Webinars are held on Tuesdays or Thursdays each month at 7pm EST. Please refer to the list of dates and times below.
Chapter members will receive an email with a link to the webinar via Zoom. The link will also be posted in the ACFW Virginia Facebook Group. When instructors permit, we will make PowerPoint slides available to members under the file tab of the ACFW Virginia Facebook group page as well. Webinars are recorded and accessible for two years.
As a reminder, each time you attend a live webinar January – September, you will be entered into a drawing for a paid registration fee to our November virtual conference!
If you’re not eligible for Virginia Chapter membership but want to view the webinars, click here to learn about webinar-only access.
Playing Well With Others: How to Leverage the Power of Group Promotions
Presented by Sarah Hamaker
January 16, 2025 @ 7 p.m. EST
We all want to grow our audience to reach more readers, but many of us take the scattershot approach by signing up for group promotions without thinking through whether it’s the right promotion for us. This presentation will help you discern how to evaluate group promotions from groups like Booksweeps, Authors XP, Celebrate Lit and Just Reads, while also teaching you how to develop your own successful group promotions. Sarah will share her secrets to running your own group promotions, from blog tours to newsletter swaps to email giveaways—all designed to grow your email list.
An award-winning and best-selling author of inspirational romantic suspense, Sarah Hamaker loves writing books “where the hero and heroine fall in love while running for their lives.” She’s an AWSA certified writer and speaker coach, and podcaster of “The Romantic Side of Suspense.” Sarah lives in Virginia with her husband, four children, a first-grader foster child and three cats.
Connect with Sarah: Website / Facebook / BookBub
Dictation 101: How to Use Your Voice to Finish Your First Draft
Presented by Heidi McCahan
February 18, 2025 @ 7 p.m. EST
Calling all writers! Are you tired of staring at a blank screen, struggling to put your ideas into words? Say goodbye to writer’s block and hello to a new way of writing with Dictation 101. Gone are the days of being chained to your desk, tirelessly typing away. Embrace the future of writing with the game-changing technique of dictation. This course will empower you to turn your spoken words into written prose, revolutionizing your writing process and boosting your productivity. Don’t let your novel remain just an idea. Turn it into a reality using the power of dictation.
Heidi McCahan dreamed of writing stories as a little girl. Now she writes uplifting inspirational romances set in small towns. She is the bestselling author of 15 novels, including Unraveled and Her Alaskan Companion. Originally from Alaska, Heidi now makes her home in North Carolina with her handsome husband, 3 amazing sons and the world’s greatest goldendoodle. To connect with Heidi please visit HeidiMcCahan.com or follow her on Instagram at HeidiMcCahan.author
Developing Voice in Your Novel: Everyone Talks About It. How Do You Get It?
Presented by Barbara M. Britton
March 20, 2025 @ 7 p.m. EDT
How do you define the ethereal voice of a story? We will talk about ways to make your book memorable by crafting unique characters that have a passion. We will break down how to add zing to your characters and keep their story moving to “The End.” You will learn concrete ways to strengthen your story and to wow your reader.
Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast, Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian romantic adventures for teens and adults from Bible Times to present-day USA. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate.
You can find out more about Barbara and her books on her website, Twitter, and Facebook.
Ten Tips for Beginning Writers
Presented by Steven Rogers
April 15, 2025 @ 7 p.m. EDT
Where do you focus your efforts as a writer? Join award-winning novelist Steven Rogers as he discusses ten tips that helped him (and still help him) on his writing journey. The workshop will focus on writers developing their craft—how to train your mind to think creatively, develop characters, experiment with styles, and determine what type of story to write. Steven will also share how he dealt with input from test readers and rejection of his work. This workshop will be interactive, and attendees are welcome to share experiences they have had.
Steven Rogers is a novelist and retired business executive. His novel Into the Room was the first-place winner in the Spiritual Fiction Category of the 2022 Eric Hoffer Book Awards, a finalist for the 2022 American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Awards, and a runner-up in the 2023 Christian Independent Publishers Book Awards. His second novel A Year in the Room was published in 2024. Steven, a proud father of three adult children, is happily married to his wife of thirty-seven years. They live in Henrico, Virginia.
Connect with Steven: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Healthy Habits for Christian Creatives
Presented by Linda Dindzans
May 15, 2025 @ 7 p.m. EDT
Christian Creatives are called to a life that’s often sedentary, solitary, and single-minded. These aspects of the writing life can take a toll in ways we may not have considered. Linda Dindzans, M.D.—writer, singer, and speaker—will offer simple, practical prescriptions to help prevent, combat, and minimize these occupational hazards. Some of the topics included:
- Ergonomics
- Preventing DVT, overuse injuries, poor circulation
- Maintaining overall strength, range of motion, healthy lifestyle and weight
- Saving your voice so you can speak and sing for Him
- Spiritual Self-care: mental fatigue, isolation , depression, poor sleep
- Developing an overall plan for “Writer Resilience”
Linda Dindzans, M.D. a retired ENT surgeon, writer, and speaker, with the heart of a healer, is grateful for this time to lay down her scalpel and pick up her pen. As an M.D., she addresses the occupational hazards Christian Creatives face. Her debut novel—A Certain Man—offers readers a story of redemption. Though her compelling characters struggle through the treacherous times of the Bible, their hopes ring true today. Linda believes “there is nothing new under the sun”. Only a profound encounter with the Son can transform either her characters or present- day creatives from victims to victors.
The Name Game
Presented by Cathy Rueter
June 17, 2025 @ 7 p.m. EDT
Cathy Rueter returned to her passion of freelance writing after a career in reporting and newsletter editing. She is a Christian murder mystery author, speaker, and creative. Contracted to Elk Lake Publishing, her first novel is scheduled for publication soon.
Possessing Michigan roots and (DFW) Texas shoots, she calls herself the Texagander Gal, with her heart planted in both states. You can find her either at her desk, with her nose in a book, hanging out with her family, or attending writer’s groups and conferences.
Connect with Cathy at CLeaRly Creative Writing, Facebook , or on Instagram.
Media Kit Makover
Presented by Kelly Goshorn
July 17, 2025 @ 7 p.m. EDT
A media kit is an essential tool to help promote an author’s book to journalists, book reviewers, podcasters, radio show hosts, and book bloggers. In this workshop, attendees will learn how both published and unpublished authors can benefit from having a media kit, the five essential components of any press kit, “extra goodies” they can opt to include, and ideas for organizing and presenting this valuable collection of resources in an attractive, professional manner.
Kelly Goshorn weaves her affinity for history and her passion for God into inspiring stories of love, faith, and family set in America’s vibrant past. Her debut novel, A Love Restored, won the Director’s Choice Award for Adult/YA fiction at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference in 2019, and earned recognition as both a Selah Award finalist in the Historical Romance category and as a Maggie Award Finalist for Inspirational Fiction.
When she is not writing, Kelly enjoys, binge-watching BBC period dramas, board-gaming with her family, exploring historical sights, and spoiling her Welsh corgi, Levi.
Connect with Kelly through her website.
Virtual Assistant: Need One? Be One?
Presented by Tammy Karasek
August 19, 2025 @ 7 p.m. EDT
You’re a writer! Yet, now you need to do more than write. The responsibility to build followers may overwhelm you—you may need a Virtual Assistant or VA. A VA can wear many hats from admin to graphic designer and more. I’ll share what I do as a VA for authors and as the BRMCWC Social Media Manager. I’ll give ideas to assist you in your decision to hire an assistant. But wait, do you have skills to offer that others may need? You may be able to make some side-gig money for your writing expenses by becoming a VA!
Tammy Karasek uses humor and wit to bring hope to everyone she meets. Being bullied by her family now drives her passion to encourage and inspire others. No longer defeated, she lives a “Tickled Pink” life knowing there’s a giggle wanting to come out!
Her debut book, Launch That Book, released in November 2023. She’s a writing team member for The Write Conversation, The Write Editing, and Blue Ridge Conference. As The Launch Team Geek, she helps authors launch their books, a Virtual Assistant for authors, and Social Media Manager for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. Connect through her website.
How to Mind Map and Brainstorm for Our Writing Life
Presented by Patricia Tiffany Morris
September 18, 2025 @ 7 p.m. EDT
Take a dive into the various methods to brainstorm and ignite your creativity with eclectic author and artist Patricia Tiffany Morris. We’ll explore mind maps and brainstorming on paper, with color, and simmering ideas into a visual soup of inspiration on paper and with digital tools. Your head will buzz with all the ways you can imagine worlds and stories as well as keep track of your writing life.
Patricia gravitates toward inspirational messages and uplifting artwork, and encourages others to find hope in a vibrant relationship with God.
An eclectic creative with a geeky-tech affinity and a poet with three names, she has earned awards in poetry, children’s, YA, literary, short & suspense fiction.
In 2024, Children’s Book International named her a double winner in inspirational and picture book categories, and a finalist in children’s literature for her unpublished picture book, “Grief Like Rain.”
Publications include Guideposts, Lyrical Iowa, NFSPS, EnLiven, and Patricia’s own imprint, Journaling Scribbles. She adores Pinterest, Instagram, and hashtags, but finds Twitter quirky.
Finding Ways to Build a Platform Before You are Published
Presented by KyLee Woodley
October 21, 2025 @ 7 p.m. EDT
We are told that we must have a platform to land a contract/agent, but how do you reach readers before you are published? This class focuses on different ways to reach future readers, connect with authors of your genre, and create content that will last.
KYLEE WOODLEY is a wife and a 30-something-year-old mother of teenagers. She has a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, with a Minor in Creative Writing from the Karen Kingsbury Center of Creative Writing at Liberty University.
In 2021, she started the Historical Bookworm Show promoting historical authors from Baker Publishing and Tyndale House to promote their books. When not podcasting, teaching, or spending time with family, KyLee writes historical fiction with a pinch of adventure for Wild Heart Books. You can connect with her at www.KyLeeWoodley.com
Your Metamorphosis from Author to Speaker: Prepare your Presentation
Presented by Jill Marie Thomas
December 4, 2025 @ 7 p.m. EST
If you are an author, at some point you may be asked to speak for a women’s group, a senior citizens’ club, historical society, or other group. In this class, we will examine the eight essential components of a fun, engaging, professional presentation. You will leave this workshop with a sturdy formula for crafting a killer talk.
Jill Marie Thomas, a business owner, teacher, author, and speaker, has years of experience teaching college mathematics and speaking on behalf of her family’s pretzel manufacturing business. To date, she has published six Bible studies, a series of five scripture writing journals, five non-fiction books and four fiction books. She loves drinking coffee with friends, adventuring with her grandkids, and traveling to exotic places.