Speakers

Dan Benson
Editorial Director for NavPress...is a 25 year veteran of Christian book-publishing management. He has served with Thomas Nelson Publishers, Multnomah Publishers, and WaterBrook Press and has authored books published by Tyndale House, Zondervan, and W Publishing.

Andy Meisenheimer
Fiction and Non-Fiction Acquisitions Editor, Zondervan...
acquires both fiction and nonfiction in his editorial role at Zondervan. Prior to his current position, he was a Senior Account Executive in Zondervan’s sales department for three years. Realizing that he is writing about himself in the third person, he hesitates to praise his keen editorial eye or his instinctual flair for finding great writing. And so instead he would like to call attention to his lovely wife, their adorable little boy, and his two dogs, who make their home with him in western Michigan. They are the best part of his life.

Chip MacGregor
Literary Agent ... is once again hanging around and bothering people. He made his living as a writer for years, then became an editor (serving as Senior Editor for two different CBA houses), before moving on to becoming a longtime literary agent with Alive Communications. He then spent two years as a publisher at Time-Warner…making us all wonder why he can’t hold a job. An Oregon native, these days he’s keeping busy working as an agent, running MacGregor Literary, and going on endlessly about his Scottish ancestry. If you see him in a kilt, you may want to shield your eyes.

Diana Pavlac Glyer
P.h.D., Author and Teacher... is intrigued by the creative process, particularly the way that creativity thrives within small groups and creative clusters. She holds degrees in art, education, literature, and composition. She has published extensively on C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Joy Davidman, and the Inklings. In 2002, she received APU’s Chase A. Sawtell Inspirational Teaching Award. Her latest book is The Company They Keep: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien as Writers in Community.

Cathy Hake
Author and Speaker... is an author who also has a "real job" as an RN. Her first book came out in 2000, and since then she's sold 26 novels, 11 novellas, 6 gift books, a devotional for nurses, and a cookie cookbook. Her books consistently appear on the CBA Bestseller list and many have been re-released in repacks. Married and the mother of 2 adult children, she credits God's grace, her family's patience, and her sense of humor for getting her through each day.

Robyn Henk
Writer, Speaker, and Trainer...author of B.L.E.S.S.E.D. Discovering God’s Bigger Dream for You (Tyndale House Publishers) is a passionate student and teacher of the Scriptures at Saddleback Community Church in California. She helped develop the Women of Purpose conferences and has spoken internationally in Kiev, Ukraine, and Kitale, Kenya. A contributing author for many prayer guides, curricula, and special programs, she loves sharing her passion for God's Word as a leadership trainer, Bible study teacher, retreat leader, and conference speaker. Website: blessedtobelieve.org; blogs: http://robynhenk.blogspot.com and http://bibleteachers.blogspot.com; email: robynhenk@cox.net

Pat Stockett Johnston
Author, Teacher and Speaker... is a missionary, writer, teacher, and speaker. Her sets of assigned devotionals have appeared in Reflecting God, Light from the Word, and Devotions. Single devotionals were published in The Upper Room, Mustard Seed Ministries, and The One Year Life Verse Devotional compilation book released by Tyndale House in November 2007. Her articles have been published in Holiness Today, Light & Life Magazine, Purpose, Gems of Truth, The Vision, Spirit-Led Writer, and The Dabbling Mum. Pat’s latest book, Shall I Kiss or Shake Hands: Surviving in Another Culture, was released in 2006.

Alison Strobel Morrow
Novelist... writes novels on faith and life that aim to both evangelize to non-believers and encourage those already in the faith. She has two books currently published, "Worlds Collide" and "Violette Between," both through Waterbrook Press, and has three more coming out with David C. Cook Publishing over the next few years. She and her husband Daniel have a two-year-old daughter and a brand new baby keeping them very busy!

Sallie A. Rodman
Author and Speaker... is an award-winning author whose stories have appeared in over twenty Chicken Soup anthologies, Chocolate for a Woman’s Courage, Romantic Homes, Byline, Angels on Earth and many other magazines and the Orange County Register. She is a judge for the Chicken Soup anthologies and holds a Certificate in Professional Writing from Cal State University, Long Beach. Sallie lives locally with her husband and Inky the cat. She has three grown children and two grandchildren.

Tonya Ruiz
Author and Speaker... is a former international Ford fashion model and the author and publisher of Beauty Quest, A Model’s Journey. She is a dynamic communicator, actress, and Bible teacher who speaks internationally about some of today’s most important issues. Tonya has been featured on international television and national radio broadcasts. She is a pastor’s wife, mother of four and grandmother who calls Southern California home. Her website is www.TonyaRuiz.com

Beverly Lewis
New York Times Best Selling Author...born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, is a former schoolteacher and accomplished pianist. With over eighty books for adults and children, Beverly has appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today and The New York Times, as well as been nominated for a 2006 Quill Award. Five of her blockbuster novels have received the Gold Book Award for sales over 500,000, and The Brethren won a 2007 Christy Award for excellence in Christian fiction. More than 10 million copies of her books have been sold. One of her novels, The Redemption of Sarah Cain, was adapted for a movie which premiered on Lifetime Television in 2007. Her latest books are The Parting, book one in The Courtship of Nellie Fisher series (Book 2, The Forbidden, releases in May 2008) and In Jesse’s Shoes, a tender picture book that helps children appreciate kids with special needs. Beverly and her husband, David, make their home in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, reading, writing, making music, and spending time with their three grandchildren. Visit beverlylewis.com for more information.

Brian Bird
Screenwriter...has been a writer-producer in Hollywood for more than two decades. His feature film credits include Saving Sarah Cain, The Last Sin Eater, Bopha! and the soon-to-be-released Not Easily Broken and Jake’s Run. He has written and/or produced more than 250 episodes of network television, including such series as Touched By An Angel, Step By Step, Evening Shade and The Family Man. He has adapted a dozen novels for film and television.

Nancy C. Anderson
Author and Speaker... studied communications at Northwestern Bible College, Biola University and UCLA. Nancy is a gifted storyteller with a keen sense of humor who speaks at women’s and couples’ events from coast to coast. She is the author of Avoiding the Greener Grass Syndrome. Her book and marriage story were featured on the nationally syndicated Montel Williams Show. Nancy lives in Orange County, CA with her husband of 28 years and their son. Her website is www.NancyCAnderson.com

Bonnie Compton Hanson
Author and Speaker... is author of over 20 books for adults and children, including the 7-book Ponytail Girls series, plus hundreds of published articles, stories, and poems (25 for Chicken Soup for the Soul). A new adult novel will be out soon. A former editor and teacher, she speaks to MOPS, seniors, schools, and women’s groups, plus leads writing seminars. And loves mentoring new writers and being a grandmother. Website: www.bonniecomptonhanson.com.

Kathy Ide
Author, Editor and Ghostwriter... is a published author of books, articles, play/movie scripts, short stories, devotionals, and curriculum. She is also a full-time freelance editor/proofreader/mentor for new writers, established authors, book publishers, and CLASServices. She is the founder/coordinator of The Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network (www.TheChristianPEN.com) and the Christian Editor Network (www.ChristianEditor.com).

Kathi Macias
Author, Editor and Speaker... is an award winning writer who has authored twenty-two books, and edited or ghostwritten scores of others. She has also published articles, short stories, and poems in various periodicals, and recently won the grand prize in an international writing contest. She is a staff member for The Christian Communicator Manuscript Critique Service, and a member of The Christian PEN, CAN, CWFI, AWSA, and ACFW. A former pastor, newspaper columnist, and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative writing and business writing in various venues, and is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences. A mother and grandmother, Kathi lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al, where she is currently at work on several writing and editing projects, and where she and Al spend their spare time riding their Harley—hence her “road name”— Easy Writer!

Susan Titus Osborn
Director of the Christian Communicator Manuscript Critique Service... heads a staff of 18 critiquers. She has authored 29 books, as well as numerous articles. She is a member of the CLASS staff and is a CLASS speaker. She is listed in several Marquis Who's Who in America books. Susan lives with her husband, Dick, in Fullerton, California. They have five children and twelve grandchildren. Susan is an author, representing B & H Publishing Group for all their book lines, New Hope Publishers for nonfiction books, and Howard Books for their fiction line.

B.J. Taylor
Author and Speaker... is the award-winning author of “The Complete Guide to Writers Groups That Work.” She writes on assignment for Guideposts and has been published in Writer’s Digest, John Gray’s Mars and Venus in Love, a multitude of Chicken Soup for the Soul books, as well as Romantic Homes, Victorian Homes, Angels on Earth and many others. She conducts numerous workshops for writers. Her website is www.clik.to/bjtaylor.

Spring Writer's Day 2008
Speakers
April 12, 2008

The following is the faculty lineup for the 2008 Spring Writer's Conference.

Our speakers are: