Christian Writers, and an author of historical and political fiction. He is also a PA-certified teacher with fifteen years of experience in education and marketing. His high-adrenaline novels have been praised by Publishers Weekly and other industry leaders.

Bilingual in French and pursuing a degree of Master of Education, JP frequently speaks at writers conferences and church groups across the nation. He has been happily married for over fifteen years to his high school sweetheart.

Shawn Smucker

Win at Ghost/Collaborative writing

Maybe you’ve been approached by someone who would like you to help them write their book, or maybe you’re simply looking for other ways to make money as a writer.

Collaborative writing (ghostwriting and co-writing) might be exactly what you’re looking for. 

Shawn Smucker has co-written over 20 books. This workshop will demonstrate how you can find various ghostwriting/co-writing projects, proven methods for success, and the money side of things.

Tim Shoemaker

It’s Show Time! (Workshop 1)

The more you learn to show your story instead of just telling it, the stronger your manuscript will be.  Exactly how do you do that? I won’t just tell you, I’ll show you!

Deepening Your POV  (Workshop 2)

Point-of-View—used right—is a tool to make your writing more real and powerful. We’ll look at a balanced view of deep POV… and show you how to strengthen your writing in the process. 

Tim Shoemaker has authored sixteen books, is a popular conference speaker, and regularly writes for Focus on the Family magazines.

Code of Silence was named in the “Top Ten Crime Novels for Youth” by Booklist.Tim’s teaching makes difficult topics clear. He equips writers to do what they do—better. 

Sara Turnquist

Romancing the Manuscript

Romance is the largest and bestselling genre of fiction. That’s no small statement. It is also the strictest with readers who know what they want in their books. But what does that mean for you?

This class will give you a strong foundation in understanding the Romance genre and it’s conventions and rules. Utilizing tried and true methods, author Sara R. Turnquist will give you the tools to help you gain confidence as you start (or continue) crafting your (contemporary, historical, YA, fantasy, romantic suspense, you-name-it) romance!

Sara is a coffee lovin’, word slinging, clean Historical Romance author whose super power
is converting caffeine into novels. She loves those odd little tidbits of history that are
stranger than fiction. That’s what inspires her. Well, that and a good love story.

But of all the love stories she knows, hers is her favorite. She lives happily with her own Prince Charming and their gaggle of minions. Three to be exact.

A native of Middle Tennessee, Sara is an avid reader and also enjoys reading clean Historical Romance when she’s not traveling.