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.
HALLEE BRIDGEMAN is the USA TODAY bestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee settled with her husband in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she’s not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. An accomplished speaker and active member of several writing organizations, Hallee can be found online at her website, on Facebook, or on Goodreads.
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.
HANNAH R. CONWAY is a best-selling author, speaker and podcast host on “What’s Your Story? With Hannah & Stephani.” She also works as the Women’s Ministry Director and Marketing & Communications Coordinator at her local church and can usually be caught with a cup of coffee in hand. She and her family live near Nashville, Tennessee. You can find Hannah on Facebook and Instagram.
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.
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 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 (although you’ll need to be in England). Learn more about Debb at https://debbhackett.com/ or find her on on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
SARAH HAMAKER loves writing books “where the hero and heroine fall in love while running for their lives.” She’s written romantic suspense novels and nonfiction books, as well as stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul volumes. As a writers coach, her heart is encouraging writers. She’s a member of ACFW; ACFW Virginia Chapter; and Faith, Hope and Love, as well as the president of Capital Christian Writers Fellowship. Her podcast, “The Romantic Side of Suspense,” can be found wherever you listen to podcasts. Sarah lives in Virginia with her husband, four teenagers, a preschool foster child and three cats. Visit Sarah’s website, or find her online at Facebook or Instagram.
STEVEN JAMES is the critically-acclaimed author of seventeen novels. His books have been praised by Library Journal, the Associated Press, the New York Journal of Books, and Booklist, and garnered starred reviews from both Publishers Weekly and Library Journal. He has served as a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest Magazine and is the author of the groundbreaking book Story Trumps Structure as well as the guidebook used by thousands of novelists, Troubleshooting Your Novel, both from Writer’s Digest Books. Publishers Weekly calls him “[a] master storyteller at the peak of his game.” When he’s not working on his next novel, Steven teaches Novel Writing Intensive retreats across the country with New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni. In addition to his writing and speaking, Steven also hosts the weekly podcast The Story Blender on which he has interviewed more than one hundred of the top storytellers and writers in the world. Connect with Steven on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
TAMMY KARASEK uses 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.You can connect with Tammy on her website, Facebook, or Instagram.
RACHEL McMILLAN is the author of over 15 worKs of fiction and non-fiction including The Mozart Code and The London Restoration. She is a senior associate agent at William K Jensen literary agency with over 25 years experience in publishing, book sales and marketing. Rachel lives in Toronto, Canada and is always reading. You can learn about Rachel on her website or connect with her on Twitter or Instagram.
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.
CARRIE STUART PARKS is a multi-Christy, Carol, Golden Scroll, and Inspy award-winning author in addition to numerous other awards. An internationally known forensic artist, she teaches courses in forensic art to law enforcement professionals across the US and Canada and is the largest instructor of forensic art in the world. As a professional fine artist, she is a signature member of the Idaho Watercolor Society. Her paintings hanging in a number of corporate and private collections. She has written and illustrated non-fiction best-selling art books for North Light Publishers. Visit her website or connect on Facebook.
CARA C. PUTMAN lives in Indiana with her husband and four children. When she’s not writing, Cara lectures at a Big Ten University in law and communications. She has loved reading and writing from a young age and now realizes it was all training for writing books. An honors graduate of the University of Nebraska, George Mason University School of Law, and Krannert School of Management at Purdue, Cara loves bringing stories to life. You can learn more about Cara at www.caraputman.com or visit her on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
JP ROBINSON is an award-winning author of historical and political suspense, a minister, and the president of Lancaster Christian Writers Association. He is a contributor to Guideposts, Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse, and the Salvation Army’s War Cry. When not writing or spending time with family, he loves to hone his archery skills, explore wild places, and enjoy good coffee. Connect with him on his Facebook author page or book page and check out his website at JPRobinsonBooks.com
CYNTHIA RUCHTI tells stories hemmed-in-Hope through more than 35 published novels, nonfiction, devotionals, compilations, and through speaking events for women and writers. She is an agent with Books & Such Literary Management and serves at the ACFW professional relations liaison. She and her grade school sweetheart husband live in the heart of Wisconsin. To learn more about Cynthia, visit her website or connect with her on Facebook or Instagram.
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 by visiting her website or connecting with her on Facebook or Instagram.
SARAH SUNDIN is a bestselling author of World War II novels, including Until Leaves Fall in Paris. Her novel The Sky Above Us received the Carol Award, and When Twilight Breaks and The Land Beneath Us were Christy Award finalists. Sarah also serves as co-director of the West Coast Christian Writers Conference. You can visit Sarah on her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
JANYRE TROMP has worked in the CBA industry for more than 20 years, spending time in both marketing and editorial. Currently she is a developmental and acquisitions editor for Kregel Publications by day and a writer at night. Her writings include Shadows in the Mind’s Eye, 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, and slightly eccentric Shetland Sheepdog. You can find her on all social media platforms as @janyretromp and on her website. For tips from the editor follow her on Twitter or for her happy place, follow her on Instagram.
THOMAS UMSTATTD, JR. is the founder of Author Media and the host of the Novel Marketing Podcast, the longest-running book marketing podcast in the world. Thomas helps authors build their platforms, sell more books, and change the world with writing worth talking about. He also hosts the Christian Publishing Show. You can learn more about Thomas on his website.
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!
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.
For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author KAREN WITEMEYER offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Voted #1 Readers’ Favorite Christian Romance Author in 2019 by Family Fiction Magazine, Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings. She is an avid cross-stitcher, tea drinker, and gospel hymn singer who makes her home in Abilene, TX with her heroic husband who vanquishes laundry dragons and dirty dish villains whenever she’s on deadline. To learn more, visit her website or on Facebook where she hangs out in her readers group, The Posse.