All About Books

Author Interviews

Susan Sleeman

Susan Sleeman is a best-selling author of inspirational romantic suspense and mystery novels. Her first romantic suspense title, High-Stakes Inheritance, earned a spot on the ECPA bestseller list and The Christmas Witness, was named a finalist in the 2011 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. In addition to writing, Susan hosts the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com. She currently lives in Oregon, 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.
S. Dionne Moore

S. Dionne Moore is an award winning multi-published author of historical romance. She enjoys life in the historically rich Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania where traffic jams are a thing of the past and there are only two stoplights in the whole town.
Sandra D. Bricker

For more than a decade, Sandra D. Bricker lived in Los Angeles. While honing her chosen craft of screenwriting in every spare moment, she worked as a personal assistant and publicist to some of daytime television’s hottest stars. When her mother became ill in Florida, she walked away from that segment of her life and moved across the country to take on a new role as Caregiver. “I guess most people would see my career as a publicist for the soaps as a sort of dream job, but giving it up turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to me!” she declares. That’s when she combined her love of books with her passion for writing, and a reader favorite was born! She has written three novels for middle-grade readers and several romance novels, including Wish I Weren’t Here, Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas, The Big 5-0H!, and the Emma Rae Creations series.

Sandie’s real-life role as cancer survivor has parlayed into her steadfast commitment to raising awareness and funds for ovarian cancer research. Spearheading a series of devotionals for Summerside Press (such as the popular His Grace is Sufficient…Decaf is Not), the author has stipulated that a portion of each contributor’s proceeds will go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.
Pamela Meyers

A native of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Pamela S. Meyers lives in suburban Chicago. She served on the ACFW Operating Board for five years and has also served her local ACFW chapter in leadership roles.

Her debut novel Thyme for Love released November 2011, and its sequel, Love Will Find a Way, is set to release in March 2013. Her historical romance that is set in her hometown, Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, releases in April 2013. She has published many magazine articles and is a contributor in a non-fiction compilation book.

You can often find her nosing around Midwestern small towns, looking for story ideas or coordinating the ACFW Genesis writing contest. She leads a woman’s life group in her church and enjoys reading and cooking.
Maureen Lang

Maureen Lang writes stories inspired by love of history and romance. An avid reader since childhood, she started writing the stories she wanted to read. Before publication she won RWA’s Golden Heart and ACFW’s Genesis, and her published books have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest, a Holt Medallion, and have finaled in the Christy, Rita and Carol Awards. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, children and Labrador retriever.
Angela Breidenbach

Angela Breidenbach is a speaker, coach, and author of A Healing Heart (Abingdon Press Quilts of Love series). She is certified in mentor/peer counseling as a CTA life coach, as a Stephen Minister, and a weight loss/nutrition coach. Angela’s experience as Mrs. Montana International led to promoting women’s heart health with the American Heart Association in Montana and greatly influenced her desire to make women aware of how different women’s symptoms are during a heart attack. She’ll be traveling the Pacific North West on a speaking and book tour April 20-30, 2013—details on her website under the Appearances tab
Katie Ganshert

Katie Ganshert was born and raised in the Midwest, where she writes stories about finding faith and falling in love. When she’s not busy plotting her next novel, she enjoys watching movies with her husband, playing make-believe with her wild-child of a son, and chatting with her girlfriends over bagels. She and her husband are in the process of adopting from the Congo. You can find her online at her blog and on Facebook.
Carolyne Aarsen

Carolyne Aarsen, originally a city girl, was transplanted to the country when she married her dear husband Richard. While raising four children, foster children, and various animals Carolyne’s résumé gained some unique entries, such as growing a garden, sewing blue jeans, baking, pickling and preserving. She learned how to handle cows, drive tractors and snow machines, ride a horse, and train a colt. Somewhere in all this she learned to write. Her first book sold in 1997 and since then she has sold over thirty books to three different publishers. Her stories show a love of open spaces, the fellowship of her Christian community and the gift God has given us in Christ.
Terri Reed

Terri Reed grew up in California, in a small town nestled in the foothills of the Sierra-Nevada Mountains where her pastime included creating stories. With encouragement from others, she began setting pen to paper and declared she would one day write a book.

She has now fulfilled that dream several times over, writing for Harlequin’s Love Inspired lines. Today, Terri is an active member of both Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her college-sweetheart husband and two wonderful children in the Pacific Northwest. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, gardening and playing with her dogs.
Jordyn Redwood

Jordyn Redwood is a pediatric ER nurse by day, suspense novelist by night. She hosts Redwood’s Medical Edge, a blog devoted to helping contemporary and historical authors write medically accurate fiction. Her first two novels, Proof and Poison, garnered starred reviews from Library Journal and have been endorsed by the likes of Dr. Richard Mabry, Lynette Eason, and Mike Dellosso, to name a few. You can connect with Jordyn via her website at www.jordynredwood.net.
Melanie Dickerson

Melanie Dickerson is the author of The Healer’s Apprentice and The Merchant’s Daughter, both of which were Christy Award finalists; The Healer’s Apprentice won The National Reader’s Choice Award for 2010’s Best First Book, and The Merchant’s Daughter won the 2012 Carol Award in Young Adult fiction. She earned her bachelor’s degree in special education from The University of Alabama. She has taught children with special needs in Georgia and Tennessee, and English to adults in Germany and Ukraine. Now she spends her time writing and taking care of her husband and two daughters near Huntsville, Alabama.
Gina Holmes

Gina Holmes is a Publicist with Silver Seas PR (www.silverseaspr.com), the President and founder of the popular literary site Novel Rocket, and an award-winning author. Crossing Oceans, her debut novel, won the 2011 Carol Award, INSPY and RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice. Dry as Rain was a 2012 Christy Award Finalist. Now, Holmes brings us Wings of Glass, a story of an abused young woman who picks up her broken heart and self-esteem to push through her fears, supported by the nurture and nerve of two unlikely but kindred spirits.
Ann Shorey

Ann Shorey has been a full-time writer for over twenty years. Her writing has appeared in Chicken Soup for the Grandma’s Soul, and in the Adams Media Cup of Comfort series. She made her fiction debut with The Edge of Light, Book One in the At Home in Beldon Grove series for Revell, followed by Books Two and Three, The Promise of Morning and The Dawn of a Dream. The Sisters at Heart series, beginning with Where Wildflowers Bloom, is her latest offering from Revell. Book Two in the series, When the Heart Heals, released on February 15.

In addition to writing, Ann has won many prizes for her culinary skills. Her recipes have appeared in Country Woman magazine, and in several national cookbooks, including Taste of Country and Taste of Home. Recently author Patti Hill included one of Ann’s recipes in her Garden Gates Cookbook. Ann has been privileged to present cooking demonstrations to young women from her church as part of the Apples of Gold mentoring program.

Ann and Richard share their home in Oregon with a lovable Belgian Shepherd named Amber.
Christine Lindsay

Christine Lindsay writes historical inspirational novels with strong love stories, but she doesn’t classify them as straight romances. She takes pride in her Irish roots. Her great grandfather and grandfather worked as riveters in the Belfast shipyard. One of the ships her ancestors helped build was the Titanic. On her mother’s side it was stories of ancestors who served in the British Cavalry in India that seeded Christine’s long-time fascination with the Raj and became the stimulus for her Twilight of the British Raj series.

The Pacific coast of Canada, about 200 miles north of Seattle, is Christine’s home where she lives with her husband, David, and they enjoy the visits from their adult children and grandchildren. Like a lot of authors, Christine’s chief editor is her cat.
Dani Pettrey

Dani Pettrey is a wife, home-schooling mom, and the acclaimed author of the romantic suspense series Alaskan Courage, which includes her bestselling debut novel Submerged and latest release Shattered. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves—the thrill of adventure, nail biting suspense, the deepening of her characters’ faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters.
Janice Cantore

: A retired Long Beach California police officer of 22 years (16 in uniform and 6 as a non-career officer), Janice Cantore worked a variety of assignments: patrol, administration, juvenile investigations and training. During the course of her career in uniform, Janice found that faith was indispensable to every aspect of the job and published articles on faith at work, one for a quarterly newspaper called “Cop and Christ”, and another for the monthly magazine “Today’s Christian Woman”. With retirement Janice began to write longer pieces and several novels were born. Janice is excited and honored to now be a part of the Tyndale Publishing House family. Accused, the first installment in her new suspense offering, The Pacific Coast Justice Series, was released February 1, 2012 and kicked off a brand new chapter in her writing career. Abducted followed in July 2012 and the third installment in the series, Avenged, is due out April 2013.

In addition to suspense and action, her books feature strong female leads. Janice writes suspense novels designed to keep you engrossed and leave you inspired.
Suzanne Woods Fisher

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a bestselling author of Amish fiction and non-fiction, the host of a weekly radio program called Amish Wisdom and a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazine. The Waiting was a finalist for a 2011 Christy Award. The Choice and The Search have been finalists for Carol Awards. Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World and Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life were both finalists for the ECPA Book of the Year (2010, 2011).

Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, who was raised Plain in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. She travels back east a couple of times each year for research. For fun, too.

Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they provide wonderful examples to the world. She has an underlying belief in her books–you don’t have to “go Amish” to incorporate many of their principles into your life: simplicity, living with less, appreciating nature, forgiving others more readily, trusting in God.

When Suzanne isn’t writing, playing tennis (badly!), or bragging to her friends about her grandbabies (so cute!), she is raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To her way of thinking, you just can’t take life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone’s underwear in its mouth.
Beth Shriver

Childhood memories of her grandfather’s ranch came alive as Beth Shriver wrote her first Amish story. Her parents grew up in the country, so she understands pastoral life and respects those who make a living off the land. She frequents a nearby Amish community just south of Fort-Worth for an occasional church service or brunch with the bishop and his wife. And on the way home she stops at the community store to get some plum jam!

In 2003 Beth began writing her first book. A couple of years later it was published and she has been writing ever since. Beth received a degree in social work from the University of Nebraska and was a case worker before starting a family. Beth and her family live in Texas after moving from their first home in Colorado. She followed her passion and has written in a variety of genres in both fiction and non-fiction.
MaryAnn Diorio

Dr. MaryAnn Diorio loves God, people, children, and dogs, in that order. She also is passionate about story and its power to transform the human heart. Dr. MaryAnn, as she is affectionately called, writes compelling fiction that deals with the deepest issues of life. She is Adjunct Online Professor of Fiction Writing for Regent University and coaches writers on their journey to publication. MaryAnn and her husband Dominic are the blessed parents of two wonderful daughters and a fantastic son-in-law.
Ellen Kennedy

Ellen Edwards Kennedy (aka E E Kennedy) grew up in Miss Prentice’s region of far northern New York State and lived with her husband and children across the South and West. This has given her a deep love for these areas and a sharp ear for regional accents. Through high school and college, she performed in summer stock, briefly nursing the vain dream of becoming a Broadway musical star, but eventually made a career as an award-winning TV/radio advertising copywriter. Her recent experiences as a high school substitute teacher make her uniquely qualified to translate obscure adolescent dialects into understandable English. Along with the Miss Prentice Mysteries, she is the author of a Christian romance novella, The Applesauce War in the anthology Harvest Home from Barbour Books. She lives with her husband near Raleigh, North Carolina.
Lyn Cote

When Lyn Cote became a mother, she gave up teaching, and while raising a son and a daughter, she began working on her first novel. Rejection followed. Finally in 1997, Lyn got “the call.” Her first book, Never Alone, was chosen by the brand new Love Inspired line. Since then Lyn has had over thirty-five novels published. In 2006 Lyn’s book, Chloe, was a finalist for the RITA. In 2010, Lyn’s Her Patchwork Family finaled in the Carol Contest, and in 2011, Her Healing Ways won the Carol Award.

Lyn helped found Faith, Hope & Love Inspirational RWA Chapter in 1997. She served as president. Lyn has also written three articles for the RWR on the inspirational romance market and one on Classic Romantic Conflicts. Lyn has taught regional and national workshops. Lyn’s brand “Strong Women, Brave Stories,” always includes three elements: a strong heroine who is a passionate participant in her times, authentic historical detail and a multicultural cast of characters. She maintains an active blog with that title. Lyn also can be found on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads. Living in northern Wisconsin in a lake cottage with her husband and four cats, Lyn spends her days writing books that show the power of divine as well as human love.
Kellie Coates Gilbert

A former legal investigator and trial paralegal, Kellie Coates Gilbert writes with a sympathetic, intimate knowledge of how people react under pressure. Her stories are about messy lives and eternal hope.
Julie Lessman

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. Winner of the 2009 ACFW Debut Author of the Year and Holt Medallion Awards of Merit for Best First Book and Long Inspirational, Julie is also the recipient of 14 Romance Writers of America awards and was voted by readers as “Borders Best of 2009 So Far: Your Favorite Fiction.”

Chosen as the #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie was also awarded #1 Historical Fiction Author of the Year in that same poll and #3 Author of the Year, #4 Novel of the Year and #3 Series of the year. She resides in Missouri with her husband, daughter, son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter and is the author of “The Daughters of Boston” series—A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied. Book 1 in her “Winds of Change” series A Hope Undaunted ranked #5 on Booklist’s Top 10 Inspirational Fiction for 2010.
Elizabeth Goddard

Take one look at Elizabeth “Beth” Goddard’s radiant smile and peaceful countenance and you’d never guess that she has borne one ounce of stress in her busy life. Is writing the key to the serenity she projects? Probably not. Most writers confess that writing is hard work and Beth would likely concur. And since Beth also home-schools her four children while running a household, she must feel a pinch sometimes. Yet, she is, literally, a picture of grace.

A native of East Texas, Beth moved back home after spending five years in Oregon to be near her family until her husband’s position as pastor sent them both to central Louisiana. To date, she has produced over a dozen romance novels. In 2011, she won the Carol Award for The Camera Never Lies. She has also served in various capacities with ACFW and RWA.

Her most recent release is Treacherous Skies, from Love Inspired Suspense.
Krista Phillips

Krista Phillips writes inspirational romantic comedy. She believes a sprinkle of laughter (and a wee bit of chocolate) makes everything a little better! She blogs regularly about life as a wife, mother, follower of Jesus, and mother of a child with a rare congenital heart defect at www.kristaphillips.com. Her debut novel, Sandwich, With a Side of Romance, released September 1, 2012 by Abingdon Press.
Debby Lee

Debby Lee enjoys reading and writing 1800’s American Romantic fiction. She is happily married, has five children and lives in Washington state.
Joanne Bischof

Married to her first sweetheart, Joanne Bischof lives in the mountains of Southern California where she keeps busy making messes with their home schooled children. When she’s not weaving Appalachian romance, she’s blogging about faith, writing, and the adventures of country living that bring her stories to life.
Erin Healy

Erin Healy is an award-winning fiction editor who has worked with talented novelists such as James Scott Bell, Melody Carlson, Colleen Coble, Brandilyn Collins, Traci DePree, L. B. Graham, Rene Gutteridge, Michelle McKinney Hammond, Robin Lee Hatcher, Denise Hildreth, Denise Hunter, Randy Ingermanson, Jane Kirkpatrick, Bryan Litfin, Frank Peretti, Lisa Samson, Randy Singer, Robert Whitlow, and many others.

She began working with Ted Dekker in 2002 and edited twelve of his heart-pounding stories before their collaboration on Kiss, the first novel to seat her on “the other side of the desk.”
Erin is the owner of WordWright Editorial Services, a consulting firm specializing in fiction book development. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and the Academy of Christian Editors. She lives with her family in Colorado.
For a downloadable extended bio, please visit Erin’s Press Room.
Keli Gwyn

Award-winning novelist Keli Gwyn is a California native who lives in a Gold Rush-era town at the foot of the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains. Her stories transport readers to the 1800s, where she brings historic towns to life, peoples them with colorful characters, and adds a hint of humor. She fuels her creativity with Taco Bell® and sweet tea. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two skittish kitties.
Cheryl Wyatt

Cheryl Wyatt’s closest friends would never dream the mayhem she plots during announcements at church. She is a Registered Nurse-turned-stay-home-mom, wife, and writer who loves Jesus with all of her heart.

Joyful chaos rules her home, and she delights in the stealth moments God gives her to write. She stays active in her church and in her laundry room. She is convinced that having been born on a Naval base on Valentine’s Day destined her to write Inspirational Military Romance, though her latest novel, an Inspirational Medical Romance with military elements, has also found God making use of her previous career as a Registered Nurse.

Cheryl’s readers are responding favorably to this change. More than one reviewer of her latest book, The Doctor’s Devotion, made comment regarding her level of personal medical knowledge having added a great deal of realism to her already award-winning story-telling abilities.
E. N. Joy

BLESSEDselling author, E. N. Joy, is the writer behind the five book series, “New Day Divas,” coined the “Soap Opera In Print.” Formerly writing secular works under the names Joylynn M. Jossel and JOY, this award winning author has been sharing her literary expertise on conference panels in her home town of Columbus, Ohio as well as cities across the country.
Mona Hodgson

Mona Hodgson is the author of more than thirty-two books for adults and children, including her popular Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series—Two Brides Too Many, Too Rich for a Bride, The Bride Wore Blue, and Twice a Bride. Her children’s book titles include: Bedtime in the Southwest and six princess and desert I Can Read books. For more information about Mona and her books, visit her website at monahodgson.com. You can connect with Mona on Facebook on her Mona Hodgson Author Page, Twitter, Pinterest, and on her blog Hindsight by Mona Hodgson at www.monahodgson.com.
Laurie Alice Eakes

Bestselling, award-winning author Laurie Alice Eakes used to lie in bed as a child telling herself stories so she didn’t wake anyone else up. Sometimes she shared her stories with others; thus, when she decided to be a writer, she surprised no one. Family Guardian, her first book, won the National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency in 2007. In the past three years, she has sold six books to Baker/Revell, five of which are set during the Regency time period, five books to Barbour Publishing, as well as two novellas to Barbour Publishing and one to Baker/Revell. Seven of her books have been picked up by Thorndike Press for large print publication, and Lady in the Mist, her first book with Revell, was chosen for hardcover publication with Crossings Bookclub. She also teaches on-line writing courses and enjoys a speaking ministry that takes her from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast.

Laurie Alice lives in Texas with her husband, two dogs and two cats, and is learning how to make tamales.
Sarah Sundin

Sarah Sundin is an award-wining novelist who lives in northern California with her husband and three children. When she isn’t fitting in writing, or ferrying kids to soccer or tennis, or sending one off to college, she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist. She also teaches Sunday school and women’s Bible studies.

Sarah writes beautifully researched historical romances. In 2011, A Memory Between Us, from her Wings of Glory series, was a finalist in the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Awards. With Every Letter is the debut release in the Wings of the Nightingale Series.
Anita Higman

Bestselling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She’s been a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.
Kelly Irvin

A former newspaper reporter, Kelly Irvin has been writing her entire adult life. After graduating from the University of Kansas School of Journalism, she went on to work for newspapers in Kansas, Florida, and Texas. After ten years, she took the leap into public relations and has worked in that field for nearly twenty years. She published her first novel in 2010 and now has three published books, including two romantic suspense and one contemporary romance. The fourth book, A Heart Made New, debuts October 1, 2012. An avid reader, she also writes short stories and poetry. Kelly lives in Texas with her husband of twenty-four years, two young adult children, three cats, and a tank full of ornery fish.
Laura Frantz

Laura Frantz is the author of The Frontiersman’s Daughter and Courting Morrow Little, both Carol Award finalists, and The Colonel’s Lady. The Ballantyne Legacy begins September 2012 with the first book of the series, Love’s Reckoning.
Ronie Kendig

Ronie Kendig has a BS in Psychology and is a wife, mother of four, and avid writer. Her novels include espionage thriller Dead Reckoning, a military series The Discarded Heroes series (Nightshade, Digitalis, Wolfsbane, and Firethorn), and new series, A Breed Apart, that launches in September 2012 with the publication of Trinity: Military War Dog.

In addition to speaking engagements, Ronie is a monthly columnist at the award-winning blog, Novel Rocket, and is active with the American Christian Fiction Writers. Ronie can be found online at www.roniekendig.com, on Facebook (facebook.com/rapidfirefiction) and on Twitter (@roniekendig).

Since launching onto the publishing scene in 2010, Ronie and her books have won awards and gained national attention, including: Wolfsbane - 2012 Christy Award Winner & Carol Award Finalist ; 2012 FamilyFiction Readers Choice Awards (Discarded Heroes series named #5 Favorite Series, and Ronie named #3 Suspense author); Finalist in Christian Retailing’s 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards (Nightshade); RWA’s Faith, Hope, & Love’s 2011 Inspirational Readers’ Choice Awards - 3rd Place - Romantic Suspense (Nightshade); 2012 INSPY Award Shortlist in Mystery/Thriller (Digitalis); The Christian Manifesto’s 2011 Lime Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction (Wolfsbane).
Debra Clopton

Debra Clopton sold her first book The Trouble with Lacy Brown in 2003, which was a Golden Heart finalist and was published in 2005. She is an award winning, multi-published novelist—her most recent award a finalist in the 2012 Gayle Wilson Award for Excellence for Her Rodeo Cowboy, book one of the Men of Mule Hollow series. A three-time Carol Award finalist, Debra lives in the country near the small Texas town of Madisonville with her husband, Chuck Parks, and her two teenage stepsons. Her two adult sons, her lovely daughter-in-law and beautiful granddaughter have recently moved across country—it’s been a bit of a shock for her to adjust to not having them close. Though she has numerous awards her greatest awards are her family and she feels blessed to have a career that enables her to visit them often—have computer, will travel! Along with her writing Debra helps her husband teach the youth at their local Cowboy Church. Debra loves to read, travel and spend time with her family. She is the author of the acclaimed Mule Hollow series through Love Inspired, the place readers tell her they wish was real. She is currently working on her 24th book—a novella for Thomas Nelson.
Irene Hannon

Irene Hannon is the author of more than 40 novels, including the bestselling Heroes of Quantico and Guardians of Justice series. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA awards from Romance Writers of America (the “Oscar” of romantic fiction), a Carol Award, a HOLT Medallion, a Daphne du Maurier Award, a National Readers’ Choice Award, a Retailers Choice Award and two Reviewers’ Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine. Her romantic suspense novel, Deadly Pursuit, was also named by Booklist as one of the top 10 inspirational fiction titles for 2011.
Raquel Byrnes

Raquel Byrnes writes romantic suspense packed with faith and adventure. An avid and passionate researcher, Raquel committed to taking classes as a private investigator and target-shooter to ply authenticity to her writing. Residing in southern California, she integrates writing time around managing a family of six children and sharing life with her husband of 16 years.
Dan Walsh

Dan Walsh is the award-winning and bestselling author of 7 novels, published by Revell and Guideposts, including The Unfinished Gift, Remembering Christmas and The Discovery. For those who haven’t read Dan’s books, reviewers often compare them to Nicholas Sparks and Richard Paul Evans. His latest project is partnering with Gary Smalley on a 4-book fiction series. The first, The Dance, will release in April. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and CWG’s Word Weavers, Dan served as a pastor for 25 years and now writes fulltime. He and his wife Cindi have been married 35 years and have 2 grown children and 2 grandchildren. They live in Port Orange. You can follow him on Facebook or Twitter, or read his blog. There are buttons to connect to these, as well as preview all his books, on his website at www.danwalshbooks.com.
Becky Melby

Becky Melby has been married to Bill, her high school sweetheart, for forty years. They have four married sons and twelve grandchildren. Her Lost Sanctuary Series—three contemporary stories each with a historical thread—releases in 2012, as well as Contest of Wills, a novella in Cedar Creek Seasons. Becky has co-authored nine books for Heartsong Presents and has had stories in two novella collections. Becky is represented by Mary G. Keeley of Books & Such Agency. Her favorite pastimes are spoiling grandkids and taking trips with Bill in their RV or on their Honda Gold Wing.
Kathy Tyers

Kathy Tyers’ Firebird series helped launch the genre of Christian speculative fiction, with the interest of Steve Laube—then with Bethany House—who was willing to take a risk on this new project. In her career, she has published ten novels in the Christian and general markets, two of which were Lucasfilm®-licensed installments of the official Star Wars Expanded Universe.

Kathy recently completed her Master of Christian Studies from Regent College in Vancouver, BC. She then returned home to Montana where she is currently working on a contemporary fantasy and mentoring several apprentice writers through the Christian Writers Guild. Kathy is widowed, has one son and enjoys playing the flute.
Amanda Flower

Amanda Flower, an Agatha-nominated mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. Her debut mystery, Maid of Murder, was an Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel. She writes the Appleseed Creek Mystery Series for B&H and the India Hayes Mystery Series for Five Star. She also writes mysteries as Isabella Alan for NAL. In addition to being an author, Amanda is an academic librarian for a small college near Cleveland. Visit her online at www.amandaflower.com and www.isabellaalan.com.
Catherine Richmond

Cathy Richmond lives with her husband on the Richmond Rabbit Ranch in Nebraska. She has been working as an occupational therapist since graduating from Western Michigan University (yes, there really is a Kalamazoo). Her daughter is in medical school and her son recently graduated from journalism school, so her hobby is making sympathetic sounds about student loans.
Tracy Higley

From her earliest childhood, there was nothing Tracy Higley loved better than stepping into another world between the pages of a book. From dragons and knights, to the wonders of Narnia, that passion has never abated, and to Tracy, opening any novel is like stepping again through the wardrobe, into the thrilling unknown. With every book she writes, she wants to open a door like that, and invite readers to be transported with her into a place that captivates.

Tracy started her first novel at the age of eight and has been hooked on writing ever since. After attending Philadelphia Biblical University, she earned a B.A. in English Literature at Rowan University. She then spent ten years writing drama presentations for church ministry.

A lifelong interest in history and mythology has led Tracy to extensive research into ancient Greece, Egypt and Rome, and shaped her desire to shine the light of the gospel into the cultures of the past.

She has traveled through Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Italy to research her novels, and looks forward to more travel as her writing continues. Click on the link Tracy’s Travels, to explore some of the fascinating locations of her books.

Tracy is thrilled to bring readers adventures set in the ancient past, and it’s her hope that in escaping with her, readers will feel they’ve walked through these deserts, explored ruins, felt the white sand and blue sea under their feet, and met with the Redeeming God who is sovereign over the entire drama of human history.
Ruth Reid

Ruth Reid is a full-time pharmacist who lives in Florida with her husband and three children. When attending Ferris State University School of Pharmacy in Big Rapids, Michigan, she lived on the outskirts of an Amish community and had several occasions to visit the Amish farms. Her interest grew into love as she saw the beauty in living a simple life.
Bryan Litfin

Bryan Litfin was born in Dallas, Texas, and raised in a Christian home as the son of a seminary professor, pastor, and college president. After taking a degree in print journalism, he went to seminary himself, then did a PhD in the field of ancient church history. He is currently professor of theology at Moody Bible Institute in downtown Chicago, where he has been since 2002. Today Bryan lives in Wheaton, IL in a Victorian house built in 1887. He and his wife Carolyn are parents to two children. They also helped start Clapham School, a Christian primary school in Wheaton using the classical model of education.
MaryLu Tyndall

MaryLu Tyndall, a Christy Award Finalist and best-selling author of the Surrender to Destiny series, is known for her swashbuckling historical romances filled with deep spiritual themes. She holds a degree in Math and worked as a software engineer for fifteen years before testing the waters as a writer. With more than ten books published, MaryLu currently writes full time and makes her home on the California coast with her husband and six kids, while battling three cats who have decided that her keyboard is the best place to sleep! She believes that without popcorn and chocolate, life would not be worth living, and her sole passion is to write page-turning, romantic adventures that not only entertain but expose Christians to their full potential in Christ.
Dineen Miller

Dineen Miller readily admits that one of the greatest lessons she’s learning about life is that there’s purpose in our trials. It’s all about trusting God and putting our hope in Him. Her favorite stories are of the miracles God has wrought in the lives of her family.

Through this lens she also believes her years as a youth counselor, a Stephen Minister, a women’s ministry leader, and a small group leader fuel her desire to ignite the souls of others through words of truth.

In addition to writing for Spiritually Unequal Marriage, Dineen has won several prestigious awards for her fiction, and her devotional writing has been featured in Our Journey and Christian Women Online Magazine. She’s also a C.L.A.S.S. Communicator and has been featured on the Moody Radio Network, Family Life and Focus on the Family Radio.

Married for 24 years to a guy who keeps her young, she lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two adult daughters, who surprise her daily with their own creativity.

She is the co-author of Winning Him Without Words: 10 Keys to Thriving in Your Spiritually Mismatched Marriage and the author of The Soul Saver.
Jennifer Rogers Spinola

Jennifer Rogers Spinola lives in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, with her Brazilian husband, Athos, and three-year-old son, Ethan. She has lived in Brazil for nearly eight years and served as a missionary to Japan for two years. Jenny is the author of Barbour Books’ “Southern Fried Sushi” series and an upcoming romance novella collection based on Yellowstone National Park (also with Barbour Books).
Her debut novel, “Southern Fried Sushi,” was recently named a Christy Award finalist for 2012.
Jenny is an advocate for adoption and loves the outdoors, photography, writing, and camping. She has previously served as an ESL teacher, a middle- and high-school teacher, and National Park Service volunteer. Jenny has a B.A. in English/journalism from Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina and has worked as assistant copyeditor for OnSat Satellite & TV Guide and as a staff writer for the Southern Baptist International Mission Board and two other Baptist newspapers.
Jenny is a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church, American Christian Fiction Writers, International Christian Fiction Writers, and volunteers at the local food bank.
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.