back to general information

"The Premier Christian Fiction Conference"

Indianapolis, Indiana
September 17 - 20, 2010

"Serving Him in WORD and Deed"

Sydney K. Wiley, CMP

Name: Sydney K. Wiley, CMP Position: Conference Coordinator Conference Task(s): Overall conference logistics. Website: Contact Email: sydney@acfw.com This is the sixth conference I'm coordinating for ACFW. It has been gratifying and wonderful to work with the board and committee members to foster the tremendous growth and professionalism of this conference. To see the enthusiasm of new and returning conferees makes everything worthwhile. The pleasure of experiencing a successful event is what we planners live for and thrive on. I am honored to work with this organization. I'm convinced this will be the best ACFW conference yet! Can't wait to see you there.

  | TOP |

Robin Miller

Name: Robin Miller Position: Conference Director Conference Task(s): ...it would probably be much easier to note what details of the conference DON'T fall under Robin's job description. Then again, none really come to mind. Website: http://www.robincaroll.com/ Contact Email: cd@acfw.com Robin Miller is the author of eleven novels, including the critically acclaimed Deliver Us From Evil, under the pen name of Robin Caroll. Her books have placed/finaled in such contests as Bookseller’s Best, Book of the Year, and Reviewer’s Choice Award. She is the past-president of ACFW and now gives back to the organization by serving as the Conference Director. To learn more about this author of deep South mysteries of suspense to inspire your heart, visit Robin’s website at www.robincaroll.com.

  | TOP |

Pam Hillman

Name: Pam Hillman Position: Conference Treasurer Conference Task(s): Pam handles all of the accounting and bookkeeping aspects of the Annual Conference. Website: http://www.pamhillman.com Contact Email: ct@acfw.com A multi-published author in short fiction and non-fiction, Pam Hillman stretches her wings as a writer of inspirational fiction set in the American West and the Gilded Age. Her manuscripts have won the Golden Heart, the Genesis, and Touched by Love contests. As past Treasurer of ACFW, Pam continues to give back to the organization as Conference Treasurer.

  | TOP |

Cara Putman

Name: Cara Putman Position: Conference Publicity Conference Task(s): Cara is in charge of all the publicity for the Annual ACFW Conference. Website: http://www.caraputman.com Contact Email: confpr@acfw.com Cara Putman is a woman living a dream God planted in her heart years ago. An honors graduate of University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!) and George Mason Law School, Cara is an attorney licensed in Virginia and Indiana. She clerked for the Honorable Loren Smith at the Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C. before following her husband to Indiana. In 2005 she attended a book signing at her local Christian bookstore. At the book signing her husband told Colleen Coble that she wanted to be writer. She's been running ever since to keep up. Barbour's Heartsong Presents has released four of her books, including Canteen Dreams, a WWII historical set in Nebraska that won the 2008 Book of the Year for Short Historical. She also writes romantic suspense for Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense and the Complete Idiots Guide to Business Law. She has nine books out with three more releasing in 2010, including Stars in the Night for Summerside Press, book four in Guideposts next mystery series Patchwork Mysteries and A Promise Forged for Heartsong Presents. Cara is also an attorney, wife, mom to three, homeschool teacher, occasional professor at Purdue, active at her church, and all around crazy woman. Crazy about God, her husband and her kids that is.

  | TOP |

Wanda Dyson

Name: Wanda Dyson Position: Appointment Coordinator Conference Task(s): Schedule conferee appointments with Editors and Agents, schedule critiques for conferees with authors Website: http://www.WandaDyson.com Contact Email: Wanda@acfw.com Hailed by critics as an author that "gives up none of the pace and terror of the best secular crime thrillers while keeping a strong story of faith at its center," Wanda's latest release Shepherd's Fall from Random House/Waterbrook, hit the shelves in April of this year and was met by great reviews. When she's not writing crime thrillers, Wanda can be found scheduling appointments for several Christian Writers conferences, riding her horses, raising rare "Silkies," dozing in the hammock with a good book, or taking her daughter four-wheeling. Wanda and her daughter, Jayme, live on a 125 acre farm with 13 horses, a pony, 2 rabbits, 3 dogs, 4 barn cats, and somewhere around 60 chickens. Farm fresh eggs anyone?

  | TOP |

Ronie Kendig

Name: Ronie Kendig Position: Assistant Appointment Coordinator Conference Task(s): Assistant to Wanda Dyson with editor/agent appointments. Website: http://www.roniekendig.com Contact Email: roniekendig@gmail.com Ronie Kendig has a BS in Psychology and is a wife, mother of four, and avid writer. Her novels include an espionage thriller, Dead Reckoning, and a new military series, The Discarded Heroes, which launched with Nightshade. Book #2, Digitalis, is set for a January 01, 2011 release. She speaks to various groups, volunteers with the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and mentors new writers. Ronie can be found at www.roniekendig.com or www.discardedheroes.com.

  | TOP |

Allison Wilson

Name: Allison Wilson Position: Conference Administrative Assistant Conference Task(s): Allison Wilson has been a part of the ACFW conference from the first national in Kansas City. As Conference Administrative Assistant, her jobs will vary according to what our wonderful Conference Coordinator and Conference Director require. Website: http://www.hearthitting.blogspot.com Contact Email: amwilson@acfw.com I'm a mom of three, wife for 16 years to the love of my life and slightly nuts enough to have worked all the conferences. I've been a member of ACRW/ACFW when we had less than 100 members and have watched this amazing organization grow. I live in central Florida

  | TOP |

Kathi Kolosieke

Name: Kathi Kolosieke Position: Conference Administrative Assistant Conference Task(s): General Session and Worship A/V presentations, working on the Conference Web site pages and helping out in any other way needed. Website: http://www.kmkenterprises.com Contact Email: kmk@kmkenterprises.com Kathi (a.k.a. Kat) is the President of KMK Enterprises Custom Web Page Design, Inc. She has been involved with ACFW since the organization was founded. in the capacities of web and graphic design, online application development/implementation and consulting. I can't begin to tell you what a wonderful experience and privilege it's been to watch this organization grow and flourish. From the very beginning, I've had no doubt that God had great plans for ACRW/ACFW and I'm thoroughly convinced He's not finished yet. A one time author and poet, Kat now pacifies the muse by helping out ACFW in any way she can.

  | TOP |

Janna Ryan

Name: Janna Ryan Position: Conference Bookstore Coordinator Conference Task(s): Website: http://www.cornhuskeracademy.blogspot.com Contact Email: bookstore@acfw.com Janna Ryan is a homeschooling wife and mother of 6 precious children who try and allow her plenty of time to read and review to her heart's content. In Janna's spare time she runs her book review blog, Cornhusker Academy, and loves to share her knowledge of all the new and best in Christian Fiction by running the bookstore at the ACFW conference. Stop by the bookstore and say, "Hi!" when you come to the conference to purchase your books!

  | TOP |

Dineen Miller

Name: Dineen Miller Position: Conference Designer Conference Task(s): Design and layout all conference related print media, including the Conference Program, banners, etc. Website: http://dineenmiller.com/Site/D.G.Graphics.html Contact Email: dineenmiller@mac.com Dineen A. Miller graduated in the top four of her class from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale with an Associates of Science Degree in Advertising and Graphic Design. In 1991 she received the Communi Graphics Award for Outstanding Visual Impact, Effective Communication, and Design Excellence from the Memphis Design Conference. She’s designed ads for such publications as Time Magazine, Car and Driver, and most recently, Seattle Metropolitan’s premier bridal magazine, Bride & Groom. Since then, she’s freelanced in the advertising industry and has found a new niche in serving the publishing industry through her business Designer Girl Graphics. While living in Tennessee, she started a women's ministry program that still thrives today. In Europe, she helped establish small groups for the purpose of Bible study and fellowship as part of an international church. She writes fiction and nonfiction using her past experiences as a youth counselor, a Stephen Minister, and as one of God’s “works-in-progress.” Her calling and passion is ministry to the spiritually mismatched. Her writing achievements include semi-finalist in the suspense category of the 2005 ACFW Noble Theme Competition, Honorable Mention in the 2006 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, second place in the romantic suspense category of the 2007 ACFW Genesis Competition, and runner up in the suspense/thriller category of the 2008 ACFW Genesis Competition. Married for more than twenty-two years, she shares her life with a great guy who adores disc golf, her two daughters who never stop surprising her with their own creativity, and a dog who no doubt is an angel in disguise. She writes at her blog, www.spirituallyunequalmarriage.com, where she shares the latest nugget she’s dug out of God’s Word or a message to encourage and spur others closer to God despite the trials of life. She can also be found on Facebook and Twitter under her name. Her first book, Winning Him Without Words, 10 Keys to Thriving in Your Spiritually Mismatched Marriage, releases from Regal Books in January 2011.

  | TOP |

Camy Tang

Name: Camy Tang Position: Genesis Coordinator Conference Task(s): I coordinate the entries and judging of the Genesis Contest and best of all...I get to announce the Genesis winners at the banquet! Website: http://www.camytang.com/ Contact Email: camytang@gmail.com Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. Out now is her chick lit Sushi series (Sushi for One?, Only Uni, and Single Sashimi) and her romantic suspense, Deadly Intent. Originally from Hawaii, she worked as a biologist for 9 years, but now she is a staff worker for her San Jose church youth group and leads a worship team for Sunday service. She has coordinated the ACFW Genesis contest for 5 years and runs the Story Sensei fiction critique service, which specializes in book doctoring. On her blog, she gives away Christian novels and ponders frivolous things.

  | TOP |

Mindy Obenhaus

Name: Mindy Obenhaus Position: BTY Coordinator Conference Task(s): Coordinating the ACFW Book of the Year Website: http://www.mindyobenhaus.com Contact Email: Mindy Obenhaus was raised in Michigan, but got to Texas as fast as she could. This mother of five and grandmother of four has been a member of ACFW since 2006. Amidst the organized chaos of daily life, she pens tales of romantic suspense and shares her passion for writing with anyone willing to listen. Learn more about Mindy at: www.mindyobenhaus.com or on the F.A.I.T.H blog – 6 unique authors, 6 unique personalities, 1 awesome God: www.writingbyfaith.blogspot.com.

  | TOP |

Michael Ehert

Name: Michael Ehert Position: Afictionado Editor Conference Task(s): Website: http://www.acfw.com/ezine/ Contact Email: opusmle@gmail.com Michael Ehret is the editor of ACFWs e-zine, Afictionado, and has written and edited professionally for a quarter century as a newspaper reporter, corporate editor, and freelance editor. He is a past two-time Genesis contest finalist and, while his fiction muse is currently more of a snooze, she is showing signs of waking once again.

  | TOP |

Sara Mills

Name: Sara Mills Position: Banquet Coordinator Conference Task(s): Sara is responsible for managing all of the details involved with the annual ACFW Banquet. Website: http://www.saramillsbooks.com/ Contact Email: Sara Mills is an author, mother, freelance editor and motorcycle racing enthusiast. She loves animals, raises Golden Retrievers, has a house full of hamsters, guinea pigs, turtles, puppies and any other stray that makes its way to her door. Sara has been writing since 1999 but decided to seriously pursue publication after a life-threatening accident in 2002. It may seem like an extreme way to go about discovering her life’s purpose, but she’s never looked back since. Except that one time she decided to quit writing and go back to school to get her MBA. But that didn’t last long and it was just one little slip, so it doesn’t really count.

  | TOP |

Jim Rubart

Name: Jim Rubart Position: Banquet A/V Designer Conference Task(s): Design and present Award Banquet A/V presentation. Website: http://www.jimrubart.com Contact Email: Since 1994 Jim Rubart has worked with and trained clients such as AT&T/Cingular, RE/MAX, ABC and Clear Channel Radio though his company Jr2 Marketing. He also co-owns He Blogs, She Blogs, a company that designs, develops, and implements blogs and Web sites for businesses and individuals. He's written more than 1,000 radio and TV spots as well as developed and written numerous Web sites, sales letters, one-sheets and articles. He writes a monthly column, Quantum Marketing for Christian Fiction Online Magazine, and his first novel, ROOMS, will published by B&H in April 2010. He has been a professional speaker and marketing trainer for more than twenty years and will be speaking at the Florida Christian Writer's Conference in February and the Northwest Christian Writer's Renewal in May. Jim is also a photographer, guitarist, golfer, water skier, and semi-pro magician. He lives in the Northwest with the world's most perfect wife and his two almost-perfect sons. No, he doesn't sleep much.

  | TOP |

Cheryl Wyatt

Name: Cheryl Wyatt Position: Conference Booklet Ad Coordinator Conference Task(s): Cheryl is responsible for generating advertising prospects to help defer the cost of putting together the Annual Conference booklet. Website: http://www.CherylWyatt.com Contact Email: anavim4him@gmail.com Born Valentine’s Day on a naval base, Cheryl Wyatt writes military and rescue romance. Her Steeple Hill debuts earned RT Top Picks plus #1 and #4 on eHarlequin's Top 10 Most-Blogged-About-Books, lists including NYT Bestsellers. She is a Reviewers Choice Award Nominee and a Gayle Willson Award of Excellence finalist. You can keep up with Cheryl at: www.CherylWyatt.com or on her blog at: www.seekerville.blogspot.com

  | TOP |

Billy Wyatt

Name: Billy Wyatt Position: Conference Audio/Video, Head Technician Conference Task(s): Billy and his crew handle the technical side of all of the audio and visual for the conference, as well as providing all of the AV equipment and producing the Conference CD. Website: Contact Email: Billy Wyatt is a highly sought-after audio-visual engineer, known in the industry for his integrity and ingenuity. He has been doing pro-audio for most major Christian bands and many mainstream country and southern rock bands since 1991. Oh...and he also runs with scissors.

  | TOP |

Amber Zimmerman (ClikChick)

Name: Amber Zimmerman (ClikChick) Position: Conference Photographer Conference Task(s): Amber will be taking candid shots throughout the conference as well as offering her portrait services to authors. Website: http://www.theclikchick.com Contact Email: theclikchick@gmail.com I am a wife to one big kid and a mommy to four little kiddos who are my inspiration for everything I do. I have always been a creative soul and enjoy being creative in many outlets. My passion for photography began as I had my children. I found that I enjoyed a much more candid approach to pictures than posed ones. I see the world through completely different eyes as a photographer. I love to capture what the world may view as mundane and make it beautiful and inspiring to others. My goal in being your photographer is to step into your shoes and document your lives in a candid and relaxed setting that results in natural, intimate, carefree and emotion provoking images that you will be able to cherish for a lifetime. I work exclusively with natural or available lighting. The world is my studio and I delight in finding new places to play. ;-)

  | TOP |

Rachel Hauck

Name: Rachel Hauck Position: Conference Worship Leader Conference Task(s): umm...Conference Worship Leader? Website: http://rachelhauck.com Contact Email: rachel@rachelhauck.com "At the age of six, I knelt at the altar of a Tulsa Methodist church and gave my life to the One who loves me. The truth is, and always will be, I belong to Jesus. That's always first and foremost in everything I do; from writing to leading worship and everything that falls in between." Rachel is a past president of ACFW. Her latest book, Love Starts With Elle was given 4.5 stars (their highest rank) by Romantic Times Book Club and was honored as a Top Pick! With a true heart for Christ, Rachel is an exceptional worship leader who brings deep spritual meaning to what has become one of the highlights of Conference for many attendees.

  | TOP |

Brandilyn Collins

Name: Brandilyn Collins Position: Prayer Room Coordinator and Emcee Conference Task(s): Brandilyn's ministry to the Conference includes ensuring that there is always someone on hand to pray with Conference attendees in the Confernece Prayer Room...even if it means filling the time slots herself, which she also does quite often. In addition, Brandilyn also serves as the Conference Emcee, delighting all in attendance with her wonderful sense of humor while continually encouraging members in their walk with Christ. Website: http://brandilyncollins.com/ Contact Email: Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline "Don't forget to b r e a t h e . . ."® Brandilyn's first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows. Brandilyn's awards for her novels include the ACFW Book of the Year (three times), Inspirational Readers' Choice, and Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice. Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). The Writer magazine named Getting into Character one of the best books on writing published in 2002. When she's not writing, Brandilyn can be found teaching the craft of fiction at writers' conferences. She and her family divide their time between homes in the California Bay Area and northern Idaho.

  | TOP |

| TOP |