Workshop instructors and panelists for ACFW Virginia’s Royal Writers Conference are successful agents, editors, and authors who share the common desire to help other writers grow in their faith and their craft.
TAMERA ALEXANDER is a USA Today bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers of inspirational historical romance. Her newest series, The Carnton Novels, continue her signature style of deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose which has earned her devoted readers worldwide—and multiple industry awards. Tamera has garnered four Christy Awards and was inducted into the Christy Award Hall of Fame in 2020, which is the highest honor awarded Christian fiction. She’s a two-time winner (and six-time finalist) of the RITA Award—the top award in the romance genre awarded by Romance Writers of America. She’s also a two-time recipient of the coveted Carol Award bestowed by American Christian Fiction Writers, a national organization dedicated to equipping writers with a Christian world view. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, not far from the Southern mansions that serve as the backdrop for many of her critically-acclaimed novels. Learn more about Tamera and her books at her website.
With nearly a million sales, HALLEE BRIDGEMAN is a best-selling Christian author who writes action-packed romantic suspense focusing on realistic characters who face real-world problems. Her work has been described as everything from refreshing to heart-stopping exciting and edgy. Hallee has served as the Director of the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, President of the Faith-Hope-Love chapter of the Romance Writers of America, is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), the American Christian Writers (ACW), and Novelists, Inc. (NINC). An accomplished speaker, Hallee has taught and inspired writers around the globe, from Sydney, Australia, to Dallas, Texas, to Portland, Oregon, to Washington, D.C., and all places in between. Hallee loves coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide her. Visit her website at https://www.halleebridgeman.com/.
GREGG BRIDGEMAN is the Editor-in-Chief at Olivia Kimball Press. He is husband to best-selling Christian author Hallee Bridgeman and parent to three. He continues to proudly serve in the US Armed Forces and has done so in either an active or reserve capacity for more than twenty years as an airborne and air assault qualified paratrooper, earning a Bronze Star for his service. Most importantly, he was ordained in October of 2001 after surrendering his life to Christ decades earlier.
BARBARA M. BRITTON writes romantic adventures for teens and adults. She is multi-published in Biblical and Historical Fiction with Pelican Book Group and is an Amazon Bestseller. Lioness: Mahlah’s Journey was a 2020 Carol Award finalist in the short novel category. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Wisconsin Romance Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and American Christian Fiction Writers. Find out more on her website at www.barbarambritton.com.
HEIDI CHIAVAROLI (pronounced shev-uh-roli…sort of like Chevrolet and ravioli mushed together!) wrote her first story in third grade, titled I’d Cross the Desert for Milk. It wasn’t until years later that she revisited writing, using her two small boys’ nap times to pursue what she thought at the time was a foolish dream. Despite a long road to publication, she hasn’t stopped writing since! Heidi writes women’s fiction, combining her love of history and literature to write split time stories. Her debut novel, Freedom’s Ring, was a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist, a Romantic Times Top Pick and a Booklist Top Ten Romance Debut.
Heidi loves exploring places that whisper of historical secrets, especially with her family. She loves running, hiking, baking, and dates with her high-school sweetheart and husband of seventeen years. Heidi makes her home in Massachusetts with her husband and two sons. Visit her online at heidichiavaroli.com
DINA DAVIS is an associate editor for Harlequin’s Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense. Before starting at Harlequin, she worked as an editorial assistant and assistant editor at Guideposts Books and served internships at Good Housekeeping Research Institute, amNewYork, and Guideposts Magazine. In her free time, Dina loves traveling all over the world, visiting family in Pittsburgh, cheering on the Steelers, consuming stories in any format, and going to brunch with her friends. Her own love story started during her freshman year of college abroad in Florence, Italy, where she met her husband and some of her closest friends. You can find Dina on Twitter @DinaJDavis.
RHONDA DRAGOMIR is a multimedia creative who treasures her fairy tale life in Central Kentucky, insisting her home is her castle, even if her prince refuses to dig a moat. She has multiple published works, including numerous Bible lessons studied weekly by more than 10,000 women around the world. Rhonda has garnered numerous writing awards for both fiction and nonfiction, including her selection as 2019 Writer of the Year by Serious Writer, Inc. In 2020 she was also a finalist in ACFW’s 2020 Genesis Contest for her first novel. She currently serves as the webmaster for both the Kentucky and Mid-South Writers Conferences, and builds websites for other authors through her LLC, The Dragomir Group.
LINDA GOLDFARB is an award-winning author of the LINKED® Quick Guide to Personalities series, international speaker, professional actress, podcaster, and audiobook narrator. She is a traditionally and independently published author who holds a board-certified advanced diploma in Christian life coaching. As the podcast host of Your Best Writing Life, Linda interviews industry experts weekly, keeping her current with all things writing related. Linda works with EABooks Publishing as the Audiobook Division Director, Acquisitions Editor, and Voice Professional. She loves helping writers and speakers take God’s next best step to reaching their publishing goals and beyond. In her personal ministry, Linda helps her coaching clients recognize God’s next best step for their personal and professional lives. She and her hubby, Sam, have four adult children and many, many, grand-babies. They reside in the Texas hill country hiking, playing golf, and relaxing with family and friends as often as possible.
Writer, broadcaster and speaker DEBB HACKETT has been a radio journalist for more than twenty years. Married to a Royal Air Force test pilot, Debb has written a bible study for military wives. A regular contributor to the Advanced Writers and Speakers Devotional, Arise Daily, she’s also been privileged to write several chapters for the Write Well Sell Well craft book. For now, based near London, England she’s having lots of fun working on a contemporary romance series and was an ACFW Genesis award semi-finalist in 2020. When she’s not writing, Debb can be found leading worship, playing bass or skiing. If you can swing by her house while she’s making scones, that would also be a win. Learn more about Debb at https://debbhackett.com/.
DORI HARRELL is a multiple-award-winning writer, has been published in national magazines, released a novel, owns a thriving freelance editing business, serves as managing editor of a small press, has multiple authors every year on the awards lists, and speaks at writers’ and editors’ conferences around the nation. Inside, she believes she’s incompetent, a fraud, and about to be exposed for the fraud she knows she is. To combat imposter syndrome, she’s developed a battle plan that makes it work for her instead of against her, and she shares her strategies with authors and editors nationwide. To learn more about Dori’s editing services visit https://doriharrell.wixsite.com/breakoutediting.
ROBIN LEE HATCHER is the author of 85 novels and novellas with over six million copies in print. She’s known for heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. In addition to numerous awards, including the Carol and the Christy, she’s also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both ACFW and RWA. You can connect with Robin on her website.
BOB HOSTETLER is an award-winning author, literary agent, and international speaker. His more than fifty books include Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door (co-authored with Josh McDowell) and The Bard and the Bible: A Shakespeare Devotional. Bob is also an agent with The Steve Laube Agency and the executive director of the Christian Writers Institute.
You’ll find TAMMY KARESEK using humor and wit to bring joy and hope to every aspect of life. Rising above adversity, she’s gone from down and defeated to living a Tickled Pink life as she believes there is always a giggle wanting to come out! All because of HIM. Having participated in critique groups for over ten years, she’s had the privilege to receive some helpful and impactful suggestions to improve her writing. And she’s had some poor ones that had her close to tears. Knowing the value of a proper critique, she strives to teach others the importance of what to do and not do while giving a critique. She also teaches the benefit of the writer to have an open mind to hear how to improve their work for a stronger piece. You can connect with Tammy on her website, Facebook, or Instagram.
JOY K. MASSENBURGE crafts contemporary love stories of pastors and their kids. She was born the sixth child of a pastor. She married a football player turned pastor… they raised pastor’s kids; a son and two daughters. Joy serves as Founding President of ACFW-East Texas chapter and a member of the national board. When she is not writing, she is speaking at retreats and conferences. When she is not speaking, you can find her on her back porch watching her five grandchildren play. You can find Joy on the web at https://www.joykmassenburge.com/author.
RACHEL McMILLAN is a publishing professional with decades of experience in all corners of the publishing industry. Rachel currently serves as Senior Associate Agent at William K Jensen Literary Agency. She is also the author of The London Restoration and The Mozart Code (Harper Collins) and Dream, Plan Go and A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide (Harvest House). Rachel lives in Toronto, Canada and is always reading. You can learn about Rachel on her website.
A freelance writer for over twenty years, TINA RADCLIFFE is a Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers Honor Roll member, and a four-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. Her Harlequin novels have won the ACFW Carol Award, the Holt Medallion and appeared on the Publishers Weekly Bestseller list. Besides her novel-length fiction, and her independent publishing releases, Tina has sold over three dozen short stories to Woman’s World Magazine. A US Army Veteran, a former registered nurse, and library cataloger, Tina resides in Arizona, where she writes fun, heartwarming romance and cozy mysteries. Visit her on the web at https://www.tinaradcliffe.com/.
JP ROBINSON is the President of Lancaster Christian Writers Association. Initially a freelance journalist for a New York newspaper, JP is a prolific writer of historical fiction whose work has been praised by industry leaders such as Publishers Weekly. He leads Logos Publications, an emerging publishing and marketing team, and is also a certified K-12 teacher of French, History, and Psychology. Connect with him on Facebook on his author page or book page and check out his website at JPRobinsonBooks.com
TONI SHILOH is a wife, mom, and multi-published Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring God glory and to learn more about His goodness. Her novel, Grace Restored, was a 2019 Holt Medallion finalist and Risking Love is a 2020 Selah Award finalist. A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and of the Virginia Chapter, Toni seeks to help readers find authors. She loves connecting with readers and authors alike via social media. You can learn more about her writing at tonishiloh.com.
SARAH SUNDIN is a bestselling author of World War II novels, including When Twilight Breaks and the Sunrise at Normandy series. Her novel The Land Beneath Us was a 2020 Christy Award finalist, The Sky Above Us received the 2020 Carol Award, and The Sea Before Us received the 2019 Reader’s Choice Award from Faith, Hope, and Love. A mother of three adult children, Sarah lives in California and enjoys speaking for church, community, and writers’ groups, and she serves as Co-Director for the West Coast Christian Writers Conference. You can visit Sarah on her Website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
SARA TURNQUIST is a coffee lovin’, word slinging, clean Historical Romance author whose super power is converting caffeine into novels. She loves those odd little tidbits of history that are stranger than fiction. That’s what inspires her. Well, that and a good love story. But of all the love stories she knows, hers is her favorite. She lives happily with her own Prince Charming and their gaggle of minions. Three to be exact. They sure know how to distract a writer! But, alas, the stories must be written, even if it must happen in the wee hours of the morning. Sara is an avid reader and also enjoys reading clean Historical Romance when she’s not traveling. Her books range from the Czech lands to the American Wild West and from ancient Egypt to the early 1900s. Learn more at https://saraturnquist.com/.
Doctor by day, writer by night—DR. RONDA WELLS is an award-winning author who has written inspirational fiction for over twenty-five years. She is credited with helping multiple authors create authentic medical scenes and characters for their books. A lifelong Hoosier, Ronda seeks to write stories that illustrate extraordinary faith among the conflicts of ordinary life, and her favorite place as a child was her grandfather’s farm. When not writing, she loves to travel, scrapbook, research genealogy, and devise methods to chase deer away from her backyard hostas. Ronda can be found on her Website, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
ROSEANNA M. WHITE, bestselling novelist and co-founder of the WhiteFire Publishing group, has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing, editing, and designing book covers, she’s homeschooling her kids and pretending her house will clean itself. As a writer, she has dozens of books in print; as a publishing team, she and her husband have helped hundreds of titles reach the world and now have four imprints under their company banner. She loves stories of spies and war and mayhem…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more at roseannamwhite.com and whitefire-publishing.com.
CANDICE PEDRAZA YAMNITZ is a homeschooling mom, blogger and teacher who taught in an elementary dual-language classroom for seven years before having her three spirited children. She has been mentoring teen girls for many years and aims to inspire through stories. In 2017, she joined the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) to improve her craft, and today she is vice president of the Chicago chapter. Her work has placed in four contests. Connect with Candice on the web at https://candiceyamnitz.com/.