Welcome!

SCHEDULE PAGE

2027 Conference Schedule 

April 7–10, 2027

Wednesday (April 7)

Check-In 

1:00pm – 5:00pm

PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP

2:00pm – 4:00pm Book Planning : From Idea to Manuscript to Masterpiece  – Sharon Elliott

4:00pm – 5:00pm First Timers Orientation & Tour – Rachel Coggins
5:00pm – 5:45pm Faculty Meeting
6:00pm – 6:50pm Dinner
7:00pm – 8:30pm General Assembly: Praise & Worship, Announcements, Prayer Card, Sign Up for Faculty Appointments

Thursday (April 8)

7:00am – 7:40am Spiritual Stretch – Susan Neal
8:00am – 8:45am Breakfast
9:00am – 10:15am General Assembly: Praise & Worship – Babbie Mason; Keynote – Soul Care for Writers – Edie Melson 

10:30am – 11:30am CONTINUING CLASSES
Children’s: Writing for Children and Young Adults – Jean Hall
Fiction: Mastering hte Art of Characterization – DiAnn Mills
Nonfiction: Build a Nonfictio Book That Works– Edie Melson
Speaking: Why Every Writer Needs a Signature Talk – Robyn Dykstra

11:45am – 12:45pm Lunch
VIP Lunch – Babbie Mason – Each One Reach One

1:00pm – 1:50pm
Making the Most of Your 15-Minute Appointment – Jane Daly
Ditching Discouragement – Heather Greer
Why Should a Radio or Podcast Host Interview You? – Bob Crittenden
Discovering Your Message Through Writing Poetry (2 Class Times) – Lora Zill
The Ten P’s to Your Writing Success – Sharon Elliott

2:05pm – 2:55pm
Amazon Boot Camp – Vincent Davis
What Not to Say to an Editor or Agent – Steve Hutson
Become the Podcast Guest the Hosts Ask Back – Heather Greer
Discovering Your Message through Writing Poetry – Lora Zill
A Writer’s Trek: Navigating the Path to Publication – Gretchen Huesmann 

3:10pm – 4:00pm
Let’s Read That Publishing Contract – Steve Hutson
A Clear Vision Workshop for Christian Writers – Kennita Williams
Make Your Points Shine: Create Visuals that Complement Your Presentations – Gretchen Huesmann
The Devotional—Every Word Matters –  Heather Iseminger
Show, Don’t Tell: 9 Red Flags that Weaken Your Writing and How to Fix Them – Teresa Janzen

4:15pm – 5:05pm
Why Good Manuscripts Get Rejected: An Editor’s Perspective – Teresa Janzen
From Idea to Impact: A Practical Planning Framework for Writers – Kennita Williams
Success Redefined: Discovering the Power of Capacity – Cindy Saab
Bible Studies That Let Scripture Speak for Itself – Heather Iseminger
Writing with Humor – Bill Patterson

5:20pm Walk Around the Lake Led by Susan Neal (Meet at front door by registration)

6:00pm – 6:50pm Dinner

7:00pm – 8:30pm Praise & Worship– Babbie Mason, Campfire, and Poetry Slam OR Healing Prayer Session

Friday (April 9)

7:00am – 7:40am Spiritual Stretch – Susan Neal 

8:00am – 8:45am Breakfast

9:00am – 10:15am General Assembly: Praise & Worship – Babbie Mason; Keynote – Robyn Dykstra – Your Next Chapter Begins Here

10:30am – 11:30am CONTINUING CLASSES
Children’s: Rhythm and Rhyme in Picture Books – Jean Hall
Fiction: Mastering the Art of Plotting – DiAnn Mills
Marketing: Marketing Strategies for Sustainable Author Growth – Matt Jones
Nonfiction: Organize Your Book Before You Write – Edie Melson
Speaking: Give Your Message the Royal Treatment – Robyn Dykstra

11:45am – 12:45pm Lunch 
VIP Lunch – Vincent Davis – How to Revive a Dead Book

1:00pm – 1:50pm
General Assembly in Chapel: Faculty Panel Discussion on Platform Building: Interviews, Podcasts, Social Media, & Networking   – Alyssa Avant, Heather Greer, Steve Hutson, Heather Iseminger, Susan Neal, Kennita Williams

2:05pm-2:55pm
Time Management for Busy Writers – Amy Williams
Genre Clarity for Nonfiction Authors: Align Your Message, Structure, and Reader Promise – Teresa Janzen
Amazon Ads Unlocked  – Vincent Davis
Haiku Poetry – Michael Shoemaker
Writing Magazine Articles – Bill Patterson

3:10pm – 4:00pm
So. . . What do Book Publishers Really Want? – John Herring
Jump Start Your Platform with a Coauthor – Steve Feazel
Unlock the Secret to Boosting Your Book Reviews – Susan Neal
Mastering the Art of Short Stories – Bill Patterson
Dialogue Should Sizzle, Not Fizzle – Larry Leech

4:15pm – 5:05pm
After the Conference  – Larry Leech
Your Amazing Author Visits at School and Churches – Dawn Stephens
It’s All About the Audience  – Alice Murray
Those Pesky Book Proposals – Jane Daly
Writing the “Good Poem” – Lora Zill

5:20pm Walk Around the Lake led by Susan Neal (Meet at front door by registration)

6:00pm – 6:45pm Dinner 

7:00pm – 8:30pm General Assembly Praise & Worship, Christian Indie and CAN Marketing Awards Ceremony

Saturday (April 10)

8:00am – 8:45am Breakfast

9:00am – 10:00am General Assembly: Praise & Worship – Babbie Mason;  Keynote – Chase the Demons Out of Your Head – Larry Leech 

10:15am – 11:15am CONTINUING CLASSES
Children’s: Book Categories for Kids – Jean Hall
Fiction: Developing Deep POV – DiAnn Mills
Marketing: From Discovery to Superfans – Matt Jones
Nonfiction: Write Nonfiction Readers Can’t Put Down – Edie Melson
Speaking: Get Booked & Get Paid – Robyn Dykstra

11:00am – 12:00pm Lunch