Leadership Team
Conference Leadership Team
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Jean Matthew Hall
God’s call on Jean Hall‘s life is to invest in other people by encouraging her family and friends, volunteering in her church, leading and encouraging other writers and (occasionally, it seems) writing. Her articles and poems appear in both general market and Christian magazines and anthologies. She also writes picture books and is working on an inspirational novel. Jean writes encouraging words that she hopes will point people to Christ now and in generations to come. She seeks to create stories that build good and beautiful things into the lives of the children and adults who read to them.
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Donna Earnhardt
Donna Earnhardt is married to Sean and is a homeschooling mom to their three girls in Concord, NC. She loves to hike and fish with her family and recently sold her picture book, Being Frank, to Flashlight Press. When she’s not writing, Donna likes to blog, tweet and connect with other writers/artists via Google+. Connect with Donna: |
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Kristi Butler
Kristi Butler is honored, humbled, and so happy with God’s call on her life…as a wife, mom, teacher, speaker, and writer. With almost 30 years of marriage under her belt, three beautiful daughters flown from the nest…and an amazing 11 year old daughter, adopted from China, still at home to “keep her young,” she stays on the go. Add to that the privilege of teaching transitional kindergarten, speaking for women’s retreats and MOPS International, she is blessed beyond measure! The opportunity to write is just icing on the cake…in her free time! She has written for a Focus on the Family parenting newsletter, for Clubhouse, Jr. magazine, is a featured blogger for Carolina Parent magazine, and is the author of Gracie’s Groundhog Day Surprise and Grover Groundhog is NOT Hibernating This Christmas! Connect with Kristi: |
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Jill Roman Lord
Jill Roman Lord is an author of ten books, a freelance writer and nurse anesthetist. Her latest book, One Night in Bethlehem will be released October, 2011. Among her published books, she is the author of a book gift set, My Friend Jesus, for children with titles including: If Jesus Lived Inside My Heart, If Jesus Walked Beside Me, and If Jesus Came to Visit Me. She lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband, three children and golden retriever. Connect with Jill: |
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Cindy Lynn Jacobs
Cindy Lynn Jacobs, received her degree in Professional Writing from Bethel College in Mishawaka, Indiana, and her B.A. in General Studies with concentrations in communication and journalism. Since June 2000 Cindy has served as an advisor in the area of student media for Bethel College, first as director of student publications, then as assistant director of student media. In these positions she teaches, advises and oversees the production of the student yearbook and newspaper. Cindy also freelance writes for local, national and online publications. Her work has appeared in publications, such as Clubhouse, Single-Parent Family, IN Michiana and Inside Granger. She is currently co-writing a devotional, working on a mid-grade reader about a young teenage boy struggling to survive Hurricane Katrina and co-writing a book about online dating for Christians. In addition to writing, she has designed marketing media for herself and others, and regularly designs print media for publishing. She enjoys networking with other authors and mentoring new writers. She has been a part of the Bethel College Writer’s Club for 15 years. She is also a member of the college’s Writers Accountability Network and a member of the Indiana chapter of the Society for Children’s Book Illustrators and Writers. In order to further her experience in the field of professional writing, Cindy attends writers conferences to stay current with the publishing industry, and to network with publishers, agents, editors and authors. Currently she resides in Mishawaka, Indiana. She cherishes her family and friends—particularly her three children, ages 18, 22 and 23, along with a son- and daughter-in-law. Connect with Cindy: |
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Samantha Bell
Samantha Bell lives in the upstate of South Carolina with her husband and four children. When she’s not homeschooling or teaching art and writing classes, she’s working as a freelance writer and illustrator. Her published works include stories, poems, and articles both online and in print resources, including magazines such as Boys’ Quest, Clubhouse Jr., Wee Ones Children’s Magazine, Guardian Angel Kids Magazine, and Learning Through History. She’s illustrated picture books for Alma Little and Guardian Angel Publishing, including one of her own, It’s Birthday Time, Jake. For two years, she also served as the managing editor of the Pen and Palette, the quarterly newsletter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators – Carolinas Chapter. She’s presented workshops at the SCBWI-Carolinas annual conference and North Greenville University, as well as classes at the Children’s Museum of Greenville and the Greenville County Library. She’s currently a member of the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators, the Metropolitan Arts Council of Greenville, and Trillium Arts Centre. Connect with Samantha: |
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Deborah S. DeCiantis
Debbie DiCiantis is the Associate Professor of English at North Greenville University (2006 – present), teaches English composition and literature courses and advises the student journal of literature and art, The Mountain Laurel. She has previously taught English at Winthrop University and St. John Fisher College as well as French language courses at the University of Rochester. She has also served as a librarian and yearbook adviser at two K-12 Christian schools in South Carolina and Pennsylvania. Debbie enjoys literature on all levels and has a passion for children’s literature that exemplifies the highest standards of language and storytelling appropriate for the subject matter and the age level of the intended audience. Connect with Debbie:
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Keiki Hendrix
Keiki Hendrix is Christian writer, web designer and chaser of the wonders of our great God. She’s the founder of The Vessel Project, a Christian book review site for those who love Christian books. You can view her web design portfolio on her blog www.keikihendrix.com Keiki has published hundreds of articles on a variety of online publications, served as a columnist for two news sites and enjoys writing devotions, bible studies, and Christian living books for women. She serves as Update Editor for an online writing group hosted by authors, publishers, and agents that trains emerging authors. Keiki leads a weekly Bible Study class and is a member of several local writers groups. She and her husband live in the Upstate of South Carolina. Connect with Keiki: |
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Dee Dee Parker
Dee Dee Parker draws on her uniquely Southern experience as a minister’s wife in her career as an author and speaker. She is the author of Josie Jo’s Got to Know, a children’s book written to raise awareness of breast cancer in younger women, with proceeds going to funding research toward a cure for the disease. Dee Dee enjoys writing devotions and is featured on christiandevotions.us and is a contributing author for their book Faith and Family: A Devotion Pathway for Families. She has contributed to numerous anthologies including Guidepost’s Extraordinary Answers to Prayer: Closer to God, Clothes Lines, and Christmas Presence, and her work has appeared in Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse Jr. magazine. Dee Dee has a heart for women and enjoys sharing her perspective through her speaking ministry. Her motto: Have pearls. Will travel. Married to Jim, a minister of music, for over forty years, they have a son, Brad, and the cherished memories of their daughter, Brooke. Connect with Dee Dee:
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