Here’s our jam-packed conference schedule! Start planning NOW for two days of encouragement and education. Spring Blessings discount has been extended through June 15! registration
Friday, September 20, 2019 *Please check final schedule and room assignment
12:00 – 2:00 PM TEAM set-up in Craft-Hemphill (CH) and Hayes Ministry Center (HMC)
2:00 – 3:00 pm Volunteer orientation in CH-110 Presenters/editors/agents/TEAM prayer and orientation – volunteers meet faculty/Team members [** Recording devices, handouts, attendance sheets info]
2:30 – 4:00 pm Registration and Check-in (HMC Lobby); online appointment signups
Published authors consign books for sale (CH Lobby)
3:15 – 3:55 BONUS Session Options:
- Vanessa Fortenberry “Importance of the 3Rs . . . “ in CH 101
- TEEN TRACK “Worldbuilding” workshop with Daniel Blackaby HMC
- Todd Williams “Engaging Pages” in CH 102
- Lori A. Hatcher “Practically Painless Editing “ in CH 108
- Jean Matthew Hall “What is a Picture Book?” in CH 109
- Book Browsing in Craft-Hemphill Lobby; Appointment sign-ups ONLINE
4:00 – 5:00 PM Welcome and Warm-Ups
TEEN TRACK: KEYNOTE “Tolkien, Lewis, & Christian Imagination” Daniel Blackaby in HMC
Adults’ Welcome and Warm-Ups – Two Mini-Sessions (CH 110)
(A) Editor-Agent Panel Q & A and (B) Author Panel
5:00 – 6:30 PM Adults break for supper in the Todd Dining Hall (across from Craft-Hemphill)
(* Use tickets in registration packet – Gluten-free options available; please specify dietary restrictions at time of Registration)
TEEN TRACK Pizza Bash with presenters (HMC)
Please specify at registration if you require Gluten-free pizza.
Dinner hour free time: Book Browsing, Sign up online/ editor/agent/author appointments
6:45 – 7:45 PM ALL: Announcements & Introductions of Presenters; Praise & Worship (HMC)
7:45 – 8:45 PM SESSION A: [please check Teens and/or Adults]
ADULTS only: Tony Snipes “5 MORE Things I learned In Corporate America That Can Jumpstart Your Writing Business in Under 24 Hours” in HMC
ADULTS & Teens: Kenzi Nevins “An ILLUSTRATOR”S Market: Portfolio, platform, and Proposals” in CH 101
ADULTS ONLY Linda Vigen Phillips “Using Verse to Get to the Heart of Your Story” in CH 102
ADULTS & TEENS: Nancy Lohr “The Plot Thickens” in CH 108
ADULTS only Edie Melson “Love the World You Build” in CH 109
TEENS only: Carol Baldwin “Let Your Characters Do the Heavy Work” in CH 110
8:45 – 9:30 PM RECEPTION Coffee & Conversation w/ Presenters/Editors/Agents (HMC) All are invited!
Registered participants will be eligible to sign up online for TWO (2) individual appointments with authors, editors, or agents. Sign-up site will indicate specific location of the person you are meeting.
Book sales are in the Craft-Hemphill Lobby. Teen Pizza Bash and Adult Coffee & Conversation are in Hayes Ministry Center. Photo (Headshot) sessions will be in Craft-Hemphill room TBA). Sign up online.
Interactive Features for 2019:
- TBA
- A Photo Booth – Enjoy taking photos/selfies with our special writers’ props – share on social media!
Saturday, September 21, 2019 – * Please check final schedule and room assignment *
7:45 – 8:15 AM Late Check-in (HMC Lobby) Please observe workshop status: Adults, Adults & Teens, or Teens only***
8:15 – 9:00 AM SESSION B
TEENS Only Brenda Covert Poetry Writing: “Playing with Words” in CH 110
ADULTS & Teens Tessa Emily Hall “How to Sell . . . to an Agent . . . “ in CH 101
ADULTS only Vijaya Bodach “Writing Memoir for Kids (I): Techniques” in CH-102
ADULTS only Lori Hatcher “Ten Ways to Charm an Editor” in CH 108
ADULTS Kim Peterson “A Strong Supporting Cast of Secondary Characters” CH 109
9:15 – 10:15 AM Adults & Teens Announcements KEYNOTE by NANCY LOHR : “Truth-FULL Writing” in HMC
10:30- 11:15 SESSION C
ADULTS only Tony Snipes “How I turned a Facebook Page into a Weekly Storytelling Medium” in HMC
ADULTS only Daniel Blackaby “Tolkien, Lewis, & Christian Imagination” CH 101
ADULTS only Samantha Bell “Polishing Your Picture Book” in CH 102
ADULTS only Nancy Lohr “Read Like a Writer” in CH 108
ADULTS only Kim Peterson “Deepen Your Middle Grades/YA Novel” CH 109
Teens ONLY ** Carol Baldwin “Create a Sensory Setting” in CH 110;
11:15 – 11:40 Teens remain in CH 110 for NGU Q & A, then proceed to lunch **
11:15 AM – 12:45 PM ** LUNCH in Todd Dining Hall (Bring tickets in registration packets*)
12:45 – 1:30 PM Session D ADULTS only Edie Melson “Writing for the YA Audience” in CH 101
ADULTS only Terri Kelly “How to Write Devotions for Children” in HMC
ADULTS only Vijaya Bodach “Writing Memoir Part II: Being a Witness” in CH 102
ADULTS & TEENS Tessa Emily Hall “Create Book Buzz . . . with a Blog Tour” CH 108
ADULTS only Kim Peterson “Selling Snappy Sidebars” in CH 109
ADULTS & TEENS Steve Hutson “Why You’re Not Getting Published” in CH 110
1:45 – 2:30 PM Book Sales (C-H Lobby) and Book Signing (C-H Comm Center – 110)
2:45 – 3:30 PM Session E
ADULTS only Jean Matthew Hall “Writing Fiction Picture Books” in HMC
ADULTS & Teens Steve Hutson “What NOT to Say to an Editor or Agent” in CH 101
ADULTS Only Vijaya Bodach “Writing a Book That’s Controversial” in CH 102
ADULTS Only Todd Williams “Connecting with Kids” in CH 108
ADULTS Only Andrea Merrell “Turning Pain into Prose” in CH 109
TEEN TRACK Carol Baldwin “Out of This World Fiction & Fantasy” in CH 110
3:45 – 4:45 PM ALL: CLOSING KEYNOTE – by Edie Melson “The New Paradigm of Social Media” in HMC
4:45 – 5:00 PM Writing Awards, Silent Auction results, Grand Door Prize, Closing Prayer in HMC
Registered participants will be eligible to sign up online for TWO (2) individual appointments with authors, editors, or agents. See online signup for specific location of the person you are meeting.
Book sales in the Craft-Hemphill Lobby close at 2:30 pm Saturday.
Photo (Headshot) sessions in Craft-Hemphill room TBA by appointment; walk-ins may take open slots.
Interactive Features for 2019:
- TBA
- Photo Booth – Enjoy taking photos/selfies with our special writers’ props – share on social media!
* schedule subject to change
It looks fabulous! Someday, I’ll be able to attend! Probably after hubby retires (hopefully next year!)
I hope so, Pam! Carol
It’s one more day to receive the Spring Blessings discount (through May 31). After that, there is still an early bird discount good through Aug. 31. Once we reach Sept., registration will be full price. 🙂
Lots of opportunities! Thanks.
Yes, Jean. I’m excited about the lineup. Glad to see you are returning again this year.