Readers

Author Interviews

Becky Wade

During her childhood in California, Becky Wade frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins. These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending. She’s been a fan of all things romantic ever since.
Becky and her husband lived overseas in the Caribbean and Australia before settling in Dallas, Texas. It was during her years abroad that Becky’s passion for reading turned into a passion for writing. She published three historical romances for the general market, then put her career on hold for several years to care for her kids, then recently returned to writing sheerly for the love of it. She felt led to move to the genre of contemporary Christian romance and couldn’t be more thrilled with it.
Carla Stewart

Carla Stewart’s writing reflects her passion for times gone by. She’s an alumnus of the Guideposts Writer’s Workshop, a two-time winner of the ACFW Genesis contest. Her debut novel Chasing Lilacs was the 2011 trophy winner at OWFI (Oklahoma Writers Federation Inc.), a 2011 finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award, and placed 2nd in Women’s Fiction in the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards. Broken Wings was a 2012 Oklahoma Book Award finalist. Her third novel, Stardust, releases in May of 2012.
Carla believes in Jesus, the power of the written word, and a good cup of coffee. She and her husband have four adult sons and delight in the adventures of their six grandchildren. Her desire is to take readers to that place in their hearts called “home.” She loves to connect with authors and readers at www.carlastewart.com.
Heather Burch

Heather Burch grew up in Branson, Missouri, where she learned to love fiction. She then married into a family of published novelists and quickly learned writing was her heart’s desire. She is currently a youth pastor. When she’s not working on her latest book, Heather can be found watching a sunset at a beach near her home in Southern Florida, along with her sons Jake and Isaac, and husband, John—who is her hero in every way.
DiAnn Mills

Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn’s first book was published in 1998. She currently has more than fifty books in print.
Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won placements through the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Carol Awards and Inspirational Reader’s Choice awards. DiAnn won the Christy Award in 2010 and 2011.
DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Inspirational Writers Alive; Romance Writers of America, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also the Craftsman mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.
She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.
Cathy Gohlke

Cathy Gohlke is the two-time Christy Award winning author of William Henry is a Fine Name and I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires. Her second book also won the ACFW Carol Award and was a Library Journal pick for Best of 2008. When not traipsing the hills and dales of historic sites she makes her home along the banks of the Laurel Run in Elkton, MD, with her husband, Dan, and dog, Reilly.
Jennifer AlLee

Jennifer AlLee believes the most important thing a woman can do is discover her identity in God – a theme that carries throughout her stories. She’s done extensive freelance work for Concordia Publishing House, including skits, Bible activity pages, and over 100 contributions to their popular My Devotions series. Her previous novels are The Love of His Brother, (Five Star, November 2007) and The Pastor’s Wife (Abingdon Press, February 2010). Her upcoming novel A Wild Goose Chase Christmas releases November 2012 from Abingdon Press.

She’s an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Christian Authors Network, RWA, and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance. Jennifer resides in the grace-filled city of Las Vegas with her husband and teenage son.
Jennifer’s newest title, The Mother Road, released earlier this month.
Rita Gerlach

Rita Gerlach lives with her husband and two sons in a historical town nestled along the Catoctin Mountains, amid Civil War battlefields and Revolutionary War outposts in central Maryland. She is the editor of Stepping Stones Magazine for Readers, an online website focused on marketing the works of Christian authors to the public. Her fourth book Surrender the Wind, an inspirational historical romance set in Virginia and England, was released by Abingdon Press in August 2009. Along with Before the Scarlet Dawn, Abingdon will be releasing two more novels by Rita in the Daughters of the Potomac series.
Bonnie Calhoun

Bonnie Calhoun is the Director of the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, a 220+ member organization that conducts weekly blog tours for the latest in Christian fiction from the major publishing houses. She also is the Publisher of Christian Fiction Online Magazine, featuring 35+ of the best and brightest in Christian fiction as columnists and feature writers. She is the Northeast Zone Director for the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and the President of Christian Authors Network.

Bonnie is the Appointment Coordinator and a faculty member at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference and the Colorado Christian Writers Conference teaching workshops on social media and website construction.

In her home life Bonnie is a seamstress and clothing designer with her own shop, a Bible Study teacher, and the Teen Sunday School teacher at her church. She and her husband Bob, along with a dog and cat that consider her wait-staff, live in a log home on fifteen acres in the upstate area of Binghamton, New York.
Tyora Moody

Tyora Moody is an author, entrepreneur, graphic designer, and an all-around encourager with a deep love for God. Her debut novel, When Rain Falls, was released March 1, 2012 (Urban Christian/Kensington). This is the first book in the Victory Gospel series.

Tyora writes romantic suspense and cozy mysteries. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and American Christian Fiction Writers. Her short story, Birthing Pains, in the anthology, Home Again: Stories of Restored Relationships was her first published work of fiction.

She owns and operates Tywebbin Creations LLC, a design and marketing company. Her company’s niche is assisting authors with branding and developing an online presence. Tyora served as a judge for the Christy Awards for three years.

When Tyora isn’t working for a client or doing something literary, she enjoys spending time with family, catching a movie on the big screen, traveling and when the mood hits her, baking cookies.
Jamie Carie

Born and raised in Vincennes, Indiana, Jamie Carie is a preacher’s daughter. Road trips with her dad—to and from Bible studies across Indiana—were filled with talks of things beyond earth’s bounds – the earthly walk compared to the spiritual walk, and how we are born for more than what we can see or touch. The highlight of those nights was stopping at a truck stop in the middle of the night where her dad spent a little of the offering basket on two slices of pie and a couple of Cokes.

Piles of poems, short stories, skits and song lyrics later, Jamie grew up and married. When her eldest son turned five she decided to try her hand at novels. Eight years and lots of rejection letters later, Snow Angel was published and won ForeWord Magazine’s Romance Book of the Year, a USA Book News “Best Books 2007” Awards winner, and 2008 RITA® Awards Best First Book finalist. In 2010 Wind Dancer was a finalist in the Indiana State Library Best Books of Indiana. It was the beginning of her dream career.

With eight books currently in circulation and her first three book series coming out in 2012 Jamie has made an impressive contribution to the inspirational, historical romance genre. Romantic Times exclaimed, “Carie is a welcome new voice in the inspirational fiction market.” And, “Carie writes with her heart on every page of her books.” Jamie has a passion for history and believes in the power of love stories and God’s great love for His creation.
Sandra Orchard

Sandra Orchard writes romantic suspense set along the northern shores of Lake Erie in the heart of Canada’s Niagara region, where she lives with her husband of almost 25 years, their college-age children, and their incorrigible pup. Sandra loves trying new things. Over the years she’s dabbled in a variety of arts and crafts and renovation projects from building a run-in for her daughter’s horse to re-siding their first house. Since a clean kitchen was only ever one meal away from being a mess again, she has always preferred doing something more substantial. Although she majored in math at university, and went on to teach high school math before starting a family, she admits to dreaming of becoming a writer from a young age. As a home educator, she wrote how-to articles and curriculum reviews, but she didn’t imagine herself capable of writing fiction. Then after her mother died, she discovered inspirational romance. Seeing characters overcome the same kind of emotions she was facing gave her inspiration and hope. So when her husband, frustrated by the growing book piles, suggested she write her own, little did he know what he’d started!

She loves to connect with readers, and has created “extras” such as on location, deleted scenes, and character interviews to enhance their experience of her books. Check out these and other resources for both readers and writers at her website: http://www.SandraOrchard.com.
For updates on new releases, special subscriber-only reads and giveaway opportunities, sign up for her newsletter at http://bit.ly/OrchardNews
She’d love for you to “like” her at: http://www.Facebook.com/SandraOrchard
Or join in the conversations about characters on her blog at http://www.SandraOrchard.blogspot.com
Margaret Daley

Margaret Daley is an award winning, multi-published author in the romance genre. One of her romantic suspense books, Hearts on the Line, won the ACFW Carol Award (formerly Book of the Year). She currently writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for Love Inspired, romantic suspense for Abingdon Press, and historical romance for Summerside Press. She has sold 82 books to date.
Regina Jennings

Regina Jennings is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University with a degree in English and a history minor. She has worked at The Mustang News and First Baptist Church of Mustang, along with time at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and various livestock shows. She now lives outside Oklahoma City with her husband and four children.
Rosslyn Elliott

As the child of a career military man, Rosslyn Elliott lived in four states and two foreign countries before she graduated from high school. She attended Yale University, where she earned her BA in English and Theater Studies. After five years working first in corporate New York City, then as a schoolteacher, she entered the Ph.D. program at Emory University and finished her dissertation in 2006. Her study of American literature spurred her to pursue her lifelong dream of writing fiction.

She has won awards for both her fiction and non-fiction writing, including the 2011 Laurel Award and the 2011 Lime Award for Fairer than Morning and the 2006 Lore Metzger Prize for her dissertation. Fairer than Morning was selected as one of Lifeway Fiction’s Ten Favorite Reads for 2011.

Rosslyn lives with her husband and daughter in the southern United States, where they enjoy working with horses and pampering their dogs. Her fiction is represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books and Such Literary Agency.
Lynette Eason

Lynette Eason grew up in Greenville, SC. Her home church, Northgate Baptist, had a tremendous influence on her during her early years. She credits dedicated Sunday School teachers and Christian parents for her acceptance of Christ at the tender age of eight. Even as a young girl, she knew she wanted her life to reflect the love of Jesus Christ.

After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a Business Degree she used for a very short time (sorry Mom and Dad), she moved to Spartanburg, SC to attend Converse College where she obtained her Masters degree in Education. During this time, she met the man she would marry—the boy next door!

She is married to Jack Eason, who speaks, leads worship, and consults ministries around the country.. In December of 2010, they celebrated their fourteenth wedding anniversary. Lynette and Jack have two precious children, Lauryn, thirteen years and Will, who is ten.

Lynette has taught in many areas of education over the past ten years and is very happy to transition that teaching to writers conferences.

Some of Lynette’s favorite authors who influenced her writing include, Brandilyn Collins, Dee Henderson, Shirlee McCoy, Karen Kingsbury, Robert Liparulo, Terri Blackstock and Deborah Raney.

Lynette is a member of RWA (Romance Writers of America), FHL (Faith, Hope, and Love) and ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers).

Lynette loves to ice skate, go bowling, walk on the beach, visit the mountains of Asheville, NC, watch American Idol, Law and Order, A & E channel, and surf the web. She is often found online and loves to talk writing with anyone who will listen. She gives God the glory for giving her the talent and desire to spin stories that bring readers to the edge of their seat, but most importantly, to the throne of Christ.
Robin Caroll

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s mother, bless her heart, is a genealogist who instilled in Robin the deep love of family and pride of heritage—two aspects Robin weaves into each of her books. When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty-two years, her three beautiful daughters, two precious grandsons, and their three character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else?

She gives back to the writing community by serving as Conference Director for ACFW. Her books have finaled/placed in such contests as RT Reviewer’s Choice, Bookseller’s Best, and Carol Award. Deliver Us from Evil earned the Holt Medallion in 2011 and was nominated for the RT Readers’ Choice Award. An avid reader herself, Robin loves hearing from and chatting with other readers. Although her favorite genre to read is mystery/suspense, of course, she’ll read just about any good story. Except historicals!
Don Bemis

Don Bemis is a New Mexican by birth, geographer by training, engineer by trade, and writer by choice. He played clarinet in the New Mexico State University Band and married Lois, another Aggie clarinetist, before they graduated. Lois is from the mountains of northern New Mexico and never really warmed up to the desert, so they compromised and moved to South Haven, Michigan, in 1979. They have five adult children and a growing supply of grandchildren.
Bemis finally got time and incentive to write when his employer downsized. Now he is engineering again, but the writing bug bit him hard. Four of his books have been published so far.
Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans is an award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories she creates. Evans is a lifelong resident of Michigan who is the happily married mother of two (plus three more, if you include the furry, feline members of her clan). She is honored to have served Romance Writers of America on the local level as former Treasurer, then President of the Detroit chapter.
Denise Hunter

Denise Hunter is the nationally published, bestselling author of The Convenient Groom and A Cowboy’s Touch. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and was a RITA and ACFW Carol Award finalist.

In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she’s been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!

When Denise isn’t writing, she’s busy raising three heroes-in-the making with her husband Kevin.
James L. Rubart

James L. Rubart is the bestselling author of ROOMS, BOOK OF DAYS, and THE CHAIR. During the day he runs Barefoot Marketing, helping authors make more coin of the realm. In his free time he dirt bikes, back packs, golfs and takes photos. No, he doesn’t sleep much. He lives with his amazing wife and teenage sons in the Pacific Northwest and still thinks he’s young enough to water ski like a madman.
Lena Nelson Dooley

Award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, has more than 675,000 books in print. She is a member of ACFW and president of the local chapter.

Lena loves her husband, James, her children, grandchildren, and great grandson. She loves chocolate, cherries, chocolate-covered cherries, and spending time with friends. Travel is always on her horizon. Cruising, Galveston, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Mexico. One day it will be Hawaii and Australia, but probably not at the same time. Helping other authors become published really floats her boat. And the high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially her fans.
Golden Keyes Parsons

Golden Keyes Parsons writes historical fiction with a bold thrust. Her novels which comprise the Darkness to Light series were finalists in several contests including ACFW’s Book of the Year and RWA’s Daphne award. She is also a popular retreat and conference speaker. Golden and her husband are retired from the pastorate and reside in Waco, TX, where they enjoy being involved in Baylor University’s various events. They have three grown daughters and eight grandchildren … and four great-grandchildren.
Julie Jarnagin

Julie Jarnagin grew up in a rural community where her family farmed and raised cattle, inspiring her to set much of her fiction in small towns. She earned a B.A. in Journalism/Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of America Christian Fiction Writers. She is the author of three Heartsong Presents novels, Canyon Walls, Canyon Crossing, and Canyon Cafe. Her articles have appeared in local and national publications. Through her writing, she hopes to share stories that reflect God’s love. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband and young son.
Kaye Dacus

Humor, Hope, and Happily Ever Afters! Kaye Dacus is the author of humorous, hope-filled contemporary and historical romances with Barbour Publishing and Harvest House Publishers. She holds a Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, is a former Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers, and currently serves as President of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers. She loves action movies and British costume dramas; and when she’s not writing, she enjoys knitting scarves and lap blankets (she’s a master of the straight-line knit and purl stitches!). Kaye lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and even though she writes romance novels, she is not afraid to admit that she’s never been kissed.
K. Dawn Byrd

K. Dawn Byrd is an author of inspirational romance and romantic suspense with four books published through Desert Breeze Publishing so far. Recently, she tried her hand at young adult fiction and found that she enjoyed writing it tremendously. Four new young adult releases are scheduled for 2012. Three books are part of a new college-age mystery/romance series, scheduled to release January, June, and December. The fourth is Shattered Identity, the sequel to Mistaken Identity, and will release in April.

K. Dawn Byrd is an avid blogger and gives away several books per week on her blog at http://www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com, most of which are signed by the authors. She’s also the moderator of the popular Facebook Christian Fiction Gathering group.
Mary Moore

Mary Moore is a 15-year veteran of historical fiction and has been an avid student of the Regency era since the 1970s. For a season, Mary had to put her writing on hold while undergoing a battle with breast cancer. However, her difficult circumstances only fueled her excitement about writing, as she now incorporates her struggles into her books, dedicated to encouraging others in the Lord and using her talent to His glory.
Kim and Kayla Woodhouse

Kimberley Woodhouse is a wife, mother, author, and musician with a quick wit and positive outlook despite difficult circumstances. A popular speaker, she’s shared at more than 800 venues across the country. Kimberley and her family’s story have garnered national media attention for many years, but most recently her family was chosen for ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, and Discovery Health channel’s Mystery ER. Her story, Welcome Home: Our Family’s Journey to Extreme Joy, released from Tyndale House Publishers in September, 2009 and a new suspense series, written with daughter Kayla, begins with No Safe Haven and Race Against Time, releasing in March and November 2011. Kimberley lives, writes, and homeschools in Colorado with her husband and two children in their truly ‘extreme’ home.

Thirteen-year-old Kayla Woodhouse’s zest for writing comes not only from her natural ability, but also from her love of the written word as witnessed by her voracious reading appetite. She has appeared on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, The Montel Williams Show, Mystery ER, and numerous other national programs and has also been featured in newspapers and magazines. Through a life of extreme hardships, her ever-present smile encourages others to pursue their dreams, no matter the obstacles. In addition to being homeschooled and writing with her mom, she’s an amazing swimmer, and spends up to thirty hours a week in training. No Safe Haven, her first release from B&H Publishers in 2011, makes her the youngest author to have a full-length novel published by a royalty-paying publisher.
April W. Gardner

April W. Gardner resides in Georgia with her USAF husband and two sweet kiddos. She is the author of the historical romance series, the Creek Country Saga, as well as the children’s adventure series, the Channel Islands Resistance. She is the founder and senior editor of the fun literary website, Clash of the Titles. In her free time, April enjoys reading, organizing, and DIY.
Adina Senft

Adina Senft grew up in a plain house church, where she was often asked by outsiders if she was Amish (the answer was no), she made her own clothes, and she perfected the art of the French braid. She holds an M.F.A. in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania, where she teaches as adjunct faculty.

Writing as Shelley Bates, she was the winner of RWA’s RITA Award for Best Inspirational Novel in 2005, a finalist for that award in 2006, and, writing as Shelley Adina, was a Christy Award finalist in 2009. Three of her books have shortlisted for the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Carol Award for book of the year. Of her fiction, publisher and industry blogger W. Terry Whalin has said, “Readers will be lost in the vivid world that [she] paints with incredible detail and masterful storytelling.”

A transplanted Canadian, Adina returns there annually to have her accent calibrated. Between books, she enjoys traveling with her husband, playing the piano and Celtic harp, and spoiling her flock of rescued chickens. These days, she makes period costumes and only puts up her hair for historical events and fun.
Naomi Musch

Naomi Musch loves stories rich in American history, but writes in several other genres as well. Her aim is to surprise and entertain readers while telling stories about imperfect people who are finding hope and faith to overcome their struggles, whether the setting is past, contemporary, or even fantastic.

She and husband Jeff enjoy epic adventures around their home in the Wisconsin north woods with their five young adults. She invites readers to say hello and find out more about her stories, passions, and other writing venues at http://www.naomimusch.com or look her up on Facebook: Naomi Musch - Author, and Twitter: NMusch
Christa Allan

A true Southern woman who knows any cook worth her gumbo always starts with a roux and who never wears white after Labor Day, Christa Allan’s novel Edge of Grace released in August. Her debut women’s fiction, Walking on Broken Glass, was published by Abingdon Press in 2010. Her next five novels are scheduled to release from 2012-2014. Christa is a high school English teacher, mother of five, and Grammy of two. She and her veterinarian husband, Ken, live in Abita Springs where they dodge hurricanes and look forward to retirement.
Nicole O’Dell

She writes. She talks. She reads. She changes diapers. Nicole O’Dell is a mom of six—including a set of toddler triplets who may or may not be potty trained sometime in 2011. She is the author of several YA books, including the popular Scenarios for Girls interactive fiction series, the upcoming Diamond Estates Series, and nonfiction books, one of which was written with her two daughters based on their popular blog column by the same name. O’Dell’s Teen Talk Radio digs into topics like peer pressure, dating, purity, drugs, alcohol, modesty, popularity, decisions about the future, and much more.
Camy Tang

Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. She grew up in Hawaii and now lives in San Jose, California, with her engineer husband and rambunctious mutt, Snickers. She graduated from Stanford University and worked as a biologist researcher for 9 years, but now she writes full-time. She is a staff worker for her church youth group, and she leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service. On her blog, she ponders knitting, spinning wool, dogs, running, the Never Ending Diet, and other frivolous things. Visit her website at http://www.camytang.com/ to read free short stories and join her quarterly newsletter YahooGroup!
Patti Lacy

In 1955, I was born in the front seat of a Buick and have been called flighty and imaginative ever since! Having two schoolteacher parents, I battled the idea of being cooped up in a classroom but eventually succumbed to the chalk dust lodged in my lungs and worked at public schools. In 2005, the Still, Small Voice called me to write my first novel, An Irishwoman’s Tale. I’m married to, yep, a teacher. Alan and I have two grown children and stroll the streets of Normal, Illinois, with our “third child,” a rescue dog named Laura.
Vannetta Chapman

Vannetta Chapman has published more than 100 articles in Christian family magazines. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace in Albion, Pennsylvania. Vannetta is a multi-award-winning member of Romance Writers of America. She currently lives with her husband in the Texas hill country. A Simple Amish Christmas, a CBD fiction bestseller, was her debut novel. Falling to Pieces, a Quilt Shop Murder will release on September 27, 2011.
Myra Johnson

Award-winning author Myra Johnson writes what she likes to call “romantic women’s fiction” . . . emotionally gripping stories about love, life, and faith. Her Heartsong Presents romance Autumn Rains (November 2009) won RWA’s 2005 Golden Heart for Best Inspirational Romance Manuscript, and in 2010 was a finalist in the Short Contemporary Romance category of the prestigious ACFW Carol Awards. Married since 1972, Myra and her husband are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters who, along with their godly husbands, have huge hearts for ministry. Four rambunctious grandsons and two precious granddaughters take up another big chunk of Myra’s heart. She and her husband share their home with two lovable (and very spoiled) dogs. Myra writes full-time and is active in her church as well as local and national writers groups.
Erica Vetsch

Though Erica Vetsch has set aside her career teaching history to high school students in order to home-school her own kids, her love of history hasn’t faded. Her favorite books are historical novels and history books, and one of her greatest thrills is stumbling across some obscure historical factoid that makes her imagination leap. She feels continually amazed at how God allows her to use her passion for history, romance, and daydreaming to craft historical romances to entertain readers and glorify Him.
Elizabeth Camden

A research librarian and associate professor, Elizabeth Camden has a master’s in History from the University of Virginia and a master’s in Library Science from Indiana University. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband in central Florida.
Lacy Williams

Lacy Williams is a wife and mom from Oklahoma. In 2006, when she got serious about getting published, she made one of the best decisions of her life and joined ACFW. Since then, she’s volunteered as the Oklahoma Area Coordinator and the Secretary for the WIN-ACFW chapter. She currently serves as President for the OKC Christian Fiction Writers chapter and was recently nominated for Mentor of the Year. Lacy’s debut novel won the 2009 Genesis Award in the Historical Romance category. She promises readers happily-ever-afters guaranteed and reads the end of the book first in most cases.
Louise M. Gouge

Persistent, well-educated and successful novelist, Louise M. Gouge is the author of the acclaimed Ahab’s Legacy Series, which was inspired by Herman Melville’s Moby Dick. Louise has faithfully produced excellent fiction since the late 1990’s, and she continues this trend with her new novel The Gentleman Takes a Bride.
Mary Connealy

Mary Connealy, author of “romantic comedy with cowboys,” is a Christy Award Finalist, a Carol Award Winner, a Rita Award finalist and an IRCC Award finalist. She is a GED Instructor by day and an author by night and so she can remember what she’s doing, she likes to wear a little crown and a Wonder Woman cape while she types. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband, Ivan, and has four grown daughters.
Michelle Sutton

Michelle Sutton is the author of a dozen inspirational romance novels published between September 2008 and December 2011 with three different publishers. She has six additional titles that will release through 2014. Her first writer’s conference was in 2004 in Denver, Colorado. She attended because she wanted to meet Francine Rivers and ended up making a ton of new writer friends as well as being encouraged as a Christian author. Michelle was elected to the ACFW operating board and served from 2006 to 2008. She lives in Arizona with her husband of over twenty years and her two college age sons.
Delia Latham

Delia Latham is a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. While she considers each of these roles important ones, she treasures most of all her role as a child of the King and an heir to the throne.

A former newspaper staff writer, Delia promised herself a novel for years, while raising her four children, working at various jobs and writing the occasional article, poem, or song. She fulfilled that promise when Vintage Romance Publishing (now Vinspire Publishing) released Goldeneyes in 2008. A Christian historical romance with a touch of the divine, Goldeneyes is set in the farm country of the author’s childhood, and therefore close to her heart. In 2010, White Rose Publishing released Yesterday’s Promise (eBook) and Destiny’s Dream, book one in the Solomon’s Gate series. Kylie’s Kiss followed in April 2011. The third and final Solomon’s Gate book, Gypsy’s Game, is expected to release later this year.

Delia grew up in Weedpatch, a tiny agricultural community near Bakersfield, in California’s San Joaquin Valley. She and her husband Johnny recently transplanted from that area to Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.
Patty Smith Hall

A member of ACFW since the beginning, Patty Smith Hall has studied the craft of writing for almost ten years, using her love of history and her natural curiosity to create unique stories from days gone by. A romantic at heart, Patty Smith Hall is an award winning, multi-published author. Her stories of encouragement and hope can be found in Guideposts, Journey and Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul. Patty resides in Georgia along with Dan, her husband of 28 years, two daughters and a Yorkie who loves to cuddle.
Amanda Cabot

Amanda Cabot has always been a dreamer, and so it’s no coincidence that her first books for the CBA market are called Texas Dreams. Set in the Hill Country beginning in 1856, these deeply emotional historical romances showcase God’s love as well as that between a man and a woman. The first in the trilogy, Paper Roses was a finalist for the 2010 Carol Award. Scattered Petals is a finalist for the 2011 Booksellers Best Award, and the final Texas Dreams book, Tomorrow’s Garden was an April 2011 release. A former director of Information Technology, Amanda has written everything from technical books and articles for IT professionals to mysteries for teenagers and romances for all ages. She’s delighted to now be a full-time writer living in Cheyenne, WY with her high school sweetheart/ husband of many years.
Dorothy Love

An accomplished author in the secular market, Dorothy Love penned 13 novels for preteens and young adults before moving to the Christian market to write Southern historical fiction for adults. A former college professor, an avid amateur historian, and a sustaining member of the Southern Historical Society, she makes her home in the Texas hill country with her husband and their two golden retrievers.
Catherine Richmond

I was busy raising a family, working as an occupational therapist, and trying to remember where I hid the chocolate, when a song sparked a story within me. The journey to publication has been long, but full of blessings. I couldn’t have done it without ACFW, RWA, and FHL, the inspirational chapter of RWA – and lots of chocolate!
Susan Sleeman

Susan Sleeman is a bestselling-author of inspirational romantic suspense and mysteries. She grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today, she channels this enthusiasm into hosting the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com and writing romantic suspense and mystery novels.

Much to her husband’s chagrin, Susan loves to look at everyday situations and turn them into murder and mayhem scenarios for future novels. If you’ve met Susan, she has probably figured out a plausible way to kill you and get away with it. Don’t worry, she’d never follow through on it.

Susan currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson. In her spare time, you can find her traveling to Oregon to visit her children and grandson, reading, gardening or working on TheSuspenseZone.com.
Lorna Seilstad

Lorna Seilstad is the author of Making Waves, and lives and draws her setting from her home state of Iowa. A history buff, antique collector, and freelance graphic designer, she has won several online writing awards and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. This is her second novel.
Roxanne Rustand

Roxanne Rustand has sold thirty romantic suspense and romance novels, both secular and inspirational. She will have six books out in 2011, including SECOND CHANCE DAD, a Love Inspired romance which is out in early June.
Her first manuscript won a Golden Heart, her second was a Golden Heart finalist. She was nominated for an RT Bookclub Magazine Career Achievement Award in 2005, and won an annual RT Bookclub Magazine Reviewers Choice Award in 2006. One of her inspirationals was nominated for an RT Reviewers Choice award this year. MURDER AT GRANITE FALLS, a Love Inspired Suspense out this April, received a Top Pick rating and 4 ½ stars. She has given workshops online (including three for ACFW) and at national and regional writer’s conferences from coast to coast.
Liz Johnson

Liz Johnson fell in love with Christian novels in junior high, in high school thought she would become a physical therapist, and wound up with a degree in public relations from Northern Arizona University. She lives in Nashville, where she works for a major Christian publishing company, enjoys exploring the rich history of middle Tennessee, and watches way more crime dramas than she ought to.
Shellie Neumeier

I have been married to my college sweetheart for almost 20 years. We have four wonderful kiddos; two teens and two preteens. I received my undergraduate degree in Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1991 and went on to acquire my early childhood certificate in 1993. In order to date (and later marry) my husband, I began serving in our church’s youth group. Together we served the teens for ten years. I spent the next decade serving in children’s, special needs, and family ministries.

My hobbies include teaching my teens how to drive and driving my preteens across the Wisconsin countryside. I love reading big people books (you know the kind without pictures) and writing for young adults and tweens.

I write because I can and because every now and then, I don’t have the choice, it just takes over. My best inspiration comes from God, during long walks on country roads with my greyhounds, Dasher and Mary.
Lyn Cote

Lyn Cote has written over 30 books since her first Love Inspired romance debuted in 1998. She was born in Texas, raised in the Chicago area, brought up her children in Iowa, and now lives with her husband on a lake in the north woods of Wisconsin. A RITA finalist, Lyn writes light romance, contemporary romantic suspense, and historical sagas. Her brand is “Strong Women, Brave Stories.” She is an active member of ACFW and RWA. Lyn was a 2006 RITA Award Finalist for Best Inspirational, a Carol finalist in 2010, as well as a finalist for the HOLT Medallion and the National Readers’ Choice Award.
Cara Putman

I graduated from high school at sixteen, college at 20, and completed my law degree when I was 27.
My writing journey started in 2005 when I decided to write my first novel. Now I have eleven books published with more on the way.
People say I’ve accomplished a lot and that I must have life by the proverbial tail. Hardly! I grew up as a homeschooled kid when homeschoolers were misunderstood and oddities.
I struggle with balancing my writing and law career, plus being a good mom and wife.
I often fear people won’t like my books.
I’ve walked through the deep pain of miscarriage.
Really, I’m just like you – I don’t have it all together and have gone through tough times. But in His strength, I’ve discovered a strength I never knew I had. A strength I want you to discover, too.
In the end I’m just an ordinary mom who has seen God do some wonderful things as I’ve been obedient to step into the calling He’s led me into.
Elizabeth Ludwig

Elizabeth Ludwig is an award winning author whose work has been featured on Novel Journey, the Christian Authors Network, and The Christian Pulse. Her first novel, Where the Truth Lies, which she co-authored with Janelle Mowery, earned her the 2008 IWA Writer of the Year honors. This book was followed in 2009 by “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” part of a Christmas anthology collection called Christmas Homecoming, also from Barbour Publishing.

In 2010, her first full-length historical novel Love Finds You in Calico, California earned Four Stars from the Romantic Times. Books two and three of Elizabeth’s mystery series, Died in the Wool, and Inn Plain Sight, respectively, are slated for release in 2011 from Barbour Publishing.

Elizabeth is an accomplished speaker and teacher, and often attends conferences and seminars, where she lectures on editing for fiction writers, crafting effective novel proposals, and conducting successful editor/agent interviews. Her popular literary blog, The Borrowed Book, enjoyed a wide readership in its first year, with more than 14,000 visitors in 2010. Along with her husband and two children, Elizabeth makes her home in the great state of Texas. To learn more about her work, visit her at http://www.elizabethludwig.com.
Mary Ellis

Mary Ellis grew up close to the eastern Ohio Amish community of Geauga County, where her parents often took her to farmer’s markets and woodworking fairs. She loved their peaceful, agrarian lifestyle, their respect for the land, and their strong sense of Christian community. She met her husband in college and they married six days after graduation.

She, her husband, dog and cat now live in Medina County, close to the largest population of Amish in the country—a four-county area in central Ohio. They often take weekend trips to purchase produce, research for her best-selling books, and enjoy a simpler way of life.

Mary enjoys reading, traveling, gardening, bicycling and swimming. Before retiring to write full-time, Mary taught Middle School in Sheffield Lake, Ohio and worked as a sales rep for Hershey Chocolate for twenty years a job with amazingly sweet fringe benefits.
Ginny L. Yttrup

Ginny L. Yttrup is an author, speaker, and life coach who believes it is the Truth, Jesus Christ, who sets us free. When she’s not writing, Ginny loves spending time with friends, her two young adult sons, and her pets.
Beth Wiseman

Beth Wiseman is hailed as a top voice in Amish fiction. She is the author of numerous bestsellers including the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. She and her husband live in Texas with two dogs, two cats, two pot-bellied pigs, a goat, and two chickens.
Penny Zeller

Penny Zeller is the author of several books and numerous magazine articles in national and regional publications. She is also the author of the humor blog “A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author”. She is an active volunteer in her community, serving as a women’s Bible study small-group leader and co-organizing a women’s prayer group. Penny devotes her time to assisting and nurturing women and children into a closer relationship with Christ. Her passion is to use the gift of the written word that God has given her to glorify Him and to benefit His kingdom. Kaydie follows McKenzie in Montana Skies, her first series with Whitaker House. When she’s not writing, Penny enjoys spending time with her family and camping, hiking, canoeing, and playing volleyball. She and her husband, Lon, reside in Wyoming with their two children.
Joyce Magnin

Joyce Magnin is the author of the popular and quirky Bright’s Pond novels. She is a frequent conference speaker and writing instructor. When she’s not writing or reading Joyce enjoys baseball, needle arts, video games and cream soda but not elevators—especially glass ones. She listens to many kinds of music, shamelessly confesses to enjoying American Idol, has never eaten a scallop or sky dived. Joyce has three children, Rebekah, Emily and Adam and three grandsons, Lemuel, Cedar and Soren and one son-in-law, Joshua. Joyce lives in Havertown, Pennsylvania with her son, Adam, and their crazy cat, Mango, where she cares for an eighty-year-old onion plant.
Trish Perry

Award-winning novelist Trish Perry has recently written Unforgettable (March 2011, Summerside Press) and Tea for Two (2011) will be released in April. She collaborated with several well-known authors on the devotionals Delight Yourself in the Lord, Even on Bad Hair Days (Spring 2011) and God’s Grace is Sufficient—But Decaf is NOT (Fall 2011) for Summerside Press. She wrote a monthly column, “Real Life is Stranger,” for Christian Fiction Online Magazine and was editor of Ink and the Spirit, the newsletter of Washington D.C.‘s Capital Christian Writers organization for seven years. Before her novels, Perry published numerous short stories, essays, devotionals, and poetry in Christian and general market media.

Perry holds a B.A. in Psychology, was a 1980s stockbroker, and held positions at the Securities and Exchange Commission and in several Washington law firms. She serves on the Board of Directors of CCW and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America.
Jill Eileen Smith

Jill Eileen Smith is the best-selling author of Michal and Abigail, books one and two in The Wives of King David series. She has more than twenty years of writing experience, and her writing has gathered acclaim in several contests. Her research into the lives of David’s wives has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.

When she isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family; in person, over the webcam, or hopping a plane to fly across the country. She can often be found reading Christian fiction, testing new recipes, grabbing lunch with friends, or snuggling one or both of her two adorable cats. She lives with her family in southeast Michigan.
Vicki Hinze

Vicki Hinze is the award-winning author of 24 novels, 4 nonfiction books, and hundreds of articles that have been published in as many as 63 countries. She’s recognized by Who’s Who in America and in the World as a writer and as an educator.
Tammy Barley

Tammy Barley’s roots run deep and wide across the United States. With Cherokee heritage and such ancestors as James Butler Wild Bill Hickok, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau, she essentially inherited her literary vocation and her preferred setting: the Wild West. An avid equestrian, Tammy has ridden horseback over western mountains and rugged trails in Arizona. Tammy excelled in her writing studies at a local college, where she explored prose, novel writing, and nonverbal communication. She even enrolled in acting classes to master character development. In 2006, she published two series of devotionals in Beautiful Feet: Meditations for Missionary Women for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society. She won second place in the Golden Rose Contest in the category of inspiration romance, and she serves as a judge for various fiction contests. In addition to writing, Tammy makes a career of editing manuscripts, ghostwriting, and mentoring other writers. She also homeschools her three children. Tammy has lived in twenty-eight places in eight different states, but the family currently makes their home in northern Illinois. In her spare time, you’re likely to find her baking, gardening, behind a camera, or hugging a horse.
Roseanna M. White

Roseanna M. White, author of Jewel of Persia, makes her home in Western Maryland with her husband, two small children, and the colony of dust bunnies that live under her couch. After graduating from St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD, she and her husband founded the Christian Review of Books, where she is the editor. She is a member of ACFW, HisWriters, HEWN Marketing, and is currently learning the ropes of homeschooling with her daughter.
Kay Marshall Strom

Kay Marshall Strom is the author of thirty-six published books. Five were chosen as book club selections, nine have been translated into foreign languages, and one was optioned for a movie. Already well established as a non-fiction writer, her Grace in Africa fiction trilogy has met with high acclaim, receiving kudos from Publishers Weekly, a starred “Highly recommended” review from the Library Journal, and inclusion in ALA Booklist Magazine’s 2010 “Top Ten Inspirational Fiction” books listing. In addition to her writing, Kay is an in-demand speaker. Her work as a 21st century abolitionist takes her around the globe where she speaks out against social injustice, especially modern-day slavery. She and her husband make their home in the Pacific Northwest.
Adam Graham

Adam Graham is a multi-talented author known for his wit and poignancy whether his topic is fair tax or a speculative fiction piece pondering what if the aliens came and were just like us. His work appears on Adam’s Blog, Pajamasmedia.com, Renew America, and Race42012. He also has been published in the anthology Light at the Edge of Darkness, and in Laser & Sword e-zine. He is also host of the Truth and Hope Report podcast, as well as the Old Time Dragnet Radio Show, and the Old Time Superman Radio Show.

Mr. Graham was born in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and spent his early years traveling around in a big green & brown bus. His family later settled in Montana. He holds a general studies Associate of Arts degree from Flathead Valley Community College with a concentration in Journalism. During the course of his studies, acted as editor-in-chief of FVCC’s literary magazine. He tweets at @idahoguy and @radiodetectives.
JoAnn Durgin

JoAnn Durgin is a member of ACFW and its Indiana chapter. Awakening is her debut novel. She was a finalist in the long contemporary romance category of the 2010 RWA/FHL Touched by Love contest, and is a regular blog contributor with Hoosier Ink and Reflections in Hindsight. JoAnn is also an active member of the My Book Therapy Voices and has won or placed in several of their quarterly Flash Fiction contests. She loves to share her passion for the redeeming love of Christ through her stories.
Rachel Hauck

Rachel Hauck, the best selling author of twelve lively novels, began writing at the age of ten. She graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism and served as a software trainer in the corporate world. Her extensive work-related travels helped her recognize that people around the world, “all want the same things: love and happiness, laughter, faith and safety, and a bit of prosperity.”

Rachel also works with MyBookTherapy and is a past President of ACFW, where she continues to serve as an advisor. Rachel and her husband live in Florida, where they “love to read and go to the gym, and laugh at the antics of our pets.”
Annalisa Daughety

Annalisa Daughety, an Arkansas native, won first place in the Contemporary Romance category at the 2008 ACFW Genesis Awards. After graduating from Freed-Hardeman University, Annalisa worked as a park ranger for the National Park Service. This experience inspired her to write the Walk in the Park series. Each book in the series is set in a different national park. In addition to the Walk in the Park series, Annalisa also wrote Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio. She currently lives in Memphis with two spoiled dogs, Arnie and Buster.
Deborah Raney

Deborah Raney is at work on her 20th novel. Her books have won the RITA Award, HOLT Medallion, National Readers’ Choice Award, Silver Angel, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. Her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title. Almost Forever, first in her new Hanover Falls Novels series, released in May from Howard/Simon & Schuster. Deb and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy small-town life in Kansas. They are new empty nesters with four grown children and two precious grandsons, who all live much too far away.
Elizabeth Goddard

Elizabeth Goddard is a 7th generation Texan who lives in East Texas with her husband and four children. She and her family recently spent five years in Oregon, which serves as the setting for several of her novels, but in 2010 they returned to Texas to live near family again. Elizabeth is the author of seven novels and novellas. Her romantic suspense, Freezing Point, and contemporary romance, Under the Redwood Tree, both release in October 2011.
Karen Witemeyer

Karen Witemeyer is a deacon’s wife who believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters. To that end, she combines her love of bygone eras with her passion for helping women mature in Christ to craft historical romance novels that lift the spirit and nurture the soul.

Karen holds a master’s degree in Psychology from Abilene Christian University and is a member of ACFW, RWA, and her local writers’ guild. She’s an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bakes a mean apple cobbler. Karen makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children.
Margaret Brownley

Thrills, mystery, suspense, romance: Margaret Brownley penned it all. Nothing wrong with that—except Margaret happened to be writing for the church newsletter. After making the church picnic read like a Grisham novel, her former pastor took her aside and said, “Maybe God’s calling you to write fiction.”

So that’s what Margaret did. She now has more than 20 novels to her credit and has been published in 15 languages. The first book in her Rocky Creek series A Lady like Sarah was a 2010 Women of Faith selection, and Romance Writers of American RITA finalist.

Happily married to her real life hero, Margaret and her husband live in Southern California, and have three grown children.
Martha Rogers

Although Martha Rogers’ primary writing experience is in non-fiction, she has been writing fiction for a number of years. She is a retired teacher who enjoys spending time with her husband and their family, especially her grandchildren in Houston. Martha is a member of ACFW and writes a weekly devotional for the group.

Her book credits include the novella, Sugar and Grits, seven Bible studies, contributions to compilations by Wayne Holmes, Karen O’Conner, and Debbie White Smith. Martha has contributed devotionals to several anthologies including soon to be released Whispers of Wisdom for Step-Moms from Barbour. She is also the director for the annual Texas Christian Writer’s Conference and treasurer of the Woodlands Chapter of ACFW, WOTS in Houston. Becoming Lucy, Book One of her new series, Winds Across the Prairie was released in January 2010 and Book two, Morning for Dove released in May of 2010. Books 3 released in October and Book 4 is scheduled for January 2011. In addition, Key to Her Heart in the anthology, River Walk Christmas, released in September 2010. A new series, Seasons of the Heart, debuts in the summer of 2011.
Sharon Gillenwater

Emily’s Chance is Sharon Gillenwater’s eighteenth published romance. She’s also written two novellas during her twenty-two years as a published author as well as Scottish/English Regency era romances and Texas historical romances for both the ABA and CBA, and contemporary Texas romances for the CBA.

Sharon grew up on a ranch in West Texas, so writing about the area and the people comes naturally. Sharon lives in Washington state, has been married to her hero for 43 years. They have one son, a lovely daughter-in-law and two delightful grandchildren.
Betsy St. Amant

Betsy St. Amant lives in Louisiana and is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers group. Betsy is multi-published through Steeple Hill and has been published in Christian Communicator magazine and Praise Reports: Inspiring Real Life Stories of How God Answers Prayer. One of her short stories, “Kickboxing or Chocolate‚” appears in a Tyndale compilation book, and she is also multi-published through The Wild Rose Press. Betsy has a BA in Christian Communications and regularly contributes articles to Crosswalk.com. She is a wife, mother, author, and an avid reader who enjoys sharing the wonders of God’s grace through her stories.

Dana Mentink

Dana Mentink lives in California where the weather is golden and the cheese is divine. Her family includes two little girls (affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo.) Papa Bear works for the fire department and he met Dana doing a dinner theater production of The Velveteen Rabbit. Ironically, their parts were husband and wife.

Dana is a 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year finalist for romantic suspense and an award winner in the Pacific Northwest Writers Literary Contest. Her latest book, Betrayal in the Badlands is a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award nominee. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching Sunday school and working in an elementary school. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, Yogi, Boo Boo, a dog with social anxiety problems, a chubby box turtle and a gaggle of fish.

Judith Miller

Although born and reared in a small suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Judith Miller moved to Kansas at the age of seventeen and has considered the sunflower state ‘home’ ever since. She currently lives in Topeka where, in addition to her writing, she enjoys reading, traveling, scrapbooking, researching history, and Bible study. She dislikes liver—except the one in her body that keeps her functioning and she also dislikes forgetting things—which happens more frequently than she’d care to admit.

Writing Christian fiction is Judy’s second career. For many years she worked as a legal assistant in law firms and later worked in government law offices. She has retired from legal work in order to write fulltime —a vocation she considers both a ministry and a blessing from the Lord.

Judy has authored or co-authored more than thirty books since she began writing in 1996. Her love of history and her desire to point readers to the love and grace of Jesus are reflected in all of her books.

Shawna K. Williams

Shawna K. Williams is an Inspirational Romance writer who loves telling a story through flawed characters – the only kind she can relate to. She also likes a good dose of nostalgia, which is why many of her stories are set in rural America during the first half of the 20th Century.

Jill Elizabeth Nelson

Jill Elizabeth Nelson writes what she likes to read—tales of adventure seasoned with romance, humor, and faith, earning her the tagline: Endless Adventure, Timeless Truth. She was delightfully astonished this year to receive the prestigious Carol Award in the Short Contemporary Suspense category for her 2009 release, Evidence of Murder. Jill speaks regularly at conferences, writer’s groups, library associations, and civic and church groups. When teaching classes for writers, she thrills to bring the Ahah! moment to her students as they make a new skill their own. Jill and her husband live in rural Minnesota where they raised four children and are currently enjoying their first grandchild. Visit Jill on the web at http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com.

Maureen Lang

Maureen Lang is the author of seven inspirational and three secular novels. She is a Christy finalist, a Noble Theme Award winner (now the Genesis), a Golden Heart winner, and a winner in the Faith, Hope and Love Inspirational Reader’s Choice Contest. She’s also finaled in several other contests including the Carol Award, the Holt Medallion and Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence contest. She writes both contemporary and historical women’s fiction, always with a romantic slant. Maureen lives in the Chicago area with her husband, two sons, and their dog.

Alice K. Arenz

Alice K. Arenz, author of October 2010 suspense Mirrored Image, has been writing since she was a child. Her earliest publication was in the small, family-owned newspaper where her articles, essays, and poems were frequently included. In the mid-nineties, her writing earned her a stint with a well-known New York literary agency, and although it failed to produced the hoped for results, her determination to become published eventually led her to Sheaf House.

Arenz also writes cozy mysteries under A.K. Arenz. The Case of the Bouncing Grandma, 2008, was a finalist in the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year contest. The second in the Bouncing Grandma Mystery Series, The Case of the Mystified M.D., 2009, was the February 2010 ACFW Book Club choice.

She lives in Missouri with her husband and two Himalayan cats.

Carrie Turansky

Carrie Turansky lives in central New Jersey with her husband, Scott. They have been married for over thirty years and have five young adult children and three grandchildren. Carrie leads women’s ministry at her church, teaches Bible studies, and enjoys mentoring younger women. When she is not writing or spending time with her family, she enjoys reading, gardening, trying out new recipes, and walking around the lake near their home. Carrie and her family spent a year in Kenya, giving them a love for what God is doing around the world. Carrie has authored several novellas for Barbour and two novels for Steeple Hill.

Sarah Sundin

Sarah Sundin lives in northern California with her husband, three children, a skittish cat named Janie, and a yellow lab named Daisy who is determined to destroy her writing career by eating her manuscripts. When she isn’t ferrying kids to soccer and karate, she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist and teaches Sunday school. She is the author of the Wings of Glory series—A Distant Melody (Revell, March 2010—her first novel), A Memory Between Us (September 2010), and Blue Skies Tomorrow (August 2011).

Janice Hanna Thompson

Award-winning author Janice Thompson also writes under the pseudonym Janice Hanna. She got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. Janice has published over sixty books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children’s books and more. In addition, she enjoys public speaking and mentoring young writers. Janice currently serves as Vice-President of CAN (Christian Authors Network) and was named the 2008 Mentor of the year for ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). She was thrilled to be named the 2010 Barbour/Heartsong Author of the Year, with three books on the top ten list for that house. Janice is active in her local writing group, where she regularly teaches on the craft of writing. Her online course, “Becoming a Successful Freelance Writer” (www.freelancewritingcourses.com) has been helpful to many who want to earn a living with their writing. Janice is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and two mischievous dachshunds. She does her best to keep the Lord at the center of it all. You can find out more about Janice at www.janicehannathompson.com or www.freelancewritingcourses.com.

Susan Page Davis

Susan Page Davis is the author of thirty published novels in the romance, suspense, mystery, and historical romance genres. She’s a Maine native, and many of her books are set there. Recently she moved to Kentucky, and is getting settled in her new home. She’s married to Jim, a freelance editor. They’re the parents of six children and the grandparents of six.

Leanna Ellis

‘Leanna Ellis takes a back seat to no one,’ says Debbie Macomber. But Leanna hopes she allows God in the driver’s seat as she taxies her two children to and from all their activities, lets her menagerie of pets in and out … in and out ..., figures out what to cook for dinner (or where to order takeout), and at the same time keeps those quirky characters in her head from bothering others. Winner of the National Readers Choice Award, Leanna writes quirky women’s fiction with a splash of romance. From a long line of southerners and patriots, she lives with her family in Texas.

Shannon Taylor Vannatter

Central Arkansas author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife/writer. White Roses her debut novel is now available through heartsongpresents.com and available in stores in November. Two more books in the series will follow, White Doves in October and White Pearls in January.

On her new blog, The Inkslinger, she features true love stories, inspirational author’s real-life romances, insight into the love lives of their fictional characters, book excerpts, romantic destinations, and book giveaways at http://www.shannonvannatter.com/blog.

Winnie Griggs

Winnie Griggs is a small town girl born and raised in Southeast Louisiana’s Cajun Country who grew up to marry a country boy from the piney hills of Northwest Louisiana. Though her Prince Charming (who often wears the guise of a cattle rancher) is more comfortable riding a tractor than a white steed, the two of them have been living out their own happily-ever-after for nearly 35 years. During that time they raised four proud-to-call-them-mine children and a too-numerous-to-count assortment of dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, turtles and 4-H sheep.

Winnie has a BS degree in mathematics and has recently retired from a job she held in the electric utility industry for more years than she cares to contemplate.

Her favorite activities, outside of writing and reading, are cooking, exploring flea markets and pretending the growing army of dust bunnies who have invaded her home will disappear if she just ignores them long enough.

Carla Stewart

Carla Stewart’s writing reflects her passion for times gone by. Carla launched her writing career in 2002 when she earned the coveted honor of being invited to attend Guidepost’s Writers Workshop in Rye, New York. Since then, her articles have appeared in Guideposts, Angels on Earth, and several regional magazines and anthologies.

More recently, Carla received two American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Genesis awards for unpublished authors. She enjoys a good cup of coffee, great books, and weekend getaways with her husband. Chasing Lilacs from FaithWords (Hachette) is her debut novel.

Laurie Alice Eakes

Award-winning author Laurie Alice Eakes does not remember a time when books did not play a part in her life; thus, no one was surprised when she decided to be a writer. Her first hardcover was an October 2006 Regency historical from Avalon Books and won the National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency, as well as being a finalist for Best First Book. She is also a finalist for the ACFW Carol award in the short historical category (winners to be announced in September). After selling her first book in the inspirational market, she also wrote articles and essays for Christian publications. A brief hiatus in publishing climaxed with her selling thirteen books in thirteen months, to publishers such as Barbour, Avalon, and Baker/Revell.

She is an active member of RWA and ACFW, and started the Avalon Authors group blog. A graduate of the Seton Hill University Master of Arts Degree in Writing Popular Fiction, and a Bachelor of Arts graduate in English and French from Asbury College, she is an experienced speaker, and has made presentations at local and national RWA conferences, as well as local universities and libraries.

Until recently, she lived in northern Virginia; then her husband’s law career took them and their dogs and cats, to southern Texas, where she writes full-time and enjoys the beach whenever possible.

Kim Vogel Sawyer

A former elementary school teacher who loves “C” words like children, cats, and chocolate, Kim Vogel Sawyer has become one of the most beloved authors writing for the inspirational market today. Drawn to her gentle stories, and connecting with the spiritual truths in them, readers continue to fall in love with Kim’s novels. Kim and her husband are empty-nesters who make their home on the beautiful plains of central Kansas, the setting for many of her books.

Bonnie Leon

Bonnie Leon dabbled in writing for many years but never set it in a place of priority until an accident in 1991 left her unable to work at her job. She is now the author of several historical fiction series, including the Sydney Cove series, Queensland Chronicles, the Matanuska series, the Sowers Trilogy, and the Northern Lights series. She also stays busy teaching women’s Bible studies, speaking, and teaching at writing seminars and women’s gatherings. Bonnie and her husband, Greg, live in Southern Oregon. They have three grown children and four grandchildren.

Loree Lough

At last count, best-selling author Loree Lough had 74 books, 63 short stories, and over 2,500 articles in print. Dubbed by reviewers “writing stories that touch hearts and change lives”, she has earned hundreds of “Readers’ Choice” and industry awards.

Be Still…and Let Your Nail Polish Dry! has been joined by Prevailing Love and Tales of the Heart (Whitaker House). Also from Whitaker, Beautiful Bandit (#1 in Loree’s “Lone Star Legends” series) will be released this July. From Ashes to Honor (#1 in her “First Responders” series from Abingdon) is expected to hit the shelves summer, 2011, along with her third Love Finds You in Folly Beach, South Carolina (Summerside).

Loree and her husband split their time between a little house in the Baltimore suburbs and a really little cabin in the Allegheny Mountains, where they cater to a formerly-abused Pointer whose numerous vet visits inspired the nickname ‘Cash’.

Tammy Barley

Tammy Barley’s roots run deep and wide across the United States. With Cherokee heritage and such ancestors as James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau, she essentially inherited her literary vocation and her preferred setting: the Wild West. An avid equestrian, Tammy has ridden horseback over western mountains on journeys up to ten days long.

Tammy’s first book in The Sierra Chronicles, Love’s Rescue, won second place in the Golden Rose Contest, inspirational romance category, went into its second printing only five weeks after it was released, and landed on ChristianBook.com’s best-selling historical fiction list, at number eleven. Book two, Hope’s Promise, is already receiving rave reader comments and five-star reviews.

In addition to writing, Tammy judges a number of top writing contests and works fulltime as an editor. She is also mom to three teens whom she homeschools. Tammy has lived in twenty-eight towns in eight different states, but the family currently makes their home in northeastern Illinois.

Ronie Kendig

An Army brat, Ronie Kendig has a B.S. in Psychology and is a wife, mother of four, and an avid writer. She has found her voice in writing fast-paced thrillers. An active member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Ronie volunteers and serves as the assistant to the conference appointment coordinator. Ronie is a monthly columnist with the highly acclaimed writers blog, Novel Journey.

Vickie McDonough

Vickie McDonough is an award-winning author of 18 books and novellas. Vickie has been an ACFW member for nine years and is currently the ACFW treasurer and previously served as the Critique Group Coordinator. She also helped start WIN, the first ACFW chapter, located in Tulsa, OK. She is a member of RWA, CAN, Women Writing the West, OKRWA, and OWFI.

Vickie’s books have won the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Contest, Texas Gold, and the ACFW Noble Theme contest(now the Genesis), and she has been a multi-year finalist in ACFW’s BOTY contest. The Anonymous Bride, book one in her debut trade fiction series the Texas Boardinghouse Brides, released in April, with the sequel Second Chance Brides, releasing this September.

Vickie and her husband live in Oklahoma. She is a wife of thirty-four years, mother of four grown sons and grandma to a feisty four-year-old girl. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, gardening, watching movies, and traveling.

Lisa Harris

Award-winning author Lisa Harris lives with her husband and their three children in Mozambique, Africa, where they work as missionaries. When she’s not busy writing or home schooling, she loves traveling, cooking different ethnic foods, and photographing animals and birds in the African bush. Visit her website at www.lisaharriswrites.com and her blog at www.myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com.

Kendra Norman-Bellamy

Kendra Norman-Bellamy is an 8-time national bestselling author with 15 published fictional works to her credit. She writes for three major publishing houses: Moody Publishers, Harlequin Enterprises, and Urban Books. She is also the founder of KNB Publications, LLC, an independent Christian self-publishing house; Cruisin’ For Christ, an at-sea ministry that celebrates Christian artists and artistries, and the visionary of a new motivational movement called I Shall Not Die. Kendra is a wife and mother of two daughters, one of whom is 2-time national bestselling author, Brittney Holmes.