1. art and entertainment
2. books and literature

Visit the conference website at occwf.org
i
WELCOME
W
elcome to the Orange County Christian Writers’ Conference! Whether you’re
an established author, a new writer, or merely thinking about the possibility of
becoming one, we have information and networking opportunities here that can take
you to the next step on whatever path God has in mind for you.
We have gathered an amazing team of presenters, teaching on a variety of
topics that will help you improve your writing and find direction for what to do
with it. And you can meet one-on-one with the agent, publishers, and editors
on our faculty to discuss your writing goals and questions. You can also make connections with
fellow writers here that will provide mutual encouragement through sharing experiences.
I hope you enjoy the conference. And I hope you’ll come back for more next year!
Kathy Ide
Director of the Orange County Christian Writers’ Conference
www.KathyIde.com
ii
PROGRAM
Friday’s Schedule .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 2
Saturday’s Schedule.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Director’s Welcome Letter .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Workshop Descriptions .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5–8
Advisory Board Members .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Book Publishers/Agent.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9–10
Magazine Publishers.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Children’s & YA Authors.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Authors, Editors, Freelancers.. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 12
Consultation Guidelines .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Bookstore Guidelines .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 13
Map for First Floor .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Map for Second Floor .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Notes .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Brainstorm.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
My consultation appointment is scheduled at
Day/Time:
with
Visit the conference website at occwf.org
1
SCHEDULE
Friday April 24, 2015
Time Speaker Event
Room
5:30 – 6:15
Gwendolyn Crawford .. . . Registration/Meet & Greet .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Fellowship Hall
6:15 – 6:45
Antonio L. Crawford.. . . . . Welcome and General-Session Address .. . . . Fellowship Hall
6:45 – 7:15
Sharon Elliott.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1st Keynote Address.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fellowship Hall
7:15 – 7:30
Susan Osborn .. .. .. .. .. .. . Awards Ceremony .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fellowship Hall
7:30 – 8:00
Kathy Bruins .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . Worship thru the Arts—Drama.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Fellowship Hall
8:00 – 8:15
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BREAK.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appointments with Faculty Members.. . . . . . . . Fellowship Hall
8:15–9:15 FIRST WORKSHOP SESSIONS & CONSULTATIONS
R. Brumbaugh-Green.. . . Laughing All the Way .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 500A
Kim Bangs.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Q&A on the Publishing Industry.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .500BC
Aaron Gansky.. . . . . . . . . . . . . Digging for Originality.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .501
Susan Osborn .. .. .. .. .. .. . Tough Skin Critiques.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .502
Terry Burns .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Editor and Agent Pet Peeves .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .503
Mona Hodgson .. .. .. .. .. . Researching History for Story.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .505A
Kathi Macias.. .. .. .. .. .. .. . Creating Memorable Characters.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .505B
9:15 - 9:30 Kathy Ide.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Closing Address.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fellowship Hall
Saturday April 25, 2015
Time
Speaker Event
Room
8:00 – 9:00
Gwendolyn Crawford .. . . Registration/continental breakfast .. .. .. .. .. .. Fellowship Hall
9:00 – 9:15
Kathy Ide.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . Announcements.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fellowship Hall
9:15 – 9:45
Kathi Macias.. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 2nd Keynote Address .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fellowship Hall
9:45 – 10:00
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BREAK.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10–11:00 SECOND WORKSHOP SESSIONS & CONSULTATIONS
Mona Hodgson .. .. .. .. .. . Writing Nonfiction to Promote Your Fiction .. . . . . . .500A
R. Brumbaugh-Green.. . . Column Like You See ‘Em .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .501
Sharon Norris Elliott.. . . . . Breaking Your Book into Manageable Bites.. .. .. .. 502
Kim Bangs.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Show and Tell in Living Color.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .503
Kathy Bruins .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . Writing Scripts for Church.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .504
Susan King.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . Turning Personal Experience into a Devotional.. .. 505A
Donna Stanley .. . . . . . . . . . . Taking Your Novel to the Big Screen.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .505B
Appointments with Faculty Members.. . . . . . . . Fellowship Hall
11:00 - 11:15 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BREAK.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2
The OC Christian Writers Conference is under the operation of
the Crawford Irby International Foundation, a 501(c)3 corporation
SCHEDULE
11:15–12:15 THIRD WORKSHOP SESSIONS & CONSULTATIONS
Lane Etheridge .. .. .. .. .. . Changing Lanes: Book Your Lifestyle & Write Your Legacy .. 500A
Panel.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Today’s Publishing Options, with representatives from
Kim Bangs, Baker Publishing; Pete Niloai, WestBow Press; Dave Sheets, Believers’ Press; Aaron Gansky, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. 500BC
B. J. Taylor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Make $$$ Selling True, Inspirational Short Stories. .. .. .. .. . 501
Nikki Edwards .. .. .. .. .. .. . Writing for the Masses.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. . 502
Terry Burns .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . It’s Not My Job to Sell Your Manuscript! .. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. . 503
Nancy Sanders.. . . . . . . . . . . Picture Book Workshop .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. . 504
Alex Marestaing .. . . . . . . . . How to Start, and Finish, Your Novel Writing Adventure .. 505A
Appointments with Faculty Members.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fellowship Hall
12:15 – 12:30 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BREAK .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. ..
12:30 – 1:30
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LUNCH with FACULTY.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Fellowship Hall
1:30 – 1:45 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BREAK.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:45–2:45 FOURTH WORKSHOP SESSIONS & CONSULTATIONS
Kathy Bruins .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . Ghostwriting/Collaborating.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. 500A
Antonio Crawford .. . . . . . . Creating Your Six-Figure Marketing Plan.. . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. 500BC
Alex Marestaing .. . . . . . . . . Finding Success in YA/Middle Grade Markets.. . . . . .. .. .. .. . 501
Kim Bangs.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Women Writing for Women .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 502
Kathi Macias.. .. .. .. .. .. .. . The Train-of-Thought Writing Method .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. . 503
Nancy Sanders.. . . . . . . . . . . Stuck in the Mud .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. . 504
Mona Hodgson .. .. .. .. .. . Building an Arc: Your Character Needs One .. . . . . . . .. .. .. .. 505A
Susan Osborn .. .. .. .. .. .. . Writing Nonfiction with Fiction Techniques.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 505B
2:45 – 3:00
Appointments with Faculty Members.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fellowship Hall
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BREAK.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:00–4:00 FIFTH WORKSHOP SESSIONS & CONSULTATIONS
Aaron Gansky.. . . . . . . . . . . . . Honing Your Senses.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 500A
Tess Rutherford .. .. .. .. .. . Writing for Empowered Magazine.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. . 501
Dave Sheets.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Why the “Field of Dreams” Strategy Doesn’t Really Work .. . 502
B. J. Taylor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GPS for Writers: How to Get Where You Want to Go .. .. .. . 503
Donna Stanley .. . . . . . . . . . . What Makes a Good YA Fantasy? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 504
Edie Glaser.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . From Idea to Amazon: How to Self-Publish .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 505A
Sharon Norris Elliott.. . . . . The Ins, Outs, Ups, and Downs of Christian Speaking .. .. . 505B
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Appointments with Faculty Members.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fellowship Hall
4:00 – 4:15
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BREAK.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:15 – 4:30
R. Brumbaugh-Green.. . . Worship thru the Arts—Comedy.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fellowship Hall
4:30 – 4:45
Stephen B. Steward.. .. .. . Worship thru the Arts—Gospel .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fellowship Hall
4:45 – 5:00
Kathy Ide.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Closing Address.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fellowship Hall
Visit the conference website at occwf.org
3
MAKE AN IMPACT
PUBLISH YOUR BOOK
WestBow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan,
guides you through the publishing process and empowers
you with:
• Professional self-publishing assistance
• Editorial Standards established by parent
company, HarperCollins Christian Publishing
• Discovery opportunities
Call 1.866.928.1240
or visit www.WestBowPress.com/OCCWC to learn more.
SESSIONS
Friday 8:15 pm – 9:15 pm
Digging for Originality
Aaron Gansky
(F/NF, intermediate/advanced)
How many times have we “cried a river” or told our
wives their “beauty is like a rose?” Our society’s rife
with clichés, but our writing shouldn’t be. We’ll take
a look at how to avoid over-used figurative language and come up with original, impactful images.
Researching History for a Story
Mona Hodgson
(F, beginning/intermediate)
Historical research involves so much more than
digging into a setting or time period for historical
accuracy. Learn how to research the history of your
chosen setting and time period for characterization,
plotting, and so much more.
Tough Skin Critiques
Susan Titus Osborn
(F/NF, beginning)
The Discoverable Country: Q & A about the
Publishing Industry
Kim Bangs
F/NF, beginning/intermediate)
If this is your first writer’s conference, if you have
questions about the publishing world–questions
about getting started, what is involved, where it
could lead, etc., this workshop will help. We’ll break
the ice by discussing some common questions
about publishing and then taking questions from
workshop attendees. Equipping each person with a
better understanding of publishing which will assist
in making good choices along the way.
Laughing All the Way
Renae Brumbaugh-Green
(all writers, all levels)
Tired of dull, lifeless manuscripts? Weary from trying
to capture and keep readers’ attention, but not really
knowing how? Let bestselling author and award-winning humor columnist Renae Brumbaugh show you
solid, proven humor techniques that will add sizzle
and spark to a dry manuscript, and will leave your
readers and publishers begging for more.
Would you like to have your writing evaluated by an
expert in the field? Bring the first page of an article,
story, or book chapter you are working on, typed
and double-spaced. Submissions will be read aloud,
and you will receive feedback from the group as
well as the moderator. You will learn a great deal by
having your work critiqued as well is by critiquing
the work of others.
Writing Nonfiction to Promote Your Fiction
Mona Hodgson
(F, beginning/intermediate)
Creating Memorable Characters
Kathi Macias
(F, beginning)
Learn how and where to mine your stories for the
topics that could help you engage new readers
through nonfiction articles.
Using the model of the motivational gifts listed in
Romans 12, workshop attendees will learn how to
develop believable three-dimensional characters
that will bring a story to life and make a memorable
impression on readers.
Taking Your Novel to the Big Screen
Donna Stanley
(F, advanced)
Editor and Agent Pet Peeves
Terry Burns
(all writers, intermediate/advanced)
Are there things that can rub an editor or an agent
the wrong way and effect the success of a submission? You bet there are, and Terry has collected a
number of them in a program designed to help the
writer avoid some of the pitfalls
Saturday 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Find out if your book should be turned into a TV series or feature film. Learn how to network with people you already know to find someone in Hollywood
to get your story noticed and optioned. Find out
what elements make a book adaptable to film. If
you’ve haven’t written a book yet, discover the elements of story that are necessary to make your
fiction or nonfiction work marketable for the small
or big screen.
Visit the conference website at occwf.org
5
SESSIONS
Column Like You See ‘Em
Renae Brumbaugh-Green
(NF, beginning)
You may have heard that newspapers are a thing
of the past, but nothing could be further from the
truth—especially for small towns. Write for your local paper and you’ll build your resume, grow your
platform, and get a paycheck! Gather tips from experienced humor columnist, reporter, and best-selling author Renae Brumbaugh-Green.
Show and Tell in Living Color
Kim Bangs
(NF, beginning)
Telling = reporting facts; showing = an eyewitness
sharing the experience. Jesus used show and tell
throughout His ministry, and we can too! Writing
provides an opportunity to add color to the world
through the words used, the tone of those words and
how the words are blended. Come learn how natural
“color” is. It is within you. It cannot be stopped.
Turning Personal Experience into a Devotional
Susan King
(NF, all levels)
In this workshop, we will discuss the five essentials
for writing an effective devotional: Bible basis, authenticity, maintaining an exploratory tone, being
concrete and sensory, and achieving universality/
reader takeaway. Included will be information about
the devotional market in general as well as specialized writing for The Upper Room, the world’s largest
daily devotional guide.
Breaking Your Book into Manageable Bites
Sharon Norris Elliott
(all writers, all levels)
Bring a pack of sticky notes and your book idea
to this seminar. Leave with a manageable plan for
completion of your project and a great opening line
to use when you present your book to your prospective publisher.
Writing Scripts for Church
Kathy Bruins
(F, all levels)
Learn to write “real life” vignettes to use during
worship services to enhance the message, or for
other church events. Drama is a visual that impacts
congregations through the work of the Spirit. Kathy
Bruins has written scripts for her drama team for
over 20 years.
6
Saturday 11:15 pm – 12:15 pm
How to Start, and Finish, Your Novel Writing
Adventure
Alex Marestaing
(F, beginning/intermediate)
Writing a novel is a long journey, and without a
map it’s easy to get lost. This workshop is geared
towards writers who are serious about embarking
on, and completing, this journey. From inspiration
to destination, this class focuses on six key elements
of the novel writing process: planning, outlining,
writing, editing, pitching, and time management (so
that it can all get done). By sharing what’s worked
for him, and what hasn’t, Alex hopes that writers
will leave the class with a novel writing “roadmap”
of their own.
Make $$$ Selling True, Inspirational Short Stories
B. J. Taylor
(NF, intermediate)
Want to know the recipe for writing personal experience stories that sell? Don’t miss this class
taught by B.J. Taylor. She’s sold over 40 stories to
Chicken Soup for the Soul and many to Guideposts
and Angels on Earth. Find out her secrets and start
making money with your writing.
Writing for the Masses: How to Craft Your
Book to Create Crossover Appeal
Nikki Edwards
(F/NF, intermediate)
In this session, Nikki shares the secrets to creating
a book that impacts lives while also engaging as
many readers as possible. You will learn how to
teach principles through storytelling, thus capturing the reader from start to finish—regardless of
reading comprehension levels.
It’s Not My Job to Sell Your Manuscript!
Terry Burns
(all writers, beginning/intermediate)
WHAT? I thought that was the agent’s job? Actually
it works much better if authors and agents consider it our job to pitch and sell. In this session, Terry
walks the author through his “team approach” to
representing his clients and the close way his client
group works with him and with one another.
The OC Christian Writers Conference is under the operation of
the Crawford Irby International Foundation, a 501(c)3 corporation
Picture Book Workshop
Nancy Sanders
(all writers, all levels)
SESSIONS
Writing Nonfiction with Fiction Techniques
Susan Osborn
(NF, beginning)
Let’s have some fun and create a picture-book
dummy while learning the basics about the process of writing a picture book. From plot points to
main character to setting, you’ll write actual text for
a brand new picture book you work on during this
hands-on class.
Changing Lanes: Book Your Lifestyle and Write
Your Legacy
Lane Etheridge
(all writers, beginning/intermediate)
The reality is that books most likely won’t make you
a fortune but they can contribute to your legacy.
Leveraging your book will help you go from the most
overlooked to the most overbooked in your industry!
Panel on Today’s Publishing Options
Moderator: Kathi Macias
(all writers, all levels)
• Kim Bangs, Acquisition Editor at Baker Publishing, representing the big publishing house
• Aaron Gansky from Lighthouse Publishing of
the Carolinas, representing the small press
• Dave Sheets, President of Believers’ Press, representing the self-publishing option
• Pete Nikolai, Publisher at WestBow Press and
Director of Publishing Services for HarperCollins
Christian Publishing. representing both big publishers and self-publishing.
• Author, Kathi Macias has published through
each venue and will moderate the panel.
Saturday 1:45 pm – 2:45 pm
Building an Arc: Your Character Needs One
Mona Hodgson
(F, beginning)
To move a reader, the writer must first move a character—a character the reader cares about seeing
moved. Participants in this interactive workshop will
explore what causes a character to move or change,
and how to write that organic transformation into
the story.
Add interest to your nonfiction articles and books
by using good fiction techniques. Learn how to use
dialogue, characterization, and description effectively to develop mini-scenes and anecdotes.
The Train-of-Thought Writing Method
Kathi Macias
(NF, beginning)
Using her workbook by the same name, multi-published bestselling author will walk workshop attendees through this simple but effective writing method of taking an article/story/book idea from simple
conception to a publishable manuscript.
Ghostwriting/Collaborating
Kathy Bruins
(NF, advanced)
Being a ghostwriter/collaborator has its own set of
challenges in the writing process. Learn from Kathy
Bruins how to make the process run as smooth as
possible. She has been a ghostwriter/collaborator for
over ten years and has served dozens of clients by
helping them realize their dream of creating a book.
Women Writing for Women
Kim Bangs
(NF, all levels)
In this workshop we’ll talk about the key elements in
writing to women for transformative change in their
lives. Also offered is a brief conversation on writing a
proposal for a women’s book that is presented largely
to male decision makers.
Finding Success in YA & Middle Grade Markets
Alex Marestaing
(F, all levels)
This workshop will discuss trends in the youth market and will help you better understand why books
such as The Fault in Our Stars, The Hunger Games,
and Harry Potter have captivated a new generation
of readers and how you can shine your light in a
literary landscape that has become very dark in
the last decade. Learn how to use creative points
of view, pacing, and unique setting and character elements to draw readers into their tales. Also
hear how to enhance book proposals and projects
with 3D elements such as music, video, and web
components.
Visit the conference website at occwf.org
7
SESSIONS
Creating Your Six-Figure Marketing Plan
Antonio Crawford
(all writers, all levels)
To position your brand and book in the marketplace, you need a strategic marketing plan. The
right plan will help you integrate your ideas and
your promotional tactics into one single platform.
The Six Figure Marketing Plan uses a Lean approach
to help you build your marketing team, launch your
book, connect with your fans and own your space
in the information industry.
Stuck in the Mud
Nancy Sanders
(all writers, Intermediate/advanced)
Do you feel as if you’re wasting the talent God has
given you and not moving forward in your writing? Are you stuck in the mud? Come explore how
to balance three key ingredients in your writing
life to successfully fulfill your writing goals: Time
Management, Motivation, and Concrete Tasks.
Saturday 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
What Makes a Good YA Fantasy?
Donna Stanley
(F, beginning)
Young-adult fiction is a booming genre—and
it’s not only read by people under thirty! But
writing fantasy can be intimidating, with all
those alternate worlds, strange creatures, and
supernatural characters. Find out what makes
good YA fantasy and how to make it believable.
Honing Your Senses
Aaron Gansky
(F/NF, intermediate/advanced writers)
We’ve got five senses. We use them, but seldom
think about them. We’ll take some time to examine
all five senses and how they work together.
Writing for Empowered Magazine
Tess Rutherford
(NF, beginning)
In today’s publishing world, editors are looking for
writers to deliver well-researched, reader-targeted
articles on deadline. To make it in this market, you
want to learn how to identify a magazine’s editorial
8
needs and—most important—how to fill them. In
this workshop, you will learn what it takes to have
your article approved and published in Empowered
magazine.
Why the “Field of Dreams” Strategy Doesn’t
Really Work
Dave Sheets
(F/NF, beginning)
Building something doesn’t really mean that people
will show up to buy it. This is true for books, too.
Authors need to understand that building a marketing strategy BEFORE writing the book is key to
building the success AFTER the book is ready for
market. What should authors ask themselves? How
does an author build a marketing strategy?
GPS for Writers: How to Get Where You Want
to Go
B. J. Taylor
(NF, all levels)
Not sure if you are doing the right thing? Starting
at the right place? Missing something important on
your road to publication? Find out how B. J. Taylor
won a spot in the Guideposts writers’ workshop, has
earned over five-figures on selling her short stories,
came out with self-published books, one of which
was picked up by a royalty publisher, and continues to sell and make money. B.J. offers this practical
class designed to help YOU advance from your own
personal starting point to your desired destination.
From Idea to Amazon: How to Self-Publish
Edie Glaser
(all writers, all levels)
Discover the benefits and avoid the pitfalls of
self-publishing. You’ll learn the seven steps to creating a professional book and bringing it to market,
including editing, interior layout, book cover design, choosing your book title, buying an ISBN, and
best options for printing and distribution.
The Ins, Outs, Ups and Downs of Christian
Speaking
Sharon Norris Elliott
(all writers, all levels)
Learn how to blend the spiritual and professional
sides of Christian speaking. You’ll leave this seminar with practical tips to make you look and sound
like a pro, and you’ll understand the importance of
speaking if you plan to be a successful author.
The OC Christian Writers Conference is under the operation of
the Crawford Irby International Foundation, a 501(c)3 corporation
Advisory Board Members
Gwendolyn and Antonio L. Crawford are founders of the Crawford Irby International Foundation
and founders of the National Christian Writers
Conference. Gwendolyn is a property manager and
Antonio retired after serving 21 years in the Navy.
Antonio uses Lean Manufacturing principles to help
writers, authors, music artists, and speakers merge
conventional thinking, scientific thinking, systems
operations, and strategic performance to publish
their ideas in the marketplace.
Kathy Ide is the director of the OC Christian Writers’
Conference. She has published books, articles,
play scripts, short stories, devotionals, and Sunday
school curriculum. She is also a full-time freelance
editor, proofreader, and mentor for new writers, established authors, and book publishers. She speaks
at writers’ conferences across the country. Kathy
is the founder and director of The Christian PEN:
Proofreaders and Editors Network and the Christian
Editor Network.
Kathi Macias is a multi-award-winning author
of more than 40 books and serves as Senior Vice
President of Acquisitions for Elk Lake Publishers.
She won the 2008 Member of the Year award
from Advanced Writers/Speakers Association and
was the 2011 BooksandAuthors.net Author of the
Year. Her novel set in China, Red Ink, was named
Golden Scrolls 2011 Novel of the Year and was also
a Carol Award finalist. Her October 2012 release,
Unexpected Christmas Hero, was named Book of
the Year by BooksandAuthors.net. Kathi is a wellknown speaker and lives in Southern California with
her husband, Al.
Susan Titus Osborn (see Book Publishers)
Edie Glaser has self-published an award-winning children’s book and works as a freelance
editor and interior formatter of Christian nonfiction books for all ages that bring God’s message
of hope, love, and truth to the world through
clear, persuasive, honest writing. She helps writers at all stages of development, and especially
enjoys working with new authors.
Book Publishers, Agents
Kim Bangs
Acquisition Editor, Baker Publishing Group, Bethany
and Chosen Division
In 2014 Kim Bangs joined the Baker Publishing
Group as senior acquisitions editor for the Bethany
and Chosen divisions. Her new position is preceded
by twenty-five years with Gospel Light/Regal. She
served as an editor in the Children’s Curriculum
Department at Gospel Light for five years. She
served on staff of a local church plant until 1994.
Upon returning to Gospel Light, Kim joined Regal
Books as an administrative assistant to the editorial
director. Her last position with Regal was publishing director. In 2012 Kim was honored by AWSA as
Nonfiction Editor of the Year. Kim can be found at
several writers’ conferences throughout the year,
teaching, inspiring, and encouraging writers. Kim
enjoys baking, gardening, Disneyland, and sports …
but loves Jesus and His Church.
Terry Burns
Literary Agent for Hartline
Terry has been with the Hartline Literary Agency
for over twelve years, six years as an agent, and
has a substantial list of clients, a growing list of
credits, and a reputation for presenting to conferences all over the country. Terry comes from
a writing background, has over 40 books of his
own in print, most recently co-writing Writing in
Obedience with editorial assistant Linda Yezak,
a Young Adult book entitled Beyond the Smoke
that won the Will Rogers Medallion, and a book
on the skills needed to get published entitled A
Writer’s Survival Guide to Publication that was developed out of the month-long course he held for
ACFW. Terry is also a member of the Association of
Author’s Representatives (AAR).
Visit the conference website at occwf.org
9
FACULTY
Book Publishers, cont’d
Aaron Gansky
Representing Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas
In addition to being a loving father and husband,
Aaron Gansky is an author, novelist, editor, mentor,
teacher, and podcast host. In 2009, he earned his
MFA in fiction at the prestigious Antioch University
of Los Angeles, one of the top five low-residency
writing schools in the nation. Prior to that, he attained his bachelor of arts degree in English with an
emphasis in creative writing, studying in part under
Bret Anthony Johnston, now the director of creative
writing at Harvard University. Aaron’s first novel, The
Bargain (Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas),
was released in December 2013. His YA fantasy is
forthcoming from Brimstone Fiction. He has written
two books on the craft of writing fiction: Firsts in
Fiction: First Lines and Write to Be Heard (with Diane
Sherlock).
Renae Brumbaugh-Green
Representing Armonia Publishers
Renae is a two-time bestselling author, award-winning humor columnist, editor, and freelance writer.
To date, she’s published fifteen books and contributed to more than a dozen compilations, has sold
hundreds of articles, and has edited for a major
publishing house and for some best-selling authors.
She is married to Rick, a fellow teacher and musician, and they have four children, two dogs, and
a dozen or so chickens. They also provide a home
for several species they’d rather not claim, such as
snakes and armadillos.
BelieversPress is a custom publishing services
provider. We are not a traditional royalty
publisher. We work with authors all over the
world to create beautiful, high quality, custom
books. We help authors launch the book to a
broad consumer audience (including retail).
The author becomes the publisher. We are
the publishing/promotional team that gets
them there. Our clients consist of speakers,
ministry leaders and business leaders, and we
don’t cut corners. We’d love to put our team to
work for you.
10
Pete Nikolai
Publisher of WestBow Press and Director of Publishing Services for Harper Collins Christian Publishing
Pete Nikolai has been in the book publishing business for over twenty years, working in a variety of
roles including sales, product development, and
management for Thomas Nelson Publishers (a
division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing). He is
the co-author of Write Your Book and the Publisher
of WestBow Press, the self-publishing services
division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan, which
he has managed since overseeing its launch in 2009.
Susan Titus Osborn
Representing New Hope Publishers
Susan is the director of the Christian Communicator
Manuscript Critique Service where she heads a staff
of 18 editors. She has authored over 30 books.
Susan is a member of the CLASSeminars staff,
Christian Authors Network, and Advanced Christian
Writers and Speakers. At conferences she represents
New Hope Publishers
Dave Sheets
President, Believers Press
Dave Sheets is a book industry veteran with
experience with some of the top publishers and
distributors in the industry, including Tyndale House
Publishers, Multnomah Publishers, STL Distribution,
and Harvest House. In 2008, David was named as
one of Christian Retailing Magazine’s ‘Top 40 under
40,’ in which CRM identified 40 individuals under
the age of 40 “who are widely considered to be
influential figures for the days ahead in the Christian
product industry.” From traditional publishing,
Dave transitioned to independent publishing, first
serving authors through a revolutionary digital print
solutions company called Snowfall Press, which later
led to a new printer called BookPrintOnDemand.
com, a full service print-on-demand company.
In September 2013, Dave became President of
BelieversPress, an eleven-year-old indie-publishing
company.
The OC Christian Writers Conference is under the operation of
the Crawford Irby International Foundation, a 501(c)3 corporation
FACULTY
Magazine Publishers
Sharon Norris Elliott
Keynote Speaker
Representing Gospel Roads Online Magazine
Sharon is an award-winning author, speaker, and astute Bible teacher, who encourages everyone to live
a life that matters. The latest of her nine published
adult titles are Boomerangs to Arrows: A Godly Guide
for Launching Young Adult Children, and Power Suit:
The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame. She’s
also very excited about the launch of I Really Need
to Know, her children’s series, debuting its first
title Why I Get Into Trouble. She also serves as editor-in-chief of Gospel Roads online magazine, and
is CEO of AuthorizeMe®, her consulting, coaching,
and editing service.
Susan King
Associate Editor, The Upper Room
Susan King has taught English at Lipscomb
University (Nashville, TN) for 20 years and functions as a seminar facilitator in leadership and
group dynamics. Formerly, she taught English
and feature-writing classes at Biola University and
Abilene Christian University, served as book editor
and radio-program producer/on-air talent for The
Institute of Scriptural Psychology, and wrote magazine features as a freelance writer.
Tess Rutherford
Publisher: Empowered Magazine
Tess is the founder and publisher of Empowered
Magazine, an ordained minister, a master in ministry student, and author of Handle Your Emotions
God’s Way. She has been a featured guest on NBC
in Fresno, CA, a featured speaker on several Blog
Talk Radio shows, and a guest speaker on Bella
Petite Magazine radio show. Her passion is to help
others fulfill their greatest potential.
B. J. Taylor
Representing Guideposts, Angels on Earth, and
Mysterious Ways magazines
B.J. Taylor, an award-winning author, turns personal
experiences into stories that sell. She’s been published more than forty times in Chicken Soup for
the Soul as well as in Guideposts, Angels on Earth,
John Gray’s Mars and Venus in Love, Writer’s Digest,
Romantic Homes, Victorian Homes, and many other publications. Her latest book is Charlie Bear:
What a Headstrong Rescue Dog Taught Me about
Life, Love, and Second Chances. B.J. also compiled
her own stories, plus the riveting stories of others,
into Sunny Side Up: Inspirational Stories for Tough
Times/Women/Dog & Cat Lovers. B.J. also authored
a resource product for writers: The Complete Guide
to Writers Groups that Work.
Children’s & YA Authors
Alex Marestaing
Author Alex Marestaing has worked on creative
projects for media outlets such as The Walt Disney
Company, Lego, Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins
and The Los Angeles Times. Alex’s latest YA novel,
I’m Nobody: The Lost Pages received an honorable
mention at the London Book Festival and was nominated as a finalist for the 2014 Epic Awards by the
Electronic Publishing Industry Coalition. Beyond the
youth market, he’s written a wide variety of nationally published articles and has covered soccer in
Europe and the U.S. for Sports Spectrum Magazine
and Yanks Abroad.
Nancy I. Sanders
Nancy is the bestselling and award-winning children’s author of nearly 100 books with publishers
big and small, including Zonderkidz’ new Get to
Know series of First Biographies for Kids: Jesus,
Mary, Apostle Paul, and King David. Her how-to
books for children’s writers give practical tips, cando strategies, and an insider’s perspective on the
world of publishing so you can move forward with
confidence along the path God has called you to
walk in your own personal journey as a writer.
Donna Stanley
Donna is the author of New Wings, a YA supernatural/paranormal fantasy story that skyrocketed
to the number-one best-selling book on Amazon
three months after its release in May of 2013. New
Wings has been adapted into a screenplay titled The
Beautiful Unseen and is currently in preproduction.
Visit the conference website at occwf.org
11
FACULTY
AUTHORS, EDITORS, FREELANCERS
Mona Hodgson
Kathi Macias
Keynote Speaker
Kathi Macias serves as Senior Vice President of
Acquisitions for Elk Lake Publishers. A wife, mother,
grandmother, and great-grandmother, as well as a
multi-award-winning author of more
Kathy Bruins
Kathy Bruins believes everyone has a story to tell.
She walks with her clients and tells their stories
through her writing. She has several books, articles
and screenplays published. Her latest books are A
Season of God’s Daily Influence and Fearless Book
Proposals co-written with Kim de Blecourt. Kathy
encourages the sharing of truth through her speaking and drama ministry. She is an advocate in raising awareness on the issue of human trafficking,
and in finding a cure for breast cancer.
Edie Glaser
Edie Glaser edits and designs books that bring
God’s message of hope, love, and truth to the world
through clear, persuasive, honest writing. She works
with writers at all stages of development and especially enjoys working with new authors who need
encouragement and direction to get their first book
published.
Her specialties include ghostwriting, developmental editing, and book coaching of nonfiction books:
exposition, self-help, devotionals, inspirational, etc.
Thank you
Coffee Bean
& Tea Leaf
Born and brewed
in Southern
California since
1963, The Coffee
Bean & Tea Leaf®
delivers the taste
and aroma of
the world’s best
coffees and teas.
12
for your generous coffee
and tea donation
on Friday night!
205 Orangefair Ave,
at Harbor Blvd.
Fullerton - 714-447-4160
Mona is the author of nearly 40 books: historical
novels for adults and children’s books, including
her popular Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series,
The Quilted Heart novellas, and Prairie Song. Her
children’s books include bestseller, Bedtime in
the Southwest, Real Girls of the Bible: A 31-Day
Devotional. six desert and princess Zonderkidz I Can
Read books, six I Wonder books, and more. Mona’s
writing credits also include several hundred articles,
poems and short stories, which have appeared in 50
different publications. Mona is a speaker for women’s groups, book clubs, reading groups, schools,
and conferences for writers and librarians.
Kathy Ide
Kathy Ide has published books, articles, play scripts,
short stories, devotionals, and Sunday school curriculum. Her latest book is Proofreading Secrets of
Best-Selling Authors (Lighthouse Publishing of the
Carolinas, January 2014). The second book in this
series, Editing Secrets of Best-Selling Authors, is
scheduled for release in 2015. Kathy is also a fulltime freelance editor and writing mentor for new
writers, established authors, and book publishers.
She is the founder and director of The Christian
PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network and the
Christian Editor Connection. She speaks at writers’
conferences across the country.
Nikki Edwards
Born and raised in the South, Nikki is the daughter of a pastor and furthered her education and
spiritual development at Mount Vernon Nazarene
University, before moving on to law school and
graduate school. She is the proud mother of an 18
year old son—her self-acclaimed greatest creation.
Nikki has written for some of the most prolific authors on the Amazon Best Seller list, is a regular
contributor to Inc Magazine and just recently ghostwrote a book published via HarperCollins in March
2015.
Her specialties include ghostwriting, proofreading,
developmental editing and writing coaching.
The OC Christian Writers Conference is under the operation of
the Crawford Irby International Foundation, a 501(c)3 corporation
GUIDELINES
Consultation Guidelines
If you signed up for a consultation when you registered, you have been scheduled to meet with a faculty
member for a 15-minute appointment during the conference. These consultations were scheduled on a
first-come, first-served basis, based on when both registration and payment were received. We did our
best to put you with one of your designated choices. If that was not possible, we connected you with a
faculty member we believe would be a good fit for you.
• All appointments will be held in the Fellowship Hall / main auditorium.
• Check the consultation board for your prescheduled appointments. Write down your appointed
time and faculty on page 1 of this program.
• Locate the faculty member you have an appointment with using the name signs on the tables.
• If you have not yet signed up for an appointment, you can do so during registration times.
• If there are still available time slots, you can sign up on the board for one more appointment
beginning at 9:45 a.m. Saturday morning.
• Arrive at least five minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time. Wait near the back of the
Fellowship Hall.
• It is okay and expected that you will leave a workshop early and/or arrive late (or skip a workshop
session entirely) to go to an appointment (the workshops are all being recorded and will be
available for purchase). You may want to sit in the back or near a door if you know you will leave
in the middle of a session.
• Appointments are fifteen minutes: A two-minute warning bell will ring at thirteen minutes. At the
two-minute warning, you may go to your faculty member’s table and linger where the faculty
member can see you.
• Another bell will ring at fifteen minutes. After this second bell rings, if the previous conferee
hasn’t started leaving, make your presence known to the faculty member or signal the
consultation monitor to help.
Bookstore Guidelines
Our conference bookstore offers a variety of publications that have been written and/or recommended
by members of our faculty. We encourage you to stop by inside the Fellowship Hall at any time (except
during general sessions). The bookstore will close at 5:00 on Saturday.
We accept cash, checks, or credit cards. Make all checks payable to Crawford Irby Intl. Foundation
If you would like an autograph for a book you’ve purchased, feel free to ask the faculty member who
wrote the book during a break-time or at your consultation appointment. (Please do not approach faculty
members before they teach a workshop or lead a general session … or in the restroom.)
Visit the conference website at occwf.org
13
First Floor
CONFER
FIRST FLOOR
500 A, B/C
14
The OC
Christian
Conference
is under
the501
operation
of
Crawford
IrbyWriters
International
Foundation
(CIIF)
(c)3
the Crawford P.O.
Irby International
Foundation,
a
501(c)3
corporation
Box 1458, National City, CA 91951
www.CrawfordIrbyIntlFoundation.org
14
ENCE MAP
Second Floor
SECOND FLOOR
501–504
505A, 505B
Visit the conference
website
at occwf.org
Crawford Irby
International
Foundation (CIIF) 501 (c)3
P.O. Box 1458, National City, CA 91951
www.CrawfordIrbyIntlFoundation.org
15
1
NOTES
16
The OC Christian Writers Conference is under the operation of
the Crawford Irby International Foundation, a 501(c)3 corporation
BRAINSTORM
Visit the conference website at occwf.org
17
Christian Writers’ Acadamy Is Coming Soon
Sign up for announcements at occwf.org
himself gave the apostles, the
“ Christ
prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and
teachers, to equip his people for works of
service, so that the body of Christ may be
built up.
~ Ephesians 4:11–12
Seeker
Review some of our
courses and webinars.
Seed
Have a message to
share? Not sure what
to do next? Learn the
foundational skills, set
realistic goals, and be
encouraged and equipped
by writers in all levels.
Bud
Have a completed
manuscript? Learn how
to polish the prose and
professionally present
your message for agent
review or learn how to
self-publish and start
selling.
”
Harvest
Have a published
book? Join mastermind
sessions and learn from
top experts on advanced
strategies for expanding
your community of
readers and ministry
income.