For information on how to view recorded webinars, contact the FHLCW VP.
January 2019
Using a Kanban Board to Increase Productivity with Sherri Shackelford
A Kanban board is a way to visualize workflow. Goals are broken down into tasks which are organized by ‘waiting’, ‘in-progress’ and ‘completed.’ In this class, Sherri will demonstrate the basics of organizing a Kanban board, and how the board can be personalized for individual use. Visualizing workflow is an excellent way for authors to stay focused on the tasks at hand while ‘parking’ tasks that can distract from the primary goal. The boards can be as simple or as complex as needed for the user. While Kanban boards are available as computer programs, Sherri will be using the old-fashioned method of a dry erase board and post-it notes. By the end of the class, participants will have an overview of how to use a basic Kanban board to increase productivity.
February 2019
Serious about Series: Tips on Writing a Seriously Good Fiction Series with Sarah Sundin
Every author loves to hear, “I can’t wait for your next novel!” One way to build anticipation is with a book series. In this workshop, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of writing a series. We’ll look at how to connect the novels to build a sense of community and familiarity for your reader. We’ll discuss how to maintain consistency within a series. And we’ll look at ways to provide contrast by varying plot, character, and setting within the series. You can create a series that grips your readers and won’t let them go!
March 2019
Contest Strategies for Your Unpublished Manuscript with Tina Radcliffe
The contest season is upon us. This workshop for published and published authors will assist you to strategize your contesting for 2019. Not all contests are created equal. Find out how to give your manuscript the best chance of meeting your contest goals and get the biggest bang for your buck!
April 2019
For Whom the Edits Toll with Zoe McCarthy
Participants in Zoe M. McCarthy’s webinar, “For Whom the Edits Toll” will learn self-editing tips in four important areas of their stories. They’ll learn ways to strengthen their scene openings, give their readers more intimacy with their characters, get rid of wordiness, and add clarity to their paragraphs. Zoe’s workshop provides a taste of the tips and methodologies she shares in her book, Tailor Your Fiction Manuscript in 30 Days.
May 2019
10 Ways Authors can use Instagram to Create a Hungry Following with Veronica Stowe
Veronica will share these 10 tips:
-The one thing everyone misses when setting up Instagram for the first time
-How to use Instagram Stories to your benefit
-These 3 tools to automate your efforts
-Using Influencers to beef up your following
-These tiny marketing tricks that can bring you sales
-What you should be posting instead of your food
…and more!
August 2019
Extreme Survival Skills for Writers with Becky Wade
At some point in every writer’s journey, she will come up against the ‘joy stealers’ of comparison, discouragement, stress, and burnout. Joy stealers are real and dangerous. They can detour writers, end ministries, and steal away a writer’s love of her calling. Becky will provide you testimonies from longtime writers who’ve dealt with these issues, along with Biblical encouragement, and practical tips for combatting the joy stealers.
September 2019
Time-Saving Programs for Writers with Theresa Lynn Hall
Do you wish you had more time to write? Or time to organize the research for the new book you are dying to start? There are many apps and programs out there designed for the business world that writers can utilize to help save time. You’ll learn about LiveBinder, Google Drive, OneNote, Google Docs, Pocket, Ulysses and even discover a few you may not have heard of before. Theresa will show you how to save time formatting blog posts and how to make Markdown editing work for you. Whether you’re an expert with computers or just learning, this webinar is for everyone. Handouts will be provided, as well as slideshows for accessing the “How-to” portion if you need troubleshooting later. Join us for this exciting webinar that will help you free up more time to write your book.
October 2019
Marketing-Working Smarter not Harder with Special Guest Speaker Chris Syme
Chris has 20+ years of experience in marketing and is a former university media relations director and adjunct professor. Chris is the founder of SMART Marketing For Authors–a media company that specializes in training books and online classes for indie authors. In this Zoom presentation, Chris will highlight how to streamline and customize your marketing strategies to sell more books and build raving fans with an emphasis on less is more.
November 2019
Creativity from the Chaos with Allen Arnold
Writers love throwing chaos at their characters. But as artists, chaos can derail us. Rather than being used by chaos, discover how to use it as your canvas for a creative breakthrough. For every writer who has ever felt overwhelmed, defeated, or in a holding pattern, this workshop will calm your heart and jumpstart your art. Allen Arnold is the Director of Content & Resources with Ransomed Heart Ministries. His mission is to awaken the hearts of people to pursue their life and art actively and intimately with God. Join us for what promises to be a workshop you won’t forget.
January 2020
Write That Book! with Allie Pleiter
Do you feel like you can never find the time to write? Have you been chipping away at the same manuscript forever without much progress? Do you need a system that can get you to typing “The End” with success and satisfaction? Wrangling a fickle muse to meet a deadline—or just to get rid of that looming blank page—is a life-skill for everyone who wants to get serious about their writing.
Allie Pleiter, the bestselling author of over 40 books, shares the nuts and bolts of how to manage your muse. You’ll learn how to set goals and deadlines that reflect your personal writing style and speed — and smart ways to get faster when you need it.
Join the thousands of other writers who have mastered the writing process using Pleiter’s popular Chunky Method. With a useful mix of the practical, the inspirational, and the nitty-gritty real life of it all, this workshop gives aspiring or working writers the tools they need to make the magic happen.
Award-winning bestselling author Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction working on as many as four books at a time.She teaches writers how to be consistently, dependably productive. The author of over 40 published titles Allie has spent two decades in the publishing profession with over 1.4 million books sold worldwide.In addition to her own writing career, Allie maintains an active writing productivity coaching practice and speaks regularly on faith, the creative process, women’s issues, and her very favorite topic—The Chunky Method of time management.
February 2020
Productivity and the Modern Writer with Tanya Stowe
Most of us know the familiar time-sucks that can derail our concentration, like ringing phones, Tweets, Facebook and Amazon shopping. But did you know that some things can actually steal your ability to produce? With the advent of social media, and more and more “time-saving apps,” there’s a whole new list of assailants sneaking in the back door and draining our productivity. Fractured focus and decision fatigue are just two of the productivity thieves that crawl under the radar.
In this program, writers will learn best practices from experts on media filtering, block timing, relaxation techniques, how to choose the right planner and ways to find the one thing that will keep you on track.
Tanya Stowe is an author of Christian Fiction with an unexpected edge. She fills her stories with the unusual … mysteries and exotic adventures, even a murder or two. No matter where Tanya takes you … on a trip to new lands or a suspenseful journey filled with danger … be prepared for the extraordinary.
March 2020
From Press Releases to Pitches: Keys to Marketing Your Book to the Media with Liz Johnson
Spreading the word about your book can be just as stressful as writing it. It doesn’t have to be.
The media used to welcome the opportunity to cover new book releases. But over the last 25 years, media coverage for authors has dwindled. So how’s an author supposed to spread the word about their books beyond social media and digital marketing? Whether you write fiction or nonfiction, Liz will help you identify key ways to position your message to reach the right media audiences.
She’ll help you:
– Identify your book’s unique angles
– Research and target the most promising media outlets
– Perfect your two key tools—press release and pitch
– Prepare to support and maximize your publicist’s efforts
Whether you’re traditionally or independently published, you’ll gain the tools to position yourself for maximum media coverage when the time is right.
By day Liz Johnson is a marketing manager. She is the author of more than a dozen novels, a New York Times bestselling novella, and a handful of short stories. She’s a Christy Award finalist and a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. She makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona, where she enjoys exploring local music, theater, and doting on her nieces and nephews. She writes stories of true love filled with heart, humor, and happily ever afters.
April 2020
Military Fiction Misconceptions with Becca Whitham
The military life comes with its own set of rules and regulations, and many times writers of both books and movies get wrong. A military wife and mom, Becca will expose her top ten military misconceptions, the ones she sees repeatedly. She’ll give you the differences among army, navy, air force, and marines. She’ll explain military protocol. And most importantly, she’ll give resources about where to go to get the truth if you want to write with a military character.
Becca Whitham (WIT-um) Award-winning author, paper crafter, and Army wife, Becca and her twelve-foot long craft cabinet follow her husband of thirty-five years wherever the army needs a good chaplain. She thinks the cabinet should count as a dependent. So far, neither the army nor the IRS is convinced. In between moves from one part of the country to the other, she writes stories combining faith and fiction that touch the heart. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America.
May 2020
Playing Well With Others with Kimberley Woodhouse
How to successfully and gracefully co-author novels and write for collections. Covering all the facets of co-authoring and the different approaches, what you need to look for in a writing partner, and how to work with other authors in series’ and collections, this webinar will prepare you for the fun of working collaboratively.
Kimberley Woodhouse is the best-selling author of more than twenty books who loves the JOY of story. A lover of history and research, she often gets sucked into the past and then her husband has to lure her out with chocolate. She’s spoken to more than 1.5 million people at more than 2,000 venues and has taught the craft of writing around the country. Married to the love of her life for twenty-five plus years, she makes her home in Montana.
August 2020 Special Speaker
FHL Presents An Evening with Liz Curtis Higgs. An Encourager.
Join us for a from the heart chat with an encourager. Don’t miss this opportunity to fill your well, a crucial part of writer self-care.
Liz Curtis Higgs is the author of 37 books with 4.6 million copies in print, including her nonfiction bestsellers, Bad Girls of the Bible, The Girl’s Still Got It, and The Women of Christmas, and her award-winning Scottish historical novels, including Whence Came a Prince, A Wreath of Snow, and Mine Is the Night, a New York Times bestseller. Liz has spoken at more than 1,800 Christian conferences in all 50 states and 15 foreign countries. She also serves as Director of the Women’s Ministry Team at her church in Louisville, Kentucky, where she lives with her husband, Bill.
September 2020
Writing a Time-Slip Novel with Jaimie Jo Wright
Jumping back and forth in time as a fiction writer can be slippery. From stylistic elements that match different time periods, to pacing, to how to hold a reader’s attention in both time lines, a novel can either move like a well-crafted cinematic experience or become duller than a tome from the dusty archives. So how does a writer accomplish telling parallel stories while retaining the integrity of a well-crafted novel? Learn how research, vernacular, music beats, and colors all play a part in slipping through time without slipping off the shelf.
Jaime Jo Wright is winner of the Christy, Carol, Daphne du Maurier, and INSPY Awards. She’s also the Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of three novellas. Jaime works as a human resources director in Wisconsin, where she lives with her husband and two children.
October 2020
Top Six Productivity Myths You Should Stop Believing Right Now with Becca Syme
In this workshop, Becca will cover the most common struggles in author productivity and some of the methods of fixing your system.
January 2021
Staying Organized During the Chaos of Writing a Novel with Robin Lee Hatcher
Chaos is often a good description of a novelist’s life. A writer must keep track of plot, characters, productivity, and much more while also trying to stay on top of life in general. In nearly forty years as a writer, Robin has developed a number of techniques and strategies to help her stay organized even in the midst of chaos. This workshop will look at many of the tools she uses or has used to organize her characters from book to book, to make sure her imaginary world comes to life, and to keep herself as productive and positive as possible.
Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of 82 novels and novellas with over five million copies of her books in print. She is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. Her numerous awards include the RITA® Award, the Carol Award, the Christy Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award. Robin is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America®. When not writing, she enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, Bible art journaling, reading books that make her cry, watching romantic movies, and decorative planning. Robin makes her home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with a demanding Papillon dog and a persnickety tuxedo cat.
February 2021
Creating Memorable Characters with Kate Breslin
Are your hero and heroine larger than life? Sympathetic? Believable? Join award-winning author Kate Breslin for a Zoom workshop on how to develop complex, engaging characters in your work of fiction that will invest readers in the journey and keep them turning the pages. Kate will share her toolkit of experience: building great story conflict, honing point of view, creating good dialog, and establishing strong motivation in order to breathe new life into your story cast. Hand-outs will be available to print. For beginner/intermediate level writers.
Former bookseller-turned-author Kate Breslin enjoys life in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and family. A writer of travel articles and award-winning poetry, Kate’s first novel, For Such A Time, was shortlisted for both the Christy and RITA awards, and won American Christian Fiction Writers 2015 Carol Award for Debut Novel. Kate’s fourth novel, Far Side of the Sea, released in March 2019. When she’s not writing inspirational fiction, Kate enjoys reading or taking long walks in Washington’s beautiful woodlands. She also likes traveling to new places, both within the U.S. and abroad, having toured Greece, Rome, and most of Western Europe. New destinations make for fresh story ideas!
March 2021
Podcasting for Writers with Sarah Hamaker
In late 2020, 104 million people listened to one of the 1.5 million podcasts available, up from 32% in 2019, according to Infinite Dial 20. Why will podcasts continue to be one of the hottest forms of media in 2021? Podcasts offer bite-sized chunks of information perfect for drive time and busy routines. In this webinar, author and podcaster Sarah Hamaker will discuss how to start your own podcast as well as tips on how to be a good guest on a podcast.
Sarah Hamaker has been spinning stories since she was a child. While she’s had two traditionally published nonfiction books (Hired@Home and Ending Sibling Rivalry), her heart is writing romantic suspense. Her latest book, Illusion of Love, came out in the fall. You can find a list of her books, listen to her podcast, “The Romantic Side of Suspense.”
APRIL 2021
Designing Your Own Book Cover with Angela Hunt
So, you’re thinking about indie publishing and you need a cover. Whether or not you attempt to create your own, your cover still must WORK. What are the guidelines that govern the creation of a good book cover? Veteran Angela Hunt, who traditionally and independently publisher her work, will teach us those guidelines and principles in this hour-long class.
Christy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who expect the unexpected in novels. With over five million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 150 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to non-fiction books, to novels.
Her books have won the coveted Christy Award, several Angel Awards from Excellence in Media, and the Gold and Silver Medallions from Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year Award. In 2007, her novel The Note was featured as a Christmas movie on the Hallmark channel. Romantic Times Book Club presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers in 2019.
MAY 2021
Write Your Novel From the Middle: A New Approach for Plotters, Pantsers and Everyone in Between with James Scott Bell
Based on the #1 bestselling writing book, this workshop will teach you a unique method for crafting a powerful, unified novel by way of the “mirror moment” — a crucial beat that happens right in the middle of great and enduring stories. From several examples you’ll learn:
- How to discover the true heart of your novel
- How that knowledge brings both beginning and end into focus
- How this method can be used at any time during the writing process
Have your WIP handy as there will be exercises.
JAMES SCOTT BELL is a winner of the International Thriller Writers Award and the author of the #1 bestseller for writers, Plot & Structure (Writer’s Digest Books). His thrillers include Romeo’s Rules, Romeo’s Way and Romeo’s Hammer (the Mike Romeo thriller series); Try Dying, Try Darkness and Try Fear (the Ty Buchanan legal thriller series); and stand-alones including Your Son Is Alive and Final Witness (which won the first Christy Award for Suspense).He served as the fiction columnist for Writer’s Digest magazine and has written several popular writing books, including Just Write, Conflict & Suspense, and The Art of War for Writers (all from Writer’s Digest Books). He’s also published How to Write Dazzling Dialogue, Write Your Novel From the Middle, Super Structure, and How to Make a Living as a Writer. Links to all his writing books may be found HERE.
Jim has taught writing at Pepperdine University and at numerous writers conferences in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver, and graduated with honors from the University of Southern California Law Center.
A former trial lawyer, Jim now writes and speaks full time. He appeared as an expert commentator on Good Morning America, CBS radio, and in Newsweek magazine during the O. J. Simpson murder trial. His book on search and seizure law is the leading authority in its field, used extensively by lawyers and judges throughout California every day. He lives in Los Angeles.
JUNE 2021
Learn About Book Brush with Kathleen Sweeney
Join Kathleen Sweeney from Book Brush for a fun live walk-through of the Book Brush tools. Get ready to embrace the marketing side of writing & see why authors say Book Brush saves them both time and money!
Learn how easy it is to use Book Brush to create your own eye-catching marketing images, design book covers and all things social media. Plus explore video effects, create Box Set images and more! Kathleen will share handy tips & tricks along the way and have time for Q & A, too.
Kathleen is the Manager of Marketing and Customer Service at Book Brush. She has over 19 years of client service and business assurance experience. She thoroughly enjoys working with authors and helping them create eye-catching images. She lives in central Illinois with her husband and three busy boys. Her hobbies include reading and turning socks right side out.
AUGUST 2021
HOW I USE SCRIVENER TO WRITE MY NOVELS with Robin Lee Hatcher
Robin under-utilized Scrivener for several years, intimidated by its many features. Even so, it improved her writing life. So she persisted in exploring the application until she began to find the ways Scrivener worked best for her and her writing life. In this workshop she’ll share some of the ways she used Scrivener in the past and the way she’s using it now. Then she’ll take questions and explore the application with attendees. [Note: Robin uses the Mac version and there are some differences with the Windows version.]
Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of 83 novels and novellas with over six million copies of her books in print. She is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. Her numerous awards include the RITA® Award, the Carol Award, the Christy Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Reader’s Choice Award, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award. Robin is also the recipient of prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America®. When not writing, she enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, Bible art journaling, reading books that make her cry, watching romantic movies, and decorative planning. Robin makes her home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with a demanding Papillon dog and a persnickety tuxedo cat.
September 2021
AUTHOR PANEL with Tamera Alexander, Robin Lee Hatcher, Becky Wade, and Karen Witemeyer
Join four of FHL’s amazing authors as they answer questions and talk about their writing process and journey. Tamera Alexander (Colors of Truth), Robin Lee Hatcher (Make You Feel My Love), Becky Wade (Let it Be Me), and Karen Witemeyer (The Heart’s Change) will join us to for an evening of enlightenment and encouragement, a time of learning and laughter. They will answer questions and talk openly about their triumphs and pitfalls, about why they write, and maybe even share some secrets.
USA Today bestselling author Tamera Alexander is one of today’s most popular writers of inspirational historical romance. Her novels continue to garner reader loyalty around the world, with her most recent, Colors of Truth, hitting the Netherlands bestsellers list right out of the gate. A Christy Award Hall of Fame author, Tamera seeks to draw closer to Christ through her writing and is thrilled when readers share that, through reading one of her novels, they’ve taken steps closer to Him as well. Tamera lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, not far from the Southern mansions that serve as the backdrop for many of her critically-acclaimed novels. Learn more at
Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of 85 novels and novellas with over six million copies of her books in print. She is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. Her numerous awards include the RITA® Award, the Carol Award, the Christy Award, and the Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award. Robin is also the recipient of the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards from both American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She lives outside of Boise with a demanding Papillon dog and a persnickety tuxedo cat.
Becky Wade’s a California native who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and settled in Dallas with their three children and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. She loves writing emotional contemporary romances laced with mystery! She’s the Christy and Carol award winning author of My Stubborn Heart, the Porter Family series, the Bradford Sisters series, and the Misty River Romance series.
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 firm believer in the power of happy endings . . . and ice cream. She is an avid cross-stitcher, and makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children.
October 2021
WIRED FOR STORY: WHAT YOUR READER’S BRAIN REALLY CRAVES AND HOW TO DELIVER ON IT with Lisa Cron
Imagine knowing what we’re hardwired to crave in every story we encounter, what hooks readers from pre-school to 80, and what keeps them turning pages. The answer is a game-changer, especially since the secret to writing a compelling story has very little to do with the surface plot or learning to “write well.” We’ll explore what the reader’s brain is hungry for, why, what a story actually is, and why writers are therefore the most powerful people on the planet. The result? You’ll be able to zero in on what your story is really about before you write word one (or if you’re in the midst of your umpteenth rewrite, before you write another word). You’ll not only produce a more powerful novel, chances are you’ll drastically reduce your rewrite time.
Lisa Cron is the author of Wired for Story, Story Genius and most recently, Story or Die: How to Use Brain Science to Engage, Persuade, and Change Minds in Business and in Life. Her video course, Wired for Story: How to Become a Story Genius can be found at CreativeLive.com, and Writing: The Craft of Story at Lynda.com. Her TEDx talk, Wired for Story, opened Furman University’s 2014 TEDx conference. She spent a decade in publishing, and has been a literary agent, television producer, and story analyst for Hollywood studios. She has also served on the faculty of the School of Visual Arts MFA program in visual narrative and, since 2006, has taught in the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program. In her work as a private story coach, Lisa works with writers, nonprofits, educators, and organizations, helping them master the unparalleled power of story.
November 2021
STORY TRUMPS STRUCTURE: HOW TO WRITE UNFORGETTABLE FICTION BY BREAKING THE RULES with Steven James
When you focus on what lies at the heart of story—tension, desire, crisis, escalation, struggle, discovery—rather than plot templates and formulas, you’ll begin to break out of the box and write fiction that resonates with your readers. This workshop is filled with practical insights, dozens of ways to fix plot flaws, time-tested writing secrets and easy-to-implement ideas.
Steven James is the critically-acclaimed author of seventeen novels. He is a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest Magazine and is the author of the groundbreaking book Story Trumps Structure as well as the award-winning guidebook used by thousands of novelists, Troubleshooting Your Novel. 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. Steven’s latest book is a near-future sci-fi thriller called Synapse.
January 2022
Dave Chesson on Atticus
Join Dave Chesson as he dives into the ins and outs of Atticus, the new all-in-one writing and formatting software. Atticus combines all the tools you need to go from planning to formatting in one place. Say goodbye to all the other apps you thought you needed to create a beautiful book.
Dave Chesson is the guy behind Kindlepreneur.com, a website devoted to teaching authors about book marketing. Recommended by Amazon KDP as the place where you can learn how to “optimize marketing for your books,” Kindlepreneur has grown to be one of the largest book marketing websites. Having worked with such authors as Orson Scott Card, Kevin J. Anderson, Ted Dekker and more, his tactics help both Fiction and Nonfiction authors of all levels get their books discovered by the right readers. Dave is also the creator of Publisher Rocket, a software that helps authors see what’s really going on in the book market, and thus pick better keywords and categories to help them sell more books.
February 2022
How to Get Good at Goodreads with Thomas Umstattd
Goodreads is a social network specifically for authors and readers. With over 20 million members it is one of the most visited websites in the world. Because of this book focus, GoodReads is more effective than Facebook and Twitter at boosting book sales. Learn how to use GoodReads to boost your book sales.
Thomas Umstattd is the founder of Author Media and the host of the Novel Marketing Podcast, the longest running book marketing podcast in the world. He also hosts the Christian Publishing Show. Thomas helps authors build their platforms, sell more books, and change the world with writing worth talking about.
March 2022
Deep POV: Increasing the Intimacy Between Your Characters and Your Readers with Karen Witemeyer
Breathe life into your narrative by learning to write with deep point of view. Learn techniques that will absorb your readers so completely, they will no longer simply consume the details of your story but will experience it alongside your characters.
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. Learn more about Karen and her books at www.karenwitemeyer.com or join her Facebook group The Posse.
April 2022
SPECIAL TWO HOUR WORKSHOP: The Story Cube: Rethinking Story From the Ground Up with Steven James
Ever since Aristotle, story theorists have been looking at story through a temporal lens—beginning, middle, and end, or first act, second act, and third act. But what if there was a way of conceptualizing story on a more elemental level? What if there was a way of understanding story that was easy to visualize and remember and that would apply to any genre you write? Well, there is, and in this seminar you’ll learn how it can transform your writing and storytelling forever.
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.
May 2022
Agent Panel: Michelle Grajkowski of 3 Seas Literary Agency and Rachel Kent of Books and Such Literary Management
From the moment Michelle Grajkowski first opened the doors to the 3 Seas Literary Agency in August of 2000, she has been living her dream. (What could be better than surrounding yourself with amazing authors and their exciting and imaginative books?) Since then, her agency has sold more than 900 books to all the major publishing houses, and has grown from one agent to three! Michelle’s client list includes New York Times Bestselling Authors Katie MacAlister, Cathy McDavid, Kerrelyn Sparks and C.L. Wilson. She primarily represents romance, women’s fiction, young adult and middle grade fiction along with select non-fiction projects with a terrific message. She is currently looking for fantastic writers with a voice of their own. When not curled up with a great manuscript, Michelle loves to spend time with her husband, children and her crazy puppy who refuses to grow up.
Rachel Kent started at Books & Such as a summer intern while she was attending U.C. Davis and then, after graduating, worked part-time at the agency as an assistant. Rachel has been an agent with Books & Such since 2007, and has more than fifteen years of experience and training working closely with Janet Kobobel Grant and the Books & Such team. Through Rachel’s work at the agency and with authors, she has gained an understanding of the publishing process, contract negotiation, and what it takes to successfully write and market a book. Rachel’s goal is to develop strong relationships with her authors and to help them to develop lasting relationships with their editors and publishers. She and her family live in Northern California.
June 2022
Google for the Wise Genealogist/Writer with Angela Breidenbach
Everyone knows that Google is a powerful search engine, but for genealogists Google provides so much more. This course will explore Google programs and how they can be used to research family history. You will be introduced to a variety of Google products, how to navigate those products and specifically how to use them to further your genealogical research. Google provides free software, digitized books and articles, mapping, access to newspapers, translation tools and more. Learn how to use Google for finding information, creating and sharing documents, groups, websites and blogs as well as using it to map your ancestors. Learn about popular Google products like Google search, Google Maps and Google Books as well as the not so well-known products like Google Bookmarks, Google Alerts, Google Scholar, Google Groups and Google Sites. Google is the best non-genealogy, genealogy website there is!
Angela Breidenbach‘s new position, director of the National Institute for Genealogical Studies and president of Heritage Productions, straddles the US/Canadian border. She draws on experience in the publishing industry, international travel, outside sales, strong relational skills, and building business partnerships. Her extensive experience spans airline, HVAC, nonprofit ministry leadership as well as certifications in public speaking, media presentation, and coaching. She’s a multiple ECPA and Amazon best-selling author of faith-based books. Themes: Social pressure, caring for the vulnerable, overcoming past mistakes, and redemption/forgiveness using StoryTouch/StoryTeach concepts to encourage changed hearts and minds.
July 2022
Spotlight on Love Inspired with Shana Asaro, Editor
Shana Asaro is an Editor for Love Inspired, Harlequin’s inspirational romance series imprint, which publishes contemporary romance and romantic suspense. The Love Inspired franchise currently publishes twelve books of category-length (55,000 words) fiction every month and is always seeking new voices. We’ve also launched a trade paperback inspirational fiction program called Love Inspired Trade, which features the best in Romantic Suspense, Historical Fiction and Historical Romance, Women’s Fiction and Amish Fiction (80,000-100,000 words).
Shana has been with Harlequin for fourteen years. She graduated from Kent State University with a degree in journalism and worked at a literary agency before coming to Harlequin. When she’s not reading or editing, Shana spends her time with her husband, daughter and crazy dog. She also likes to travel, bake, watch movies, discuss the merits of Gilmore Girls and drink Starbucks lattes. You can find her on Twitter at @shana_asaro.
Website: www.loveinspired.com
August 2022
How to Sell Yourself with Thomas Umstattd
Have you ever wondered why some great writers go unsold while poorly written books become bestsellers? The answer is simple and may change everything for your book. Learn if and when it is okay to “sell” yourself as a Christian and discover three simple techniques that will help you become a bestselling author without being “salesy”.
Thomas Umstattd is the founder of Author Media and the host of the Novel Marketing Podcast, the longest running book marketing podcast in the world. He also hosts the Christian Publishing Show. Thomas helps authors build their platforms, sell more books, and change the world with writing worth talking about.
September 2022
Using Cross-promotion to Grow Your Professional Network, with Laurie Cooper
Join author marketing coach, Laurie Cooper from Pub-Craft: Marketing For Books & Brands, to learn how you can use cross-promotion to grow your professional network, better understand your genre, and gain increased exposure to your audience which in turn can increase book sales. This workshop teaches authors the benefits of cross-promotion as well as how to cross-promote with other authors and the online options available to do so.
Attendees will be able to:
– Select their desired options from the cross-promotion tools available to them
– Understand the benefits of cross-promotion
– Know how to connect with other authors for cross-promotion arrangements
This workshop will be presented online with time for Q&A. Then we will enter break out rooms to further discuss and brainstorm with each other.
Laurie Cooper launched her online business, Pub-Craft: Marketing for Books and Brands, in October 2013. She helps fiction authors go from struggling, feeling invisible, and not knowing what to do next, to finding and connecting with their ideal readers. In her first year of business, Laurie went from 1 to over 200 clients and helped 100+ authors hit the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Lists. While she works as a marketing coach with authors from around the world, Laurie calls Ottawa, Canada her home. Learn more about Laurie and her course,The Visible Author Method. Connect on Facebook (#AskPubCraft), Instagram (@pubcraftteam), and find out more about Pub-Craft at www.Pub-Craft.com.
SPECIAL TWO HOUR WORKSHOP
Two Inspirational Hours with Bill Myers
Bill Myers is an American Christian author, film director and film producer. He is most notable for the animated series McGee and Me! He is an author of books from many genres, including comedy, horror, thriller, fiction, and non-fiction. As author/screenwriter/director his work has won over 60 national and international awards, including the C.S. Lewis Honor Award. His DVDs and books have sold 8 million copies. His children’s DVD and book series, McGee and Me, has sold 4.5 million copies, has won 40 Gold and Platinum awards, and has been aired on ABC as well as in 80 countries. His My Life As… book series has sold 2.1 million copies. He has written, directed, and done voice work for Focus on the Family’s Adventures in Odyssey radio series and is the voice of Jesus in Zondervan’s NIV Audio Bible. As an author, several of his children’s book series and adult novels have made the bestseller list.
October 2022
From Pumpkin Patches to Christmas Cookies: How to Write a Heartwarming, Hallmark-Sweet Romance with Teri Wilson
Hallmark Publishing author Teri Wilson discusses the rising popularity of low-angst, Hallmark-style sweet romances and what specific elements set these stories apart from other varieties of closed door writing. Participants will learn how to craft a Hallmark-style story, why these feel-good romances have such mass appeal and how to get them published, both indie and traditionally. They will also learn how to generate conflict and romantic tension in a softer, hot-button-free world and how to craft “filmable” scenes that translate well to movie adaptions. Handouts will include a recommended viewing list—from Hallmark Channel favorites to shows like Gilmore Girls and Hart of Dixie—as well as a reading list of books that represent this very specific subgenre.
USA Today Bestselling Author Teri Wilson writes heartwarming contemporary romance with a touch of whimsy. Three of Teri’s books have been adapted into Hallmark Channel Original Movies by Crown Media, including UNLEASHING MR. DARCY (plus its sequel MARRYING MR. DARCY), THE ART OF US and NORTHERN LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS, based on her book SLEIGH BELL SWEETHEARTS. She is also a recipient of the prestigious RITA Award for excellence in romantic fiction for her novel THE BACHELOR’S BABY SURPRISE. Teri has a major weakness for crowns, cute animals and pretty dresses, and she loves ballet and Audrey Hepburn films. Visit her at www.teriwilson.net or on Instagram @TeriWilsonauthor
November 2022
Using Art to Solve Crimes with Carrie Stuart Parks
One of the most interesting and unusual uses of art occurs in the forensic field. Americans are fascinated with the real life drama and mysteries around them. The forensic artist is trained to draw composites from the memory of witnesses, sketch crime scenes for the courtroom, and reconstruct skulls of unknown homicide victims. How do they do it? Find out from the woman who trains the artists.
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. Carrie is a popular speaker and presenter and has been the Special Guest at the Writer’s Police Academy, Early Bird Special Presenter along with Frank Peretti at the American Christian Fiction Writers, Keynote at the Oregon Christian Writer’s Conference, as well as presented at ThrillerFest, Daphne Du Maurier’s Kiss of Death, BlueRidge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference, and numerous other conferences. As a professional fine artist, she is a signature member of the Idaho Watercolor Society. Her paintings hang in a number of corporate and private collections. She has written and illustrated non-fiction best-selling art books for North Light Publishers.
January 2023
Selling Books by the Truckload on Amazon, with Penny Sansevieri
Amazon is a great place to sell books, but most authors (and publishers) underutilize the free tools that Amazon offers. Metadata, keywords, Editorial Reviews, Author Videos and Amazon’s backend systems are also something that are often misunderstood, and underused. This deep dive class will dig into all of the pieces that Amazon has to help you sell more books.
Mastering Amazon: Ads, Your Backlist, and the Perfect Book Launch, with Penny Sansevieri
This class will focus on key elements authors need to know to maximize Amazon to fully support not just their current title, but how to leverage backlist titles, and plan better for future book launches.
Penny Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc. (AME) and Adjunct Professor at NYU, is a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. Her company is one of the leaders in the publishing industry and has developed some of the most cutting-edge book marketing campaigns.
February 2023
Search Engine Optimization, with Denise M. Colby
Have you ever asked yourself: What is SEO and how does it work? How do I know if what I’m doing is even working? Every website needs SEO, but the art behind it can be a bit confusing. Join Denise M. Colby as she breaks down the fundamentals and shares both the how and the why to help you build stronger SEO for your website and blog.
Denise M. Colby loves to write words that encourage, enrich, and engage her readers. She treasures the written word and the messages that can be conveyed when certain words are strung together. With over 30+ years’ experience in marketing, she is currently an E-commerce Content Marketing Manager for a national drainage company and enjoys using her knowledge on brand and SEO to help other authors. An avid journal writer, she usually can be found with a pen and notepad whenever she’s reading God’s word. Denise lives in Southern California with her husband and three sons and writes historical Christian romance.
April 2023
Sarah Sundin: “No Missed Deadlines: Strategies to Keep You on Track”
Writing for publication means deadlines—not only for manuscripts, but for publisher’s title questionnaires, blog interviews, endorsement requests, and more. Without a system of organization, things can fall through the cracks, tainting our professional reputation. In this workshop, we’ll explore practical ways to track assignments and manage goals, using calendars and charts and files.
May 2023
Robin Lee Hatcher: “My Journey from Traditional to Indie Publishing”
Robin Lee Hatcher wrote her first novel in 1981, and it was published in February 1984. Over the course of the next 38+ years, she wrote books for eleven different publishers that released 85 novels and novellas. But in early 2021, she made the decision to go indie. There were a number of factors that played into that decision, but once it was made, she began a crash course in indie publishing. Should she go wide or stick with KDP Select? What about copyright registration? How does an author find a good editor? What about beta readers? What marketing is best? She is still learning as she goes, and she is so grateful for the writers who have shared their knowledge to help her on her way. She would like to do the same for others. Join Robin as she shares her new adventure thus far.
June 2023
Thomas Umstattd: “Platform Boosting Email Newsletters”
The number of email subscribers you have is a key component publishers look at to measure your platform. In this class you will learn how to attract subscribers, design beautiful emails and create content that gets forwarded around the web.
July 2023
“KDP Select AND Multiple Streams of Income: How to have your cake and eat it too” with Misty Beller
Though Amazon’s KDP Select program is often profitable enough to lure authors into the ebook exclusivity it requires, it IS possible to use that program and build enough other streams of income so all your eggs are not in the Kindle Unlimited basket. Misty will share the revenue streams and advertising drivers she’s used to build income of more than $350k/year—over half of which is not from KU page reads—then we’ll brainstorm other ways to diversify income streams while maximizing revenue from KDP Select.
August 2023
“Keeping Fiction Facts Straight: Historical Research and Organization” with Mesu Andrews
Never again lose a key piece of information or source you worked so hard to find! Whether writing fiction or non-fiction, writing mainstream or Christian market, every author must either create or adopt an effective system to retrieve information the moment it’s needed at every stage of publication—research, (plotting), rough draft, editing, publishing, and marketing. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to assess research source authenticity, discover how to store research that’s easy to find when you need it, and uncover simple organizational tricks that increase time efficiency and make the marketing process more effective.
September 2023
Bookbrush with Kathleen Sweeney
Are you ready to take your book marketing to the next level? With the incredible Book Brush tools, you can create eye-catching graphics and professional-looking ads that will take your social media presence, book covers, and more to a whole new level! Join Kathleen Sweeney as she shares some favorite Book Brush tips and tricks to make your marketing efforts fun and easy. Discover how to transform simple images into stunning, attention-grabbing graphics that will help you stand out from the competition. We’ll also look at options to hire Book Brush as your VA for projects you dread. At Book Brush, we want to serve authors however we can!
Don’t miss this chance to learn how Book Brush can help you unleash your creative potential and step up your book marketing endeavors!
October 2023
“Red Hot Squeaky Clean Romance” with Hallee Bridgeman
As a successful best-selling romance author, Hallee will use favorite movie examples to make your page sizzle with heat while staying squeaky clean.
November 2023
“Plotting with History” with Karen Witemeyer
Immersing your reader in a historical setting requires a delicate balance between research and storytelling. Inserting too many research details can bog down the plot and bore your reader. Too few can jerk your reader out of the story and leave them disappointed. Historical readers are savvy. You must do more than put your characters in period costumes. You must create an authentic story world true to your era. This workshop will help authors learn to create stories that feel authentic to a specific time period without reading like a history text.
January 2024
Robin Patchen -“Navigating Your Indie Novel Release: A Step-by-Step Guide”
Robin Patchen, a USA Today bestselling indie author, will guide you through a book release checklist—a roadmap that’ll show you how to move your manuscript from your laptop into readers’ eager hands. This class aims to provide an understanding of the process involved in bringing your novel into the world, emphasizing practical steps and genuine insights to help you navigate an indie book release.
February 2024
Deborah Raney – “Writing Cinematically: Using Movie Techniques to Bring Your Novel to Life”
Not recorded
March 2024
Tracey Lyons – “Listen Up, Audio Books”
Have you ever wondered if your book would be great in audio? Join Tracey J Lyons as she shares her experience taking her bestselling Women of Surprise historical romance series from the page to the earbuds. Tracey will talk about getting the audio rights back from the publisher to the production process from choosing a narrator to distribution. She will discuss why she chose human narration over AI and talk about the cost for the total production process. There are so many choices for authors, hopefully this workshop will help answer some of your questions about audio books.
May 2024
Self-Editing for Deeper POV by Pegg Thomas
Karen Witemeyer did a wonderful presentation on deep POV in March of 2022. It’s
available to members in the FHLCW’s livebinder as #42. She covers what deep POV is, when to use it, and how to use it. Pegg Thomas is going to take it a step further and talk about how to spot when you haven’t used it during your self-editing process. She’ll cover:
- Trigger words
- Using the five senses
- Dialogue & internal dialogue
- Staying true to your characters
Bio: A lifelong history geek, Pegg Thomas lives in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula with Michael, her husband of mumble years. She creates American stories with real history and fictional characters inspired by her ancestors who immigrated here in the early 1600s. When not working or writing, Pegg can be found in her garden, her kitchen, or sitting at one of her spinning wheels creating yarn to turn into her signature wool shawls. https://PeggThomas.com
June 2024
Author’s Secret Weapon: Scene and Sequel by Terri Reed & Lenora Worth
June 18, 2024 at 7:00 PM Eastern
Join best-selling authors Lenora Worth and Terri Reed to unpack the author’s secret weapon—Dwight Swain’s Scene and Sequel. In this workshop they will breakdown the elements, and workshop attendees will come away with a better understanding of how Scene and Sequel can work for them. Attendees will receive a handout with the elements of scene and sequel to use for their plotting purposes.
Bio: Terri Reed’s romance and romantic suspense novels have appeared on Publisher’s Weekly top five, Nielsen’s Bookscan’s top fifty, have been Amazon Bestsellers, and featured in USA Today. Her books have been finalists in the Romance Writers of America RITA contest, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the Inspirational Reader’s Choice Award, as well as finaled three times in the American Christian Fiction Writers The Carol Award contest. http://www.terrireed.com
Bio: With over one hundred published books and novellas, Lenora Worth is a NY Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author and a member of the ACFW Honor Roll, a three-time Carol Award finalist, and a recipient of the Romantic Times Pioneer Award in Inspirational Fiction. She has written for several different publishers of sweet and inspirational fiction. A Southern girl, Lenora lives in Florida with her retired husband, where she finds inspiration and ideas on her weekly beach walks.
July 2024
Unlocking Amazon Ads: A Step-by-Step Workshop for Authors by Vincent Davis III
July 16, 2024 at 7:00 PM Eastern
Description: Join Vincent Davis for an intensive, hands-on seminar designed specifically for authors who want to harness the power of Amazon Advertisements to boost their book sales. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting your publishing journey, this workshop will equip you with the essential tools and strategies to effectively market your books on Amazon.
What You Will Learn:
- Proper Bidding Strategy: Understand how to set and adjust bids to maximize visibility and ROI.
- Budget Management: Learn how to allocate your advertising budget efficiently to get the best results.
- Choosing the Right Targets: Discover how to identify and target the right audience for your books to increase sales.
- Types of Amazon Ads: Explore the different types of ads available on Amazon, including Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, and Lockscreen Ads, and learn when and how to use each type.
- Real-Time Ad Uploads: Watch and learn as we upload ads in real-time, providing you with a step-by-step guide on setting up your first fleet of Amazon Advertisements.
Who Should Attend:
- Authors looking to increase their book sales through effective Amazon advertising.
- Writers who want a deeper understanding of Amazon's ad platform and how to leverage it for their benefit.
- Self-published authors who need practical, actionable advice on marketing their books.
Workshop Highlights:
- Interactive sessions with live demonstrations.
- Practical tips and best practices from an industry expert.
- Opportunities for Q&A to address specific challenges and questions.
- Hands-on exercises to ensure you leave with the confidence to create and manage yourown Amazon ads.
Bio: Vincent Davis III writes historical fiction books to keep the past alive through the power of storytelling. He is also an entrepreneur, speaker, and veteran who is a proud graduate of East Tennessee State University and was honorably discharged from the US Army in 2022. Armed with a pen and an entrepreneurial spirit, Vincent quit his day job and decided it was as good a time as any to follow his dream. He went on to publish six historical novels, four of which have now become Amazon International Best Sellers. Vincent’s mission is to inspire and empower others through fiction, as well as his marketing services for writers at WarriorBookMarketing.com. He works with authors so they can be “found” by their target readers and earn more sales on Amazon.
August 2024
Book Funnel 101 by Danielle Grandinetti
August 20, 2024 at 7:00 PM Eastern
Do you want to share a free book with your readers? Safely send e-ARCs to your launch team? Participate in multi-author events? BookFunnel is a wonderful tool, but how do you begin? In this hands-on course, I walk you through …
- Setting up your BookFunnel account (it’s a paid service, so I’ll explain the levels so you can know the best use of your funds)
- Listing up your books (whether they’re traditionally published, independently published, or in Kindle Unlimited)
- And the many options available to you with this paid service
By the end of the workshop, you’ll be ready to use this tool in whichever way will serve you best.
Bio: Danielle Grandinetti is an award-winning inspirational romance author fueled by tea and books. With a Master of Arts degree in Communication and Culture, she spent two decades teaching a variety of subjects, such as writing, group dynamics, and intercultural communication. Her accolades include the UNW Distinguished Faith in Writing Award and the CROW National Excellence in Story Telling Award, as well as being a finalist in both the 2023 FHLCW Reader’s Choice Award and 2024 Selah Awards. Danielle is represented by Lynette Eason of the Steve Laube Agency. Find her online at daniellegrandinetti.com.
September 2024
Character and Characterization: Making Your Characters True, Believable, and Unforgettable by Jennifer Beckstrand
September 17, 2024 at 7:00 PM Eastern
All great stories are about great characters. Unforgettable characters are more than a set of attributes or physical traits. In this workshop, we will delve into the differences between characterization and true character. Characterization is the sum of all the observable qualities of a human being. True character is revealed in the choices a human being makes under pressure–the greater the pressure, the deeper the revelation, the truer the choice to the character’s essential nature.
Bio: Jennifer Beckstrand is the USA Today Bestselling author of clean romantic comedies, sweet historical Westerns, and Amish romances. Her popular books include Dandelion Meadows, The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series, The Honeybee Sisters series, The Amish Quiltmakers series, and Cowboys of the Butterfly Ranch series. Jennifer is a two-time finalist for the RWA RITA Award, a Carol Award finalist, and a #1 Amazon bestelling Amish author.