NEW this Year! A Mobile Crime Lab
This is especially for suspense authors. But the rest of us will be fascinated, too. Right now, plans are underway to have an official visit from a Phoenix mobile crime lab. Stay tuned for more information as things develop. You may even be able to take a selfie of yourself being BOOKED FOR A CRIME! Won’t your fans love that!
IMPROVED this Year! The Swag Table Just Got Doubled
Swag & Swap Special – The conference this year will host two tables in our main meeting space.
SWAG – The swag table will be a place where published authors can display swag items for conference attendees to peruse and take home. Items can include a variety of promotional goodies such as pens, magnets, recipe cards, and other small pieces. Keep in mind that paper items like bookmarks and postcards are less likely to be picked up, so plan accordingly. No books are to be placed on the swag table. Which leads us to . . .
SWAP – The swap table will be a place where all attendees can bring books to swap. Books must be Christian or sweet romance from any subgenre accepted in the FHLRCA contest and must be in “like-new” condition. You may swap (leave one, take one) a maximum of 3 times. Please bring no more than 3 books to swap. Bring books that you enjoyed reading and would recommend to a friend. If you are a published author, you have the option to bring books you have written. All books must have a recommendation sticker to be allowed in the swap. Stickers will be provided at the table. You must label the book you bring with your name and a very short description (i.e., For those who like: Cowboys, Humor, & Adventure). On Sunday morning, unclaimed books will be available to any attendee who wishes to take one, including those who did not bring books to swap.
What do I do if I want an editor or an agent appointment?
See the Editor & Agents page for how to make an appointment.
Can I Volunteer?
YES! We will need help stuffing tote bags, introducing speakers, helping with the agent & editor pitches, and other tasks. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and have some extra fun at the conference. If you are interested, email the conference co-chairs Pamela Tracy at [email protected] or Janet Tronstad at [email protected].
What About Our Conference Meals?
Optional Friday night pizza. Cost $25 – We will have a pizza buffet with pepperoni and vegetarian pizza made with focaccia bread. Gluten-free pizza will be available for those who register as gluten-free. In addition to the pizza, there will be a green salad with a choice of salad dressings. We will have sorbet for dessert. Beverages will be water and iced tea. Sign-up for this in advance with your registration or contact a conference co-coordinator.
On-Your-Own Breakfast Saturday morning – A breakfast protein bar is provided in your welcome bag located in your conference tote. If you want a heartier breakfast, the Rennick Restaurant (just off the hotel lobby) serves a buffet breakfast from 6 A.M. to 11 A.M. The small coffee shop off the lobby will also have grab-and-go breakfast items for sale in the morning.
Sandwich/Salad Buffet Lunch Saturday (included with registration) – We will have various breads (at least one gluten-free), deli meats (turkey and ham), chicken salad, assorted bags of chips, and a green salad with salad dressing. Beverages will be water and iced tea. Dessert will be brownies and lemon bars. Sorbet will be provided for those who are gluten-free.
Taco Bar Dinner Saturday (included with registration) – This will feature corn and flour tortillas, chicken and ground beef, beans, rice, green salad, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, taco sauce, guacamole, and chips. Our beverages will be water and iced tea. We’ll have churros for dessert. Options for a gluten-free dessert are being explored.
Continental Breakfast Sunday (included with registration) – We will have bagels with cream cheese and butter. Also, some gluten-free bread. A toaster will be provided. Water will be available and we encourage you to bring your own coffee.
Can I order guest meals?
Yes. Guest meals are available, by prior arrangement, for an added fee. They can be ordered after you register (see bottom of the Registration page).
What if I have allergies or other food sensitivities?
Mark on your registration form if you are gluten-free. Also, mark any allergies in the indicated box. For other questions, contact conference co-chairs Janet Tronstad at [email protected] or Pamela Tracy at [email protected].
Can I get coffee?
Coffee will be available for purchase all day. The details are still being worked out, but the Hilton assures us they will have coffee available for longer hours during our conference. Extra packets of ‘make-your-own’ in the room will also be available at the front desk. We encourage coffee-loving attendees to bring insulated mugs to ensure they have coffee to sip whenever they want.
What is the hotel like?
Visit the Conference Hotel page for more information and to register for your room (please do not register for a room until you have registered for the conference).
What should I wear at the conference?
Business casual works. So do jeans and tee-shirts. We have no formal events. Remember to bring a swimming suit if you want to use the pool. And a sweater or jacket would be helpful. Although it will be hot at the end of September, the air conditioning inside the hotel might make it cool. Wear comfortable shoes.
New This Year! – What Are the Lapel pins on your badge?
Commemorative Pins
Attached to your badge at the upcoming conference, you will find a pin commemorating the 2024 conference and the 2023 conference (if you attended then).
The history behind lapel pins dates back thousands of years to when people used bronze and silver to create ornamental designs for their clothing. In the 19th century, these pins evolved into badges that were given out by military units for doing good deeds during wartime.
Today, many organizations use commemorative lapel pins to designate affiliations or to mark accomplishments. The in-person conference of Faith, Hope & Love Christian Writers wants to do both by celebrating your attendance at each of our conferences with a commemorative pin.
The style of pins may change in the future, but the recognition of the journey we share will remain the same.
What if I still have a question?
Contact the conference co-chairs:
Janet Tronstad at [email protected].
Pamela Tracy at [email protected].
Remember, the fun we had at the last conference?
Here’s some photo reminders.
