Events
The Art of Writing conference is designed to bring Christian writers, creatives, storytellers and publishing curators together for a half-day of intensive seminars that celebrate the creative life, provide practical tips for overcoming challenges in a rapidly-changing industry, and answer questions authors are asking. Our keynote speaker is Lysa TerKeurst. Click here for more info.
The Christy Awards Gala Dinner will honor excellence in Christian fiction and announce the 2019 winners of The Christy Award™. Featured speakers include Patti Callahan, Becky Wade and James Rubart. Click here for more info.
Speaking
Over the years, I’ve been privileged to visit book clubs in person and via video calls. I’ve spoken to writers’ groups and MOPS groups. I’ve presented at the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat and taught at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference.
I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to connect with groups! If you have a small group meeting or an event coming up that you’d like me to be a part of, please contact me by email.
Here’s a list of the presentations I currently have prepared:
For Writers:
Taking Your Writing to the Next Level
Writers can do everything “right” with the basics of craft (point of view, scene structure, characterization) and still manage to write a book that agents, editors, and readers end up throwing against a wall in frustration. During this session, I’ll hit on some advanced-level considerations that every writer should weigh when crafting heroes, heroines, dialogue, pacing, theme, conflict, and more.
Taming the Social Media Beast
It’s easy for a writer to feel overwhelmed by social media to the point where it becomes a beast. We’re writers, not social media gurus, and our time is best spent writing. In this talk, I’ll provide practical advice concerning Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and social media in general in order to make the amount of time you have to spend on social media more valuable to you and those who follow you.
Extreme Survival Skills for Writers
At some point in every writer’s journey, she will come up against the ‘joy stealers’ of comparison, discouragement, stress, and burn out. Joy stealers are real and dangerous. They can detour writers, end ministries, and steal away a writer’s love of her calling. I’ll provide you with testimonies from long time writers who’ve dealt with these issues, Biblical encouragement, and practical tips for combatting the joy stealers.
For Women:
The Creation of a Novel
In this interactive session — which includes both videos and m&ms — I’ll share the highs and lows of the creation of a novel and invite you to try your hand at the planning, writing, and rewriting phases.
The Life Cycle of a Novel
This presentation walks readers through a novel’s life cycle — all the way from the initial inspiration through to the day the novel hits store shelves. I’ll provide behind-the-scenes examples and pictures that capture my own process.
Extreme Survival Skills
Every woman will come up against the ‘joy stealers’ of comparison, discouragement, stress, and burn out at some point during her walk with the Lord. So how’s a woman to survive? And even thrive in the face of them? In this workshop, I’ll provide you with Biblical encouragement and practical tips.
Taming the Social Media Beast
Interested in connecting with the people in your life and community on social media, but feeling overwhelmed? In this talk, I’ll provide practical advice concerning Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest in order to demystify the social media beast. My goal is to make the amount of time you have for social media, whether a little or a lot, more fruitful and rewarding.