We are a team of talented volunteers with a wide range of skills and experience in the field of writing for publication. We love that God allows us to do what we do, and we do it with passion. We pray we are a blessing to everyone who visits our website.
Carol Baldwin – Blog Coordinator
Carol’s most recent book is Teaching the Story: Fiction Writing in Grades 4-8 . She loves all things literary: reading, writing and teaching writing. She has presented at many educational, library, and writing conferences and taught in the continuing education department at Central Piedmont Community College, She coordinated the Charlotte SCBWI writers group for over 20 years, and co-publishes Talking Story, a newsletter for educators and media specialists.
Carol is currently working on her first young adult novel– a middle grade story set in North Carolina in 1952.
Find her book reviews, writing tips, and classes at www.carolbaldwinblog.blogspot.com
Follow her on Facebook (Carol Federlin Baldwin) or Twitter (@CBaldwinAuthor).
Gail Cartee – Registrar
Gail Cartee is an author, blogger, and conference teacher. She is a team member of the Write2Ignite Conference. She is a Honor graduate of the University of South Carolina, holding a BA in Early Childhood Education and an MEd from Southern Wesleyan University. She lives with her husband, Richard, in the foothills of Upstate of SC where they raised three children.
Brenda Covert – 2 for 1 Critiques Coordinator
Freelance author and editor Brenda Covert’s writing career began in 1999 with a paid article in a Christian women’s magazine and poem in Clubhouse Jr. Since then, she has written more than 400 short children’s stories for Union Gospel Press and a handful of poems for their Adult Bible Study guides. Brenda has written numerous scripts for use in schools, the two most popular being K.C.’s Dream and The Constitutional Convention. Brenda’s editing career began in 2002, first in the educational field and then in the Christian market. She has edited many books published by Christian publishing house Ambassador International. Her experience covers fiction and nonfiction for all ages, from picture books to YA novels and beyond, including inspirational books and Bible studies. She is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA).
You can find Brenda online at BrendaCovert.blogspot.com.
If you’re especially fond of Christmas, you’ll enjoy her blog at ChristmaswithBrenda.blogspot.com.
Follow her on Instagram as @bbcovert
Her Covert Action Editing F B page https://www.facebook.com/BrendaCovertEdits.
Dr. Debbie DeCiantis – Financial Administrator
A lover of books and excellent writing, Deborah S. DeCiantis enjoys connecting children and young adults with books they enjoy. A special concern is promoting writings with a sound, biblically consistent worldview. She enjoys staying in touch with many former students whose writing she has encouraged.
Debbie completed a long teaching career in 2017, retiring from North Greenville University as Associate Professor of English. She previously taught English composition, literature, and creative writing, and/or French at three other colleges and universities, library skills at two Christian schools, and served as adviser to student newspapers and literary journals on both K-12 and college levels.
Debbie first connected with Write2Ignite Conference in 2010, when she was asked to serve as liaison between NGU and the then-new-to-NGU Christian writers’ conference. She was hooked after the first conference she attended, and has since served on the W2I planning team, with a stint as Director when Jean Hall was otherwise occupied.
Debbie does freelance editing, writes professional critiques of student publications, and spends a lot of time with grandchildren and adult children, including weekly Skype calls with one daughter and family who are longterm residents of Japan. Her personal writing includes articles in organizational magazines and newsletters, blogging about writing, literature, and stories for grandchildren. She oversaw production of the W2I Team’s first bilingual devotional for children, Too Big for a Band-aid, which was designed by Robyn Grage and edited by Grace Geide. https://write2ignite.com/too-big-for-a-band-aid/
A native of New Jersey, Debbie and her husband now call South Carolina home.
Jean Hall – Director
Jean lives in LaGrange, Kentucky. Her first picture book God’s Blessings of Fall was released by Little Lamb Books in September 2019. Her second picture book is set to release in 2022.
When not enjoying time with family (eight gorgeous grandkids–want to see pictures?) and church Jean is immersed in children’s picture books—reading them, reviewing them, writing them!
Jean is a member of the SCBWI, Word Weavers International, Write2Ignite and the Kentucky Christian Writers.
Jeans website and blog http://www.jeanmatthewhall.com .
Face Book at Jean Matthew Hall Author
Twitter at Jean_Hall
Pinterest Board for Writers at JeanMatthew_Hall.
Sally Matheny – Pinterest Editor
A freelance writer and blogger, Sally Matheny’s writing is published in worldwide, national, regional, online and print publications including Appleseeds, Clubhouse Jr., Homeschooling Today, Practical Homeschooling, Keys for Kids, and The Old Schoolhouse. Sally also writes wholesome and entertaining books for children.
Speaking at events for women, children, and married couples, Sally encourages people to live victoriously and to courageously tell the next generation wondrous things.
A former public-school teacher, Sally has homeschooled for over eighteen years. She teaches history and creative writing classes to homeschool groups. In addition, she leads an N.C. Jr. Historian club in association with the N.C. Museum of History.
She and her husband have three children, two sons-in-law, and armsful of grandbabies. They live in the North Carolina foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
You can connect with Sally here:
Website: https://www.sallymatheny.com
Facebook Page: Sally Matheny – Encourager, Writer, Speaker
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sallymatheny/
Cindy Lynn Sawyer – Website Admin + Newsletter Editor
Cindy Lynn Sawyer is a kidlit writer and graphic designer who resigned from her full-time marketing position to pursue her writing goals and help kids learn how to G.L.O.W. from the inside-out. She has written for Clubhouse and Clubhouse, Jr. magazines and is currently working with a writing coach on her first mid-grade novel. She is also working on several picture books in addition to stories and activities for children’s lit magazines.
In addition to her own writing, Cindy loves to encourage and empower others on their journey. This is the reason she has been a part of Write2ignite for so many years. She believes in their mission to nurture others who want to use their gift of writing for Christ.
January 2023 Cindy launched Designed2Glow with the mission to help kids (and sometimes adults) to “Go and be the Light Of the World” (G.L.O.W.). In addition to writing stories with messages of kindness, compassion, and spiritual growth, she also designs items, such as T-shirts and notebooks with similar messaging.
Cindy would love to hear more about your writing journey. Visit any of her platforms listed below to connect!