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.
MICHELLE MEDLOCK ADAMS is a NY Times Best-selling ghostwriter and the author of more than 100 books. Earning more than 90 industry awards, including the prestigious 2023 ECPA Gold Medallion Children’s Book of the Year for Our God is Bigger Than That! When not writing or speaking at events, Michelle enjoys bass fishing with her husband, cheering on the Indiana Hoosiers, and shopping for all things leopard print. Michelle is married to her high school sweetheart Jeff, and they have two daughters, two sons-in-law, and six adorable grandchildren. Learn more at her website. You can find Michelle @INwritergirl on all social media platforms.
MISTY M. BELLER is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love. With over 40 novels published, she writes as both an indie author and for Bethany House Publishers. She is the Managing Editor of Wild Heart Books, a traditional publisher specializing in Christian Historical Romance novels. Connect with Misty on her website or at Wild Heart Books.
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.
SHANNON SUE DUNLAP lives in hot and humid Houston, Texas where she writes love stories with a laugh-out-loud center. Shannon loves traveling, chocolate, Jane Austen, and Jesus. She’s a big fan of happy endings and believes the heavenly Father has tailor-made one for each of us. Her latest romcom Love Overboard: A Novel releases with Kregel in May 2024. You can learn more about Shannon on her website or by connecting with her on Facebook or Instagram.
KIMBERLY DUFFY is a Long Island native currently living in Southwest Ohio. When she’s not homeschooling her four kids, she writes historical fiction that takes her readers back in time and across oceans. She loves trips that require a passport, historical cookbooks, and practicing kissing scenes with her husband of twenty-five years. He doesn’t mind. Connect with Kim via her website or on Facebook or Instagram.
LYNETTE EASON is the best-selling, award-winning author of over sixty-five books with over 3,000,000 copies sold. Her novels have appeared on the USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, CBA, ECPA, and Parable bestseller lists. She has won numerous awards and her novel, Her Stolen Past was made into a movie for the Lifetime Movie Network. She is also an agent for the Steve Laube agency and is always actively looking for the next bestseller. She can be found online at her website, Facebook, and @lynetteeason on Twitter. To learn what kind of manuscripts she’s looking for, click on this link.
SUE A. FAIRCHILD started out as a devotion writer, but now also claims the titles of editor, writing coach, webmistress, and speaker. She has written and self-published three books as well as helped a variety of authors get their manuscripts into readers’ hands. Her latest novel, Changing Tides from Elk Lake Publishing Inc. is now available, and she is already working on her follow-up book Changing Seasons. Sue loves working with clients who are working toward the greater good of sharing God’s message in this world. Learn more about Sue on her website or on Instagram @suefairchildedits
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, and three cats. Learn more about Sarah by visiting her website or following her on Facebook and BookBub.
STEVEN JAMES is the bestselling, critically acclaimed author of nineteen novels that have won more than a dozen national and international awards, including four Christy Awards for suspense and an International Book Award. His thrillers have been praised by Suspense Magazine, Booklist, and the New York Journal of Books and received starred reviews from both Library Journal and Publishers Weekly, who call his work “thought-provoking” and “riveting.” When he’s not writing, he teaches writers at events around the globe. You can find Steven on X / Facebook / Website / The Story Blender Podcast
LIZ JOHNSON is a marketing manager by day and makes time to write late at night—that’s when she thinks best anyway. Liz is the award-winning author of more than twenty novels, a New York Times bestselling novella, and a handful of short stories. She’s a Christy Award finalist and a three-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. She makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona, and writes stories of true love filled with heart, humor, and happily ever afters. Follow her online at her website or on Instagram and Facebook.
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. Tara has been published by Tyndale House, Annie’s, and Guideposts. In addition to being published in a variety of digital and print magazines, she is a certified body language expert and has been on radio, television and podcasts. She is a history nerd, especially the Civil War, and adores making people laugh. You can find Tara at her website, or on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Writing coach of award-winning authors and Editor-in-Chief at Bold Vision Books, LARRY J. LEECH II has spent more than 40 years working with words. After a 23-year journalism career that began in 1981 and 2,300 published articles, Larry moved into freelance writing and editing in 2004. He has ghostwritten more than 30 books, edited more than 400 manuscripts, and taught at more than 100 general market and inspirational conferences nationwide. He can be found online on Facebook, Instagram, and his website.
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.
BETSY ST. AMANT HADDOX is the author of over twenty romance novels and novellas. She resides in 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 baby-talking her dog, Betsy can be found somewhere 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. Connect with Betsy on Instagram.
JANYRE TROMP is an award-winning veteran editor with more than twenty years of book publishing experience, spending time in both marketing and editorial. She is also the best-selling author of heart-shatteringly hope-filled historical supsense, including Darkness Calls the Tiger, Shadows in the Mind’s Eye, and Lovely Life. Currently she spends her days editing for both traditional publishers and indie authors, and her nights writing.
And that all happens from her unfinished basement when she’s not hanging out with her family, troublesome cats, and slightly eccentric dog. In case you’re wondering, you pronounce that first name Jan-air…kind of like the stove, but not like the book.
You can grab a free novella at her website and learn more about her editing at her Editing Insiders. You can also find her on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
CARRIE TURANSKY is the award-winning author of twenty-two inspirational novels and novellas and a winner of the ACFW Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the Holt Medallion. She loves traveling to England to research her Edwardian novels including A Token of Love, The Legacy of Longdale Manor, No Ocean Too Wide, and The Highland Hall series. Her novels have received starred reviews from Christianbooks.com and Library Journal, and they have been translated into several languages to be enjoyed by readers around the world. Learn more at her website, Facebook, and Instagram.
SARA TURNQUIST is a coffee lovin’, word slinging, clean Historical Romance author whose superpower is converting caffeine into novels. She is a hybrid author, having been traditionally published and indie published. Her favorite writing software is Scrivener, about which she teaches several workshops. Her books feature a wide range of time periods and locations. Please find out more at her website, Facebook, and YouTube.
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, and you can find her on Facebook at The Inspirational Regency Readers 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 her website and White Fire Publishing.
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 Historical Author in 2023 by Family Fiction Magazine, Karen has won multiple awards for her fiction, including the prestigious Christy and Carol Awards. 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. Visit Karen on her website, Facebook Group – The Posse, or Goodreads.