Faculty
Workshop instructors and panelists for ACFW Virginia’s Royal Writers Virtual Conference are successful agents, editors, and authors who share the common desire to help other writers grow in their faith, and the business and craft of writing.
Award-winning author LORI ALTEBAUMER’S writing has been referred to as atmospheric stories of mystery and suspense.
She is both traditionally and independently published. Her writing has been named a multi-finalist for the Selah award, as well as the BRMCW Director’s Choice, and the AWSA Golden Scrolls. Her short stories have won awards including the Foundations Award and the Cascade Award for Short Fiction.
Lori is the past president of the Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers and is active in the writing community. She co-directs the Writers at the Well Retreat held in Texas.
BETTIE BOSWELL has authored Christian novels, chapter books, picture books, non-fiction books, devotions, and magazine articles.
She has works published by multiple presses and is currently a children’s editor for Mt. Zion Ridge Press. She is the co-president and a founder of ACFW’s Kidlit chapter.
Bettie is a retired music and elementary classroom teacher who has written musicals for church, school, and Community Theater. She does the music at the church where her husband ministers.
They have two grown sons, one daughter-in-law and three busy grandchildren. She enjoys taking pictures of nature and posting those on Facebook.
LISA CARTER is the Publishers Weekly bestselling and award-winning author of more than thirty contemporary romance, historical and romantic suspense novels.
Two of her books have won Carol Awards—Under a Turquoise Sky and The Christmas Bargain. The Stronghold won a Daphne du Maurier Award for romantic suspense.
When she’s not working on her next novel, she loves spending time with family and teaching writer workshops. Lisa enjoys traveling and researching her next fictional adventure.
A native North Carolinian, she has strong opinions on barbecue and ACC basketball.
CRYSTAL CAUDILL is the author of “dangerously good historical romance” 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 Faith Hope & Love and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.
Her debut novel, Counterfeit Love, was a 2023 Carol Award finalist, and her novella “Star of Wonder” received the Christy Award for short form. Learn more about Crystal and her books at www.crystalcaudill.com.
ABBEY DOWNEY started writing inspirational romance stories during naptime when her kids were babies and found she couldn’t stop. She is the author of the Adventurous Hearts series and the upcoming Headliners and Heartstrings series from Wild Heart Books. Abbey also works with Spark Flash Fiction to produce a quarterly digital publication of love stories under 1000 words.
A life-long Midwestern girl, Abbey lives in central Indiana with her husband, two kids, and one rather enthusiastic beagle. She loves watching her kids in their activities and fixing up a 125-year-old farmhouse with her husband. Connect with Abbey at www.abbeydowney.com.
SHANNON SUE DUNLAP is the author of multiple romances including the Selah Award-winning novel Love Overboard.
She lives in Houston, Texas, where she writes love stories with a laugh-out-loud center. She adores traveling, chocolate, Jane Austen, and most of all, Jesus. She’s a big fan of happily-ever-afters and believes the heavenly Father has tailor-made one for each individual.
Find out more at shannonsuedunlap.com.
As the owner of kikaDESIGN, a web design and marketing company focused on working with Christian authors, KATRINA GLOVER has taught classes in individual and group settings online as well as in-person at conferences across the United States.
With degrees in Digital Media, Marketing and Graphic Design, Katrina helps authors all over the world with their brands—both online and off.
Multi-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 and two cats.
STEVEN JAMES is the critically acclaimed, bestselling author of more than fifty books. With a master’s degree in storytelling, he has taught writing and storytelling around the world, appearing more than 2000 times on five continents. Publishers Weekly has called him a “master storyteller at the peak of his game.”
For the last fifteen years has taught novel writing intensives around the country.
BETHANY JETT is a literary agent with MacGregor & Luedeke, as well as a multi-award-winning author and a marketing strategist who holds an MFA in Communication.
Bethany is a military spouse (and military mama) and was proud to be named the 2025 Military Spouse of the Year for the Florida National Guard. She and her college sweetheart husband have three sons and a not-spoiled-at-all Pomeranian.
TARA JOHNSON is an author and speaker, and loves to write stories that help people break free from the lies they believe about themselves.
Tara’s debut novel Engraved on the Heart (Tyndale) earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and was a finalist in the Carol and Christy awards. She is multi-published in both fiction and nonfiction, and has several of her books translated into Polish and Dutch.
Tara is a certified body language expert is president of Story Spark Author Development Agency. She, her husband, and children live in Arkansas.
Usually with a hot chai nearby, LARRY J. LEECH II spends his days working with words—as a writing coach of award-winning authors, as well as Acquisitions Editor and Master Book Coach for Illumify Media.
More than forty years ago, Larry started his career as a sportswriter in Pennsylvania where he covered prep, college, and pro sports. In 2004, after 2,300 published articles, Larry shifted to book publishing.
Since that time, he has ghostwritten thirty-five books, edited more than 500 manuscripts, and coached hundreds of authors.
For two decades Larry has taught at numerous general market and inspirational conferences nationwide.
DIANN MILLS is a bestselling author who invites readers to expect an adventure through heart-pounding suspense, romance, and faith-filled stories. Her novels have landed on CBA, ECPA, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists and won numerous awards, including the Christy and Carol.
A founding board member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Conference Advisor for Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers, DiAnn mentors writers nationwide. She lives in Houston, Texas, where she roasts her own coffee and spoils her grandchildren.
Connect with DiAnn for behind-the-scenes glimpses, writing tips, and lively conversations at diannmills.com.
CYNTHIA RUCHTI is the author of more than 50 books (fiction and nonfiction) and a Senior Literary Agent with Books & Such Literary Management.
She speaks and teaches frequently for women’s events and writers conferences, as well as serving as a podcaster and blogger for Books & Such.
As a literary agent and author, she has faced writing and publishing challenges from all angles…and still loves it!
MEGAN RYAN is a freelance copyeditor and proofreader who helps authors feel confident about sharing their writing with the world. She has copyedited and/or proofread more than 180 books for self-publishing authors and hybrid publishers. She also serves as assistant director of the Christian Editor Connection and volunteer coordinator for the Well Conference.
Megan lives in Michigan with her husband and three children, and she enjoys holding babies in the church nursery and riding her bike in nice weather.
You can contact her at mryanediting@gmail.com or find more information at https://mryanediting.wixsite.com/mryanediting.
TIM SHOEMAKER is the author of over twenty-five books and is a popular speaker at conferences and schools. Over twenty-five years working with youth has helped him relate to his reading and listening audience in unique ways.
His contemporary suspense, Code of Silence, was named in the “Top Ten Crime Novels for Youth” by Booklist.
Tim loves writing mystery, adventure, and suspense that is clean, powerful, and definitely not “hokey” Christian fiction.
Tim’s energetic style of teaching helps make even difficult topics clear. He is all about encouraging and equipping writers to do what they do—better.
BETSY ST. AMANT HADDOX is the author of almost thirty romance novels and novellas.
She resides in Louisiana with her hubby, two teenagers, and one furry schnauzer-toddler.
Betsy has a bachelor of arts in communication and loves teaching and speaking on the craft of writing. When she’s not suffering through a CrossFit workout or baby talking her dog, she can usually be found in the vicinity of an iced coffee.
She writes frequently for iBelieve, a devotional site for women, and offers author coaching and editing services through Storyside LLC.
HEATHER TABERS writes Historical Romance, Children’s Fiction, and encouragement for weary souls.
She resides in sunny Central Florida with her husband, Robert, whom many of her heroes are inspired by.
She’s a hope-filled romantic who believes in second chances and redemptive love. Her own love story proves that life can be messy and beautiful at the same time, which is why she enjoys writing stories that show the goodness of God’s grace.
SARA TURNQUIST is a coffee lovin’, word slinging, Jesus following clean Historical Romance author whose superpower is converting caffeine into novels.
She is a hybrid author, having been traditionally published initially and is now fully indie.
Her more than 25 books feature a wide range of time periods and locations. Please find out more at https://saraturnquist.com
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.
You can connect with her at her website, www.ericavetsch.com and you can find her on Facebook at The Inspirational Regency Readers Group where she spends way too much time!
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 designing book covers and interiors, managing a publishing company, 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 Group, which she founded with her husband in 2005.
You can find out more about Roseanna as an author at www.RoseannaMWhite.com and WhiteFire publishing at www.WhiteFire-Publishing.com.
“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
Jeremiah 31:25 (NIV)