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.
BECKY BERESFORD lives in Chicago, IL and is happily outnumbered by her husband and three boys. She’s a writer, speaker and coach with a Master’s Certificate in Discipleship from Moody Theological Seminary. Becky loves encouraging God’s Daughters to embrace Christ-centered empowerment through gospel truth. Her first book with Moody Publishers is scheduled for release in March 2024. Connect with Becky online at BeckyBeresford.com, where she hosts the weekly Brave Women Series, featuring different women and their journeys toward courage with Jesus. Becky also teaches courses and workshops for creatives who want to collaborate in fun and fruitful ways. Follow her regularly on Instagram and Facebook.
BARBARA M. BRITTON lives in Southeast, Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian Fiction from Bible Times to present day USA. Her Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. Her novel “Christmas at Whispering Creek,” is a compelling, yet fun story, shining a light on breast cancer. 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 or follow her on Twitter or Facebook.
Multi-published, award-winning author LISA CARTER likes to describe her romantic suspense novels as “Sweet Tea with a Slice of Murder.” The Stronghold won a 2017 Daphne du Maurier. Under a Turquoise Sky won the 2015 Carol Award. She also writes the popular Truelove Matchmaker contemporary romance series, set in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. The Christmas Bargain won the 2021 Carol Award for Short Novel. Lisa enjoys traveling and researching her next fictional adventure. When not writing, she loves spending time with family and teaching writing workshops. A native North Carolinian, she has strong opinions on barbecue and ACC basketball. To learn more, visit her website where you can sign up for her newsletter. Or, connect with her on Bookbub or on her Amazon author page.
CRYSTAL CAUDILL is an award-winning author of “dangerously good historical romance” with Kregel Publications and is an experienced workshop presenter. As a former educator, she has a heart for teaching and encouraging others to grow in their God given callings to write. She is a member of ACFW, Faith Hope & Love, and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. Learn more about Crystal and her books at www.crystalcaudill.com where you can also signup for her author newlsetter.
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 published works in several anthologies and periodicals, along with numerous Bible studies used weekly by more than 10,000 women around the world. Rhonda and her husband formed The Dragomir Group to offer websites, typesetting, and design services to writers. She is a frequent guest in writers’ conferences and forums, teaching multiple subjects focused on the use of technology. Visit Rhonda’s website and blog, Writers Life Hacks.
LINDA S. GLAZ spent thirteen years as an agent and author with Hartline Literary Agency, and once they shuttered their doors, she went out on her own at Linda S. Glaz Literary Agency. She’s an agent and understands authors because she is one! Learn more about Linda and her agency at lindasglaz.com.
MICHELLE GRIEP’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the Christy Award-winning author of historical romances that both intrigue and evoke a smile. An Anglophile at heart, you’ll most often find her partaking of a proper cream tea while scheming up her next novel…but it’s probably easier to find her at www.michellegriep.com or on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
STEVEN JAMES is a critically acclaimed author of eighteen novels and numerous nonfiction books that have sold more than 1 million copies. His books have won or been shortlisted for dozens of national and international awards. In addition, his stories and articles have appeared in more than eighty different publications, including the New York Times. He is also a popular keynote speaker and professional storyteller with a master’s degree in storytelling. James’ latest thriller, BROKER OF LIES, releases on April 11, 2023 and is available for pre-order now at stevenjames.net. A smart, wire-tight, and emotionally resonant thriller, it is the first in a new series.. Connect with Steven on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
JULIE KLASSEN loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies and she is a three-time recipient of the Christy Award for Historical Romance. She has also been honored with the Minnesota Book Award, Midwest Book Award, and Christian Retailing’s BEST Award. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.julieklassen.com.
JOY K. MASSENBURGE embodies her name when she enters a room. Her audience can expect to be engaged from start to finish and receive a wealth of information. She is multi-published author and a contributor to Our Daily Bread: Oh, Freedom edition. She serves on the board of American Christian Fiction Writers and resides near Tyler, Texas. You can find her curled up on her back-porch swing reading a good book with her six grandchildren, caretaking for a donkey, a hen, and a dog, or filling her five-acre country home with family and friends for food and fun. You can learn more about Joy on her website, or find her on Facebook or Instagram.
EDIE MELSON is a woman of faith with ink-stained fingers observing life through her camera lens. She’s a card-carrying introvert who loves to encourage an audience, and she embraces the ultimate contradiction of being an organized creative. She knows the necessity of Soul Care, leading workshops around the world on staying connected to God. Her books, including the award-winning Soul Care series reflect her passion to help others develop the strength of their God-given gifts. Her blog, The Write Conversation is recognized as one of the top 101 industry resources. Connect with her on EdieMelson.com, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
DiANN MILLS is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards, the Golden Scroll, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, an active member of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, BookBub, or her website.
A fifth-generation Texan, PAULA PECKHAM graduated from the University of Texas in Arlington. She worked for 19 years as a math teacher and now divides her time between Texas and Rio Bravo, Mexico. She and husband, John, have four children and nine grandchildren. Her debut novel, Protected, Book 1 in the San Antonio series, was published in April 2022. It won the gold medal in the 2022 Global Book Awards. Book 2, A Father’s Gift, is a finalist for a 2023 Selah Award. She published two Christmas anthologies in 2021. Paula has an online presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and www.paulapeckham.com.
Publishers Weekly and #1 Amazon bestselling author, DANI PETTREY has sold nearly 800,000 copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance. Her novels stand out for their “wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likable characters” (Publishers Weekly), “gripping storyline[s],” (RT Book Reviews), and “sizzling undercurrent of romance” (USA Today). She researches murder and mayhem from her home in Maryland.
TONI SHILOH is a wife, mom, and an award-winning Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring God glory and to learn more about His goodness. Her novel, In Search of a Prince, won the first ever, Christy Amplify award. She loves connecting with readers and authors alike via social media. You can learn more about her writing at tonishiloh.com and follow her on Facebook or Instagram.
BETSY ST. AMANT HADDOX is the author of over twenty romance novels and novellas. She resides in north Louisiana with her hubby, two daughters, an impressive stash of coffee mugs, and one furry Schnauzer-toddler. Betsy has a B.A. in Communications and a deep-rooted passion for seeing women restored to truth. When she’s not composing her next book or trying to prove unicorns are real, Betsy can be found somewhere in the vicinity of an iced coffee. She writes frequently for www.ibelieve.com, a devotional site for women. You can find Bety at www.betsystamant.com or on Instagram.
SARAH SUNDIN is an ECPA-bestselling author of World War II novels, including The Sound of Light. Her novel Until Leaves Fall in Paris received the 2022 Christy Award, When Twilight Breaks and The Land Beneath Us were Christy Award finalists, and The Sky Above Us received the Carol Award. A mother of three adult children, Sarah lives in California and teaches Sunday school and Bible studies. She serves as co-director of the West Coast Christian Writers Conference and enjoys speaking for church, community, and writers’ groups. You can visit Sarah on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
JANYRE TROMP is a developmental editor by day and writer of historical novels with a healthy dose of intrigue at night. She’s the author of Shadows in the Mind’s Eye and co-author of both O Little Town and It’s a Wonderful Christmas. And that all happens from her kitchen table when she’s not hanging out with her husband, two kids, two troublesome cats, and slightly eccentric Shetland Sheepdog. You can find her on all social media platforms as @janyretromp and on her website (where you can download a FREE copy of her novella Wide Open).
Best-selling, award-winning author ERICA VETSCH loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks. You can connect with her at her website, www.ericavetsch.com where you can read about her books and sign up for her newsletter, and you can find her online at her Inspirational Regency Readers Facebook Group where she spends way too much time!
Award-winning author HOPE WELBORN writes spine-tingling suspense, sprinkled with romance, and saturated with faith. By day, she masquerades as a digital content marketing technology specialist, and by night, she stays up too late putting words on the page. Hope is co-owner and technology manager for Spark Flash Fiction and a member of the Suspense Squad. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. Connect with Hope on her website, Facebook, and Twitter.
ROSEANNA M. WHITE is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing for WhiteFire Publishing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. In addition to her own slew of historical novels, Roseanna brings her passion for all things bookish to WhiteFire Publishing, which she founded with her husband in 2005. You can find out more about Roseanna as an author at roseannamwhite.com and whitefire-publishing.com.
KYLEE WOODLEY is a wife and a 30-something year old mother of teenagers. She also created and cohosts the Historical Bookworm Show which works with Baker Publishing and Tyndale House to promote their historical authors and bring history lovers together. When not podcasting, teaching, or spending time with family, KyLee writes historical fiction with a pinch of adventure. She has published creative nonfiction and fiction short stories, and was a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers Mentor of the Year Award in 2020. Learn more about KyLee on her website.
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 mentored teen girls for a decade and aims to inspire through stories. In 2017, she joined the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) to improve her craft, and today she is serving as the president of the Chicago chapter. Her debut novel, Unbetrothed, released in February 2022 with a positive Kirkus review. Connect with Candice on Instagram or by visiting her website.