Faculty
Meet our distinguished 2024 faculty—a group of award-winning authors, editors, and industry professionals dedicated to nurturing your writing journey. Each member brings a wealth of experience and a passion for storytelling, poised to guide you through the intricacies of the craft. From seasoned novelists to expert non-fiction writers, our team is here to offer personalized advice, invaluable insights, and the tools necessary to elevate your writing. As you explore below, discover the mentors who will inspire your creativity, refine your skills, and help you navigate the path to publication at the Blue Lake Christian Writers Retreat.
Continue Your Journey Below
Dive deeper into the expertise and stories of our 2024 faculty. Each profile offers a glimpse into the heart and mind of our mentors, showcasing their dedication to your writing success. Explore their backgrounds, achievements, and the workshops they offer to find the guidance and inspiration you need to flourish in your writing endeavors.
Laurel Blount
Award-winning author Laurel Blount writes inspirational romances full of grit and grace—with characters who’ll walk right off the page and into your heart! She lives on a farm in Georgia with her husband, their four fabulous kids, and an assortment of ridiculously spoiled animals.
A enthusiastic multi-tasker, Laurel writes for both Berkley/Penguin Random House and Love Inspired/Harlequin. She’s the recipient of ACFW’s Carol Award, The New England Reader’s Choice Award and GRW’s Maggie Award. She’s represented by Jessica Alvarez of Bookends Literary Agency.
Courage in the Storm is Laurel’s tenth book and more stories are in the works! Stay tuned!
Tez Brooks
Whether he’s working as a missionary journalist, coaching aspiring writers, or writing devotions, Tez’s passion for walking with God is evident. His book, The Single Dad Detour won Book of the Decade with Serious Writer Academy and recently, Christianity.com featured him in “50 Authors You Should Know.” As a multiple award-winning author, filmmaker, and international speaker, Brooks was recently named one of the Top Writing Coaches by the Coach Foundation. His work appears in Guideposts, Power for Living, The Upper Room, CBN.com, Clubhouse, Focus on the Family, and more. Tez is a member of Colorado Authors League and president for two chapters of Word Weavers Intl. He and his wife serve as full-time missionaries based out of Colorado Springs. They have four children.
Ashley Clark
With a master’s degree in creative writing, Ashley Clark teaches literature and writing courses at the University of West Florida. Ashley authors Southern women’s fiction with family secrets and hope-filled endings. Her Heirloom Secrets series has garnered praise from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Historical Novels Review, and Library Journal. She loves helping other writers develop their voices and has been teaching university-level writing classes for fifteen years. When she’s not dreaming up stories, Ashley’s usually busy homeschooling her son and taking her beloved senior Cocker Spaniel for walks around the neighborhood.
Cheri Cowell
Publisher, EA Books Publishing
Cheri Cowell is the owner/publisher of EA Books Publishing. She is both a traditionally and independently published author and award-winning author of 365 Devotions for Peace (Zondervan) and Parables and Word Pictures Bible study (AMG Publishers). Her other books include Direction: Discernment for the Decisions of Your Life (Beacon Hill) and the One Story, One Mission, One God Bible study. She’s published over 500 articles and countless devotions. With her experience as an author and publisher, Cheri has a unique approach and grace when working with authors to bring their dreams to reality.
Submission Guidelines
Looking for a publishing option that blends the creative control of self-publishing with a focus on quality from seasoned professionals? EABooks Publishing utilizes the Partnership Publishing Model with your print-on-demand, ebook, and audiobook publishing. Our talented and dedicated team gets behind you and your project. We love to hear about your book and your dreams to help you see how partnering together can make those dreams come true.
Ginny Cruz
Ginny Cruz, MPA, PT, is a pediatric physical therapist, an award-winning author, and a Speak Up Certified speaker. She is a member of Word Weavers International and was the founding president of the Pensacola chapter. Ginny is an encourager and teacher at heart. All of her work aims to help others, especially mothers. Be on the lookout for her first traditionally published book, The New Mom’s Guide: Help and Hope for Baby’s First Year, coming in 2025. She is the mother of two grown sons (both internationally adopted), married to her college sweetheart, and enjoys hiking, camping, reading, and cheering for her Florida Gators. She’d love to connect with you on Instagram @growwithginny or at ginnycruz.com.
Links
Lynn DeShazo
Lynn DeShazo is the author of some of the Church’s most loved worship songs, many of which have been featured on the live praise and worship recordings produced by Integrity Music. She is best known for such songs as “Ancient Words,” “More Precious Than Silver,” “Lead Me to the Rock,” “Turn My Heart,” “Be Magnified,” and “Be Unto Your Name.” Lynn has been involved in ministry on the local church level for over thirty years as a worship leader, a songwriter, and a teacher. She was an exclusive songwriter for Integrity Media for twenty-two years. She’s also produced ten of her own music recordings to date and a book, More Precious Than Silver: The God Stories Behind the Songs of Lynn DeShazo.
Annette Marie Griffin
Editor, StarLight Magazine
Annette Marie Griffin is an award-winning author and multi-generational speaker who has taught and written for adults and children for over 30 years. She began by writing story-driven curricula for youth groups and parenting classes while serving as Ministry Director at Gateway Church in San Antonio, Texas. Since then, she’s written hundreds of high-ranking articles for Salem Media Group, she’s a columnist and acquisitions editor for StarLight Magazine for kids, and she teaches workshops and training classes at local and national conferences. When Annette isn’t writing, speaking, or teaching, she loves making memories with her brilliant husband, 3 adult children, 2 teens, and 3 adorable grands!
Submission Guidelines
StarLight Magazine, designed for children aged 5–10 years, aims to illuminate God’s truth through children’s literature. The magazine’s goal is to blend fun activities with faith-filled messages, delightful fiction, and factual insights about God’s creation and influential Christians from history.
Lori Hatcher
Lori Hatcher is a women’s ministry speaker, author, freelance editor, blogger, and career healthcare professional. A contest-winning Toastmasters International speaker (ACG, ALB), she uses stories to impart transformational spiritual truth.
A popular instructor, Lori teaches non-fiction writing and speaking at conferences such as Write to Publish and Florida Christians Writers Conference. Lori’s authored six devotional books and writes devotions for Our Daily Bread and Guideposts projects. She shares an empty nest in Lexington, SC with her husband, David, and her vast collection of books.
John Herring
Publisher, Iron Stream Media
John, the CEO/Owner of Iron Stream Media, has dedicated over 40 years to serving churches or church-related entities. His expertise spans publishing, curriculum development, strategic thinking/planning, discipleship, staff development, mentoring, and bridging connections between ministries and people.
John’s favorite topics of discussion are his Lord, his family (especially his grandsons), missions, business as ministry, and coffee. He holds a Doctor of Educational Ministry degree and a Masters in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a bachelor’s degree from Samford University.
John and his wife, Stacy, reside in Birmingham with their little dog, Bo, short for Bogey. They are blessed with two children and four grandchildren.
Submission Guidelines
Iron Stream Media (ISM), drawing inspiration from Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another,” focuses on the process of discipleship. ISM provides a range of solutions for churches, missionaries, and non-profits, including comprehensive Bible study curricula, Christian book publishing, custom publishing, and consultative services through its division, Brookstone Creative Group. Its web-based offerings feature full-year and short-term Bible study teaching plans, along with printed devotionals, Bibles, and discipleship curricula. The ISM family includes Iron Stream Books, Iron Stream Fiction, Iron Stream Kids, Life Bible Study, and Brookstone Creative Group.
Cynthia Hickey
Publisher, Winged Publishing
Cynthia Hickey, author of over 200 cozy mystery and romantic suspense books and novellas, is a multi-published and best-selling author in these genres. She has shared her expertise in writing at various conferences and small writing retreats. Alongside her husband, Cynthia manages Winged Publications, their publishing press. The couple enjoys a snowbird lifestyle between Arizona and Arkansas, accompanied by their three dogs. Their family life is enriched by ten grandchildren, who take pride in telling everyone they meet that “Nana is a writer.”
Submission Guidelines
Winged Publications, the mother company of several imprints, is a royalty-paying publisher that helps authors break into the dynamic world of publishing and navigate the industry, without offering an advance. Authors are encouraged to send their submissions to join the family and experience the difference firsthand.
Grace Kelley
Editor, Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines
Grace Kelley is the associate editor of Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines. She’s also the magazines’ contracts coordinator, so if your submission gets accepted to Clubhouse or Clubhouse Jr., she’ll be the one you’ll work with during the contract and payment process.
Grace received her BA in English with a minor in creative writing at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Before she became an assistant editor at Focus on the Family, Grace worked with children for many years in a variety of ways, including working in daycare, being a summer camp counselor, and even teaching English to elementary school students in South Korea.
While Grace loves writing and editing short articles for her magazines, her dream is to create and publish fun, adventurous, and lesson-filled books for children and teenagers.
Grace currently resides in Colorado Springs, though she considers coastal Virginia home.
Submission Guidelines
The appointments will be focused on discussing children writers’ manuscripts, whether they are works in progress or completed projects, providing advice and guidance on them. There is a particular interest in speaking with authors who are aiming to write for Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines.
Julie Lavender
Jeanette Levellie
Ane Mulligan
Ane has worn many different hats: hairdresser, legislative affairs director (lobbyist), drama director, playwright, humor columnist, and bestselling novelist. Her lifetime experience provides a plethora of fodder for her Southern-fried fiction, the basis for the thirteen novels, novellas and one cookbook she has written.
Ane’s passion when she isn’t writing is community theatre. She’s Chairman of the Board of Players Guild@Sugar Hill, a non-profit community theatre company, where she and her husband act, direct, build sets, and are chief go-fers.
Contributor to the award-winning literary site, The Write Conversation, Ane resides in Sugar Hill, GA, with her artist husband, her chef son, and a rascally Rottweiler.
You can find Ane on her website and blog: http://www.anemulligan.com. If you’d like to see a map of Chapel Springs or some of her other books, showing you where all the characters live, visit http://www.anemulligan.com
Susan Neal
As a Certified AWSA Writer Coach, Susan Neal RN, MBA, MHS, desires to help others publish and sell their God-given message. She is the author of eight healthy living books. Her self-published, award-winning, best-seller, 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates, won the Selah award and sold over 20,000 copies in four years. Susan won the 2020 Christian Author Network Excellence in Marketing Award for Outstanding Broadcast Media for her book marketing campaign. She is a trusted advisor for authors and helps many sell more books. Susan is the Director of Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA) and Christian Indie Awards.
Marci Seither
Marci Seither is a creative storyteller whose writing career began after her humor article was published in a small-town newspaper. Since then she has authored three books and hundreds of articles for local papers as well as Guideposts, World Magazine, and Focus On The Family.
Her devotional, Lakside Retreat, with Tyndale Publishers was released in May 2022. Besides writing, she enjoys teaching workshops, speaking, food photography, and capturing drone footage.
She and her husband of over 38 years have six kiddos, and she loves being grandma to seven of the cutest kids in the western hemisphere. After living most of her life in CA, she now calls Knoxville, TN her home.
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Marci is ready to capture your professional headshots.
Only $40! Sign up at the conference
Patti Smith
Publisher, GO! Christian Magazine
Patti Smith is an inspirational writer and Publisher of GO! Christian Magazine. She is an award-winning journalist with more than 35 years’ experience in markets big and small throughout the United States. Her greatest desire is to share stories that will help readers get to know God in a deep and personal way. She believes her gift of writing came from Him, therefore, she will use it to serve Him. “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10
Submission Guidelines
We are interested in faith testimonies that show how someone’s relationship with Jesus has transformed their lives. These are journalistic type articles that include interviewing a subject and telling their story in usually 600 to 800 words and must include quotes.
Denise Weimer
Editor, Wild Heart Books Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison
Denise Weimer writes historical and contemporary romance from her home in North Georgia and also serves as a freelance editor and the Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books. A wife and mother of two daughters, she always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.
Submission Guidelines
Wild Heart Books Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison Denise Weimer will be taking appointments with authors both agented and unagented writing Christian historical romance. Misty Beller’s company is a fast-growing publisher with a heart for the Lord and their writers. Seeking historical romance (no historical fiction or dual time currently) through the 1950s written in series in his and hers deep POV. Before submitting a proposal (https://www.wildheartbooks.org/submissions.html), an author should have the first book in the series complete or almost complete and blurbs prepared for at least two more novels to follow. Denise is available to discuss the ideas for your book, help brainstorm series concepts, and answer your questions about writing for WHB.
Terry Whalin
Editor, Morgan James Publishing
Submission Guidelines
Since its inception over 20 years ago, Morgan James Publishing, The Entrepreneurial Publisher™ has grown from publishing six books per year to a backlist of over 3,000 titles. With 29 New York Times bestsellers (broad distribution), each year Morgan James is releasing about 180 to 200 books. For over ten years, Terry has been acquiring Morgan James books. He is actively looking for Christian nonfiction (Christian living, devotional, Bible studies, biographies), general market nonfiction (self-help, how-to, business, and a few memoirs), clean fiction less than 80,000 words and a few children’s books. They do not publish coffee table books, poetry or cookbooks.
Links
> www.lenoraworth.com
> @lenoraworth on Twitter
> lenoraworth on Instagram
> Lenora Worth, Author on Facebook
Lenora Worth
A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Honor Roll, Lenora Worth writes romance and romantic suspense for Love Inspired and sweet romance for Tule Publishing. She also writes for Kensington Books. Three of her books have finaled in the ACFW Carol Awards. She received the Romantic Times Pioneer Award for Inspirational Fiction. Lenora is a NY Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling writer and a 2019 RWA RITA® Finalist. She wrote for both the Shreveport Times and SB Magazine before moving to Florida. With one-hundred-plus books and novellas published and over three million books in print, she enjoys adventures with her retired husband and loves reading, baking, and shopping … especially shoe shopping.
Cheryl Wray
Cheryl Wray is a freelance magazine writer, book author, and coordinator of the Southern Christian Writers Conference. She’s published more than 3,000 articles in a variety of magazines and currently works as the cover article writer for Christian Family Publications. Her book, Writing for Magazines: A Beginner’s Guide, was a Featured Selection of the Writer’s Digest Book Club and her other books on writing include Writing Feature Writing, Masterpieces of Reporting, The Secret to Successful Query Letters, and Great Editorials. Cheryl has also worked as a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group and the Birmingham News and her upcoming book A Guide to Southern Football Towns (It’s a Southern Thing Publishing) is a travel guide slated for release at the beginning of the 2024 football season.
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